If you’ ve been looking at all your stuff and wondering how to pack for cold weather in a carry on then you’ ve come to the right place! This is all the stuff I actually pack for winter travel, after several years of travelling through Europe in winter and having to pack for winter only! One day I’ ll chase the summer …
Winter coat
So this isn’ t actually IN the bag, but part of the way I save room in my carry on when I travel in winter is by taking only one winter coat and wearing it! Its good to have something waterproof, but I actually have a 100 % wool coat and it’ s done me well so far. If I know that a place is particularly rainy( hello United Kingdom) then I also have a lightweight but waterproof raincoat that I can roll up in my carry on.
Look for something that works for the city and the country. I have something similar to one of these Craghoppers jackets that’ s for both the city and exploring outdoors. I also strongly believe in hoods, always. If you get caught in the rain, or without a hat and it’ s freezing they are the best thing ever!
Warm and waterproof boots
Also not in the bag … one pair at least anyway! Depending on where you’ re travelling and your plans, you need a comfortable pair of shoes. If you’ re travelling in winter, you also need a warm pair! I like to go with boots since they’ re often waterproof and warm and if you buy a slip on or zip version they’ re easy to take on and off at the airport. Try a pair of thinner but warm woollen socks, like Smartwool socks, to keep your feet warm in your boots!
There are so many styles to choose from and you can get away with wearing them in the day and out at night too. If I have space and depending on how long I’ m travelling for I’ ll take a second pair of winter boots in my luggage so I can switch them out. But if it’ s a winter weekend away with just a carry-on, one pair of boots is enough. Check the grip as well, and add extra grip if you need it.
If it’ s not so cold where you’ re travelling or you need shoes for hiking or some outdoor activity, just wear your boots at the airport so the smaller pair is in your bag.
Scarves and hats
I have a confession. I’ m a little obsessed with scarves. At one point I had over 30 scarves! Moving countries several times has forced me to narrow this down to the bare favourites, but the collection may or may not be growing … shhh.
I usually take two scarves and two hats when I travel in winter because they’ re small enough to fit in carry on only luggage but can really make a difference to your look( and warmth!). It’ s a great way to make an outfit look different, even if you’ re wearing the same coat and boots every day. My favourite kind of hat is a slouch sort of beanie, which stops me getting hat hair and goes with everything.
Gloves
I love the touchscreen winter gloves that have the tips that let you still use your smartphone, and they never leave my bag. Essential for travellers in winter! The other option is the ones that have fingerless gloves with mittens over them, which I also like but always end of leaving the mitten bit off to take photos when I travel in winter and have freezing fingertips!
Thermal layers
Thermals aren’ t exactly the sexiest of clothes, but they are definitely necessary for winter travel, especially if you’ re doing anything outdoors. Brands like Icebreaker or Patagonia. They may be on the more expensive side but they’ re built to last and you’ ll be thankful when it’ s negative temperatures and you’ re trying to see the Berlin Wall!
Other clothes …
I’ m copping out on the title of this paragraph because a lot of the rest comes down to personal choice. I like to wear jeans, so I usually wear one pair and take another. Some people hate jeans though, so then I would suggest thermal tights( also easily packable!) and a couple of different skirts or warmer dresses that look good with tights and boots.
I also hate tops with sleeves so always wear a sleeveless singlet top( vest top, tank top, whatever they call them where you’ re from …). I take one for every day and then layer with cardigans or sweaters. That gives me plenty of options! Sweaters are bulky, so try to think warmer thinner layers, and maybe just one big sweater you can wear again. Check the material because something like a cashmere sweater will be warm but less bulky.
Purse / Handbag
Most airlines allow you to take a second smaller bag in addition to your bigger carry on. I like to take a medium sized handbag with a zip because it works for during the day and in the evening. In the day I can put my laptop and camera accessories in it if I want to head out to work somewhere, or I can shove my hat and scarf inside when I’ m indoors and it’ s too hot! If you have a lot of gear then another smaller camera backpack may be more ideal for you, but most of us can get away without it.
How to make carry on only packing work for winter travel
Layers
Basically, the key to winter travel with a carry on is layers. Aaaaaallllll the layers. One thing I’ ve noticed in Europe especially is that they like to heat all the shops, restaurants or malls to suffocation level in winter, so you go from freezing outside to hot inside. Layers mean you can manage this!
Also, it means more outfit options. A lot of the time when you’ re travelling you’ re outside exploring the sites. You need to be warm, but having all your photos of one place with you wearing the exact same thing is kind of dull. Since I usually only take one winter coat with me when I travel because I’ m carry-on only obsessed, bringing different hats and scarves is my number one tip for packing for winter travel. They can also be fairly cheap, AND they’ re light and take up hardly any room in your bag. Winning on all points. Also when you’ re inside, you can take off different layers as necessary.