Guides and tools: everything we publish about trahvl
Short answer
This page is the index for everything we publish on Travel packing: carry-on limits, packing maths and what actually fits. It lists every guide, tool and reference table in the order we would use them, and each one is written to answer a question rather than to fill a page.
New here? Start with the guides, then use the tools to check your own numbers before you buy anything.
Start here
| Step | What to do first | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Read the guide that matches your situation | /blogs/news/packing-cubes-vs-compression-bags |
| 2 | Run your numbers through the tool before you choose a size or a setting | /pages/which-one-to-buy |
| 3 | Check the comparison page for the exact item | /pages/which-one-to-buy |
Start with the guides
- Packing cubes vs compression bags: what actually saves space — Compression saves volume because it removes air. Cubes save very little volume and a lot of mess. The number that decides which you need is the depth of the sizer your airline uses
- What to pack in a carry-on, by trip length and season — Clothing quantities stop scaling with trip length after about a week. Here is the count for each trip length, the four things a season really changes, and how laundry access resets the maths
- Carry-on size rules: the limits worth checking before you fly — The US working standard is 22 x 14 x 9 inches, set by each airline rather than by a regulator. European carriers use boxes from 40 x 30 x 20 cm up to 56 x 45 x 25 cm. The depth and the weight limit are what catch people
Compare what we stock
- Which one to buy: every option we stock, compared — every option we stock, with price, type and who it suits
Run your own numbers
- Which one to buy: every option we stock, compared — enter your own numbers and get an answer, with the method shown
- Packing list generator: quantities, volume and weight for your trip — enter your own numbers and get an answer, with the method shown
- Carry-on size and weight checker: 23 airline cabin limits — enter your own numbers and get an answer, with the method shown
- How we research, check and correct these travel guides — enter your own numbers and get an answer, with the method shown
How we research and test
- How we research, check and correct these travel guides — our sourcing rules, what we refuse to do, and how to report an error
How this index is orderedGuides first, because they explain the trade-off. Tools second, because a number that applies to you beats a general recommendation. Reference tables last, for the details you check once. Nothing here is ordered by commission.