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The Ultimate Carry-On Packing List: 5 Packing Tips
Planning to travel light and leave your checked luggage at home? If so, you won’t have to worry about the airline damaging or losing a checked bag. You won’t have to wait around for baggage claim either. Instead, you can walk right off the plane and through the airport and start your vacation immediately. But the last thing you want is to arrive at your final destination only to realize you left something crucial at home.
The Best Carry-On Bags
Before you even begin packing, you’ll need to choose the right carry-on bag. Most airlines allow bags up to 22 x 14 x 9; anything larger than this may not fit in the plane’s overhead bin. And that means whatever bag you bring as your carry-on will need to comply with your airline’s regulations. It’s also crucial that the bag provides enough space for all your belongings and is durable to withstand wear and tear from travel.
Here are a few of our favorite bags for carry-on travel:
- Aeronaut 30: In addition to the large main compartment, this bag has built-in zippered partitions and five external pockets, giving us enough space to pack everything we need and keep it organized. Plus, we can wear it as a backpack, carry it as a duffel, or sling it over the shoulder, which makes it easy to carry even when we’ve stuffed it with everything you need.
- Synik 30: Technically, this travel backpack classifies as a personal item on most airlines that we’ve flown on (note that size limitations can vary airline by airline, so we encourage you to check with your airline before travel). But we love to use it as our carry-on because the clamshell opening allows us to pack it exactly the same as we pack our normal suitcase. And the organizational pockets, including one specifically for our laptop, make it our go-to for business trips.
- Pilot: This TSA-approved bag is specifically designed for travel; it has more pockets than any of the other bags in this list, which makes it easy to organize and access items throughout our travel day. And while its smaller size means that we normally use it with a larger suitcase like the Techonaut, it’s still the perfect size bag for overnight trips when we’re packing light.
- Western Flyer: One of our smallest carry-on bags, the Western Flyer is our favorite bag for minimalist travel. Similar to the Aeronaut, we can carry this bag three different ways and take advantage of built-in organization features like compartments and O-rings. But its smaller size and laptop compartments make it perfect for quick business trips.
Essential Items To Pack In Your Carry-On Luggage
Traveling can be a hassle if you don’t have the right supplies and equipment. Having a checklist helps ensure that you don’t forget any essential items. Knowing everything you’ll pack also helps you decide whether you can realistically travel with just a carry-on or if you’ll need to travel with something larger. It also helps you plan how to pack everything so that it fits comfortably without exceeding weight or size limits.
While the specific items you pack will depend on your destination and how long you’ll be there, the travel packing list we’ve created contains the standard travel essentials you need for any trip. You can use it as a starting point for your own packing checklist. Be sure to modify it to fit your own style and accommodate your needs on your trip.
Clothes:
- Pants
- T-shirts or long-sleeve shirts
- Undergarments
- Socks
- Shoes
- Sleepwear
- Athletic wear
- Swimsuit (if you’re headed to the beach or a hotel with a pool)
- Formal attire, including dresses or a button-down shirt
- Outerwear, like a rain jacket or heavy winter coat (if you’re heading somewhere with cold weather)
Toiletries:
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Deodorant
- Body wash
- Shampoo and conditioner
- Lip balm
- Skincare products (moisturizer, lotion, sunscreen, etc.)
- Hairbrush and styling products (hairspray, gel, etc.)
- Contact lenses and solution or glasses with a case
- Makeup and makeup remover wipes or pads
- Feminine hygiene products
Electronics:
- Laptop
- Tablet or e-reader
- Cell phone
- Charger cables and adapters
- Headphones or earbuds
- Camera, memory cards, and batteries
- Portable speaker or audio device
- Power bank or external battery charger
- Portable Wi-Fi router/hotspot
Miscellaneous items:
- Travel documents (passport, boarding pass, travel insurance card, etc.)
- Snacks or chewing gum
- Water bottle (empty for security reasons)
- Travel pillow
- Eye mask and earplugs
- Books/magazines/reading material
- Pen/pencil/paper and writing materials
- Cash in small denominations
- Medications (prescription and over-the-counter)
5 Tips For Packing Your Bag Efficiently
Packing your carry-on bag is key to having enough space for all of your items. And the more organized you are, the easier it will be to find what you need in your bag when you’re traveling.
1. Bring only what you need
The key to traveling light is to pack the right items and only take what you need. To make sure everything fits in your carry-on, avoid packing a change of clothes for every day of your trip. Instead, focus on packing versatile clothing items that you can combine together to create multiple different looks. If you can, you should also limit yourself to a single pair of shoes or plan to wear the bulkier pair if you know you’ll need a change of shoes, as footwear is bulky and quickly eats up space in your bag.
If you are traveling for an extended period of time, consider leaving things like body wash at home. You can buy a small bottle of what you need at your destination rather than stuffing extra items into your carry-on. But if you do plan to bring your own toiletries from home, it’s a good idea to look into dry bar shampoo and conditioners. These typically take up less space and eliminate the hassle of finding the travel-sized products that you like and comply with TSA regulations so you can bring them through airport security.
2. Roll your clothes to save space
Rolling your clothes can help you save a lot of space in your carry-on bag. Not only does it reduce the amount of bulk in your bag, but it also compresses your clothes and makes them easier to organize. Plus, rolling is a great way to prevent wrinkles when traveling!
Here’s how to roll clothes before you pack them in your suitcase:
- Start by folding clothing items into a neat square or rectangle, which will make rolling easier.
- Smooth out the folded clothing to make sure rolling doesn’t create wrinkles.
- Tightly roll each individual item.
- Then pack them tightly together to prevent items from unrolling in your bag.
3. Organize your bag with packing cubes
Packing cubes are an excellent way to save space and keep your carry-on bag organized while traveling. By compressing clothing items, they make it easier to fit everything you need in a small space. They also help you manage all of your items so that you can easily find what you need without making a mess of your bag.
If you’re traveling for more than a few days at a time, you may want to bring a dedicated toiletry bag like our Spiff Kit to store all of your hygiene and beauty products. Selecting something durable and water-resistant will ensure that if anything leaks during travel, it won’t damage anything else in your bag.
4. Pack large items first
Start by packing more oversized items first. That way, you can leave room in your bag for smaller items that may not fit otherwise. Not only does this help maximize space and prevent any last-minute cramming, but it also reduces the risk that something small will get lost or damaged in transit.
Plus, if there’s still some extra room after packing large items, then you’ll be able to easily fit other things like books or magazines into the same space without worrying about them getting squished.
5. Be wise when choosing a personal item
In addition to your carry-on, most airlines will allow you to bring one personal item. And choosing a bag like the Copilot will help you maximize your space by offering a little extra room for anything that doesn’t fit in your carry-on. That way, you can ensure you have everything you need without exceeding weight or size limits. Plus, it can double as a daypack that you can deploy as needed on your trip.
If you’re still looking for the perfect carry-on bag, look at our Travel Collection to find one that suits you. Then, peek at our Organizational tools to double-check that you have everything you need for efficient packing and travel.
Comments and Discussions
Gary C: June 2, 2023 – It isn’t clear to me why you recommend packing a portable Wi-Fi router when most phones (certainly iPhones) can be used as a Wi-Fi hotspot.
TOM BIHN replied: Hi Gary! From personal experiences, we’ve traveled to places where the hotspot from our phones was really unreliable due to poor service in certain areas, so adding that is why we’ve added the pocket Wi-Fi as a backup option!
Jessi: June 2, 2023 – I lived for two weeks out of the Synapse 25. It is the perfect bag to carry as a personal item. It fit a large packing cube, toiletries bag, as well as a laptop, and all related charges.
TOM BIHN replied: That’s amazing! Thank you for sharing.
Stephen Paskey: May 27, 2023 – Your comment about the Synik 30 as a personal item is simply flat-out wrong. Most airlines limit personal items to 18 x 14 x 8 or smaller.
Daniel: May 15, 2023 – I have made two international trips to Asia so far with a Techonaut 30 as my carry-on luggage and Daylight Briefcase as a personal item. The main thing to watch out for is the weight limit for the carry-on bag which is 7kg/15.43/24lbs.
Andrew: May 8, 2023 – The Synik 30 generally won’t fit under an airline seat. The Synapse 25 fits and is a little more roomy. I’ve been able to comfortably live out of the Synapse 25 for a week when traveling somewhere warm.
I think this is the perfect single bag carry-on. In the US, the Synapse 25 works fine for a personal item under the seat, and you can use an Aeronaut 45 or traditional luggage as your carry-on. For me personally, that combo is enough to live out of almost indefinitely (excluding significant seasonal weather changes).
Some important points: I like to use all of the extra Tom Bihn packing bags, but don’t overdue it in a 1-bag travel scenario. They add weight and bulk. I’ll always pack the clear organizer cube for TSA liquids and standard Spiff Kit for bathroom items, but the others I skip unless I have 2 bags.
Having a small, lightweight computer with a small, lightweight charger is critical. You can use smaller adapters than came with a given MacBook/MBP, they just charge slower.
Have a way to get laundry done during your trip. I like to travel with a single pair of shoes, but this has gotten me in trouble more than once.
Let me know if you need anything else!
What is the ideal size for a carry-on bag?
*_Most airlines allow bags up to 22 x 14 x 9 inches in size._*
How do I choose the right carry-on bag?
*_Choose a bag that provides enough space for all your belongings, is durable, and complies with your airline’s regulations._*
What are some essentials to pack in my carry-on luggage?
*_Essentials include clothes, toiletries, electronics, travel documents, snacks, and medications._*
How can I save space in my carry-on bag?
*_Roll your clothes, use packing cubes, and pack large items first to save space._*
Can I bring a personal item in addition to my carry-on bag?
*_Yes, most airlines allow one personal item in addition to your carry-on bag._*
What are some recommended carry-on bags?
*_Some recommended bags include Aeronaut 30, Synik 30, Pilot, and Western Flyer._*
How do I pack clothes efficiently?
*_Roll your clothes, fold them into a neat square or rectangle, and pack them tightly together._*
What are some tips for packing toiletries?
*_Pack toiletries in a dedicated bag, consider dry bar shampoo and conditioners, and look for travel-sized products._*
How can I keep my carry-on bag organized?
*_Use packing cubes, organize your belongings into categories, and designate a specific bag for toiletries._*
What are some electronics I should pack in my carry-on?
*_Pack a laptop, tablet or e-reader, cell phone, charger cables and adapters, and headphones or earbuds._*
