How to Pack a Carry-on Suitcase for a 5-Month Trip

If packing a carry-on sometimes is a challenge, you can imagine for a five-month trip…

Yeah, the start of my longest trip to date is finally here.

I’m going to Southeast Asia for five months and visiting Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, India…

I believe this is going to be one of the most important journeys of my entire life, and I’m getting so excited. OMG!

So much to do… draw up itineraries, make reservations, contact overseas friends, and also… packing. Surely, I can’t be the only one who gets excited but also a little overwhelmed about an upcoming trip.

I’ve gone to Europe twice with just a carry-on: once for a month and once for 40 days! In fact, the last time I took a trip with a big suitcase was in 2010. Then I went to 10 countries in 35 days, and I was constantly pulling my luggage on the streets of the old continent. Never again!! Ever since then I’ve been traveling light.

But this time is different. Five months. That’s more than 150 days! It’s long-term travel with a carry-on only and a backpack.

It always surprises me when I see people taking a big suitcase for just a few days. Filled with too many shoes and clothes that they won’t even have a chance to wear… So many people don’t know how to pack and waste a lot of time, energy and money.

That’s why I decided to write this post and make a video packing for southeast Asia to share my packing skills with you, so next time you go away, for 5 days, a month or more, you will know how to pack to travel light.

How to Pack a Suitcase For a Month or More

1 – Pick lightweight fabrics

We all have clothes of different fabrics and weights, but when we travel, we should definitely select the lightest ones.

Forget that thick cotton t-shirt and choose a lighter one. Denim may be easier to match but chino trousers are much lighter and more comfortable.

Oversized jacket? No way. Select a few long-sleeved shirts as a base, then layer sweaters and a looser, lighter jacket. For me, cashmere is the best option if you’re packing for a cooler destination.

I’m lucky because the weather is warm in Southeast Asia, and I’m taking mostly shorts and t-shirts. But I will also take a few shirts and even a blazer, albeit a summer one.

2 – Choose items that coordinate

If you truly want to travel light, you must make your wardrobe work twice as hard. That means choosing items that are easily paired with each other to give you multiple options.

Avoiding distinctive logos, novelty designs and fabrics like rubber and leather that will limit your options is a good way to go. And choose simple, understated jewelry that can be worn with different outfits.

Even if you love bright colors as I do, you can incorporate some into your wardrobe, but remember to mix them up with neutral tones. For example, I would combine a neutral t-shirt with a bright pair of shorts or trousers, and vice-versa.

3 – Choose the right shoes

You don’t need to be a frequent traveler to know that the wrong pair of shoes can ruin your day.

For sightseeing, exploring and basically wandering around all day, you need comfortable shoes. So, forget high heels, rain boots, or flat shoes with no support, and stay away from all-white trainers that will just get dirty.

Generally speaking, the key is to pick comfortable and supportive shoes in neutral and darker colors.
And how many pairs of shoes you should take? No more than two or three: one pair of dress shoes and one pair of comfy shoes.

I’m taking two pairs of shoes: athletic shoes that I can wear with shorts for sightseeing, exercising and outdoor activities; and a sneaker that I can wear with shorts and trousers.

Backpack vs Suitcase

It’s very common to see people taking a trip like this with a backpack. And you might be wondering why I’m traveling with a carry-on instead.

The main reason is in a suitcase, items are much more organized, easy to find and with fewer wrinkles than those in a carry-on backpack.

The other reason is that if you have a suitcase that fits in the overhead lockers of the airplane, you may not even have to check it, thus saving time and money. That is much harder to do with a 20L backpack.

I recently got a Gomatic 30L backpack and for me, it’s a game-changer. This one is much easier to pack: you can lay it flat and it opens fully, making your belongings more organized and you can reach them when needed. It’s has a carry-on size and perfect for a 2 to 4-day trip, as well as support for long-term ones.

How to Pack Your Clothes and Shoes in a Suitcase

After selecting the clothes wisely, you can follow this step-by-step on how to pack a carry-on suitcase properly.

1 – Starting placing all the clothes on the bed and folding collared shirts as you see them in the stores.

2 – If you are wondering how to pack shoes in a suitcase, stuff them with folded sock balls to save space, and keep the shoe’s shape. Place shoes from the heel-to-toe side by side and use rubber bands to keep them together.

3 – Use vacuum bags to compress the clothes, it will take up less room in your suitcase and keep you organized. Alternatively, to vacuum bags, you can use packing cubes, and here is the best packing cubes guide.

4 – Put similar and light clothes together. For pants and shorts lay them on alternating sides.

5 – Start packing the shoes on a side of your suitcase. Make sure to conserve space to put your toiletries bag on the side, and place odd-shaped items between the frames of the suitcase, such as chargers, cords, etc.

6 – Place the heaviest items at the bottom of the suitcase, followed by lighter ones.

7 – To finish, place items such as underwear and swimsuits, in any pockets, zippered areas or spaces there aren’t filled yet.

* Remember to use the available space in the smartest way possible. Packing can slightly vary depending on your suitcase design.

My Long-term Travel Packing List – Male

I’m listing all the things that I’m taking on this trip, so you can have a better idea of how many items one can fit into a 15kg carry-on case.

If you’re packing a 10Kg hand luggage for a month, I suggest reducing the number of beach shorts, t-shirts, polos and tank-tops. You may also consider not taking the summer blazer.

• Shorts: 5
• Beach shorts: 5
• Trousers: 2 Pairs
• Tank-tops: 7
• T-shirts: 10
• Shirts: 4
• Polo: 4
• Blazer: 1 Summer Weight
• Shoes: 3 Pairs (2 sneakers and 1 flip-flop)
• Underwear: 11
• Socks: 8 Pairs
• Swimsuit: 3
• Backpack: 1 foldable backpack
• Bracelets: 5
• Cases for cell phone: 2 (1 for running + 1 waterproof)
• Toiletries bag: 1
• Shampoo: 1
• Conditioner: 1
• Leave in for the hair: 1
• Soap for the face: 1
• Deodorant: 1
• Lip protectant: 1
• Toothbrush: 1
• Toothbrush case: 1
• Facial pomade: 1
• Razor: 1
• Razor Blades: 2
• Shaving gel: 1
• Perfume samples: 2
• Sleep mask: 1

That is what is going into my carry-on suitcase, leaving my backpack for my travel accessories, electronic gear, personal effects and paperwork.

Those two bags are more than enough to let you spend a month in any destination, and I’m betting that it will also be enough for the five months that I’m spending in Southeast Asia.

• Suggested read: How Much is it to Travel for Six Months in Southeast Asia?

Traveling with too many bags can cost you time and money, and every additional bag increases your chances of having a piece of luggage lost or stolen – a nightmare for every traveller.

For these reasons, learning how to pack a suitcase wisely will not only save you time and money but also make your trip much easier and enjoyable.

However, it always pays to have travel insurance, which can literally be your lifeline if your luggage is lost or stolen. I always use World Nomads Travel insurance for independent travellers. It’s easy to buy, extend & claim online, even after you’ve left home. Get yours here.

Safe travels!

Watch the Video: How to Pack a Hand Luggage