While lifting weights at the gym may be healthy, hefting your overstuffed luggage is NOT. Here’s how to pack everything you need for a one week trip in a 22” wide X 9” deep X 14” tall (the size mandated by airline regulation restrictions) carry-on, roll-on bag:

Plan Ahead:

• Use clear bags. Use plastic zip-lock freezer bags to pack undergarments and socks. They’re transparent (for faster safety inspections), inexpensive, and protected from spills.
• Buy miniatures. Buy sample sizes of deodorant, shampoo, and cosmetics.
• Think double duty. An oversized t-shirt that can be used for sleeping and as a pool cover-up. Consider a sports watch with an alarm instead of packing an alarm clock. Silk long johns are not only great for sleeping; if the weather turns unexpectedly cold or the convention hall puts the air conditioning on overdrive, you can slip them under your suit.
• Go with quick dry. Pack only one workout outfit made out of the new quick-dry, breathable materials. After your workout, wear them into the shower and then wring them out. They'll be dry by morning. Consider a microfiber sleepwear set, too, which can be washed and quickly dried.

Simplify Your Clothes:

• Pack a minimum number of outfits. You don’t need a different outfit for every day. Instead, select comfortable, wrinkle-resistant clothing you can mix and match. A wrinkle-resistant suit can be worn several days. Just pack a different shirt or blouse for each day. At least one should be a neutral colored, quick-dry shirt that can be washed

• in the hotel sink if your trip gets unexpectedly extended. Even for a two week vacation, you can get by with three bottoms, three tops, and three vests/sweaters/jackets if you select those that mix and match with each other.
• Keep to one color scheme. Pick from black, navy, brown, and olive since they’re professional-looking, don’t show dirt easily, and match with so many other colors. One color scheme will reduce your need for extra accessories like shoes, ties, belts, purses, and jewelry.
• Pack just one pair of dress shoes. Make sure they’re comfortable enough to wear every day (no high heels ladies). Avoid steel shanks which will stop you at the metal detectors.
• Then pack a pair of sneakers. You are going to workout, aren’t you?

Select travel-friendly,
wrinkle-free clothing:

• Stay away from 100% cotton. Look for microfiber or 60% cotton/40% polyester shirts. They’re breathable and more wrinkle-resistant. Get your dress shirts folded at the dry cleaner for easy packing. Cotton shirts, pants, and jackets now available with 3-5% lycra® - they stretch for comfort, are more wrinkle-resistant than 100% cotton.
• Do the wrinkle test. When shopping, give the all your clothes the wrinkle test before you buy – crush the fabric in your hand and release. If it’s full of wrinkles, don’t buy it! You don’t want to spend your evenings ironing, do you?
• Skip the winter coat. Instead, invest in a high quality, wrinkle resistant, lightweight all-weather coat with zip-in lining.

Happy travels!