Thirty-two flights on one carry-on and one day bag. No checked luggage since 2019, one bag gone (a gate agent, not my fault, but my fault anyway), and zero "I forgot my X" moments. Here's the exact system.
The bag
A 40-liter pack, not a suitcase — it compresses, it fits under every seat, and it survives being thrown. The day bag lives inside the main bag when not in use, so you always have a "just these" bag in the city.
The 10/3 rule for clothes
Ten tops, three bottoms, all in one color family, all machine-washable in a sink. Everything else is a decision I have to make in a hotel bathroom with a towel hanging over my head. Socks and underwear are the only category where I cheat — and only for trips over two weeks.
The tech caddy
One cable that does everything, one battery bank the size of a deck of cards, an e-ink reader (my whole "library"), and a paper notebook. The notebook is the whole point of the blog, which is a good reminder that you don't need a camera to see.
The things I always forget, so I keep them on the shelf at home
Adapters (one universal, never per country), a small lock (mostly psychological), a folded umbrella that fits in the water bottle pocket, and a spare set of keys to nothing — just in case. Also: a dollar bill for the hotel bagman in half the world's airports.
"Pack for the trip you're actually taking, not the one where it's 90 degrees and the itinerary goes perfectly."
The rule that saves everything
Whatever fits in your bag closed, fits. Whatever requires leaving the zipper open to "squeeze it in" is the thing you didn't need. It's been true on every single flight.
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