I’ll be the first to admit it: I’m terrible at packing light. City break? I’ll bring five outfits for two days. Beach trip? Somehow I’ve convinced myself I need four swimsuits and a different pair of sandals for each. But this summer, I finally managed the impossible: I fit my entire holiday wardrobe into cabin luggage, and I didn’t even need to sit on it to zip it up.
The secret? A combination of travel mistakes, clever packing hacks, and one very roomy cabin-size suitcase that actually meets Ryanair’s 20kg suitcase rules (miracle, I know). If you do need a large suitcase be sure to get one that is at least 24 inches or you can get a suitcase set of 3 that has the full range. You can read about the 10kg cabin suitcase airline allowances guide to get the various airline dimensions.
🇪🇸 The Turning Point: A Mallorca Mishap
On a recent trip to Mallorca with my family, I did what I always do — overpacked. Dresses for every occasion, half my shoe rack, and enough “just in case” tops to open a pop-up shop. My husband even threw in acrylic paints (spoiler: they never left the bag). But the real drama began on the way back — I’d bought three baskets. Big, beautiful, bulky ones.
I figured: why not carry them? So I stacked them inside each other like a travel-themed Russian doll and stuffed them with my essentials — passport, charger, lip balm, the works. Miraculously, I breezed through security. But the stress of possibly being pulled aside made me rethink things.
🧳 Goodbye Heels, Hello SPF
Travelling with just a 10kg suitcase means getting brutally honest about what you really need. First to go? Heels. They’re awkward, heavy, and I never end up wearing them. Next? Non-essentials like shower gel (buy it locally!) or that bulky tub of body cream.
Instead, I prioritised:
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A day moisturiser with SPF (two birds, one stone)
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Solid or balm cleansers that don’t count toward my liquid allowance
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A compact night cream
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Mini makeup essentials
Top tip: CeraVe’s SPF 50 moisturiser is a game-changer.
👚 Mastering the Art of the Roll
The golden rule? Roll everything. It saves space, reduces creases, and makes your bag feel bottomless. I also:
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Stuffed underwear into sandals
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Layered lighter clothes inside jackets
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Used the front zip-pocket of my case for flip-flops and my book
And yes — I wore the heaviest items on the plane: jeans, knit jumper, and my oversized linen blazer. Chic and space-saving.
👨👩👧👦 Team Packing Mentality
If you're travelling with someone who packs light (looking at you, husband), don’t be shy — borrow a bit of space in their bag. I managed to sneak an extra dress and my mini hair straightener into his luggage. It’s a team effort, right? Or you can rea our post on how to fit an entire weekends packing into a 10kg suitcase.
Also, make sure everyone’s maximising their carry-on limit. If you’re flying with Ryanair or a similar airline, knowing what you’re entitled to makes a huge difference. For longer trips, you can always upgrade to a 20kg suitcase — just pack smart and split things between bags if you're going as a group.
☀️ Bottom Line
Packing light isn’t just about saving space — it’s about travelling with less stress. No more sweating at the check-in desk. No more awkward re-shuffling on the terminal floor. Just easy, breezy arrivals, with your wardrobe (mostly) intact.
If you’re gearing up for a weekend escape or a sun holiday, check out our full range of lightweight cabin bags and luggage solutions over at suitcasesireland.ie Trust me — if I can pack light, anyone can.