How to Pack a Carry-On Bag (4 to 7 Day Trip) 

I’m personally a personal item one bagger. Most vacation trips only last a week and even if they go over a week all you have to do is laundry. So long as you remember to pack a hair brush, toothbrush and paste, deodorant, lotion and sunscreen, body wash and shampoo (if in an ABNB), charging cables, earbuds or headphones, and follow the 5 4 3 2 1 rule (5 socks and underwear, 4 tops, 3 bottoms, 2 shoes (one of which you’ll wear), and 1 hat) you’re good to go. That all fits in a 18x14x8 bag which is the standard personal item size. Especially if you pack one pair of pants and two shorts which double as swim trunks since it’s the summer and/or wear a versatile pair of shoes on the plane and have adventure sandals in your bag. Wear your bulky shoes, pants, and a rain jacket on the plane with accessories in the rain jacket pockets like sunglasses and you’ll be good to go in every season other than the winter in which you swap all shorts in your bag for pants and your rain jacket for a winter jacket (preferably a packable puffer). I also wear a waterproof hip pack for valuables with nothing in it at first that nobody ever counts as “an item” which I use as a day bag while my main bag stays at wherever I’m staying. Waterproof because sometimes I take solo trips to places with beaches and don’t want to leave stuff on a beach unattended.

During my teenage years I got into the fashion community because I wanted to dress better. I used to follow all the influencers you can imagine. But as time went by and I got older and wiser I stopped watching most of them. But I’ve always loved the Modest man. Being a modest man myself I always appreciated these videos and I hope you carry on doing what you are doing Brock.

I pack pretty much exactly likely that these days. I fidgeted with my packing technique endlessly for many years. Like I’d pack and repack multiple times before a trip in search of some perfect execution. I miss those days. Haven’t been on a plane in a while. My technique lately for outerwear is to just lay it in the bag on its back putting the collar up to the edge, and the just fold it to the full shape/size of the bag.

Great tips! 'm also using packing cubes before to separate my personal things from others until I bought this bento bag from Nomad Lane. This bag packs like a suitcase and it has compartments on the outside and easy-access pockets and it fits under the seat! So I can get anything I want easily.

I have been a traveler for decades. However, this video gave me some good tips. I will also purchase the luggage as well.

Going on a trip next month and I’ve been thinking about getting some new luggage. This looks perfect! Great informative video as always Brock.

Love this. Timely that I found this informative video for my 1-week trip to NYC next month!

Great delivery and straight to the point.

Packing cubes make life so much easier to pack. Just bring a travel steamer and you're done.

cool fireplace

Thanks so much Brock. Love that Carl Friedrik carry on bag and thanks for the 15% offer. I have taken this up and look forward to receiving the bag ready for travel!

Well...this sure helped! I laid out everything I would need for a four day trip. It’s less than your loadout but I couldn’t seem to get it all in. So happy I could your vid. Thanx.

Our favorite blogger and vlogger. Thanks Brock.

Traveling half this month...love this video.

Great video! The luggage looks next level too, I'm looking forward to when I can invest in that kind of product without a second thought.

My main things are: Ninja Folds and Rolls, and Packing Cubes for a Carry on & a Cross-body bag containing my Charles Doppelt kit, personal gear and EDCs, including 1 shirt, 1 underwear, 1 sock.

For this length of trip I would usually recommend to just have a backpack as you have less chance of getting your bag gate checked. If you still want to have a roller to not have to shoulder a backpack all the time, I would suggest you pack a slim daypack that can house your electronics in the case you have to gate check for full flights or planes with small overhead compartments. (Low likelihood for a frequent flyer I know, but better to have that option rather than to carry everything by hand).

Right on time! I'm going on a trip in two days and this advice is gonna help a lot

I get the 'folding' scenarios, and I also think it was a good , informative video. But I believe at the end of the day, the suitcase will always have the same 'total' capacity irrelevant to how something is folded (just like a bottle built to hold 1ltr of water, will not hold 1.5 ltrs). I do think more suitcase manufacturers should design the 'external' compartment that is shown in this video. I remember many years ago purchasing a three suite of suitcases (S-M- and a Large) for a weeks vacation. My ex- partner always used a carry-on and there was me with the 'Large' check-in. I have now learnt to accommodate my weeks vacation into a carry on with the addition of a backpack for any extras. It is so much better and quicker going through the airport and also transportin either end. So hopefully, I will be investing in a nice premium suitcase has a treat, that will be my go-to, seeing carry-on is know my way of travelling.

This video is gold - Thank you!

Awesome. I tend to fold everything as small as possible. Most of my destinations have ironing usage so wohooo 🎉

Have the exact Friedrik and love it.

Appreciate the video! Great tips!

Thank you for this video. Very helpful.

Great Tips!

Really love the color of your video

Very practical! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 I would add a small steam vertical iron or a spray and a hangee to remove wrinkles! Cheers!

Very useful video. Thanks

To remove wrinkles I hang my close in the bathroom with the show running (hot water only) and steam them, after 10 - 20 min I move them to the closet to dry and no more wrinkles

This is great, I was wondering if I could do carry on for our cruise this summer

That is a very good video. Thanks!

If one is a frequent traveller then definitely a more expensive, high quality bag is necessary. However, I've always chosen inexpensive bags (usually purchased at discount stores) and, as an occasional traveller, they have lasted many years...

awesome video!! 🤩

Great video and good timing for me since next month I’m going on my first trip in years. Watch collection update next? 👀

Loved the video. Got a few tips that I will use in future trips so thank you for posting. I recently bought a bag similar to the one you use (LEVEL8 Grace EXT 20") as my only travel bag after doing biz travel for over 20 years. It is not as nice as yours but it has similar features, an expansion section in the middle and it costs 1/3 of the CF. A few comments/tips that you may want to consider for a future video: 1 - A lot of your packing will depend on the industry you are in and where you are going. I travel throughout the Americas mainly Central America and the Caribbean so cold weather clothes don't really apply to me. I don't have to wear a suit/tie but I do need to wear a sports jacket. I also like to pack a pair of flip flops as i don't like to walk barefooted and a dirty clothes bag. 2 - Consider using compression packing cubes (there are tons of different brands) but they are a game changer as they allow you to maximize the space in your carry on bag 3 - You need to consider workout clothes if you like to exercise (I do because I have to monitor my weight). If you are going to have more than 1 workout during your trip you will need to pack 2 workout outfits ( each including shirt, shorts with liner, and socks). Why 2? Some hotel windows are sealed shut and no outside air comes in. If you only take 1 outfit it will not likely dry out after washing within 24 hours unless you use a hair dryer which is teeeeedious... 4 - Get a 3-1-1 bag for liquids specially if you travel to/within the US and place in your carry-on bag where it is easy to take out for airport security to see. 5 - The section of the bag where the handle bar mechanism is has spaces that can be leveled off/maximized by placing belts, socks, and small items. Take advantage of this unused space.! 6 - Bring a backpack. You will need it for stuff that you want next to you during your flight (passport, pens, biz cards, food items, medicine, gifts you may be bringing or taking back, water bottle etc), and take it to client meetings as you don't want to bring suitcase for those. I place the backpack under my calfs so I can fully extend my legs while sitting. I like to look sharp when I walk into a customer's office so I carry a multi-voltage travel steamer because I don't like wrinkles and I don't do ironing. Happy traveling.

Very helpful. Thanks 🙏🏾

Helped me a lot. Thank you🤝🏻

As a fellow medallion, this is a brilliant video. Cheers

Thanks

In Europe there’s a max weight. Unless your items are too light, there’s no way you could pack all of that under that weight.

You could make video How to Pack for 4 to 7 Day Trip (business trip) with every detail, what to pack. How to pack. To show combinations for: travel. Work 1st day, evening combination 1st day and etc… Video for summer period and winter period.

So weird that this got recommended to me hours before packing for a carry on only trip. Thank you modest man and thank you algorithm

Genius!

Thank you for the knowledge, followed your format and for the first time ever I'm able to travel with carry on only. Big change for me.

I had a handle fail on me. Bought a new one off eBay but then couldn’t screw it on properly, so it kept coming off! I eventually managed to attach it so that it didn’t keep failing but I would rather not have had to do DIY! Also, one of the bits that attaches to the main body of the case is black and the other one (original one) is silver so it looks a bit odd. I do love 360 wheels.

Thanks.

really nice creamy Poudre color for the sneakers

Like this video but more than that like his composure. Subscribed this channel.

Beautiful case but it weighs a whopping 4.3kg! With carry-on limit for most at 10kg and some as low as 7kg its a bit pointless as a carry-on tbh.

I just purchased a pro bag. It sounded too good. Thanks for the promo code

Brilliant advice. Appreciated folding method for blazer and jacket.

Thank you)Good video)

Really nice folding. Marie Kondo would be proud! ;)

Great tips regarding packing. I will try this stuff. I like the idea of that laptop compartment, but I would NEVER use it. Polycarbonate flexes, and one solid impact will destroy your electronics. More so if you have pens/chargers/AirPods upfront to smash backwards into the laptop. Just imho. The rest was excellent input.

Interesting video. I regularly pack a small 2 wheel roller underseater (regular carry on dimensions are too big for me) and backpack, both of which have been more than enough for my 2-3 month trips to Asia. Keep up the great work!

Looking for next Formal out fit

I spend a lot of time on the road and have assembled a 'capsule wardrobe' not unlike what you packed in today's video.

I like that you include the watch you’re wearing in the “shop the video” links

i love rolling clothes. my mom taught me that i think.

For me the big threshold for packing is whether I'll be staying overnight or not. Beyond that there isn't much difference for me. I pack exactly the same for 1 week or 2 months in Europe (I know it would be different in more "exotic" locales). I got to that point partially by experience and partially from schooling by Rick Steves :-) He says pack as little as you think you can possibly live with and then take only half of it. And in my experinece _even then_ there will be several (3 on average for me) items that I _never_ end up using/wearing. Bottom line is people overpack HUGELY for vacations. BTW, few years ago many international airlines have slightly reduced the carry-on luggage size. So if your carry-on bag is older, you may find yourself at the airport with a perfectly non-carry-on bag, to be checked in at a cool $100 extra or something of that sort. Mine is 20" x 14" x 7" and it sometimes would fit the carryon limit box at the check-in counter _just barely._

Fall is the more “realistic” season 😆

Just buy packing cube/compression cube system and your life will be MUCH easier.. no hassle, well organized, no messy, time saving

It isn’t compatible with any airline to carry on board. At least not in Europe nor in International flights from Europe and back.

Hi @Brock! Thank you for this and all your videos. Very interesting! Could you please tell me the travel toiletry brand? 😊

While on a weeklong trip, how do you pack any used/dirty clothes with still unused/clean clothes, especially when you’re always on the go?

Looks great, lotsa stuff, exceptionally packed however useless for carry-on for most airlines these days… 7 kgs limit for carry-on unless you fly first class.

Nice tips. I usually would need some gym wear and a pair of shorts and t for pjs and flip flops. The one thing I am curious is did the blazer go with the shirts and pants? I didn't see a white shirt.

Great bag! I’d there a lock for your laptop pocket?

I like this, but I find myself preferring soft carry-ons instead of hardcover ones. I would often take train rides back to my parents' in the past, and people's plastic carry-ons would bang like crazy in the collective luggage section. It can also be quite audible in a car boot, if you have other items with it. Finally, they're just heavier than one made from fabric. While the fabric will tear I would still prefer a fabric carry on myself. PS: I know you are reading these comments :) I noticed you have a new watch on which I don't think you've showed before. Time for a 2022 collection video? We're still waiting on that Orient 36mm review you promised us!

Do you have to remove the toiletries kit from the bag during the security screening? If not, how do you pack it?

I pack a few plastic garbage bags to put dirty laundry in so they don't mix with the clean stuff if you are moving from hotel to hotel.

One thing that bothers me about this carry-on bag is that the zipper where you keep your most valuable items (Aka your laptop and other electronics) has no lock or protection, meaning that if anyone steals it they can get easily take your most valuable items while the main compartment has double locks which seem like overkill.

My bag was featured in the movie lone survivor lol

My problem with packing in only carry on is that I also will be working out as well as filming during any trip. This adds workout clothes as well as csmera eqiupment. Also, From my experience, the more you fold things, the more air and space you are bringing into the packing. Wrinkles arent a problem, you can find irons in most places. Will check out the tip about the carry on brand though! /star alliance gold member

Each year I go to Japan (except for the last 2 years coz of covid). Each time I go to Japan I bring a tiny suitcase for a few clothes and necessities, and a bigger suitcase with nothing inside. By the end of my trip that big suitcase is almost bursting with all things I buy. Damn, I miss traveling.

My dude here basically made an ad for a $550 cabin bag 🤣 Thanks for the consumer advice.... I'll remember to pack my Dom Perignon when I place this bag into my Lambo

have you used MAHI leather bags before? are they well made?

Are you wearing a sweater or sweatshirt? It has features of both! What brand is it from?

Friedrik carry on luggage is comparable to Briggs & Riley and Travel Pro Elite?

Carl fredrik paid off a bunch of RU-vidrs, but we all know they secretly flex the Rimowa in real life lol

Thanks for this Brock. As far as questions, any recommendations for less expensive luggage?

Where I always fall down when just taking a carryon is having to have workout gear. Even if one goes away for just a week, one has to assume that one'll want to work out like 2 times - so that's 2 x shorts, 2 x workout t-shirts, 2 x workout socks, and (crucially) workout trainers/sneakers, as well as a sturdy waterproof bag to put the sweaty gear into. I (sometimes) even do skip the sneakers, because some people do weight lifting in their socks to improve balance - but then this limits me only to strength training, and I can't do cardio. Basically, this extra stuff tips the balance, and it becomes hard to get away with a carry on for a week trip... I manage, but only by washing stuff, which is annoying.

Hello Brock I frequently go for a month or so to Asia. For a month would you just use a carry on or would you use two bags. One checked and one to carry on. What do you think of a carry on like a Carl Fredick that you showcased and my Osprey Medium to Large backpack. Do you have a video for one month travel?

Hi! What's your black leather jacket here? Thanks!

well you see....! it good. but here my issue. where to find? the siveler contour with rotund corner made for my bats?

Is the battery ejectable? If not then it might pose a problem if/when it needs to be suddenly checked. I know some suitcases have electable batteries now for this.

Going to Disney in 2 months and planning to bring like 30 pairs of socks lol.

I just made Platinum Medallion hehe 🙃 My carry on just broke after 9.5 years of use. Looking for a new bag and seem to be having a hard time finding the right bag for me. Do you have issues fitting the laptop? It seemed to have gone in smoothly which is surprising as most hardshell bags have issue with front pocket. Thanks for video!

My idea of dressy is socks and shoes

is the carry on, the one that you take on the plane?

Nice 👍

Is the Carry On Pro size ok'd for the carry-on restrictions on Alaska of 22x14x9?

I just got the CF carry on pro but was surprised to not see the power bank / usb ports that you showed on yours?? That was one of the biggest reasons I got it, when I checked their website they don’t mention it either; how do you have it? Did they discontinue with power bank?

What about the active clothing and shoes? To be also able to go to the gym during those travel days …

Nice video thanks. Question that bag looks too thick? I thought that 9 inches thick is the max for carry on ,

May I know what are the dimensions of the cabin luggage you use

Hello, The link for the leather jacket is not currently active. Would you mind mentioning the brand or post a new link, so that I can check that out. Thank you!

I have a question. Have you taken a business trip where you leave the job/facility/seminar and go directly to the airport? I have taken a new job, never done the traveling thing before and my very first one I will be leaving the facility and going directly to the airport. fortunately it's only a one day assignment, so I can pack my essentials in what looks like an oversized purse.. but for some longer jobs, where I will be flying in and staying several days with no car, I am at a loss as to what the etiquette is pertaining to my carryon luggage... Roll into the job with it and just tell them what's going on? I am at a loss.

No lock on the laptop compartment? Can you fit a tsa cable lock

The thing is most airlines only allow a total of 7kg to bring for carry-on luggage and 1 small bag. I think your luggage is like already 3kg so we are left with 5kg