If you want to keep holiday costs low, ditching the hold luggage is a good place to start – and I believe I’ve found the perfect bag for still allowing you to overpack to your heart’s content.
The bag is genuinely like magic when it comes to fitting things in(Image: Nicola Roy)
If you’re someone who likes to go on multiple holidays a year, you’ll know that it’s not possible to travel in luxury every time. And by luxury, I mean being able to take a 23kg hold suitcase on board with you.
It’s the same situation every time – you find cheap flights and an affordable place to stay, then by the time you’ve priced the luggage, you’re looking at an extra hundred pounds or even more. And when you factor in how much you’re going to spend on food, travel and other expenses when you’re actually on holiday, it’s just not worth it.
Most airlines allow you to take one small bag on board for free, but as an overpacker who likes to have options, I didn’t think this would ever be enough – until I tried out one specific cabin bag that’s genuinely like magic when it comes to fitting things in.
I purchased the Narwey Ryanair Cabin Bag from Amazon three years ago now and it’s safe to say it’s become my absolute travel staple. It’s been on every holiday and every night away with me, and no matter who I go with, they’re always in disbelief at how much you can cram in there.
On a recent trip to Stockholm with Norwegian Air – whose hand luggage restrictions are the same as Ryanair 30 x 40 x 20cm – I knew it was a small-bag-only situation. I’d heard horror stories about how expensive the capital city of Sweden was, so I was not keen to spend any more than absolutely necessary on travel.
We were going away for four full days, and although I’ve taken this bag on many a trip before, I always feel slightly concerned that this is the one that’s going to push it over the edge and break the zip. But it’s remained sturdy once again, even when packed to the brim.
The more you fit in the bag, the more it seems to expand, even though it looks tiny to begin with. Even when you’re coming home from your holiday, when it always feels like your belongings have expanded tenfold, packing everything up again is a breeze.
For this trip, here’s a list of everything I managed to fit in the bag, and I even had a little bit of space left over.
- Five skirts
- Five tops
- Denim jacket
- Pair of shoes
- Socks
- Underwear
- Pyjamas
- Handbag
- Toiletries
- Makeup
- Hairdryer
- Camera
Some may say this is excessive for three nights, but when you can fit this much in, why wouldn’t you? My only issue is that the handles are a bit tough on your hands if you’re carrying it for a while, and I feel like it would really benefit from having a longer padded strap so that you could put it over your shoulder.
I’d also say it’s probably unsuitable for longer winter trips, since these clothes tend to be a lot bigger and bulkier, so you’re not going to be able to fit as much as you would in summer.
Having said that, it’s easy to transport and place in the overhead lockers, unlike wheelie suitcases which can be a bit of a faff. It’s got a sturdy double zipper, as well as a handy zipped pocket on the side, which is ideal for storing your passport and other important things you need that you don’t want stuffed in the bag itself.
My top tip for packing this bag is to stretch out the bottom as much as possible by placing my toiletry and makeup bags on either side, as this creates a good solid base and really opens it up. This would also work with shoes or your most sturdiest items of clothing.
The longest I’ve ever been away with this bag was about six days, which I’d say is probably the limit for how much it can hold in terms of clothes. But for a long weekend, it’s just perfect.
It’s currently on sale for £11.99 on Amazon. Alternatively, if you prefer a rucksack, this Cabin Max underseat bag from ASOS is also on sale for £16.95.
Or if you’re in the market for something a bit more high-end, the Rains Small Hilo Weekend Bag also fits the Ryanair and easyJet bag restrictions, and costs £69.
