When it comes to packing your bags for a trip, you can never be too prepared — especially if the only bags you’re taking are carry-ons. It takes skill to make sure you have all the travel essentials, without overstuffing your luggage and potentially causing a problem in the security line.
For frequent flyers, however, packing a carry-on for a successful flight and trip is old hat. While I’ve done my fair share of traveling, I’m no expert, so I wanted to reach out to a real jetsetter and see what they always remember to pack when they head to the airport. Is there something fundamental I’m always forgetting? How do people fit all of their liquids into such a tiny bag, and still have enough of everything for the whole trip?
To find out, I reached out to Caroline Bologna, a senior travel and culture reporter at HuffPost, who has reached Delta Platinum frequent flyer status and says she only travels with carry-on baggage. Below, see Bologna’s picks for essential carry-on items, and get ready to make your next trip to the airport the smoothest one yet.
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“I’ve tried many kinds of portable chargers over the years, but I think the best ones have built-in cords that are compatible with multiple types of devices, remain charged for a long time and clearly display how much charge is left,” Bologna says. “Traveling with this kind of power bank is a lifesaver when you’re on the move with uncertain outlet access.”
Bologna recommends this Charmast power bank in particular, which can charge up to five devices at once and has four built-in cords (USB-C, micro, iPhone and USB-A). It also weighs less than a pound, making it easy to slip into a carry-on.
Accidents happen, but thankfully it’s easy to be prepared if you make a mess on your travel clothes or belongings. “Just one of these days I hope I can get through a trip without the need to use a stain-removing stick, but even if that ends up happening, I will still probably always keep a Tide pen in my travel bag,” Bologna says.
You can buy Tide pens in packs or just grab a single pen for your travels — they should last you a while. Just press the tip of the pen to the stain to release the stain remover, rub it over the stain and wait for it to do its thing.
Even if you’re pretty confident in your packing skills, having some help by way of packing cubes won’t hurt. “I’ve only recently started dabbling in the packing cubes realm, but they really are a game changer in terms of keeping your things organized when you travel,” Bologna says. “As someone who only travels with carry-ons, I also enjoy the way packing cubes help prevent overpacking.”
Bologna likes the versatility of prints and colors in this Calpak set, saying they “bring a little more joy to the packing process.” The set contains four packing cubes of various sizes (two small, one medium and one large), along with one water-resistant envelope pouch. All of the cubes have zipper closures, a carrying handle, an exterior pocket that also zips shut and an ID tag so you can keep all your belongings straight.
Bagsmart is responsible for one shopping reporter’s favorite carry-on bag, and the brand’s versatile set of packing cubes appear to please a lot of customers, too.
“As a millennial with no attention span, I can’t imagine going on a trip without my Apple AirPods,” Bologna says. “They’re perfect for listening to music, podcasts and audiobooks through every step of the journey to my destination and even after I arrive — especially when I travel solo and take long walks around a new city or hike up to stunning viewpoints. Although I’ve long used the basic version, I’m considering an upgrade to the AirPods Pro for better noise cancelling on loud airplanes and trains.”
Heads up: Second generation AirPods are on sale right now, with the best deal of 31% off at Amazon and Walmart. Don’t miss your chance to save on this travel essential.
There are plenty of areas on planes, trains and other transportation modes that can get pretty germy, from tray tables to surfaces in the public restrooms. If you don’t already carry hand sanitizer, you’ll want to get on it.
Bologna likes the Touchland Power Mist Hydrating Hand Sanitizer, which comes in a 1-fluid ounce spray bottle. “My mom introduced me to this hand sanitizer spray, and I always make sure to have it with me when I’m traveling. I love that the mist makes it easy to sanitize on the go, and it doesn’t dry out my hands or leave a sticky feeling.”
The sanitizer comes in 11 scents, and you can also buy three- and five-packs at Amazon, if you want more than one. It contains 70% alcohol to kill germs, but also has nourishing skin care ingredients like aloe vera and lemon essential oil to keep from drying out the skin on your hands.
“Of course deodorant is one of many toiletries that go in my bag when I travel, but for a long, sweaty transit journey, I like to keep it handy for quick access to reapply,” Bologna says.
In her carry-on, she opts to pack a stick of Megababe’s Rosy Pits deodorant, which she says “is nicely aluminum-free and clear, so I don’t have to worry about getting white stains on my clothes.” As the name implies, this deodorant smells like roses. It has a water-based formula, is vegan and cruelty-free and soothes and hydrates the skin with application.
Bologna previously covered the importance of wearing compression socks on a plane, in order to avoid blood clots due to a lack of blood flow in your calves while you’re sitting for a long period on the flight. Compression socks stimulate that necessary blood flow by exerting pressure on your calves.
“The idea of blood clots really freaks me out, so anytime I’m getting on a plane for more than two hours, I try to wear compression socks,” she says. She opts for these knee-high Comrad socks, which come in 20 colors on Amazon and six on Comrad’s site. They’re made of moisture-wicking nylon and are unisex, available in sizes S-XL (Comrad has a size chart linked above the sizing options for this product on their site that converts both men’s and women’s shoe sizes to the appropriate sock size). Also, if you grab the socks from Conrad, the site has a Buy 2, Get 1 Free deal going so you can rack up multiple pairs for less!
If you travel a lot and are looking to stock up, try this editor’s pick: a highly-rated set of eight pairs of compression socks for about $20. It has nearly 65,000 five-star reviews on Amazon.
If you need a new toiletry bag for your trip, Bologna is a fan of Hill House Home’s offerings. “I love the different pouches and cosmetic kits they’ve released over the years, and this mini dopp kit comes in the cutest basketweave print,” she says.
Complete with a carrying handle and interior pocket, this mini dopp kit measures 11 x 7 x 3 inches, and is almost too pretty to pack away. It makes for a great bag to store your essentials in that don’t need to be in the clear 3-1-1 liquids bag (like maybe, I don’t know, some Megababe deodorant and a Tide pen… just saying).
If you’re hard on your travel items and need something rugged, this durable and affordable option from Carhartt is worth considering. Reviewers love the waterproof lining and say it “stands up to heavy wear and tear.”
“I’ve amassed quite a collection of free canvas tote bags in my years of working in lifestyle media, and in addition to taking them to the grocery store or farmers market, I also always throw one in my suitcase when traveling,” Bologna says. “They take up so little room and always come in handy at some point.”
If you don’t already have a good tote, our pick is this canvas tote from Amazon. It has a zipper closure to keep your possessions protected from weather and pickpocketers and offers extra storage with four pockets. (Just note that the plush keychain pictured here is not included with the bag — but you can hang something of your own from that convenient loop.) Grab this style of tote in one of six colors.
We also like this set of five nylon bags that fit neatly into the included carrying pouch — which closes tightly with a drawstring and is equipped with a convenient carabiner for attaching to a keychain or handbag strap.
Bologna also swears by a HuffPost reader favorite when it comes to travel skin care: “I never go anywhere without my French drugstore fave — the Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré,” she says. “It’s perfectly moisturizing without feeling too heavy and offers a much-needed boost of hydration after hours in a dry airplane cabin. I also use it as a makeup remover and cleanser in a pinch.”
You can grab this moisturizer in two sizes, but luckily, the larger tube is 2.54 fluid ounces — aka, still under the 3-ounce requirement for most carry-on liquids. As Bologna noted, this is somewhat of a do-it-all product, in that you can use it to moisturize, prime your skin for makeup, remove your makeup or provide after-sun care (thanks to the soothing aloe vera).
Whether you get cold on the plane or are traveling somewhere with cooler weather, packing a sweater is never a bad idea, according to Bologna. “I absolutely love this versatile sweater that’s become a go-to for travel,” she says. “It’s great for layering or even wearing on its own and is the perfect weight for different weather conditions. I like the structured look that makes me feel a little more put-together than I do in other sweaters I throw on when I’m traveling.”
This knit cardigan looks a lot like the popular $100 J.Crew sweater but costs less than half the price. It can be dressed up or down, and features brushed gold buttons and two front pockets. It’s available in 19 colors and patterns, in women’s sizes S-XL.
If your TSA-approved liquids bag is becoming overstuffed with items, you may appreciate the creativity of this next suggestion. “The MakeUp Eraser is another easy-to-pack product that goes a long way on a trip and takes up very little room,” Bologna says. “And it’s one less liquid I have to account for if I’m traveling through an airport like Heathrow where the total liquid quantities allowed are strictly limited.”
The MakeUp Eraser is a cloth that you can pack dry in your suitcase, and soak it with warm water when you’re ready to take off your makeup. You can work away your makeup by rubbing the soft fabric of the short-pile side in circular motions against your face, then flip it over to exfoliate your now-bare skin. The MakeUp Eraser is machine-washable and will last up to 1,000 washes, so you can save some money on makeup remover products you might otherwise need to buy pretty regularly.
If you want one more option and are willing to pay a little more for a trusted, high-quality brand, this Frye mixed stitch button front cardigan is another editors’ pick. It has crochet sleeves and a ribbed front, and comes in two cozy neutral colors. It’s available in women’s sizes XS-XL.
“We live in the era of viral refillable water bottles, and I’m all for it,” Bologna says. “But the Stanley is just way too big for my carry-on-only lifestyle. (Plus, who wants to lug that around all day when you’re out sightseeing.) This Lululemon one was a great travel companion on my last trip as I hiked all around the island of Capri.”
Available in eight colorways, this bottle has a 24-ounce capacity and comes with a dishwasher-safe, folding straw lid that has a loop to easily carry it on the go. The vacuum insulation and double-wall design keep your drinks cold without the bottle sweating on the outside. Just make sure the bottle is empty when you go through airport security, and fill it up on the other side.