I remember the days where it was cool to pack everything and the kitchen sink. Now with checked baggage fees, the culture has changed to stuffing all you can in that little carry-on and the race to get on the plane first.

One event changed my luggage behavior and becoming a carry-on bag minimalist in Ireland. A group of friends and I decided to go to Ireland for a couple of weeks.

Getting there wasn’t smooth sailing. We eventually got to Ireland and had a wonderful time.

Delayed Flight

Traveling from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, there is a 99% guarantee that your flight will be delayed. I know this from experience. Flying back from a military training exercise in Germany, my group had a 3-hour layover in Chicago.

Of all the times stopping over at O’Hare International Airport, that was the one time, I didn’t experience a flight delay. I think someone heard that I really wanted to get home.

Due to weather, the flight to Dublin, Ireland was delayed. As folks waited in line trying to reschedule their flights, we got on the phone with the airline to figure out what our options were.

We had already booked our lodging ahead of time. To fly out the next day, we would have to change two week’s worth of bookings. Not cool.

A flight was available, but we would have to fly to New Jersey and then get on another flight. A tip to those flying, if your flight gets delayed and you feel compelled to wait in the customer service line, that is cool do what you gotta do.

You can stand in line, but you better have your airline app open and be trying to switch your flights so you can get out of line as soon as possible.

Minimalist Packing Born

We flew on a different carrier non-stop to Ireland except my carry-on made it there and my two friends checked luggage didn’t. Their luggage decided to make a stop in New Jersey before continuing on to Dublin.

Read more about my Ireland adventures, by checking out my blog post, Unapologetically Cool: Taking Ireland by Storm.

And this is why I switched to bringing just a carry-on when I travel. It’s not easy to pack for two weeks or more, but it’s doable. One thing I know about myself is I pack for just in case scenarios.

The clothes I pack, I end up not wearing them. I end up finding some mall and buying clothes. Now I only pack a couple of outfits that I can layer so there is room to bring a new wardrobe home. This is what I pack into my carry-on.

Carry-On Packing List

1. Bag Balm Travel Tubes

Bag Balm might have been made for cow udders, but this tube is good for healing cuts, softening skin, and makes a great night eye cream. Have two eye creams for day and night?

Ditch those and switch to this. You won’t regret it. If you use nasal sprays and get nose bleeds in dry climates and wintry months, putting some outside of the nostrils will do the trick.

2. Bamboo Travel Utensils

Ever find yourself without a fork when you are getting ready to eat a to-go meal because the cook forgot to pack it? You no longer have to worry about that. The set includes a fork, spoon, knife, and chopsticks. The utensils can be reused over and over again.

3. Reusable Glass Straws

I can’t say how many times when I order coffee at a coffee shop and forget to grab a straw. The straws can be reused over and over again. The set comes with a brush to clean and a carrying case. No more excuses for not making that nutritious smoothie on the road.

4. Mini Rice Cooker

Eating out can get expensive while on the road. Save up and pay for unique meals you can’t find at home. The rest, leave to the mini rick cooker.

It comes with a book of recipes you can make with little fuss like chicken noodle soup, pineapple fried rice, broccoli mac and cheese, and chocolate cake.

When packing in your carry-on, turn the cover inside the cooker and wrap clothes around it to secure in place. It’s for the just in case your carry-on doesn’t fit overhead of a smaller plane and has to go under with the checked luggage. This helps to avoid the glass top breaking.

5. Magic Bullet Blender

This blender might be tiny, but you can make easy recipes like creamy tomato soap and matcha tea lemonade drinks without breaking a sweat.

6. Sleep Eye Mask and Earplugs

Block out light and don’t get woken up by the pub-goers underneath you at the hostel. The earplugs are good for concerts when you have front row seats like electronic dance music.

7. Micellar Facial Wipes

Too tired to wash your face from a night out at the club? These wipes will ensure your complexion keeps that glow the next day and not wake up with raccoon eyes. No washing required.

8. Irish Wool Shawl

Blarney Woollen Mills has been around since 1823. All knitwear, sweaters, and wraps are 100% made in Ireland. Shawls can work as a blanket on planes or when rolled up, a comfy neck pillow.

9. AVEDA Essential and Composition Oils

Mix oils into your moisturizer to create a unique scent. Add a couple of drops in your Epsom salt bath for a sensory journey. For composition oils, I rotate between shampure, beautifying, and rosemary mint. For essential oils, I like mixing peppermint, eucalyptus, and orange together into a hot bath.

10. Comforting Tea

AVEDA is a Minnesota based company owned by Estee Lauder that sells beauty plant-based products. Anytime you walk into an AVEDA store, someone will always great you and offer some tea.

The tea is a fusion of licorice root and peppermint. Great for an upset stomach. At-home tip: take one tea bag, add hot water to a mason jar, let it steep overnight. You will have a tea brew worth bragging about.

11. AVEDA Travel Products

Some of my favorites travel-size products (meets TSA requirements) are: Be curly co-wash, scalp benefits shampoo and conditioner, damage remedy intensive restructuring treatment, dry remedy daily moisturizing oil, and texture tonic.

12. Portable Electric Kettle

A foldable electric kettle that doesn’t take up space and boils water fast in less than 30 seconds.

13. Compression Calf Sleeves

Do you suffer from shin splints, tight calves or plantar fasciitis? These are great for long hauls on the airplane and wearing while running or after. The socks are good to have also. Sometimes my heel pain comes from tight calves.

When that happens, I wear the compression calve sleeves. Sometimes it’s my feet and so I will wear the compression socks with the calve sleeves, but not separate. Sleeping with them aggravates my plantar fasciitis.

14. Elvis and Kresse Medium Wash Bag

You need something to carry all of those AVEDA travel-sized products with right? When you purchase an item from Elvis and Kresse, you help to support a company give back by donating 50% of profits back to charities.

The raw materials used to make accessories are decommissioned fire hoses from London’s Fire Brigade. If your products leak, the mess will stay in the wash bag.

The wash bag comes in large as well. I use the large one for when I am traveling for more than 2 weeks. You can personalize it with your initials.

15. Epsom Bath Salts

I carry a couple of plastic travel tubes of Epsom salts to pour in my bath.

16. Himalayan Bath Salts

I carry a plastic travel tube of Himalayan salts to mix with essential oils to exfoliate my face and hands.

17. Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce Travel Packs

Spice up your DIY dish with some sriracha! Need I say more?

18. All-in-One Travel Adapter

Ever get to a country and realize the outlets are completely different from home? Never again. The all-in-one international power adapter covers 150+ countries.

19. Portable Laundry System

A foldable wash bag that can clean clothes in less than 3 minutes. I put a couple of laundry pods in a 4oz mason jar (in case they melt). When its time to do some laundry, I just pop one in and scrub away.

I bring a couple of bungee cords to hang my clothes. The cords work to keep items from moving in my carry on like my mini rice cooker.

20. Headache Ice Pack Relief Band

Last, but not least a cold pack for headaches. I suffer from migraine and sinus headaches. Before I put the relief band on, I rub AVEDA’s cooling balancing oil concentrate .24 oz roll-on stick on my temples and the back of my neck.

The aroma of peppermint calms me down. The roll-on stick can be used for relieving tension from muscles. Foot massage after walking all day, anyone?

21. Travel Yoga Mat

Take your yoga practice anywhere. I like to do Ashtanga yoga. I bring a laminated Ashtanga Yoga Primary Series sequence sheet to reference when I am doing my yoga practice.

Kino McGregor demonstrates these poses on her YouTube channel.

And there you have it. The list seems like a lot, but these items are so small, you will have plenty of room to bring home a new wardrobe or souvenir.

Don’t let that blender and mini rice cooker go to waste. Read my blog post on DIY: Foods You Can Take on the Road.

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