First came the liquids and gels crackdown, sending road warriors to their corner drugstores in search of that 3-ounce bottle of contact-lens solution. Then came tighter weight restrictions for checked baggage, causing logjams at airport check-in desks as vacationers unzipped their suitcases, transferring heavy items into carry-ons to lighten their checked luggage.

Just as travelers were getting used to the idea of $25 fees for a second checked bag, American Airlines has started charging $15 each way, or $30 round trip to check the first one.

The move, planned to take effect today, is forcing many travelers to rethink the way they pack. Can I squeeze that extra pair of heels into my carry-on? What's more important: my hair dryer or workout clothes?

True road warriors never check a bag if they can help it. Infrequent travelers tend to overpack, stuffing suitcases full of a different outfit for every day of the week, plus a few extras — just in case. But it's possible to pack practically everything needed for a week's vacation into the one carry-on and personal item still allowed onboard free.

Take it from Leah Rozen, movie critic for People magazine. To cover the Cannes Film Festival in May in France, followed by a long weekend in London, Rozen crammed four pairs of pants, one black silk skirt, four shirts, a blazer, a silk scarf, a brown belt, a cashmere sweater, sneakers, sandals, socks and underwear, with chargers, plugs and converters for her phone, laptop and BlackBerry, into one standard-size carry-on.

In a shoulder bag, she had a laptop, magazines, a plastic bag with cosmetics and an umbrella. To help maximize packing space, she wore a layered outfit onboard (jeans, a dress shirt, a beige linen blazer, a black belt, slip-on heels and a raincoat).

"I am the queen of packing light," Rozen said in an e-mail message. But "know that by packing light, you will always be dressed well enough, though you'll rarely be the best-dressed person in the room."

To get the most out of her travel wardrobe, she sticks with a basic color palette — black, white and navy — that can be easily mixed and matched. She packs the night before, and then edits the next morning, removing one or two of the bulkier items that she said "you now realize that you don't really need." And she isn't above laundering reusable items in her hotel room sink.

Phil Keoghan, host of CBS' reality show "The Amazing Race," lugs just one big suitcase and one backpack around the world for the monthlong shoot of the series. His secret for packing success: "I never pack for more than a week," said Keoghan. "No matter where I'm going, what I pack is different combinations."

Keoghan carries photos of every outfit or, as he calls them, "idiot shots," to show him exactly what to wear for each episode. To keep his clothes organized, he uses Eagle Creek packing folders, which cost $22-$28, depending on size.

Such packing products have been gaining popularity among travelers trying to maximize their luggage. "Compartmentalization allows you to think about organization and get more things into more spaces," said Peter Cobb, senior vice president of eBags.com.

The Zuca Pro, an odd-looking wheelie bag with an aluminum frame that sits outside the bag instead of inside, has a built-in seat and removable packing pouches that stack like drawers. It's possible to fit three pairs of pants, a couple of dress shirts and workout gear, all with room to give. Cost: $295.

For travelers who aren't used to hauling their wheelie bags over their heads and into the overhead bin, it's imperative to find a lightweight bag. Nearly every luggage maker offers its a version, usually under 10 pounds. Among the best-selling carry-on bags on eBags.com on a recent spot check: Heys Xcase 20-inch Lightweight (5 pounds, 4 ounces), eBags Mother Lode Mini 21-inch Wheeled Duffel (7 pounds, 13 ounces) and the Travelpro Crew6 22-inch Expandable Rollaboard Suiter (9 pounds, 8 ounces).

Families, especially those with small children, have a tougher challenge packing light. Renting items like car seats and buying diapers and other bulky items at your destination can help.

Some expert packers are taking another approach to the new luggage rules: checking more bags. Susan Foster, author of "Smart Packing for Today's Traveler," has the know-how to squeeze her stuff into a carry-on easily, but she plans to pay the $15 to check her bag the next time she flies American. To avoid the stress of competing for an overhead bin, she added, "I think that's a bargain."