The Ultimate Carry-On Packing List
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It always feels a bit embarrassing to admit that I’m a check-my-luggage kind of girl. Unless I’m just going on a quick weekend trip or something when I really can’t justify the extra fee, it’s just a part of my travel budget whether I’m heading across the country or across the world.
But with that said, whether you’re like me or you’re someone who can squeeze everything in a carry-on and call it a day (teach me your ways, please), there are some travel essentials that you should be bringing in your carry-on, no matter what.
This ultimate carry-on packing list works regardless of where you’re going, and doesn’t include any items specific to your trip like a number of outfits or certain shoes, etc. It’s what I always make sure to have on me in my backpack, which I use as a personal item.
Non-Negotiable Items
Passport
This one’s pretty self-explanatory, but you definitely want to keep this on you, in a place where it’s easily accessible. You don’t want to get held up at security or going through customs!
Wallet
Same as above! Don’t put it in a checked bag or anywhere that you could potentially get separated from it.
Visa, if applicable
Again, if a visa is needed before arrival, you’ll want to have this handy, preferably in your personal item so it’s easy to access.
Phone charger
This is a must, for obvious reasons. I like to keep all my chargers and other miscellaneous items like my card reader, external hard drive, etc. organized in a travel cable storage case. Depending on where you’re going, you may also need an international charger so that you can use international outlets.
Flight essentials
These items will get you through your flight, and will come in handy throughout your trip, too.
Sanitizer/cleaning wipes
I wish I could say with confidence that the plane had been thoroughly cleaned before you get on. I always bring disinfecting wipes to clean the tray, seatbelt, arm rests, seat . . . just about everything you can touch while on the plane. Having some sanitizer definitely doesn’t hurt, either.
Hand lotion
With that said, all the santizing, plus just being on a plane, is all super drying on your skin. So, I like to have a mini hand lotion with me.
Earphones/earbuds/headphones
I will never understand when I see people who can go without any type of headphones on a long flight. I’m both impressed by their power, and a bit concerned.
You could even go with noise canceling headphones if that’s more your speed. But usually just playing music or a podcast to drown out the annoying plane noise is enough for me. If you use Airpods or another cordless option, just be careful to not lose them on the plane! I also like to bring some old-fashioned wired earbuds so I can connect them to the plane’s TV screen, if there is one.
Sweatshirt or sweater
As we all probably know, planes get cold! So bring layers, just in case.
Extra outfit
It’s never a bad idea to have a change of clothes, just in case your luggage ends up getting lost.
This happened to me once when I was a kid and I never forgot it — being stuck in winter clothing in Florida was not fun.
Neck pillow
For overnight flights especially, a neck pillow is a must to avoid neck pain. There are different kinds depending on your preferences, with different fills and materials. While there’s no right or wrong, what’s best for you depends on how firm you’d like your neck pillow. You also want to make sure it’s portable, and I prefer ones where you can remove the outside fabric to easily wash it.
Clear bag for liquids
While there’s nothing wrong with using a good ol’ ziplock, we love items that are cute and reusable here! I’ve tried using those pink ziploc bags that Glossier products come in, but they always end up ripping at some point. So go with an option that’s durable and not larger than a quart.
Compression socks
I’ve been slacking on this one, I’ll be honest. But if you have a flight longer than four or so hours, compression socks can make your journey both more comfortable and safer for your legs, especially if you’re at risk of blood clots or have had surgery.
Snacks
Try to avoid peanuts because of allergies, and anything that has a particularly strong smell. I usually just bring some sort of protein bar that’s at least a bit filling.
Reusable and collapsible water bottle
I’ll be honest, I’m chronically dehydrated and almost never bring a water bottle with me when I go somewhere. But I’m on a mission to change that, and a collapsible water bottle is the way to do that. It will be light and portable while going through security. Then, you can easily fill it up at a water fountain at the airport.
E-Reader
This is another must for flights! While I’m forever a fan of physical books over e-books, using a Kindle on my travels has been a game changer when it comes to saving space and weight. Plus, if you have a red eye flight, it’s always too dark to read a physical book, and I’m not going to be the person to turn a light on when everyone is trying to sleep!
Hygiene Items
Especially for long travel days or overnight flights, these are all a must for me to freshen up throughout the day and hopefully not feel too miserable. And if anything happens to your checked luggage, you’ll be glad to have some essentials on you.
Body wipes
All I have to do is step into an airport to automatically feel like I need to shower. So really on any flight, but especially long-haul ones, I bring body wipes to feel at least a tiny bit more refreshed when I land.
Deodorant
This one’s pretty self-explanatory, but bringing a travel-sized deodorant makes a huge difference in feeling a little fresher on a travel day. (And, your seatmates will thank you).
Toothbrush, toothpaste, travel-sized mouthwash
I think this one also goes without saying. However, what I will say is that up until recently, if I had a red-eye flight, especially one where they serve dinner, I’d always brush my teeth on the plane before going to sleep.
I recently learned that the water in the bathroom sink comes from a tank that’s rarely cleaned and probably has bacteria . . . so while I can’t say for sure if that’s true or not, that information is forever lodged in my brain, so I’ll probably just be sticking to using mouthwash while on a plane now, and just brushing before and after my flight in the airport.
Face wash, moisturizer
I am a bit skincare-obsessed, and doing my nighttime skincare routine always helps me feel much better, so I make it a priority on my long travel days that end in a red-eye.
In fact, the reason I always check a bag is so that I can bring my full-sized skin and hair products, but having an extra travel-sized face wash and moisturizer with me is always a good insurance in case something happens to my bag. If you only check a bag, you’ll want to bring these products anyway, of course.Â
Other Travel Essentials
A lot of the items we already talked about will definitely be used on your trip, as well. But here are some extra items that you probably won’t need throughout your flight, but you’ll definitely need later on, regardless of where you’re traveling.
Portable charger
A reliable portable charger is a really helpful item when it comes to safety and convenience. I feel like my phone battery always drains super quickly when I’m traveling abroad, and it’s not always possible to access an outlet, so I definitely try to have one on hand when I can.
Sunscreen
This isn’t just for tropical beach vacations, okay? Sunscreen, at least on your face, is a daily thing. Especially when you’re traveling, you tend to be walking outside and more out and about than usual, so it’s extra important. Especially if you are going to the beach. I personally like to use a nicer one for my face, and then I have another one for my body, but to each their own!
Sunglasses
This is another one I’m including as a reminder to myself — I’m the worst when it comes to remembering my sunglasses. With that said, don’t be like me, and keep them in your carry-on or personal item so you have them no matter what!
Essential medicines/travel medicines
Make sure everything’s properly stored in those clear bags we talked about, and check if the country you’re visiting has any regulations — some places don’t allow anything in, even basic medicines or prescriptions. But with that said, if you’re not traveling anywhere like that, I always like to have some sort of travel first-aid kit with basic medicines like Advil and BandAids, and stomach medicine just in case.
Jewelry
If you are checking a bag, never put valuable items like jewelry in that bag. Especially nowadays, losing your bag is so common, and you just don’t want to risk it with anything particularly expensive or sentimental. Just keep them organized in a little travel jewelry box so you don’t land with pieces missing or all tangled!
Other valuables like your camera, laptop, etc.
Similarly to jewelry but perhaps even more important, keeping any expensive electronics like your laptop and camera with you at all times is super important.
I always keep these things with me at my seat, with my laptop in my backpack and my camera in its own bag at my feet (I’ve always been able to get away with having a camera bag in addition to my personal item). Not only does checked luggage tend to get tossed around a lot, but it also could get lost, or broken into. So don’t risk it with your priciest items!
Copies of important documents
It’s a good idea to have a copy of your passport, itinerary, travel insurance, emergency contacts, and so on and so forth, just in case. (On that note, if you’re traveling internationally, I highly recommend getting travel insurance. I’ve always gone with World Nomads, and they’ve come in handy more than once! Find out more here.)
I hope this carry-on packing list comes in handy for your next trip! Is there anything you’d add? Let me know 🙂
Need help planning your trip?
While this guide covers everything you’ll need in your actual carry-on, I’ve got a couple more packing guides to help you out too.
Check out these posts next:
And if you’re looking for other travel planning tips, from how to choose the best hostel that isn’t gross or unsafe, to tips I always use to travel more affordably, I’ve got guides for you too!
