A Step-by-Step Guide to Packing a 40L Carry-On for Two Weeks

Figuring out how to pack a 40L carry-on for two weeks can feel like a physics problem. You have a two-week pile of clothes and gear on your bed and a 40-liter backpack that suddenly looks impossibly small. The good news is, it’s not. The secret isn’t about owning less; it’s about making every single inch of your bag work for you.

This isn’t a guide on what clothes to bring. This is a guide on the physical technique of packing. It’s the order of operations and the spatial tricks that take you from a stressful pile of “maybe” to a perfectly balanced, zipped-up bag that’s ready for any overhead bin.

Hi, I’m Raji Deneshan Kumar. This article isn’t just a list of tips; it’s the result of my own packing obsession. For about five years, I’ve been refining how I travel with just one bag. My ‘About Us’ page explains my philosophy, but the short version is this: I’ve made all the mistakes. I’ve sat on my bag to zip it, I’ve had to repack at the airport gate, and I’ve carried lopsided, uncomfortable loads.

What I’m sharing here is the ‘Tetris’ method I developed through all that trial and error. It’s the repeatable system I use for every trip, whether it’s two weeks or two months. My goal is to help you skip that frustration and get straight to the part that works.

Before You Pack: The ‘Mise en Place’ of Travel

In cooking, “mise en place” is the practice of gathering and prepping all your ingredients before you start. I apply the exact same logic to packing. Trying to pack items one by one as you find them is a recipe for disaster.

First, lay out everything you plan to bring on your bed or floor. This is your “staging area.” This visual check is crucial. It’s your last chance to spot redundancies (do you really need three of the same item?) before you’re fighting for space.

Second, start with a completely empty bag. This sounds obvious, but I’ve made the mistake of leaving old receipts, a stray sock, or a forgotten snack bar at the bottom. Empty every pocket. Unzip every zipper. This ensures you’re starting with a true 40-liter blank canvas.

The Foundation: Why Your Bag’s Base Matters

How you start packing determines how you finish. The bottom of your bag is its foundation. This area will take the most weight and pressure, so you need to build it with intention.

Packing Shoes: The Bulky Anchors

Shoes are almost always the most awkward and bulky items you’ll pack. They are the structural “anchors” of your bag, and I always pack them first.

• The Technique: I place my one extra pair of shoes (if I’m bringing one) at the very bottom of the bag. I position them in a heel-to-toe “69” formation to create a relatively flat, dense block.
• The Placement: I push this “shoe block” to the bottom, with the soles facing the back panel of the backpack (the part that rests against your back). This protects the rest of your items from any dirt on the soles.
• The E-E-A-T Tip: This is your first opportunity to use “dead space.” A pair of shoes is really just two handy containers. I stuff them tightly with socks, a small bag of chargers, or anything else that fits. This not only uses that empty space but also helps the shoes keep their shape.

The Core System: Mastering Your Packing Cubes

If you’ve followed my site, you know I consider packing cubes to be the single most important tool for one-bag travel. They are not a gimmick. They are the tools that let you create order out of chaos. They turn a pile of soft, shapeless clothes into firm, stackable “bricks.”

To Roll or to Fold? My Method for Cubes

The internet loves to debate rolling versus folding. The truth is, both are useful, but for different things.

• Rolling: I roll almost all my soft garments. T-shirts, lightweight pants, underwear, and synthetic layers. Rolling compresses the fabric and, in my experience, genuinely leads to fewer hard creases than folding.
• Folding: I use a flat fold for my “structured” items. This includes any collared shirts, a pair of nicer trousers, or a light blazer. I’ll often dedicate one “flat” cube just for these, laying them neatly on top of each other.

The goal isn’t just to get clothes in the cube. The goal is to create a firm, rectangular brick. Don’t overstuff your cubes until they are bulging, round, and strained at the zippers. A firm-but-not-exploding cube is predictable. You can stack it, stand it on its side, and build with it. A lumpy, overstuffed cube is just as unruly as a pile of loose clothes.

The “Brick” Strategy: Creating Your Cubes

How you organize your cubes is a personal choice. Some people pack “by day.” I find that inefficient. I pack “by category.” This is my typical setup for a two-week trip:

1. Large Cube (The Main Brick): This is for my bulkiest clothes. Think mid-layers, sweaters, and all my pants or trousers.
2. Medium Cube (The Shirt Brick): This holds all my t-shirts, polo shirts, or base layers.
3. Small Cube (The Essentials): This is for all socks and underwear.
4. Flat Cube (Optional): This is for my one “nice” outfit, folded flat.

Having these distinct bricks means I never have to tear my entire bag apart just to find a fresh pair of socks. I know exactly which brick to pull out.

The Main Event: Loading the 40L Bag (My ‘Tetris’ Method)

Now for the fun part. You have your empty bag, your shoe-and-sock foundation, and your set of clothing “bricks.” It’s time to play Tetris.

Step 1: Place Your Heavy “Bricks” First

The first rule of loading any backpack, whether for hiking or for travel, is to keep the heaviest items close to your back and centered. This is non-negotiable for comfort. A badly balanced bag will pull on your shoulders and feel twice as heavy.

I take my heaviest cube (usually the “Main Brick” with my pants and sweaters) and slide it into the bag first, right on top of the shoe foundation. I push it down firmly and make sure it’s oriented vertically, sitting flush against the back panel.

Step 2: Build Up with Lighter Cubes

With the heavy foundation in place, I now stack the lighter bricks. My “Shirt Brick” (medium cube) goes on top of the main one. My “Essentials” cube (small) can often fit right alongside it. The key is to keep stacking, building a solid “core” of cubes in the main compartment.

There should be no guesswork. Because you’ve created firm, rectangular shapes, you can see exactly how they’ll fit.

Step 3: Filling the “Dead Space”

This is the step that separates amateur packers from efficient travelers. After my core bricks are in, I look for the gaps. I call these “dead spaces,” and they are everywhere:

• The corners at the top of the bag.
• The small channels running down the sides of the cubes.
• The curved area at the very top of the bag.

This is where I put all my “non-brick” items. A rolled-up belt can be uncoiled and snaked along the perimeter of the bag. A small tech pouch can be slid vertically down the side. A spare pair of socks can be balled up and pushed into a top corner. My first few trips, I completely ignored this. I’d have a perfectly packed set of cubes with huge, empty gaps between them. Filling these gaps with purpose is what takes your bag from 80% full to 100% efficient.

Handling the “Problem Items”

Not everything fits in a cube. Electronics, liquids, and last-minute items need their own strategy.

The Toiletries Bag

The toiletries bag is often the final boss of packing. My one rule: keep it accessible. You will need to pull it out for airport security, and you’ll want it first when you get to your hotel.

• Technique: I use a slim, hanging toiletries bag. Instead of packing it deep inside, I lay it flat on top of my packed cubes before I zip the main compartment.
• Alternative: If your 40L bag has a large, quick-access front or top pocket, that’s an even better home for it.

This guide isn’t about what toiletries to pack, but the container itself matters. A bulky, rigid box is a nightmare. A soft, pliable bag that can mold to the available space is ideal.

Electronics and Cables

A tangled mess of cables is a travel sin. I use a small, zippered pouch (a “tech taco” or a simple pencil case works) for my charging bricks, cables, and power bank.

• Placement: This pouch is another “problem” item. It’s often dense and hard. I never, ever pack it in the middle of my clothes. That’s a “crush zone” waiting to happen.
• My Method: I slide the tech pouch vertically down the side of the main compartment, nestled between my packing cubes and the bag’s wall. Or, if the bag has an internal “laptop” sleeve I’m not using, I’ll slide it in there to keep it flat and protected.

Your “Last In, First Out” Items

Think about the first things you’ll need when you land. For a rainy destination, it’s my rain jacket. For a late-night arrival, it might be my pajamas and toothbrush.

I always pack these items last. My rain jacket gets folded flat and laid directly on top of everything in the main compartment before zipping. An alternative is to use the “brain” (the top pocket) of the backpack for these quick-grab items. This “Last In, First Out” (LIFO) method has saved me from having to empty my entire bag in a hotel lobby many times.

Final Checks and The “One More Thing” Trap

You’re almost there. Before you zip the bag, use the internal compression straps if your bag has them. Cinch them down. This isn’t just to save space; it’s to secure the load and stop your “bricks” from shifting around during transit. A shifting load is an uncomfortable load.

Once it’s zipped, do two things:

1. The Lift Test: Lift the bag by its top handle. Does it feel balanced, or is it trying to tip over?
2. The Shoulder Test: Put the backpack on. Buckle the sternum strap and hip belt (if you have one). How does it feel? If one side feels heavier or if something is digging into your back, take it off and adjust. It’s 10 minutes of work now that will save you hours of-discomfort later.

Finally, resist the “One More Thing” trap. This is the moment you look at your perfectly packed bag and think, “I could probably fit one more sweater in there.” Don’t do it. Trust your system. That tiny bit of empty space is your breathing room for a small souvenir, or just the peace of mind that your zippers aren’t at their breaking point.

My Packing Technique: A Visual Comparison

To show you why this “Tetris” method matters, here’s a simple breakdown of how it compares to the “Just Shove It” method most people start with.

This isn’t hard data, just my personal observation from years of doing this. The difference in my travel comfort has been night and day since I stopped “shoving” and started “stacking.”

For a more in-depth look at the physics of how weight distribution affects comfort, this guide on how to load a backpack from REI is a fantastic resource that covers the ergonomics in detail.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Does this method work for a clamshell or top-loader?

Yes, but the technique is slightly different. For a “clamshell” (a bag that zips all the way around like a suitcase), this method is perfect. You can lay all your “bricks” out and see them. For a “top-loader” (a traditional hiking-style bag), the order is even more critical. You must pack items in the reverse order you’ll need them, as access is only from the top.

How do I pack for the return trip with souvenirs?

This is why I resist the “One More Thing” trap. I always leave about 5-10% of my bag’s volume free. If I buy something, I have a “souvenir strategy.” A t-shirt? It goes in a packing cube. A bottle or box? I’ll often carry it by hand on the plane or ship it. My 40L bag is my “travel unit” and I protect its integrity.

Should I use compression bags instead of cubes?

I’ve tried them, but I’m not a fan for most travel. True compression bags (the kind you roll or vacuum) are great at sucking the air out. The problem is they create dense, hard, and awkwardly-shaped rocks of clothing. They’re also terrible for organization. Packing cubes are about organization and light compression.

What if my bag doesn’t have internal compression straps?

It’s not a deal-breaker. They just add an extra layer of stability. If you don’t have them, it’s even more important to pack your cubes tightly and fill all the “dead space” so nothing has room to shift around.

Your Bag is Your Tool, Not Your Burden

Packing a 40L bag for two weeks isn’t magic. It’s a repeatable skill. By treating it as a game of spatial awareness—a game of Tetris—you change your relationship with your luggage.

You stop seeing it as a burden and start seeing it as a tool. A well-packed bag gives you freedom. It means you can land and go, navigate train station stairs with ease, and never pay a checked-bag fee. This method gives me confidence and calm before every trip, and I hope it does the same for you.