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Many TFG readers frequently ask what’s the secret to packing carry-on in the winter? I enjoyed a week in the snowy mountains of Deer Valley, Utah and managed to do just that! Find out how!
Packing Carry-On for Winter Travel
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Earlier this year I visited Park City, Utah for a week-long wintry stay in a Deer Valley cabin. Even though I wasn’t skiing, I wanted to bring cute cozy clothing to spend lazy days in the cabin, enjoying the view, and being surrounded by nature.
If you’re planning on hitting the slopes, find out what to pack for your ski trip adventures here!
In addition to my usual lightweight but warm winter clothes, I also brought clothing that was thick, plush, and more than I probably needed yet I still managed to pack carryon only!
My secret? Compression bags!
While I DO NOT recommend compression bags for fast paced multi-stop trips, they’re perfect for a single destination when all you have to do is unpack and repack one time. For more multi-stop trips, I always use a set of packing cubes and the Compass Rose ones are color and number coded so it’s easy to organize my clothing if I’m having to unpack and repack frequently.
TAKE A LOOK AT MY INSTAGRAM VIDEO BELOW TO SEE MY STEP BY STEP PROCESS AND LEARN HOW I USED COMPRESSION BAGS TO DOWNSIZE ALL OF MY WINTER GEAR:
View this post on Instagram
I used two compression bags plus one Compass Rose carryon size packing cube for all of the below items with my Delsey Turenne carryon suitcase.Note: Sadly, the Delsey Turenne 21” carryon size is sold out right now, but the Delsey Helium has a similar size suitcase here.
I seriously splurged on space and did not pack as lightly as normal. I took so much stuff.
Checking out Park City, Utah in my Columbia Carson Pass II Jacket, J Crew Cashmere Turtle Neck (similar), Zara Jeans, Ugg Boots (similar), and Winter Hat
This was my 1-week packing list for the snow:
- Columbia Carson winter jacket
- Old Navy Sherpa sweater
- Zella fleece sweater
- Cashmere V-Neck Sweater (similar)
- J Crew Cashmere Turtle Neck Sweater (similar)
- J Crew Tippi Merino Wool Sweater
- Angelina Fleece Lined Leggings
- Carovia Fleece Lined Leggings
- Zara Jeans
- Ice Breaker Thermal Top + Thermal Bottom
- Terramar Silk Thermal Top + Thermal Bottom
- Winter hat (similar)
- Winter Gloves (similar)
- Fleece Romper Pjs
- T-Shirt Bras, 2 Pair
- Underwear, 10 Pair
- Kirkland Merino Wool Socks, 3 Pairs
In the same suitcase, I packed my Ugg winter boots (similar), H&M blanket scarf (similar), and soft slipper socks. I also brought two short sleeve tops and Old Navy Flip Flops in case I made a last minute trip to LA after Utah (shown below).
Asos Short Sleeve Top and Zara Jeans
In addition to my Delsey Turenne carryon, I also brought the Nomad Lane bag as a personal item. Inside of that I packed:
- Passport
- Cell phone and charger
- Down jacket
- Gloves
- Flat iron
- Makeup bag
- Rebecca Minkoff Crossbody purse with my wallet
- Toiletry bag
- Sunglasses
- Extra mask
- Laptop and charger
- Personal essentials including wet wipes, hand sanitizer, medication, chapstick, etc
Soaking in nature in H&M Faux Fur Jacket, Zara Jeans, Ugg Boots (similar)
On the plane I wore my heaviest items combined with one of my favorite airport top combos including:
- H&M faux fur coat
- Sorel snow boots
- Merino wool socks
- J. Crew tee layered under an H&M blouse
- Zara Jeans
I flew Southwest Airlines and had no problem bringing the above items on board the plane. No need to check bags, even if they are free!
It’s important to note that another reason I wanted to travel with a small suitcase is because I was traveling with five other people, some of which were skiing, and four of which checked bags. As you can see in the above pic, even though we rented a large Suburban to drive from Salt Lake City airport to Deer Valley, a group of six people plus coats, luggage, and personal items quickly got cramped.
That’s one of the many reasons it’s beneficial to pack carryon only for road trips despite the fact that you don’t have airline baggage restrictions—because if you’re traveling with others, there’s no guarantee how they’ll pack, so packing less means more leg room for you!
Overall, I managed to pack carryon only even with an abundance of bulky winter clothing. That’s a win in my book!
How do you pack for one-week away at a colder destination? Share your thoughts below!
For more tips on how to pack for cold destinations, please read:
- What to Wear in Winter and Stay Warm when Traveling
- Winter Packing List for Cold Weather
- Carry-on Plus Size Packing List for 2 Weeks in Winter
- Save Suitcase Space with these Winter Packing Tips
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Love this!! I’m planning my clothing and stuff for my first Alaskan cruise! Definitely going to get some vacuum bags! Great video too!
Can you post a link to the size compression bags you used. There are several sizes with the pump and I wasn’t sure which one to order if I decide I would do this.
Hi Liana, these are the compression bags I brought (Amazon #CommissionsEarned): https://amzn.to/3FaKHNd
You get a variety of sizes so you can try out which one works best for you!
Which Nomad Lane bag did you use?
Hi Denise, I traveled with the Jet Black and Silver: https://bit.ly/37Scnbr You can learn more in TFG’s review: https://www.travelfashiongirl.com/nomad-lane-bento-bag-review/
If you are interested you can save 10% off with the code: TFG10! ?