Carry-On Only Checklist for 12–48 Hour Layovers
Pack once, carry it all. This is the checklist for skipping checked baggage entirely on a 12–48 hour layover or stopover — so you clear immigration and walk straight into the city, no baggage claim required.
The Mothership and the Shuttle
Your main carry-on is the mothership — it stays at luggage storage the moment you land. A small sling bag is the shuttle: light, secure, and packed with exactly what you need to walk the city. This checklist covers both. See our full sling bag breakdown for gear picks.
Gear Worth Having
The tools that make carry-on-only actually comfortable, not just possible.
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Related Reading
Going deeper on the gear side of this checklist.
