My caveat here is that I’ve only travelled with just hand luggage a handful of times (no pun intended). But I have a trip coming up and I’m determined to pack just hand luggage.

I know the airport I’m going to has a reputation for being a bit of a nightmare, so I’m trying to be prepared. And there’s something quietly liberating about travelling with just hand luggage.

No waiting at baggage reclaim. No lost suitcases. No dragging around more than you need. Just you, your essentials, and the freedom to move easily from place to place.

My mindset this time is that hand luggage travel isn’t about restriction, it’s about intention. Choosing what matters, packing smarter, and leaving space for the experience itself.

So whilst I’ve been getting my head around this, here are ten ways to nail hand luggage packing, without feeling like you’ve left half your life behind.

1. Pack for the Trip You’re Actually Taking

It sounds obvious, but it’s where everything starts.

Not every trip needs the same version of you.

A few days wandering a city isn’t the same as a slow beach escape. So instead of packing “just in case”, I try to picture the rhythm of the days ahead — what I’ll actually be doing, how I want to feel.

And I pack for that version of the trip.

2. Choose a Bag That Works With You, Not Against You

The right hand luggage makes everything feel easier.

Something light enough to lift without thinking. Spacious, but not oversized. Easy to move through crowded stations, uneven streets, or long airport corridors.

When your bag feels manageable, the whole journey does too.

3. Build Around a Simple Colour Story

I used to pack individual outfits.

Now I pack pieces that belong together.

Soft neutrals, a few familiar tones, things that layer easily — so everything works with everything else. It takes away that feeling of “I have nothing to wear”, even when you’ve packed less.

And it means you can dress without overthinking it.

4. Fold Less, Roll More

It’s a classic tip for a reason.

Rolling your clothes saves space, reduces creasing, and makes it easier to see everything at a glance. Pair it with packing cubes if you like a bit of organisation (I always do), and your suitcase will feel surprisingly spacious.

There’s also something oddly satisfying about it. I like knowing I can open my suitcase and see everything at a glance — no digging, no unpacking just to find one thing.

5. Keep Liquids Small (and Simple)

Hand luggage has its limits, and liquids are usually where you feel them first.

So I keep it minimal, travel sizes, refillable bottles, just the essentials. It makes security quicker, and it reminds me that I don’t need my full routine to feel like myself.

Most places have what you need if you forget something.

6. Wear the Things That Take Up Space

The heaviest shoes. The thickest jumper. The coat you’ll need later.

They don’t need to live in your suitcase.

Airports are rarely the place for comfort over style anyway, and once you’re through, layers can come off just as easily.

7. Think in Layers, Not Outfits

Outfits can feel limiting when you’re packing light.

Layers give you options.

A simple base, something to throw over it, something warmer for later — it shifts easily with the day. From morning coffee to evening walks, without needing to change completely.

It’s less about having more, and more about using what you have differently.

8. Let Go of “Just in Case”

This one still catches me out sometimes.

That extra dress. The second pair of shoes. The “maybe”.

But the truth is, most of those things stay untouched. And they take up space that could have been left open, physically and mentally.

If you really need something, you’ll find it along the way.

9. Keep the Important Things Close

There’s a quiet kind of ease in knowing exactly where everything is.

Passport, boarding pass, phone, headphones — the things you reach for without thinking. I always keep them in a small bag that stays with me, separate from my main luggage.

It makes transitions smoother. Less searching, less stress.

10. Leave Room for What You’ll Find

This is something I still struggle with, but it makes a difference.

Leaving room in your bag means space for souvenirs, local finds, or just the unexpected. Travel isn’t just about what you bring with you, but what you bring back.

Because part of travelling is discovering things you didn’t expect — something small from a local shop, something you didn’t plan to bring home.

Or even just the feeling of not carrying everything so tightly.

A little space makes all the difference.

Final Thoughts

Hand luggage travel isn’t about cutting back for the sake of it.

It’s about choosing what matters, and letting the rest fall away.

There’s something freeing about moving through a journey without excess. About knowing everything you need is already with you, and that it’s enough.

And somehow, when your bag feels lighter, the whole experience does too.