This isn’t really a blog post. This is more of a “Poe Pat-on-the-Back” post because I really do believe I packed the most perfect suitcase for our recent trip to Norway and I just have to brag about it.

(Plus, I’m obsessed with packing and packing hacks – including this one for how to fold a puffer jacket, which I used and can attest, is incredible — and I am constantly trying to improve my packing strategies.)

We have been carry-on only for about 12 years now, since our checked suitcases (embarrassingly large, checked suitcases in retrospect) were mislaid on my 40^th birthday trip to Australia. We had some flight changes from Australia to Thailand and our bags did not make it to Thailand until the last morning of our stay.

Luckily, we suspected the flight changes might screw us and we also re-packed a shared carry-on with a change or two of clothes, our bathing suits, and toiletries, so we were fine. But we spent our time in Thailand worried about our luggage, which is such a bummer.

On that trip, we realized we were fine with our limited clothes, even in sweaty, hot-as-hell Thailand, so why not just travel with less? We’ve been to six continents and more than 30 countries with just our carry-ons and we have never looked back.

But I won’t lie: the secret to carry-on travel success? It’s hotel laundry. I will pay whatever it costs to send clothes out for laundering on a long trip. It’s totally worth it, when it’s available. And on some vacations, such as safari, it’s actually included.

For this 17-day trip, we stayed in small, boutique hotels, which did not offer laundry. So, on days six and 12, we booked Airbnbs with washers and dryers to do our own laundry (and we packed detergent sheets).  

With Norway, I started with what activities we’d be taking part in – hiking, biking, city walking tours, time in the car, a couple of internal flights, and a couple of nice dinners.

From there, I usually start with the shoes I think will work best on a trip. Deciding on your shoes will basically determine what the rest of your outfit is going to be. Since so much of this trip would be walking and other outdoor activities, I bought some new Danner waterproof boots (We love Danners hiking boots and have had like three pairs at this point). I also took a pair of black slides for the dinners and a pair of flip-flops for hot tubbing/sauna-going. That’s it. Three pairs of shoes (if you count the flip-flops)

With the shoes decided, I packed mostly hiking wear for the rest of the clothing, including hiking pants (2), tech tees (2 short and 1 long sleeved), a fleece-lined pullover, hiking socks, and sports bras (2).

For city/airport days, I took a pair of olive pants, a black henley, and a button-up denim shirt. For dinners, I took two silky tops, one black zip-up cardigan, and a pair of black jeans. Plus underwear and non-hiking socks.

We knew it could be cold and rainy, so I made sure to take plenty of cold-weather gear, including a rainjacket, a quilted vest, and a puffer jacket. I also took a pair of thermals, some warm gloves, my ear muffs, and a couple of hats (a beanie and a baseball cap). We also took some foot warmer pads, but thanks to my Danners, I never needed them.

For hanging around the room and relaxing, I took a pair of pj joggers, a long-sleeve tee, tank tops (2), and some warm slipper socks. Plus, a bathing suit for hot tubs/sauna. And, of course, toiletries, but I’ve got that down to a pretty minimal routine for travel as well.

The real all-stars of the trip were my black zip-up cardigan, which I got on our trip to New Zealand in 2019 and is made of “possum merino.” It is soft and unbelievably warm for its weight, but it is also bulky as hell to pack (as most sweaters are, which is why I only took one), so I usually stuffed it into my tote/backpack and pulled it out as needed.

Also, my quilted vest worked overtime as an extra layer underneath my raincoat or puffer jacket or on its own over just about every shirt I brought. I think I wore it the most of everything.

This was also the first trip where I used packing cubes. The jury is still out for me on those. It wasn’t much of a space saver for me (I’m a roller packer, which I think saves the most space), BUT it was convenient to have all my cold weather accessories in one, easily acceptable place (same with my pjs and underwear, which were kept together in my other packing cube).

Needless to say, I wore every single thing I packed, multiple times. And, because it was so cold, on some days, I wore a lot of items, layered together, all at once. But nothing went unworn and I felt appropriate and comfortable in every situation, which is why this trip was such a packing win for me.