Packing Sensibly For A Gig With Just Hand Luggage

Like most people, I massively over-pack when I’m going away but I have had to learn to cut back A LOT when going abroad for a gig and only having hand luggage to take my clothes and things I need. Not just because of my size, my clothes take up a lot more room in a bag than someone who is smaller, but also it's become ever harder with airlines restricting hand luggage allowance.

Check the weather
And don’t underestimate the temperature as I thought I would be ok in November in Helsinki and seriously didn’t put on enough layers. I had 3 layers on, but it was nowhere near enough, it was so cold that I had to keep walking around and still got cramp in my thighs. What I should have done was have my super thick hoodie, extra vests and a few pairs of thermal leggings as I could have worn the hoodie on the flight and the whole time I was outside so it would never have gone in my hand luggage.

Get thermals for super cold weather
I love my thermals, since I got them, I have worn them out in some really cold weather and barely felt it. Thermals are meant to be worn under clothes but if you wear them for when you are in the queue for a gig, there are 2 ways to wear them. Under your clothes and you run the risk of them making you really hot during the gig or over your clothes so that once you get into the gig, it will take you 2 minutes to get them off so you don’t overheat during the gig. Having thermals will also save you packing multiple pairs of leggings, jeans or trousers. Sometimes I have even just worn my thermals instead of wearing them under jeans or leggings and they have still kept me warm. Plus, hand warmers are amazing, get a few packets before you go.

Get little toiletries bottles
You can easily get these from Amazon and they are just the right size if you are going away for a few days. Just fill each one with your shampoo, conditioner or shower gel and you don’t need to worry about going out when you get to your destination to buy toiletries. Just remember that you need to keep them under 100ml and to write on the bottles with a sharpie to say what is in them. You can also get mini versions of toiletries from Amazon or at the airport if you would prefer and they are usually under 100ml. If you have absolutely no room in your bag of bottles, you can always buy them in a shop near your hotel once you get there.

But, if you really don't have the room in your bag, take out toiletries that you know you can buy at your destination. Most supermarkets do travel sized toiletries so you don't have to pay out lots of money for a big bottle that you are only going to use once. Make sure to check the toiletries that your hotel provides for free, you might not need to worry about taking your own if the hotel supplies them.

Check the airline bag regulations
There have been a lot of changes recently in regards to the size of bags you are allowed on planes so make sure your bag is within the measurements or you will be looking at extra bag charges. The airlines are so strict, do not chance it. When measuring your bag, include the wheels and if the bag extends out. If your bag does not fit in the example box, even by the smallest amount, you will get charged.

One example of newer bag regulations is Ryanair, the standard bags are just to go under your seat, you can not have a handbag as well. If your belongings don't fit in the under seat bag, you will need to pay extra to have a 10kg that will go in the overhead compartment. When I flew to Cologne in April 2024, there was a person in the queue a few people in front of me and his bag would not go in the example box because the front of his bag was extended out. I don't know how much he got charged but he was not happy.

Be super strict
If you don’t need it, don’t take it. That top that you kind of like so you aren’t sure if you are going to wear it or not, don’t take it, you aren’t going to wear it. Do you really need 6 shades of lipstick? You can only wear 1 at a time. Hotels have towels so you don't need those. Thinking ahead and being strict will save you time and room in your bag.

One pair of shoes
I am the worst for this as I have my gig shoes and I have my normal day-to-day shoes, but if I am getting a flight to go abroad for a gig, I only take one set and that is normally my gig shoes as I know I will be comfy all the time in those

Wear what you can on the flight

If it's going to be cold, wear a hoodie on the flight, it doesn't take up any room in your bag that way. I usually wear a vest or a t-shirt to bed so I will sometimes wear those on the flight too, I take them off once I get to the hotel and get changed into my gig clothes.

One night = 3 sets of clothes

This has helped me stay strict on my packing, 1 night is 3 sets of clothes. The normal comfy clothes which will be for traveling, my PJs and my gig clothes. 

• Comfy trousers (leggings/jogging bottoms/whatever you are comfy in)
• Spare t-shirt (for the flight home)
• PJ bottoms (usually shorts)
• PJ top (a t-shirt or vest top)
• Gig top
• Gig trousers (for me, it's leggings)

My PJ top will be what I wear on the flight out and then wear the spare t-shirt on the flight home,

So there are my hints and tips on packing when all you have is hand luggage, I hope it helps you for future flights to gigs.