10 items to always keep in your carry on
Being prepared on long travel days can mean the difference between arriving at your destination jet lagged or bright eyed and bushy tailed, cashless or with a fully intact travel fund, stressed or relaxed. As seasoned travelers, we know how to ensure your journey is not only comfortable, but enjoyable! We’ve gathered a list of our top ten essentials that we think everyone needs to always pack in their carry on.
1) Ekrist portable power bank
In the age of technology, our devices are our lifelines, especially when navigating airports and travel plans. All too often, outlets are like gold in crowded airport terminals. Save yourself the worry and don’t be caught without backup. The Ekrist portable power bank can charge two devices simultaneously and provides six to eight full charges.
Price: $25.95
Buy it here: Amazon
2) Travelon compact wet/dry toiletry bag
We’ve all done it, packed up all of our toiletries and set the liquids and gels to the side to be shoved into a quart-sized plastic bag. There are much better solutions to this packing blunder. Keeping all toiletries together in a compact, easily accessible bag makes it much easier to refresh in airport and hotel bathrooms. One of our favorites is the simple wet/dry bag from Travelon. Keep all of your liquids and gels in one of the TSA approved zippered pockets and don’t worry about putting them somewhere separate.
Price: $25.00
Buy it here: Travelon
3) Voom Sonic compact electric toothbrush
Don’t sacrifice your dental health while traveling just because you don’t want to lug along your clunky electric toothbrush. Voom Sonic makes the perfect electric toothbrush suited for travel. Taking up no more room than a manual toothbrush, this little tool packs a punch, with 22,000 strokes per minute and a vented cap for hygiene.
Price: $19.99
Buy it here: Voom Sonic
4) The Honey Pot face and body wipes
Airports and planes seem to be some of the dirtiest places. After long days sitting in both, a refresh always feels good. Stocking your toiletry bag with face and body wipes from The Honey Pot is a great way to ensure you can freshen up quickly while on the go. With several great scents and compact packaging, these always find a spot on our packing list.
Price: $9.89
Buy it here: Target
5) Trtl travel pillow
There seems to be two types of people: those who can sleep on planes and those who can’t. If you tend to fall into the second category, the Trtl travel pillow may just move you into the first. Even those who can usually find some rest can upgrade their comfort with this innovative travel tool. Trtl invented their travel pillow to not only take up less room in your bag, but also to solve the issue of bobbing heads in uncomfortable plane seats. With an innovative design that holds the head and neck in a better ergonomic position than traditional travel pillows, you are sure to say goodbye to jet lag after the best sleep you’ve had while traveling.
Price: $59.99
Buy it here: Trtl
6) Quince packable, lightweight jacket
Packing light can get really difficult when heading off to destinations with unpredictable or cold weather. Our friends at Quince are aiming to solve this problem. Stay warm and dry without sacrificing half of the room in your carry on with their lightweight down jacket. Rolling up into about the size of a T-shirt, this is the perfect item to keep on hand.
Price: $89.90
Buy it here: Quince
7) Davek mini umbrella
Staying on the topic of unpredictable weather, rain can’t ruin your day when you’re prepared with the Davek mini umbrella. For most travelers, an umbrella wouldn’t usually make the packing list, as they tend to be too bulky and inconvenient. However, the Davek mini umbrella is small enough to fit into a pocket and, even at its tiny size, is sturdy and effective. Keep dry in any outfit while on the go with this tiny tool.
Price: $60.00
Buy it here: Davek
8) North Carry Slim Sling
Zipping, unzipping, and shuffling through all of the items in your carry on can be a huge hassle when navigating airports. Keep the essentials close with the North Carry Slim Sling bag. With several zippered pockets for important items like phones and passports and enough room for a small book and on-the-go necessities, this is the perfect personal item to pair with your carry on.
Price: $49.95 (currently on sale, regular price $71.95)
9) TESSAN outlet adapter
You’ve got your passport, sunglasses, and itsy bitsy bikini ready for your summer trip to Europe, but don’t forget your outlet adapter, otherwise you won’t be getting the perfect sunset shots you’ve been dreaming of. The TESSAN European travel plug adapter allows you to plug in USB, Type A, and Type B cords into Type C outlets. Keep in mind, this adapter is compatible with most outlets in Europe, but some countries have different outlet types and TESSAN sells those adapters as well.
Price: $15.43
Buy it here: Amazon
10) Reusable water bottle
Airports are known for their ridiculous prices for a reason. Even a bottle of water can put you out $5 or more! Save this cash for drinks on the beach or fun souvenirs and never be caught without a reusable water bottle. Most airports have filtered water stations - take advantage of these while also avoiding single-use plastics. There are hundreds of options out there when it comes to water bottles - simply use what you already have at home!
We are so happy to see how new, innovative travel products are making travel easier and more comfortable! Did we miss any of your favorites?