I travel for 14 days at a time with just a carry-on suitcase

Maya Kachroo-Levine

I travel for weeks at a time with just one piece of luggage: a carry-on suitcase
My mantra is, if the product isn’t multi-purpose, it isn’t coming with me.
The first thing I eliminate is shoes—it’s the biggest space saver.

Checking luggage just isn’t for me.

It’s partially because I’m opposed to the notion that checking a bag should cost money, and partially because I worry about my suitcase getting lost. When I’m in a new place, it really grounds me to have my essentials in tow. And if my suitcase gets lost for the first few days of my travel, I’ll spend the trip feeling unsettled rather than exploring my new surroundings.

That being said, I try to always do long trips with only a carry-on. I once moved to France for six months with just a 30-pound checked bag, so packing for a two-week trip in a regulation-sized carry-on is a piece of cake. I’ve never Marie Kondo’d my life, but I love to Marie Kondo my packing list.

Here’s what my packed carry-on looks like for a typical two-week trip:

When it’s time to start filling the suitcase, I try to keep color palette in mind as much as possible so I can mix and match what I’ve brought. Most of the clothes I bring for travel are various neutral shades, black, or muted colors (like a slate gray or olive green), so they can be paired up interchangeably.

Here are my must-haves for a 14-day trip with only a carry-on:

1. Slip-on athletic shoes

Maya Kachroo-Levine

The biggest space saver, for me, is bringing fewer shoes.

I need one active pair of walking shoes that are also good for the plane, inter-country train travel, and long car rides. I swear by my Merrell Gridway Mocs, which are super-comfortable even for walking long distances, and easily slip on and off at airport security.

If I’m going on a trip where I’ll need a nicer pair of shoes, I’ll bring low-wedge sandals that can also pass as casual sandals. If there’s no need for a nicer shoe option, I’ll use Birkenstocks as my second pair of shoes.

2. Leggings that present well

Getty Images

I am a fan of versatile leggings that are good for a morning stroll around a new neighborhood, a run or hike, and plane wear. I’ll typically pack two pairs, just because I hate to continually wear my plane leggings. My go-tos are Lululemon’s Wunder Under High-Rise Tight, because they stay comfortable for an entire 12-hour flight, and somehow make me look put together when I land.

3. Soft jeggings

Jag Jeans

Are they tights? Are they leggings? Who knows, but coming from someone who likes to spend the bulk of their time at home in sweatpants, jeggings are the ideal travel pant, because you can do a whole day of walking-based activities in them.

Everyone has their own denim preferences of course, but the DL1961 Emma Power Legging Jeans are a personal favorite because they transition perfectly from daywear (sightseeing around town) to nightwear (for dinner or drinks).

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Source: Business Insider – feedback@businessinsider.com (Maya Kachroo-Levine)