Travel Essentials: What to Pack in Your Carry On Luggage

I have a family trip coming up and I thought it would be fun to share some of my packing tips and tricks.  My husband is usually the one organizing and planning the trip and I’m the one that packs for the entire family.  This split of responsibilities works out pretty well for our family dynamic.  He enjoys the trip planning process and I like knowing that I’ve got everything I need with me on the trip.  Imagine, traveling with me would be like having Doraemon with you.  Whenever you need something, you just ask and I will magically pull the item out of my convenience purse/obtaining bag.  But in reality, I don't really have a wormhole portal like Doraemon so everything I bring actually takes up space and weight.  Through my years of packing, I have become an expert in narrowing down to the essentials and only bringing those that are compact, collapsible/retractable and versatile.

Here are some essentials that have been tested by me and my family and have been with us for many family travels.

1. Shacke Pak

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I’ve been using these packing cubes ever since they came out about 8 years ago.  They are extremely sturdy, lightweight, and durable.  They were one of the few packing cubes with the deeper pockets back in the day.  I love the vast color options they have where I can assign a specific color for each family member. It's easy for me to identify which luggage belongs to which person.  I always pack an extra set of clothes in their smallest Shacke Pak packing cube (11” x 6.75” x 4”)  for everyone and put it in our carry on luggages in case we encounter any incidents such as a mishap during our plane flight or that our check in luggages got lost or didn’t arrive in time.  Over the years, I've had one or 2 of the mesh pockets ripped and I was able to contact the manufacturer and they were quick to replace them with their lifetime warranty in place.  The only thing I wish these packing cubes would include is an expandable and compression zipper so I can pack in more things yet save space at the same time.

2. Rainleaf Microfiber Towel

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I like to bring my own towels when I travel but regular towels take up a ton of space.  That is why I love these Rainleaf Microfiber Towels.  They are super compact and lightweight so it won’t take up much of my luggage space.  They are also super absorbent and dries quickly.  After each use, I just hang it up and it will be dried by the next time I need to use it again.  Each family member has their own unique size and color picked out for them so they won’t get mixed up for hygiene reasons.  The XXL size towels even come with a pocket in the corner making it super convenient to safekeep your valuables and use it as a beach blanket.

3. HYDAWAY Collapsible Water Bottle 

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If you know me, you know I drink a lot of water.  I cannot travel without bringing my own collapsible water bottle with me.  The first thing I do after passing security is to look for a water refill station to fill up our water bottles. I was once a flight attendant before so I know that the airplane’s water tank rarely gets cleaned.  Thus, I usually avoid drinking water from the plane unless they are bottled.  I would also ask for “no ice” in my drinks.  Airplane cabins have a lower humidity than your daily environment.  That is why you have to remind yourself to constantly intake more water when flying. These Hydaway collapsible water bottles are the most compact ones I’ve seen without losing their shape. It reduces to a quarter of its size (1.5 inch thick) when fully collapsed.  So compact you can easily fit in your pants pocket. Many others in the market can not stand up on their own or would collapse without having water in them. Many strangers have approached us and asked us where they can get these water bottles.  These bottles have a big opening twist top so it’s easy to clean and it’s dishwasher safe.   The downside is its flip top straw piece is exposed to the outside unlike others that have a lid to protect the sprout.  To combat this, I would wipe it with disinfecting wipes before drinking out of the straw.  I also bought their travel case to keep the bottle clean when it's not in use. 

4.  Travel pillows: 

We’ve bought a few travel pillows over the years and the ones mentioned below are our top 3 favorites:

TRTL Pillow

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I bought this TRTL pillow to try for myself.  It is more of a neck brace than a pillow really.  It helps keep my head prompt up without my head bobbing around when I am fast asleep.  It is normally the head dropping motion that wakes us up in the middle of our sleep and this neck wraps prevents that from happening.  Many reviews mention how this pillow can prevent stiff neck and sore shoulders.  However, I do find myself having to readjust and position the pillow occasionally because my neck gets tired from leaning on just one side.  I got the standard one that’s not adjustable so I find the height of the neck brace just a tiny bit too tall for my neck.  The fleece material of the neck wrap also gets a bit hot while using so I recommend using this pillow during the winter times.  The unique shape of this pillow makes it impossible to fold flat but you can always wrap it around the handle or tuck it in the front pocket of the carry-on suitcase. 

Cabeau Air Evolution Inflatable Travel Neck Pillow 

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My husband used to have this memory foam version for the longest time.  It was great while it lasted.  But the memory foam started to break and it was quite bulky to bring along so I switched it to this inflatable one.  This neck pillow is the most compact out of the 3 I’m mentioning here today.  When it’s all rolled up in its reusable carry bag, it is no bigger than the size of a soda can.  Just 2-3 blows of air and it is fully inflated.  I like how you can adjust the firmness of the pillow according to how much air you put into.  The storage compartment allows you to put away your earbuds or headphones when you’re not using them which is an added bonus to this pillow.  Although this inflatable version doesn’t come with memory foam, the super plush fabric more than compensates for it.  And since the cover is washable, you can just throw it in the washer and it’ll be clean for your next trip.

TRAVELREST All-in-One Premium Travel Pillow

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At first, I bought these Travelrest all-in-one premium travel pillows for my kids but I find myself using these more and more interchangeably with the Cabeau Air Evolution depending on what I feel like that day.  I really like how it can loop on to the headrest and through the seat belt so it won’t shift around when you sleep.  Like the Cabeau travel pillow, just 2-3 puffs of air and you’re ready to go.  It has a super soft velvety cover and memory foam inserts so you do feel like you’re sleeping in the clouds while you’re flying 36,000 feet in the air.  You can use it as a separator between you and the other passenger sitting beside you.  The only downside I can think of is if you’re a back sleeper and you do not like to lean on one side to sleep.

5.  Lug Nap Sac Blanket & Pillow

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I list this one separately from the other travel pillows because this is a 2-in-1 blanket and pillow set and I feel it is an optional item if you’re just going on a short haul flight.  But I would highly recommend bringing this if you’re going on a long haul flight or traveling to somewhere cold where you can use an extra blanket.  I really like this Lug Nap Sac Blanket & Pillow because it is very versatile.  You can use it as is (where the blanket is folded inside the pillowcase) as a pillow, or you can take the blanket out and then inflate the inflatable pillow. Now you have yourself and a pillow to rest your head on and a blanket to keep you warm throughout the flight.  If you bring along one of the travel pillows I mentioned above, then you can use this extra pillow as a lumbar support.  I’ve seen used pillows and blankets get passed down to new boarding passengers without getting sanitized first, so I would strongly suggest you  bring your own set on board. Not only do I bring this to my air travels, but I also like to bring this with me to my camping trips.   Because of how compact this 2-in-1 blanket and pillow set is, the blanket is on the smaller side.  The length of the blanket is intended for you to use while being seated.  

6.  AirFly Pro Bluetooth Wireless Audio Transmitter

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I bought this so my kids can watch movies or play games together in flight.  With this AirFly Pro, we no longer need to use the cheap wired headphones handed out by the airlines.  No more getting tangled with the headphone cords as you leave your seat for the bathroom.  And no more detangling the headphone cords from your seatbelt as you return back from the bathroom.  We can finally use our own airpods / wireless headphones to enjoy the in-flight entertainment.  2 people can enjoy the same movie or the same song together at the very same time.  Because everyone is using bluetooth these days, pairing the Airfly with your own wireless headphones can take a few tries, but it is worth it once you get it to connect.

7.  Retractable Multi Charger Cable

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We have had many interests and compliments regarding this retractable multi charging cable from nearby passengers.  This 4-in-1 charging cable is retractable and very compact.  If my kids need to charge their tablet / laptop a seat or two from me, I’ll just adjust the cord to the longest length.  But if I’m just charging my phone at my seat, I can retract it to the middle or shortest length.  I also like the variety of charging connectors, so I can charge all the different devices at once.  I usually keep one of these cables in my purse when I travel.  I not only use it inflight, but can also use it at airport lounges or on rental cars.  It charges super fast but tends to get slower the more devices you add on.

8.  Magnetic Anti-Lost Straps for AirPods

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I am anxious about losing my airpods in the plane.  They are so small that I’m afraid I would drop it and it will get rolled under someone else’s seat.  So I bought these magnetic anti-lost straps for both myself and my husband to use.  I like how it is magnetic, so when I’m not using my airpods, I can hang it around my neck and the magnet keeps the airpods together like a necklace around my neck.  Or, you can wrap it around your wrist like a bracelet.  It is also made out of silicone and not nylon, so it cleans easily and dries quickly.  I have no complaints about these straps but some reviewers will say the straps may be short for some people.  I also use these when I’m exercising or doing some outdoor sports.

Do you like the recommendations I mentioned above?  Are you already using some of the items on your travels?  Anything you think I have missed out on and is essential to bring on your carry on luggage?  Now it’s your turn – tell me what your favorite thing to bring on flight and why.

“Wow” Yourself!