How to Pack for Multiple Climates in a Single Carry-On

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In this age of bag fees and cramped planes, the goal whenever you pack is to include the fewest number of items possible and find a way to fit it all into a single carry-on bag. This task is especially challenging when you’re packing for multiple climates. Your best bet, then, is to bring clothes and gear that pull double duty, so the items you pack come in handy for more than one scenario.

Bar none, the most space-consuming object inside a typical packed bag is footwear. Free up the bulk by committing to shoes that can effectively handle any situation, such as dressy-looking walking or hiking shoes that support and grip yet are preppy enough to work with slacks for casual evening wear. In the past, we’ve rated the Clarks Quantock Run GTX and the Vasque Talus UltraDry Hiking Boot highly for this purpose.

Scarves, too, are multifunctional and can be worn in many different places. They provide much-needed warmth against the chill at nighttime or inside an airplane and they can be used to enter mosques, churches, temples, sites of worship, and specific museums. They also make a good impromptu picnic blanket.

Likewise, pants that roll up to shorts straddle the heat and chill. Blinged-out sandals take you from the beach to the dance floor. You get the idea.

Leave behind the bulky coats and instead wear several thin layers of clothing. Opt for a weather-resistant top jacket, a fleece, and long sleeves that breathe. Remove and apply layers, and also mix and match items as needed.

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