Here are 8 Essential Items to Pack in Your Carry-On

I’m sure you’ve heard by now a horror story of luggage delays and lost baggage. It can be stressful figuring out how to pack efficiently. There is no right way to pack. We want to share 10 things to be sure to pack in your carry-on in case your luggage gets lost!

What to pack

We both have a backpack we carry onboard and carry-on-sized luggage each we like to check (so we can lounge-hop freely!). Here are the top 8 items to be sure you have in your carry-on or backpack in case you’re caught in a pinch:

The ‘Must Haves’ to pack

1. Essential Travel Documents: Always pack your most important items (ID, passport, visas, COVID vaccinations) with you in your carry-on. Keep a few of your favorite credit cards handy that are universally accepted when traveling. Cash on hand can also be helpful for any number of sticky situations! Usually $20 – $40 in small bills is plenty. If you’ve been traveling for a while, don’t forget to pack your keys in your carry-on if you’re heading home.
2. Fresh pair of underwear and socks (or two): This seems like a no-brainer. You would be surprised to see how many times we forget to pack this in our carry-on! Our trick is to have a small packing cube for our backpacks where we can store this and easily grab it. Tip: Wear wool socks and underwear on travel day because you can easily wash them in the sink if needed.

The ‘Should Haves’ to pack

1. All electronics – including travel adapters: Be sure to pack all necessary electronics in your carry on. This includes those bulky items like laptop chargers and travel adapters (here’s our favorite). You don’t want to get stuck without the ability to charge those electronic necessities.
2. Emergency medicine: Now that it’s becoming harder to predict the hours your travel day will take, pack a small bag of emergency medicine. A couple of ibuprofens, eye drops, Alka-Seltzer, ginger candy (for nausea), anti-diarrheal, allergy medicine, and band-aids. For the ladies: I pack a few Midol, tampons, pads, and feminine wipes just in case. Always pack any medications you need in your backpack.
3. Hairbrush and toothbrush: You want to pack essentials that will keep you fresh. We found having a travel-size hairbrush and a small toothbrush and toothpaste can do the trick. If you can find a travel-size mouthwash that fits the liquid requirements, that is a great addition too!

The ‘Nice to Haves’ (but you’ll be glad you brought them!)

1. One change of PJs or a t-shirt: Your bag is probably already packed full at this point… but we like to squeeze in one t-shirt or something to sleep in. In case of an overnight cancellation or day-of lost baggage this can be a great addition. Once, when my bag was lost on a flight from Seattle to Orlando, I didn’t have an extra set of clothes and regretted it! Avoid feeling gross re-wearing travel outfits by packing one small extra shirt or outfit. Tip: Ideally pack for the climate you plan to be in!
2. Wipes: Wipes are extremely versatile when in a pinch. I like to use baby wipes for sensitive skin, so we can use them to wipe our faces or bodies. It can also double for eye-makeup removal if you had any on during the travel day.
3. Protein-filled snack: To combat any delays or shorter-than-expected layovers, we recommend always packing a snack. Ideally protein-based like nuts, jerky, or a healthy bar to keep you satisfied until you can grab a meal. We’ve found these Four Sigmatic travel protein packs to be a lifesaver to dodge those hangry stressful moments during travel. Just add water! 

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We hope this list helps alleviate some stress around what to pack in your carry-on. We hope you have your essentials during the revenge travel season! It’s crazy out there so we wish all you brave souls as smooth a travel experience as possible.