Packing is one of the most difficult things about planning a trip. Especially if you are planning a trip to an area that you have never been, or that has a climate different than where you live. We travel exclusively using carry on luggage – even when our flights offer free checked bags. We do this for a few reasons which we will explain below. Read on for the pros and cons of traveling with a carry on bag.
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Pros of Traveling with a Carry On vs Checked Bag
We travel exclusively using carry on bags regardless of where we go in the world or how long we are traveling for. We do this for a few different reasons.
1. By packing light we don’t have to lug around a ton of stuff!
Using only a carry on bag forces us to cut out all non-essential items from our packing. We often take overnight flights and find ourselves with a few hours of exploring to do once we land before we can check into our hotel or Airbnb.
We don’t usually jump right into major adventures immediately upon arriving. However, it is nice to be able to comfortably walk around a city using our backpacks or head to a restaurant to have an early lunch.
Both of our backpacks are the Kelty Redwing. We definitely recommend them! They are a hybrid between a traditional hiking backpack and a clamshell style travel backpack. They do not open up fully like typical clamshell bags. However, they do open 3/4 of the way which is completely sufficient for what we need.
We chose backpacks instead of rolling carry on sized suitcases for two main reasons:
- While carry on suitcases have come a long way, the ease of being able to put the backpack on and move around is something you can’t do with a suitcase. We’ve carried our backpacks through airports and on trains and subways. As well as walking through big cities like Paris and up lots of stairs in Greece.
- The second reason is that we aren’t as limited during the times when we do have to carry them around. We won’t lie they are definitely heavy and we try not to carry them around fully packed for too long. But when our room isn’t ready yet or we have some downtime before a flight it’s doable to make the most of the time. In that same situation without backpacks we’ve been forced to camp out at a restaurant or be those people rolling around a city with suitcases.
For another option the Osprey Sojourn is a backpack that has wheels. It can be worn as a traditional backpack when needed but also can be rolled like a suitcase. The wheels definitely make the overall backpack heavier. But it’s the best of both worlds if you’re looking for both features. We have tested this backpack out and still stand by our Kelty Redwing recommendation since we tend to use the backpack feature far more than the rolling feature. However, if you are concerned with your ability to carry the pack all of the time on your back this could be a really good option.
2. We never lose our luggage or have to deal with baggage delays
I cannot tell you the number of times I have had a family member or friend lose their luggage while traveling even just temporarily. While not the end of the world it is incredibly frustrating, especially if you are traveling to multiple destinations. Using a carry on bag prevents this because all of your belongings stay with you.
The other huge benefit of traveling with carry on luggage is that we never have to deal with baggage claim lines or delays. Although this may seem like a minor inconvenience, after an 8+ hour flight the last thing you want to do is wait 45 minutes for your bag to be unloaded from the plane. Or have to go 2 or 3 days with only the clothes you wore on the plane until your bag gets to you.
3. We never have our valuables stolen or broken
Because we keep our bags with us we get to watch over them and make sure our electronics and camera equipment stay safe. Although this can also make us look like potential targets. We try to do a good job of watching over our stuff and staying observant while we travel. This can also prevent someone else mistakenly taking one of the 50 black suitcases and taking the wrong one by accident.
I am sure everyone has seen the countless videos of airport workers carelessly throwing checked bags around. While most airport workers are probably very careful, those videos are enough for us to always keep our fragile items with us.
Read More: Female Long Term Carry On Packing List
4. Traveling between accommodations is a breeze!
When we travel we often stay in multiple different areas during each trip. Because of this we are in a constant state of unpacking and re-packing. By packing light, and keeping our bags easy to carry, we almost completely remove the headaches associated with bouncing around to different cities and different hotels. It takes us all of 7 minutes to completely pack our belongings and head out the door. This was especially helpful in places like Greece where the walkways and stairs to some places are small and would be really hard to roll or carry a suitcase up.
It also means if you check out of your first accommodation but the next one isn’t ready yet it’s not the end of the world. We can take a train or walk to the area we’ll be staying and not just waste half the day.
Cons of Traveling with a Carry On vs Checked Bag
While we firmly believe the pros outweigh the cons when it comes to carry on bags, we do realize there are some negatives.
1. You have to physically carry all of your belongings all of the time
The title speaks for itself. Carrying everything can be tiring depending on how much you bring. The ease of carrying it depends on how much your bag weighs and what shape you are in.
Interestingly we listed this as a pro above because it lessens the chance of our stuff being lost or stolen. It really depends on how much you’re willing to carry and for how long.
2. You have to abide by the 3-1-1 rule (if traveling within or from the US)
This means you can only carry liquids that comply with the 3-1-1 rule. The 3-1-1 rule means 3.4 oz bottles or less, 1 quart size bag, 1 bag per passenger. Staying in compliance with this can be difficult sometimes but don’t worry people in other countries use shampoo too! No need to bring it with you.
When we first started traveling we found it extremely difficult to decide what liquids to pack. Our quart size ziplock bags were always bursting at the seams and often ripped because of how much we attempted to bring.
However, we have realized that people all over the world use the same basic items like shampoo, hair gel and tooth paste. We even sometimes find the exact same brands that we use at home. With some more travel under our belts we have now learned what is actually important to bring (and truly irreplaceable) and what is not.
5 Reasons to choose the Kelty Redwing Backpack
For our backpacks we chose the Kelty Redwing 44 and Kelty Redwing 40. We really like these backpacks for a few reasons.
They are less expensive compared to a lot of other backpack brands out there. Both of our bags are holding up great after about two years.
They have a hybrid clamshell design but still have the functionality and ergonomics of a traditional hiking pack. I compared the Osprey Farpoint 40 (my old pack) to the Kelty Redwing 44 and felt the Kelty handled the weight much better and felt more comfortable on my back. The zippers run 2/3 of the way down the pack so it can be opened up or packed from the top.
They have great pockets on the outside for additional organization. The top pocket fits a toiletry bag perfectly. The two side pockets can be used for electronics and miscellaneous items. The front pocket is nice for papers and other random odds and ends.
The pack has an inner laptop sleeve that is positioned up against your back. The Osprey Farpoint (my old pack) has a laptop sleeve that is positioned away from your back so it holds the weight a bit awkwardly.
The back is padded and designed for air ventilation. The shoulder straps/hip belt are padded and are very comfortable to wear especially during travel days.
In Conclusion…
Regardless of the backpack that you choose we really cannot recommend traveling with a carry on enough. The stuff you bring does NOT make your trip. Yes, it may make you more comfortable but traveling is really about the destination and what you do once you get there.
