An overseas trip with just carry-on luggage? Yes, we can.

“Carry-on cases can weigh two kilograms to three kilograms on their own, so you need to get the lightest you can find,” Carlaw says. “The backpacks I found were very light and had loads of pockets. They were so much better than wheelie suitcases.”

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She spent weeks planning how to pack the backpacks, setting aside a room in the house to put aside everything she thought they would need and then planning out the necessities – and what they could leave at home.

“Everything I packed had to meet the criteria of function, fit and flair,” she says.

While she adhered to the concept of the capsule wardrobe, where separates are selected to mix and match, Carlaw took it one step further.

“I created looks and I took photos of my looks on my phone before I left,” she says.

To add a point of difference to her look day to day, she said small changes, like a different scarf, sunglasses or costume jewellery were enough.

Interiors stylist and frequent flyer Jono Fleming agrees it’s the details that don’t take up precious luggage space that can make an impact when travelling.

“Accessories can do a lot of the heavy lifting for changing up your look,” Fleming says. “I use sunglasses and belts, but you can use jewellery for the same purpose.”

He, along with business partner Julia Green, will be leading a trip for design enthusiasts to Morocco in April, something he does twice a year. He says packing light is a lot easier when you’re heading somewhere warm.

“In warmer climates it’s lighter shirts and dresses, things you can layer and change up your outfit,” he says. “You don’t have to have separate outfits to freshen up for dinner, you can just change your shirt or put a shirt over your T-shirt.”

Lightweight, natural fibres that are easy to wash and dry quickly are also a good choice when your options are deliberately limited. It’s a basic piece of advice, but even checking average temperatures at your destination will help whittle down choices.

Carlaw says adaptable, flexible choices also help.

“I took a gorgeous pashmina rather than a jumper and I used it to wrap around my son when we were out and he got cold,” she says.

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Like many seasoned travellers, Carlaw and Fleming are sold on the value of packing cubes, which not only keep your clothes organised but maximise the efficient use of space.

Travel writer Carolin Pilligrath says packing cubes are a lifesaver for the light traveller.

She has recently discovered the delights of solid toiletries, which serve more than one purpose when flying.

“Solid toiletries like shampoo bars, toothpaste tablets, and stick deodorant are amazing to save space and avoid liquid restrictions when travelling with hand luggage only,” she says.

For Carlaw, there’s no going back.

“Now my family are completely sold on it.”

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