How (& Why!) You Want To Pack In A Carry On For 2 Weeks

When I’m going on vacation, whether it’s for a few days, a week, or longer, I always choose to pack in a carry on suitcase. There are a few main reasons why I do, but it always boils down to simply being less stressful. How to pack for 2 weeks in a carry on is a bit more complicated, but it’s definitely still doable with the proper tools and tricks!

I’ve managed to pack in a carry-on for 2 weeks regardless of the expected weather and type of vacation I was packing for. Whether it was a beach vacation or the UK and Ireland where I needed jackets and many layers, I’ve done it all!

Also, just a disclaimer: when I pack in a carry on for 2 weeks, I don’t plan on doing laundry on vacation at all! Because, of course, if you’re willing to do laundry while you’re away, you can pack much lighter, but who wants to do laundry on vacation!?

Psst! This blog post contains affiliate links in it which sends me a bit of extra money if you use them… at no extra cost to you!

My Carry On Luggage Of Choice: Travelpro Maxlite 5

Before getting into the nitty gritty of why and how to pack a suitcase for 2 weeks, you need to find the perfect carry-on. If you read my post on how to choose a suitcase that’ll last, you’ll know I’m a big fan of TravelPro suitcases. That’s the brand travel crew use, so I really trust them for durability and practicality.

The Maxlite 5 Rollaboard Carry on luggage is my carry-on of choice. Maxlite 5 is Travelpro’s lightest collection yet.

It has adjustable straps inside to compress your clothes and keep them from moving around. It also has a mesh pocket inside to keep some item separated, like shoes or nice shirts. See Travelpro on Amazon! (Shop Amazon.ca if you’re in Canada!)

Travelpro is also one of the only companies that still make 2 wheeled suitcases AND soft shells. To keep my rant short, I’m against the 4 wheel spinners because they’re more prone to breaking and they end up taking up your precious packing space.

5 Reasons Why A Carry-on For 2 Weeks Is Better Than Checking Luggage?

So why do I try and fit everything I need into a carry-on for 2 weeks away? Wouldn’t I rather have more clothes, and not get stressed out trying to fit everything in such a small suitcase?

The answer is an all around NOPE! It might seem like a crazy idea at first, but bear with me and you may just change your mind as well!

1. Travelling In A Carry On Luggage how Saves Money

This isn’t one of the main reasons why I don’t check luggage, but it’s definitely a nice perk. Nowadays, most airlines charge for checking a suitcase. The prices vary, but it’ll most likely cost you $50+.

In the past, if you were flying overseas checked luggage was included with your ticket. But now that’s changed. You can choose between booking economy, OR economy basic. The price difference is essentially the cost of a checked bag, which is included in your economy ticket.

I appreciate this new model because now I have the option to save money on my flight if I don’t need the larger luggage. (Often the other perks you get with booking economy is that you can choose your seat in advance).

2. A Carry-on Is Easier To Travel With

Depending on the type of trip you’re going on, the size of your suitcase can make a huge difference.

For example, if I’m staying at the same hotel for 2 weeks, the benefits of having a smaller suitcase are minimal. But if I’m travelling between cities and staying at multiple hotels, the size of my suitcase as a much bigger impact.

I don’t think I need to elaborate on how much easier it is to drag around a 20 lbs suitcase vs. a 50lbs one every other day. Imagine lugging it on subways, trains, buses and even escalators! Even if you’re taxiing everywhere, it’s still easier to travel with a carry-on.

3. There’s Less Risk Traveling With A Carry-on

Another advantage of you packing in a carry-on is that you don’t ever really have to separate from your bag. Not checking your bag at the airport means you don’t have the risk of the airline losing your luggage or mistreating it.

Imagine you’re gone for a week and your bag never makes it? Or you open up your bag to find all your liquids exploded. Or you grabbed someone else’s luggage by mistake!

Now instead of spending your trip touring or relaxing, you’re buying a whole new wardrobe.

You’ll never have these issues when you pack in a carry-on. It’s with you from the moment you enter the airport until you arrive at your new destination.

4. Why Pack In A Carry-on For 2 Weeks… Less is More

Now let’s get into what’ll forever change the way you travel: packing less. This, to me, is the main reason why I love to pack in a carry-on.

It’s surprisingly freeing and way less stressful. You have to accept two things in order to pack less on vacation. First, accept that you may have to buy some things when you’re travelling (like a rain jacket if it rains, or a sweater…). 

Second, you also need more advance planning and preparation to travel in only a carry-on for 2 weeks. Think about your outfits, how to re-wear things, maybe even buy a few items at home that are more versatile for when you’re away.

I’ll admit, I’m part of the crowd who likes to look their best while travelling. I mean, these are the photos I’ll be looking back on years from now and I don’t want to think to myself: “what the f*** was I wearing!?”.

But I quickly learned that packing unlimited options was not an option for me. I became so preoccupied with what to wear while I was away that I forgot why I was really there. 

Instead, packing in a carry on luggage forces me to choose outfits wisely beforehand. As I said, all it takes is a bit of extra preparation. So now the time I spend planning in advance is the time gained on vacation. 

I plan specific outfits for certain days, activities, and temperatures in advance. Sure you can’t plan for everything, but at least you’ll be a little bit more prepared… right?/

5. Packing In A Carry-on Helps You Stay Organized On Vacation

Packing fewer options also helps me stay more organized while away. I mean, think about it, I don’t have to look through an entire suitcase to try and find the perfect shirt to go with my pants. I already know exactly what I want.

There’s also just way less that you have to keep neat! 

Top 5 Tips For How To Pack In A Carry On For 2 Weeks

So now that the “why” pack in a carry-on for 2 weeks is dealt with, it’s time to figure out how to pack in a carry on for two weeks. A few days – easy! One week – manageable. But TWO WEEKS! This is where it can start to get a bit tricky for how to pack everything…

I follow 5 golden rules when I pack in a carry on for 2 weeks, and I use specific tricks to make sure everything will fit.

1. Never Pack In A Carry-on Without Packing Cubes

Since I discovered packing cubes, I’ve never gone on vacation without my trusty cubes. These are the key to staying organized and fitting more in your carry-on for two weeks.

My carry-on fits 2 medium-sized packing cubes perfectly. So I know I can’t bring any more than what fits in those, aside from pants and sweaters, which become too bulky if I pack them in a packing cube. Packing cubes also help you stay organized while you’re away living out of your suitcase!

My all time favourite packing cubes are from MEC. They’re the perfect material, since they won’t rip if overstuffed. The Eagle Creek ones are also very good if you’re looking for a bit of a cheaper option. 

2. How Much Should You Pack For 2 Weeks? The Min 2/ Max 3 Rule

For pants and shoes, the golden rule I follow is to bring a minimum of 2 pairs, and no more than 3. Having at least two pairs will allow you to alternate between them each day. And I only add the third pair once I see I have room for it. 

Out of the two pairs, I always make sure one of them can double for a night outfit. So for pants I always (without a doubt) pack my black jeans. For shoes, I love my pair of oxford shoes from Clarks. They’re comfortable enough to walk in all day, and I can dress them up at night. 

If shorts are a factor I’ll also bring two pairs. If I know I’m not going to be wearing pants during the day I’ll bring 2 shorts and only one pair of pants.

I always bring a pair of flip flops, in addition to my 2-3 shoes (See Old Navy flip flops on Amazon.com | Amazon.ca). These come with me wherever I go, they barely take up any room and you never know when you’re going to need them. Whether it’s an unexpected spa day, beach, or pool day on vacation, you’re always prepared. You’ll also have them to wear in the shower… just in case.

Lately I’ve started bringing my EVA Birkenstocks. Those count as one of my shoes but I can wear them to the pool, in the shower, and I can also walk all day in them!

3. How To Pack A Suitcase For 2 Weeks: Think About Reusability

At home, you have the luxury of wearing something once and then throwing it in the wash. On vacation, we can’t always do that. The goal is to bring the least amount of clothing and get the most out of everything you bring.

With that in mind, I’ll pack certain dual-purpose shirts. So, I can wear them first as part of an evening outfit, and then the next day for touring. I’d say about half the shirts I pack are always 2 for 1s (night and touring shirts!).

Booking.com

4. Mix And Match Patterns & Neutrals

I’m not someone who dresses in all black and white. My wardrobe is actually quite colourful with different patterns and prints. 

So if you’re like me, don’t worry. You don’t have to leave your precious colourful prints at home. Just make sure to pack some neutrals along with your patterns.

I like to bring at least half pattern and half neutrals of everything I pack. So out of my two pants, if I want to bring one with a plaid or floral print, my second pair will be neutral, like jeans. And if I pack 10 tops, 5 will be neutrals to go with those patterned pants. 

5. Always Bring A Packable Duffel As A Backup

If you’re packing in a carry-on for 2 weeks, odds are you’re pretty stuffed. So as a back up, I always stuff a packable duffel in my suitcase, no matter how long I’m going for. Sometimes I even use it as a giant packing cube.

But it’s basically a safety net in case I buy more than I planned for, or if I’m not able to pack as well on the way back. You can check your carry on luggage and pack all your valuables and souvenirs in the duffel bag to bring with you on the plane. It’s way less stressful checking your luggage on the way home.

Right now I used the Osprey Ultralight Stuff Duffel. I like this one over others because it has a reinforced bottom, and has a padded shoulder strap.

How To Pack In A Carry On Luggage – Examples

Packing for every vacation is different.

To help you, here’s what I packed in a carry-on for 2 weeks in the UK and a fall trip to Belgium. Both trips needed extra layers of clothing for the potentially cooler temperatures.

How To Pack For 2 Weeks in Belgium… In A Carry On Luggage!

I travelled to Belgium in the fall (beginning of November) when the weather can be pretty inconsistent. So I made sure to pack for every type of weather imaginable. I fit everything I needed to in a carry-on for 2 weeks in Belgium!

In the end we were extremely lucky with the weather, as I was expecting a lot of rain and much lower temperatures. Instead, we had beautiful sunny days every day. The mornings were a bit cooler and it ended up warming up in the afternoons. The temperature ranged from 10 degrees Celsius all the way to 24. 

Following my rules, I packed 2 pairs of pants and shoes. As you can see I packed my black jeans along with plaid pants. So I made sure to pack enough shirts to go with the plaid pants, and for those that didn’t, I had my neutral black jeans. In terms of reusability, I packed a simple white blouse which could be worn first at night and then for touring the next day. 

How To Pack In A Carry-on For 2 Weeks in Ireland & UK

This was probably the hardest vacation I’ve ever had to pack for in a carry-on. With such a high possibility of rain, and the need for layers with cooler temperatures it really complicated it to the point where I almost couldn’t fit it all. 

I went to Ireland for a few days, then headed over to visit London and Edinburgh.  Since I was there in mid-May, the weather averaged about 10 degrees to 15 degrees Celsius during my trip.

I always wore either my cargo or puffer jacket with an extra sweater underneath. And if I needed to, I would wear a Kayway windbreaker on top.  For this trip I also packed leggings as an extra pair of comfortable pants for travel days. 

In the end, I managed to fit everything and still had room for my precious souvenirs (see my guidelines on buying one you won’t regret!). 

Let me know if you tried to pack in a carry on luggage for longer trips and how it went! Don’t forget to share if you like what you read!

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Planning Your Next Trip? Check Out My Other Travel Guides

• My Packing Tips
• My 11 Travel Essentials
• How I Plan My Vacations
• How I Book Direct Flights On A Budget
• My Photography Gear To Take The Best Group Photos
• How I Book A Great Airbnb

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Last update on 2024-04-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API