Carrying on: a practical primer to traveling with two bags or less - includes related article on packing tips

Men's Fitness, Nov, 1998 by Kevin Foley

The most experienced travelers, the ones with the million-mile club memberships, pride themselves on adaptability - and cynicism. During endless waits for delayed flights and countless trudges across airport concourses as broad as African savannas, they have distilled the packing process down to a simple, harsh law: There are two kinds of bags, carry-on and lost.

And so, whenever possible, they travel only with what they can carry. Following their lead means you can arrive 15 minutes before your departure time without stress. At your destination, it means you can escape from the airport without waiting for the carousel to laboriously extrude your luggage. Most important, going carry-on means that the airline's baggage handlers will never get the chance to bend, fold, spindle or otherwise mutilate your valuable belongings.

The price of convenience and security is traveling light. Very light. This kind of packing economy requires preparation; without it, you'll spend five minutes tossing your entire wardrobe ("just to be safe") into a dirigible-size duffel, then four hours terrorizing flight attendants and fellow passengers. (That's if you're lucky: Airline crackdowns on oversize carry-ons mean you'll probably be forced to check your behemoth bag after you've lugged it all the way to the gate.) And when you and your monstrosity finally get where you're going, seams bulging and armpits trickling, you'll discover that you've forgotten your deodorant. Quick overpacking invariably leads to such crucial omissions, even as you end up toting useless but well-intended gear like Tolstoy anthologies.

So, like everything worthwhile in life, flying the one-bag way requires forethought and self-knowledge. A proper bag and professional packing technique are also helpful. The most important quality of all, though, is ruthlessness. "If you're thinking 'I might need this,' you're likely mistaken; if it's 'I can't survive without this,' you may be right," writes Doug Dyment, publisher of the excellent website Doug Dyment's Compleat Carry-On Traveler (www.oratory.com/travel/). "But I have yet to hear someone returning from an extended trip who vows to bring more stuff next time."

The next time you travel - for business or pleasure, for a weekend or a week - heed Dyment's words. And follow our advice. We've interviewed professional packers and frequent fliers to put together a guide that covers the essentials of packing: what to bring, what to bring it in and how to make all your stuff fit.

What to bring

"You always forget the little things," says Judith Gilford, author of The Packing Book (Ten Speed, $9). Gilford fights this tendency by spending some quiet time making a list the day before she packs. Imitate her. Think of what you'll need for the events of each day from top to bottom - doing so will ensure that you don't end up playing tennis in dress socks. (Once you make a list for a trip, save it. It'll make planning easier the next time.)

If you travel often, save list-making time by keeping a pre-packed toiletry kit at the ready. Pick a flattish one with a plastic-lined interior; they're easier to pack. (A big locking freezer bag also works.) Stock the kit with the inexpensive trial-size items available at any drugstore, and don't try to lug all of your medicine cabinet's comforts. You probably really need only disposable shaving stuff, conditioning shampoo, a brush, whatever styling products you use, multi-purpose (body, hair, laundry) soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss and deodorant.

Nailing down the toiletries in advance gives you more time to think about clothes. A typical carry-on bag can accommodate a maximum of eight to 12 items, so pick wisely. Choose everything in coordinating colors (beige and navy; white, black and almost anything; gray with white and navy) so you can easily mix and match outfits.

Gilford recommends a "minimalist" wardrobe for men of one suit (or jacket and slacks), one or two additional pairs of slacks that match the jacket, two short-sleeve shirts (collared polo-style shirts are more flexible than T-shirts), two long-sleeve shirts and a sweater. Toss in a few sets of underwear, two to seven pairs of dress and athletic socks, and whatever belts and ties you need, and you're almost ready to go. Bring no more than three pairs of shoes - one dress pair, one pair of athletic/walking shoes and a pair of sports sandals if the climate's right.

Shape this wardrobe for your needs, but again, be sure not to go overboard. You don't want to be stuffing your dress shirts inside your shoes 15 minutes before your flight.

What to bring it in

Some travel experts turn choosing luggage into a bizarre religion. (Sometimes more: Laurel Cardone, author of How To Pack (Fodor's, $9), writes, "Is your choice of suitcase less important than choosing a mate?" She doesn't seem sure of the answer.) Ignore them, and follow these simple rules instead.

Unless you're going away for a night or two on business or to a formal occasion such as a wedding, ditch the garment bag - they're bulky and don't hold much. If your trip is more laid back - a family jaunt for the holidays, a bonefishing weekend in the Bahamas - take a duffel bag. More expensive but more versatile is Gilford's favorite kind of carry-on: a 22-inch rectangular "wheelaboard" crew-style bag with wheels and a telescoping handle.