What a Man Packs for 13 Days in England, Scotland and Ireland: A Practical Carryon List

This brief summarizes a real packing plan for a 13-day trip to London, Scotland and Ireland using only carryon luggage. The traveler, Mark, carried a 20" Rollink carryon as his main bag and a leather backpack he bought in Italy. The goal was to travel light and avoid checked luggage, but the post notes packing a man's larger clothing made that goal challenging.

Mark's main suitcase is a 20" Rollink carryon with a single large compartment. It folds for storage and has been used on prior trips. He also uses a leather backpack that holds his tablet, headphones, toiletry bag and one extra change of clothes for emergencies. For the plane, he planned to wear a long raincoat to save space.

Temperatures expected on the trip were roughly the 70s (F) in London and the 60s in Ireland. Given that range, the plan was to rely on layering: three plaid shirts that can be layered over t-shirts or Henleys, three Henleys that can be worn alone or under shirts, and two Champion T-shirts for rotation.

• Three nicer plaid shirts for layering and slightly dressier looks.
• Three Henley shirts to wear alone or layered.
• Two Champion T-shirts to rotate and wear more than once.
• Five pairs of pants: several cargo-style pairs, plus jeans. One pair of jeans would be worn on the plane, counting toward the total.
• Underwear packed in a packing cube (Fruit of the Loom), which occupied a lot of space.
• One windbreaker with a hood stored in the collar for rain or added warmth.

• Leather backpack storing electronics, toiletries and an emergency outfit.

Packing difficulties and practical notes

• Travelers trying a single-carryon approach for a near-two-week trip who are willing to rotate outfits and wear one set on the plane.
• People who prefer to avoid checked-bag waits and want an emergency outfit in their personal item.

Space will be tight. Expect to wear items multiple times, rely on mixing tops and bottoms, and plan for limited footwear. If more wardrobe variety or bulkier items are needed, upgrade to a larger checked bag or a lighter, compressible weekender.

Using a 20" carryon and a backpack, Mark packed enough for 13 days by prioritizing layering, limiting shoes, and accepting that clothing bulk reduces outfit variety. For future trips, a medium-sized checked bag or lighter soft-sided luggage would reduce the packing strain.