Packing the perfect carry-on is challenging for everyone, but plus size travel packing is extra tricky: since our clothes are bigger, we can’t pack as many options as smaller people!.

Most experienced travelers beieve that carry-on is the best way to fly, and it does have benefits: it’s easier to hop on another flight when yours is cancelled, and you’ll never have to drag a comically large suitcase up a narrow set of winding Spanish stairs while your judgmental host watches in horror. . 

 I know it seems impossible for plus size travel babes to fit everything into one small suitcase, but I’m here to tell you that it is  totally possible to travel with a carry on and look great doing it.

Here are my best plus size travel tips for packing a stylish, lightweight suitcase:

1 Pick a color scheme and stick to it. If you want to travel light, you need clothes you can mix and match. Each top should match several bottoms, and you should choose items you can layer. I favor bold colors so I tend to rely on dark blue and mustard yellow, because they look cheerful in pictures, but they’re easy to match with basics (like black pants or a white teeshirt). I know many travelers who prefer a softer, more bohemian look, and centering your looks around khaki and  chambray can also be a chic choice.

2 Choose lightweight fabrics. Pack lightweight materials that are easy to launder and avoid thick, absorbent materials. In the summer, lightweight cotton, cotton-polyester blends and wicking performance fabrics like CoolMax travel well.  In the winter, a lightweight packable puffer is easier to schlep than a heavy wool coat, and you can choose to layer lightweight  heat-retaining materials like Heattech and Merino wool.

3 Pack streamlined shapes. This can be challenging for plus sized travelers, since so many plus size clothing manufacturers create drapey, fabric-heavy, figure concealing looks. (This trend in plus size fashion annoys me, but that’s a problem for another post!).

When packing for plus size travel, it’s also importnt to be mindful of the volume of the clothing you pick. Leave that voluminous circle skirt at home! If you have a larger item you really want to bring with you, follow the next tip.

4 Wear your heaviest weight and most fabric-heavy items on the plane. I often wear my longest thickest sweater with either a maxi dress or a tank top and pants. On my feet, you’ll find my heaviest pair of shoes or boots.

I also often throw a lightweight scarf around my neck (my favorite one is bug-repellant so I get lots of use out of it when I travel to tropical locations, too.). Since the temperature usually goes from freezing to uncomfortably warm within the span of one flight, I can adjust my layers as needed.

5 Always bring a swimsuit. Don’t bank on your swim size being available at your destination. My friend Laura Delorato wrote a wonderful essay about this, so I’lll just leave it at: bring your swimsuit even if you don’t plan on swimming. Also, If you have a swimsuit you never wear because you lack the confidence to do it at home, throw that in there, too… you might be surprised how bold you feel when you realize that you’re never going to see any of these people again!

6 If you’re busty, bring different necklines. The struggle is real. I get it. I’m so stacked there is simply no hope of dressing modestly because my cleavage starts at my neck.  But I’ve discovered that some cultures are weirder about cleavage than others, and it’s good to have a conversative option on hand, especially If you are visiting religious sites or other culturally revered areas. I often bring at least one shirt or dress with a high neck. I find this boat neck shirt more flattering on my bust than a crew neck tee.. I also tend to go with a less fitted silhouette when I’m in a conservative area, but you do you! I always carry a soft scarf that I can drape around my neck and chest if I’m getting unwanted attention.

7 Accessorize. Capsule wardrobes are necessarily simple,  because everything in them has to match, and sometimes, I end up packing a lot of plain items and starts to feel a little boring. it helps me feel like “myself” to bring a few small items that are “me”, like a pair of statement earrings, a printed scarf or a fun hair flower. Wearing something interesting can also be a great way to make friends… I have been complimented by strangers in multiple countries on my small, sparkly pineapple earrings and now they always travel with me. If your budget has room for it, it can also be fun to leave all of your accessories at home and plan to pick up one or two things while traveling.

8 Bring a teeshirt and pair of soft stretchy shorts or pants. I have run into a few situations where I was expected to wear a “one size fits all” uniform (hint: it doesn’t. It didn’t.). In Thailand, you  are expected to wear special clothing during massages. After my first attempt at getting a massage ended in supreme awkwardness when I couldn’t get the largest size of their uniform up over my knees, I started showing up to my massages in soft, fitted pajamas and asking them to massage me in that. It was fine, and I enjoyed many seriously intense massages thereafter. 

Another time, in an upscale Moroccan spa, their white fluffy robes barely fit around my behind. I was in peril of flashing everyone for my entire “relaxation” experience,. It was not relaxing.  If I had it to do again, I’d wear some shorts and a soft tee underneath the robe and enjoy the spa like everyone else.

9 Pack for chub rub prevention. Some of us need shorts or Bandalettes under our dresses for that romantic walk around Paris, and that’s totally fine. Or maybe your hikes are better when you apply a layer of Body Glide before setting out. Whatever chafing solution you use, bringing it along with you is a plus size travel packing priority, because you’re probably going to be walking more than normal, and the same products are not often easy to find abroad. 

If you are prone to le chub rub, I also recommend that you refrain from test driving new pants on vacation. Figuring out that your new gear rubs you the wrong way is an inconvenient and painful start to your vacation. Buy, wash and wear everything before packing it!

10 Be real about what your feet need. The conventional packing wisdom is that anyone can by with one pair of sneakers and one pair of flats, and one of the following: high heels, boots or flip flops.

I know not every plus size travel babe has foot problems, but I do! Wearing one pair of sneakers day in and day out for several weeks isn’t comfortable. for me I often pack two pairs that fit my feet and arches differently so I can switch between them. I like to bring one very lightweight basic walking shoe like a Nike Roshe, and something more stylish but still comfy, like a pair of Chuck Taylor All-Stars or brightly-coloured loafers that match my style palette. Shoes are heavy, so it’s important not to go nuts, but it’s also important give your body what it needs.

11 Get yourself a hanging luggage scale. This is the only scale allowed in my house! There’s nothing worse than arriving at the airport and discovering that after all of your careful packing, your suitcase is going to be charged a Heavy Baggage fee. Save yourself some anxiety (and some money) by getting a tiny luggage scale. You’ll leave your house with more peace of mind, and the certainty that you’re not going to have to wear all of your sweaters on the airplane at once to lighten up your bag.

12 Bring any accommodations that make your body happy. If you prefer to bring a seat belt extender or are more comfortable with a little pillow to support your back, pack it. If it’s appropriate for your circumstances, consider bringing emergency contraception that’s effective for people of size. If you tend to sweat, pack a little hand fan or electrical fan (they make cute ones that plug in to your phone now!).

If your joints need support, bring whatever makes them happy. I always pack a CBD roll-on, a yoga strap for stretching out, and a Knobble massage tool for de-stressing any travel tensed muscles. If you are running out of room in your suitcase and have to pick between clothes and comforts, always choose the tools you need to keep your body comfortable. Trust me, no one will care if you wear something twice.

13 Try to stay calm, and do the best you can. Many people get really worked up about packing and I know it can be especially stressful for plus size travel babes. But try not to let that anxiety ruin the deliciousness of anticipating of a wonderful trip!

I understand that it’s hard to know that the oft-repeated travel maxim “just buy it when you get there!” doesn’t apply to us. But as someone who has been to six continents as a plus size traveler, I promise you that no one item will make or break your trip. 

If you’re still feeling anxious when you start packing, try this: is there anything your trip would absolutely be ruined without? Passports and medication. Those are important.

Anything else that’s an absolute must? Great, go put them in your suitcase right now.

Next: pack three outfits you know you want to wear. Throw in a few toiletries you can’t live without. Congrats, you’ve now done the majority of your packing. I’ve talked about this in a few other articles, but you don’t need to pack as much clothing as you think you do.

At the end of the day, what you wear is a very small part of your trip. In ten years, you’re not going to remember that  you wanted to bring that cute skirt but it didn’t fit. You’re going to remember your experiences. 

Take a deep breath. Put some stuff in a bag. Don’t forget your favorite sunglasses. Now go out and see the world.

Please note: this post contains affliliate links. This means I earn a small commission from your purchases (at no additional cost to you),  I have not received free items or payment for my recs.. I’m just sharing stuff I like and use.