Hand Luggage Only? Challenge Accepted
- Ross Jones
- Jul 26
- 4 min read
The Allies Edit.
You: ready to see the world. Your bag: refusing to zip. Us: here to help.
If you’ve ever found yourself doing the airport-floor shuffle just to squeeze in one last outfit, this one’s for you. We're talking packing smart, not minimal, because you can travel light and still look like you stepped off the pages of a Pinterest board.
Whether you're away for 3 or 5 days, here's how to pack like a pro. Stylish, stress-free, and baggage claim–free.
Organise Like a Pro
Let’s be real, the key to nailing carry-on only travel is having a place for everything and everything in its place. So, before you even think about outfits, let’s pack like we’ve done this before (because we have):
Compression Packing Cubes
Roll your clothes, pop them in, zip them up, and then zip the cubes down. The amount of space you’ll save is wild. Plus, having a cube for clean clothes and one for “lived-in but still wearable” outfits? That's the life hack.
Clear TSA-Approved Liquid Bag
Forget raiding your kitchen drawer for that cloudy old sandwich bag. A clear, TSA-approved case saves you stress at security and looks like you’ve got your life together. (Even if you packed at 2am.)
Jewellery Organiser
Because nothing kills holiday glam faster than a ball of tangled gold chains and a rogue earring. We love this small, compartmentalised jewellery box, it’s elegant, easy to pack, and doesn’t leave you screaming while untangling a jewellery mess at 6am.
Pill/Vitamin Organiser
A pill organiser is one of those things you don’t think you need… until you’re trying to find that magnesium tab in a bag full of chargers and receipts. Ours is compact, cute, and stops you rummaging like a raccoon.
Toiletry Organiser
Hanging ones are a travel game-changer. Hook it on the back of the bathroom door and boom, your full routine is in one place. No more digging, no more spills. One of our team even used hers mid-layover in a café bathroom and emerged glowing. True story. She's a queen.
Hang it, zip it, pack it. Perfect for minis, skincare, and everything in between.
Tech You’ll Actually Use
We’re not here for tangled wires or dead devices at 30,000 feet. Here’s what goes in our personal bag every time:
Start with your backpack.
Not just any backpack, one with multiple compartments, a USB charging port, and enough space for tech, beauty, and your in-flight snacks. It needs to fit neatly under the airplane seat and still look good on your shoulder.
Now organise your cables.
Because digging for your charger while your phone hits 2% is a modern horror story. A slim cable wrap or tech pouch keeps your cords neat and exactly where you need them.
Earplugs are the unsung hero.
Loop earplugs are small, chic, and a lifesaver when you’re seated near the person who snores like a tractor. Don’t question it. Just pack them.
Universal plug? Non-negotiable.
You land in Paris. You forgot the adapter. The hotel only has one. Don’t be that person. A plug that works across the UK, EU, US, and AUS with USB ports is essential. One and done.
The 5-Minute Beauty Bag
Carry-on beauty isn’t about cutting corners, it’s about choosing smart, multi-tasking heroes.
Let’s start with scent.
A mini perfume atomiser keeps your go-to fragrance close without risking a full-size leak in your bag. Nothing worse than smelling like suitcase.
Hydrating face mist?
Yes, you’re that girl now. Hydrate mid-flight or refresh post-landing, it’s the glow-up that says “I totally slept” even if you didn’t.
Don’t forget your sleep mask.
You’ll thank yourself when someone three rows over starts watching a film with full screen brightness at 2am.
A little calm goes a long way.
An essential oil roll-on is a tiny bottle of zen. Rub a little on your wrists or neck mid-flight or during the boarding stampede. Breathe in. Carry on.
And finally, your skincare.
Stick to minis. Multi-taskers. An SPF that doesn’t leave a cast. This isn’t the time for a 9-step routine, it’s about the basics that do the most.
Style Without Overpacking
You can still look good without bringing your entire wardrobe. Here’s how we cheat the system (in style):
Start with outfits that work hard.
Think: linen co-ords, slip dresses, oversized shirts. They can be worn multiple ways and dressed up or down with accessories you actually have space for.
Pop in a foldable tote or packable day bag.
Perfect for exploring, beach days, or spontaneous market buys you swear are for gifts (they’re not).
Small, hands-free, and fits the essentials, passport, lip balm, sunnies and your “don’t talk to me until I’ve had coffee” energy.
A scarf or sarong = magic.
Wear it as a wrap on the plane, use it as a cover-up, lay it down at the beach. One item, endless uses. It’s your MVP.
Multi-use flats or travel slippers? Yes.
Your feet will thank you on the plane, in the hotel, and when you’re not hobbling back from dinner in the wrong heels.
The Essentials (aka Don’t Forget These)
Passport wallet = sanity.
Keep your documents, currency, and cards in one place. We’ve tried the ‘scramble in every pocket at security’ thing. It’s not cute.
Emergency stain remover pen or wipes. Because pasta. And clumsiness. And that one time someone else’s coffee ended up on your jeans. It happens.
The Allies Hand Luggage Packing Philosophy
For a 3–5 day trip with just cabin and personal bag allowance, here’s how we do it:
2 shoes max – one on, one packed
3 outfits that layer, repeat, and serve
1 outer layer – something versatile
A mini beauty capsule – only the best
All tech + wellness goes in your personal bag
Plane outfit = chic comfort – joggers, trainers, oversized hoodie, done.
Final tip? Pack like the version of yourself who always arrives calm, glowing, and looking suspiciously well-organised.
Because with the right pieces, hand luggage isn’t a compromise, it’s a flex.
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