carry-on only realistic in winter?

We spent Christmas/New Years in Germany and Prague two years ago on one back pack style, carry on. No extra day bag or large backpack. We actually find that we take less clothes in winter than we do in summer plus you tend to wear the heavy items.

I've made 9 trips to Europe in the last 13 years, all with a carryon. I've been there in every month except Feb, June, and July. The only difference in my packing is a knit hat and gloves in the winter months. In the summer I wear low topped leather shoes and a summer jacket on the plane; in the winter I wear high topped boots and a down parka. I always pack a medium weight sweater to wear under my jacket or parka on colder days. I was in the Alps in Dec/Jan when it was 10 below (C), and that was adequate.

This is encouraging...looking forward to more advice/info/ideas!

I actually think doing carry on only is easier for winter travel. Got a trip planned for December and January (about 19 days) and will definitely be doing carry on only. The "key" to this type of packing is LAYERS. To give you an idea of how this works for me, here's what I'll be taking: Colors are black, grey slate blue and burgundy 1. Insulated, removable liner rain coat - carry on plane. Note: the liner has down in it and is not the thin, wool version. 2. 2 pairs of shoes - low heeled, waterproof "city style" boots, and a well broken in pair of black leather walking shoes, loafer style. Will wear the boots on the plane. 3. 4 pairs of pants - 2pr. ponte knit pants (grey, black), 2 pr dark wash jeans (wear 1 on plane) 4. 4 long sleeved T shirts (white, grey, slate blue and black)- wear 1 on plane 5. 1 grey turtleneck 6 1 light burgundy merino wool sweater and a wool cardigan same color) 7. merino wool, slate blue drape style cardigan. 8. black cashmere cardigan - wear on plane 1 pair long underwear - top and bottom. Sock liners 9. 4 pr. wool socks (wear 1 on plane) 10. 4 prs. undies and 2 bras.(1 each on plane) 11. 3 scarves (2 light wool, 1 cashmere)(one on the plane!) 12. gloves (put in zipped pockets of raincoat) 13. 2/3 necklaces, 4 pr. earrings. 14. pj's - top and bottom 15. Yoga pants and a hoodie (for lounging and sleeping on plane) Yoga pants rolled up in "personal item".
Cold day - long underwear, turtleneck, cashmere sweater/scarf, raincoat. Works to about 25 degrees. If it's colder, I won't be doing much outside anyway!!!

You can wear the bulkier clothes items on the plane. Stow overhead if possible. I usually need something for my neck, hands, and ears when it gets cold. My regular packing list includes a cotton turtleneck and a scarf. If you find you are still cold, buy a vest or sweater or another scarf. Lightweight longjohns might come in handy. None of these things adds much weight to your luggage.

Nancy's packing list is excellent and exemplifies travel (or any) wardrobe coordination very well. Add that to the mantra of taking only things you will wear at least 3 or more times on the trip and planning to wash clothes at least once a week and you'll be good to go. Once again on the Helpline I'll recommend the Vivienne Files for visual examples of these ideas. You might not like the exact items or colors but the concepts work. It is goofy to wear the heaviest stuff and carry a coat on the plane in Tucson with the temps in the 90s when you fly out. It is smart when you arrive in Amsterdam on April 4th and it's windy, rainy and cold, like we did this year. Mid-April was still worthy of a lined coat, hood or hat, gloves and scarf. Under it I wore layers, which I hate, but they were much needed and appreciated. It all fit in a 22" spinner and a small tote, both of which I carried on the plane. Being from BC you should be very well-versed in layers, fleece, polypropylene socks and all the other tricks used up there (I lived near Seattle for more than 25 years) to stay warm and dry. I'd be sure to take or wear some Gore-Tex shoes or boots. We did that on a trip including Iceland, England, Scotland and Ireland a few years back and with the right socks, our feet stayed cozy and dry. Aaah, I see a visit to REI, Eddie Bauer, etc. in your future.

Depends on your activities. If you are skiing or climbing as a for example, you would have to either check gear or plan on renting. Skis and poles are too big for the cabin and TSA will not let you carry on an ice ax. As noted in Swan's response, the key to winter air travel is wearing/carrying on your bulky outer wear (weather shell, insulation layer etc) and wear your boots. A second strategy is to bring money and cards to buy/rent what you can not pack in your cabin luggage. For example, consumables such as ski wax solvents are flammable. So you budget to by wax solvents and leave what ever is left over for others to use.

In addition to the great response, I would add silk layers, like a long-sleeved t shirt, I have used Kim Allan silk a web based company. She has 100% silk under layers, very thin. I use the silk and cotton loungeshirt every night as sleepwear, and use the shorts for aleeping too. I have a few pairs of smartwool socks, great products. icebreaker makes merino wool clothing, pricy but great. Look around for sales. There are some light down jackets and vests, I found some at costco, which roll and smash down to almost nothing. I think you can do carryon in winter. I agree with layers, once inside a museum or restaurant, off the layers go.

For me, it is impossible to travel with carry-on only during any season of the years. One medium suitcase? Doable. Carry-on? Impossible.

I also find it easier to pack for winter. As you are wearing a coat most of the time anyway you can take fewer items. I just make sure I have a cute coat, hat and gloves. I wear Haflinger wool shoes (those are all I take for winter trips) I also take a pashmina or two and a number of scarves, shawls to layer over my coat if it's really cold. Unless you know for sure that you will be wearing a heavy bulky coat every day I fail to see the logic in wearing it on the plane, because for me the time I need to be able to manage my stuff easily is once I get to Europe...moving about to hotels, using the train, etc. The plane is the easiest part of your luggage. I tend to wear skirts, so I have a few pair of leggings as well as a pair of leg warmers. Black yoga pants are also a great travel item... Under your coat they just look like black pants, they are comfy, you can lounge in them or sleep in them. Great to wear on the plane.

You could use a compression bag for bulkier items like a sweater.

Their are only small differences in my pack list for winter - not enough to change from carry-on only. My basic clothes stay the same, except warmer wool socks and shoes that can stand up to water/cold. Outside of summer travel, I pack two lightweight warming layers - a light merino wool sweater and a full zip light fleece as examples. In cold weather, I wear them both together under the jacket. Rather than my unlined rainshell. I'm likely to wear my winter jacket (a Weatherproof jacket with a hood and double zippers sold at Costco) - still lightweight and waterproof, but insulated. Things to consider adding to your list for winter include silk long underwear - very warm and takes up almost no room/adds almost no weight to your bag. A light fleece or knit ski cap as well as some fleece or similar gloves are normally enough to get me down to the low 30's comfortably.

Lots of great info/suggestions here!
Because of the season and the activities we plan I'm definitely leaning towards having a checked bag plus my daypack as carryon. I'm leaning towards MEC (Mountain Equipment Coop) wheeled-backpack (either one I've found 2nd hand and will check out today, or their new model I plan to look at in the store later this month). We will be outside a lot, and I know the weather in central/northern Scotland in February will be very similar or colder than our weather here at home. I'm not taking anything dressy...couple of pairs of dangly earrings and silky scarves will be my fancy. I welcome more ideas - who knows I might still be converted to 'carry-on only' and I can always use suggestions for what to bring. Whichever bag I do get it will still be very easy to handle!