What to Pack in Your Carry-on: The Ultimate List

Deciding what to pack in your carry-on for a vacation can be quite overwhelming and often times it is easy to forget something you really needed. We’ve all been there when we finally leave and get to our destination just to find out that we forgot something! This can be a total bust and can impact your travel. Here are some items that you should be packing in your carry on so that you can be at ease and be confident that you haven’t forgotten anything!

Carry-on

Based on your trip, you may be allowed a carry-on suitcase, or you may need a backpack or a large purse.

• Backpack

I always pack a backpack as a carry-on of my choice. I make sure that it is sturdy, has many compartments, and is lightweight. If you travel with your camera gear and laptop, I highly suggest the GOgroove Backpack .

• Liquid’s Pouch

Ditch the ziplock bags and get a travel pouch for your toiletries. A nightmare that can happen is for all your liquids to spill un your suitcase or carry on! I love how convenient this TSA approved toiletry bag is because it comes with many compartments and has a hook so that you can hang it in the bathroom!

Sleep

Whether it is a 2-hour flight, an 8-hour flight, or a 16-hour flight, you want to be comfortable! Some airlines no longer offer free pillows and blankets to economy passengers, so you should bring your own.

• Neck Pillow

You do not want to be that person accidentally leaning on your seat neighbor. This inflatable neck pillow will keep you comfortable so you can catch that snooze. It comes with a travel bag and it is really compact because of its ability to deflate.

• Eye Mask

If you are sensitive to light, I highly suggest using an eye mask so that your sleep isn’t interrupted. There’s always that one person on a flight that has their over headlight on or their shade open when nearly the whole plane is sleep. This 3D eye mask is comfortable and will completely seal out the light from coming in.

• Blanket

I find myself always cold on the plane, so I always bring a blanket with me. A compact travel blanket is essential, especially for long flights. You don’t want to be cold with goosebumps and numb hands on a 5-hour flight!

Eat

• Snacks

I don’t know about you, but I do not want to be stuck paying $10 for a bag of chips on the plane. I always have snacks on deck for when I get hungry. You can bring food through TSA as long as it doesn’t contain any liquids. I normally bring some fruit like apples or oranges. I also bring granola bars, my favorite brand is the Kind Bars. I became a fan after a flight from Delta and it was their complimentary snack. I also will bring cookies, candy, and chips.

• Water Bottle

I started carrying my own water bottle in my carry-on every time I go on a trip. There are always water fountains in the airport. Instead of paying $5 for bottled water, you can save plastic and bring your own reusable water bottle. Also, I have found that in flight, the flight attendant doesn’t mind filling up my water bottle with their bottled water instead of giving me the small little plastic cup. I recommend a collapsable water bottle, which is easy to put away and store when you aren’t using it.

Cleanse

We have all seen how the coronavirus spread rapidly. It is best to do your part with keeping germs from being spread. These items will keep you feeling fresh and clean:

• Hand sanitizer

It is always nice to have access to hand sanitizer so your hands can be kept clean. This travel-sized hand sanitizer is TSA approved and will keep bacteria at bay.

• Wipes

I love keeping wipes with me so that I can freshen up. Wipes also have a variety of uses while traveling. Check out these biodegradable vegan wipes that are perfect for travel!

Refresh

Traveling can put a damper on your appearance, so here are my favorite products to bring you back to life!

• Eye cream

It is common to have under-eye circles while traveling. Olay Brightening Eye Cream will help you combat this problem. This eye cream will also hydrate your skin while reducing the appearance of undereye circles.

• Mascara

Mascara can help brighten your eyes after a long flight! My travel-sized mascara of choice would be they’re real by Benefit!

• Deodorant

You want to smell good during and after your flight! These cute Secret To Go deodorants are super discreet and will keep you smelling good when you need to freshen up.

• Tooth brush

This comes in handy, especially after a long flight. You can use the Colgate Wisps that are portable and mess-free.

• Hairbrush

Your hair can look all kinds of crazy after falling asleep on a plane! Keeping a mini-sized hairbrush on deck will help keep your hair smooth.

• Body Spray

I always keep body spray with me when I travel. It is also helpful when you go to the bathroom and it smells gross from all the passengers using it. Victoria’s Secret body spray will keep you smelling good through the day!

Entertainment

You don’t want to be bored on a flight! Be prepared to bring plenty of things to entertain yourself. Here are some ideas:

• Tablet

Books can be bulky to travel with, so I recommend E-books! I have an iPad mini with all my games, books, movies, and music.

If you have Netflix you can pre-download movies to watch offline. Time will go by so fast when you are watching a two-hour movie!

• Phone

If you don’t have a tablet you can definitely use your phone for the same things. When going out of the country you can be charged extra fees for data roaming, so just make sure you turn it off.

• Headphones

A good pair of headphones will come in handy when you want to watch an inflight movie or listen to your music. Wireless headphones can be great when it is time to charge your device.

• Portable Chargers/ Adapters

Don’t forget to pack all your chargers for your devices. It is also smart to bring a portable charger. It can be hard to find an open outlet in the airport and you don’t want your phone to be dead before you get to your destination.

Depending on where you are traveling you may need an adapter! Even if you aren’t visiting a different country, adapters can have multiple USB ports so that you can charge more than one thing all at once.

Don’t Forget

You don’t want to leave and forget your most important items!

• Passport / Identification
• Documents such as Visa
• Boarding reservation
• Credit cards/ Cash
• Valuables

You shouldn’t pack valuables in your checked bag! I always make sure I have these items packed in my carry-on.

• Medications

You should have access to your medications in your carry-on just in case anything did happen to your checked luggage.

I always make sure I have pain relievers, allergy medicine, Emergen-C, and anti-acids packed in my carry-on.

I hope this guide helped you with knowing what to pack in your carry-on. You can get your free copy of the carry-on packing list here!

What is an essential item in your carry-on list? Comment below! Want to save this list for later? You can pin it using the image below!