If you can’t take it in a carry-on, you don’t need it. I have traveled for more than 20 days and gone hiking as well where I needed boots and a winter coat and packed everything into a carry-on suitcase. It just barely fits into the overhead compartment mind you, but it fits. I couldn’t take anything larger as we were flying on smaller planes in remote mountains and the planes had no capacity for large luggage. I have also been away from home for a month and just taken my carry-on. It means washing clothes, that’s all. I actually love walking off the plane and going straight to the exit, not waiting for the luggage to be unloaded.
