At 35,000 feet, the simplest of items can become essentials. Whether it’s a favorite protein bar that breaks up the salted peanut humdrum, or a MacGyvered combination of accessories that ensure sleep, these items are what make sitting in an aluminum tube hurtling through the sky seem, well, bearable. Below, Traveler editors share their best tips for what to pack in a carry-on, from skin-saving beauty hacks to gadgets that keep boredom at bay, plus more practical items, like a case to store travel documents and credit cards and pouches for all of our toiletries. These are the items that have firmly earned a spot in our carry-on luggage and personal items, making travel days smoother, no matter where we’re headed.
This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
Tech essentials
Technics EAH-AZ80 Hi-Fi True Wireless Earbuds
I’ve been sold on these Technics earbuds from the moment I got them, and I refuse to fly without them now. The most underrated feature is the ambient sound mode. It cancels out all surrounding noise but you will still be able to catch announcements coming from the cockpit as if the pilot is talking directly to you. —Paris Wilson, commerce producer
iPad Air 12
The iPad Air has become my favorite carry-on tech item. Between e-book apps and downloaded TV shows from Netflix and Hulu, I can fit hours and hours worth of entertainment onto the slim tablet. And if I’m trying to get work done but don’t want to bring my laptop, I use the Smart Keyboard case, which is surprisingly lightweight for a keyboard that feels stable and is almost full-size. Plus, the battery life is great, so I don’t have to worry about running out of power, even if I’m using it for the majority of the flight. —Stephanie Wu, former Traveler editor
Sony WH-1000XM4 Headphones
Once I was on a 16-hour flight, seated in front of the chattiest passenger. (He was going to Cape Town, then Australia, Singapore, and Hawaii, if you were wondering. He also loves 90 Day Fiancé.) Luckily, all I had to do was pop on my Sony noise-canceling headphones and I was in my own oasis of silence. These Bluetooth headphones are pricey but they’re worth it. They block out nearly all noise, are pressure optimized for comfortable listening on flights, and come with a two-prong jack (especially useful for passengers in business class, where the seat-back usually requires one). Best of all, they have a built-in microphone which can pipe in outside noise—all you have to do is hold your hand over the right ear—so you won’t have to take them off to hear flight attendant announcements. They’re a lifesaver. —Meredith Carey, former Traveler editor
Kindle
Once in flight, I become absolutely glued to my Kindle. Lately, I’ve been churning through the Neapolitan novels by Elena Ferrante from wheels up to wheels down. This version of the Kindle has adjustable lighting which is perfect for reading on planes with dim cabins (and helps you avoid being “that person” who uses the overhead reading light during a nighttime flight). I like to load my Kindle up with a couple new books before I leave for a trip, so I can continuously read no matter what my on-board Wi-Fi situation might be. —Jessica Puckett, travel news and transportation senior editor
Apple EarPods with 3.5 mm Headphone Plug
I’ve recently become an AirPod convert—I just got the noise-canceling set and there’s no turning back—but if there’s one place an old school pair of headphones with a cord and a headphone jack reigns, it’s in-flight. Most in-flight entertainment systems require a 3.5mm headphone jack, like the classic Apple headphones, and there’s truly nothing worse than finding yourself unable to plug in when you want to (or relying on the headphones they sell onboard). I have an iPhone 10, so it’s also essential I pack a lightning adapter so I have the freedom to switch to music on my phone when I’d like. I’d argue every frequent traveler should have a spare set of these headphones tucked inside their carry-on—even if you have another set of headphones you use more regularly, these guys are a lifesaver whenever you inevitably forget your bigger, better pair on a long-haul flight. —Megan Spurrell, senior editor
Organizational hacks
Peak Design Tech Pouch
Longer trips mean I’m packing more gear, and I like keeping this pouch pre-packed with my endless array of cords, headphones, back-up battery back, adaptor, and plug-ins ready to go. The organizational structure of this pouch, with its many internal dividers and sections, means I can find everything easily and never worry about messy cord management. —Corina Quinn, former Traveler editor
Baggu Go Pouch set
I was given a set of travel pouches as a gift and they’ve been absolutely invaluable. I didn’t think I’d be able to use all three, but on a recent trip, I used the small one for my vitamins, the medium one for electronic cords and adapters, and the large one as a catch-all for all the stuff that typically just floats around at the bottom of my bag. It made it way easier to reach into my carry-on to grab things mid-flight, when I’m usually juggling a million objects and stuff is spilling everywhere on my lap, tray table, and the floor. —S.W.
This Is Ground Cord Tacos
There should be a word for the level of frustration induced by tangled cords in your carry-on—especially when you’re desperately trying to retrieve a charger for your iPad, which is currently at one percent and you have three more episodes of The Crown to get through. This Is Ground’s Cord Tacos solve it all with a super simple taco-shaped design that keeps cords nicely organized. They also come in a bunch of colors, making them easy to find at the bottom of your bag. —Lale Arikoglu, articles director
Mark & Graham Commute Clutch
Mark & Graham’s commute clutch gives me one spot to keep all the small but essential things I always take with me. It’s so organized, and I love how easy it is to pack and find what I need, fast—whether that’s my wireless earbuds, pens, lip moisturizer, in-flight sheets masks, passport, or money. —C.Q.
Cuyana Mini Travel Case
Like packing cubes, small pouches are essential when traveling—you can never have too many. This small one from Cuyana is made of a pretty pebbled leather, and is the perfect size for storing AirPods, corded headphones (to use for in-flight movies), and a lip balm. —Madison Flager, senior commerce editor
Peak Design Wash Pouch
If I’m traveling with checked baggage, I like to keep my toiletries and medicine on me in my carry-on bag or personal item, just in case I have to deal with lost luggage. I’ll make sure all my travel essentials are in there: toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo and conditioner, contact solution, plus any valuables like jewelry. For extra-long flights and red eyes, I’ll bring a change of clothes, too. —M.F.
Creature comforts
Travel Rest Ultimate Travel Pillow
This is my new must-have on flights where I’m trying to sleep. It’s surprisingly easy to blow up (I’m talking three or four breaths, max), and is easy to adjust depending on which way you want to lean and how firm or soft you prefer a pillow to be. Even better, it rolls up tightly, taking up way less space in a backpack or tote than a traditional neck pillow. —M.F.
Comrad Compression Socks
I would like to consider myself a compression sock evangelist. For pretty much every flight more than 4 hours I pop on knee-high compression socks, which eliminate any pins and needles feeling from sitting for so long and give me more energy on arrival. I love this Comrad pair, mostly because you can pull them off as regular socks before and after you board and no one will be the wiser. —M.C.
Sleep Pretty in Pink Ear Plugs
These ear plugs are also at the tippy top of my carry-on packing list—they block out any noises on board. Once you roll them between your fingers, they expand to fit comfortably in any ear and offer complete silence no matter what chatty flier is sitting next to you or how many flight attendant call buttons go off. I buy these in bulk and bring several pairs with me on every flight I take.—J.P.
Imak Compression Eye Mask
After resisting an eye mask for many years, a work-week red eye finally made me a convert. I find that compression-style masks are best for helping me actually fall asleep in the air…and if it has a cooling insert, even better. This weighted IMAK version was made to fight headaches and will block out any sunlight, so you don’t have to worry about nudging your neighbor to close the shade. Even better: It’s less than $15 on Amazon. —M.F.
Beauty and wellness must-haves
Lysol disinfecting wipes
Disinfecting wipes always come in handy. I wipe down my plane seat and tray table when I first board and use them to clean my hands before and after enjoying my in-flight snack. I’ve also reached for these when first arriving at an Airbnb or hotel room, at an amusement park, and after a subway ride. —Meaghan Kenny, associate commerce editor
Everyone for Everybody hand sanitizer spray
When hand sanitizer was in short supply in 2020, I was extremely happy to have a few bottles of Everyone for Every Body’s hand sanitizer spray squirreled away. A few years later, it’s still a go-to, mainly for the great smell—a mix of that sunscreen-coconut and fresh lemon. Without fail, whenever I use it, someone asks what it is and where to get it. Plus, it doesn’t dry out my hands. —M.F.
Aesop Resurrection Rinse-Free Hand Wash
This hand sanitizer from Aesop was already my go-to before the pandemic, and has continued to serve me well ever since. It doesn’t dry your hands out, smells of mandarin rind and rosemary leaf, and comes in a sleek little bottle—a luxurious upgrade to the other hand sanitizers that now permanently rattle around in my tote bag. —L.A.
Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion
For as long as I can remember, my mom has been using Clinique’s Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion, applying it with near-religious zeal after a shower, before bed, and post-beach. It’s one of the many good habits she’s passed on to me—albeit one of a small number I’ve been smart enough to practice regularly. I have super-sensitive dry skin to begin with, and I find that this lotion, which I take in a TSA-friendly tube when I’m traveling, moisturizes it just enough, leaving my skin soft, dewy, and replenished, even after a multi-hour plane ride. It’s liquid gold. —Betsy Blumenthal, features and franchises editor
Kiehl’s Cucumber Herbal Conditioning Cleanser
My skincare routine is simple, and works for me year-round, but I don’t like to disrupt it when I travel. Thankfully, Kiehl’s makes miniature travel-size versions of my products, like their Cucumber Herbal Conditioning Cleanser, which are close to me on every flight, and crucial for the tired state my skin is always in after. —Louis Cheslaw, former Traveler editor
[Editor’s note: The carry-on size version is no longer produced, so we recommend transferring product into a Cadence Capsule when you’re carrying on.]
Lumene Lähde Hydrating Facial Mist
You think a spritz is a spritz until you use this one. Lumene is a Finnish brand and the company uses all Nordic ingredients in their products, down to the water which comes from a pure Arctic spring. Spray the Lähde Hydrating Mist a couple of times after a long flight and the water, which is infused with nourishing birch sap and releases the most wonderfully subtle fragrance, will wake your skin right up. —Erin Florio, executive editor
Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask
The Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask is such an essential carry-on item for me. I keep a tube of it in a special pocket of my bag so I can find it quickly without fumbling. It’s so moisturizing on my lips, which tend to flake in dry aircraft cabins, and even adds a hint of shimmer. It also spreads easily and is thicker than something like Aquaphor without being too sticky. There are five different colors available—I love the light pink Champagne color and the sheer red Smashed—and the tubes last forever. —J.P.
Supergoop Handscreen
My hands get really dry when I travel, and I love Supergoop!’s moisturizer because it never feels greasy and keeps my hands smooth. As a bonus, it’s completely odorless and provides great SPF coverage. —C.Q.
Rosebud Salve
I almost always have a tin of Rosebud Salve on me, but especially when I fly. It’s thicker than most other lip balms I’ve tried, and keeps my lips from getting dry in flight. Plus, it doubles as a balm over dry patches on my hands, and each small tin lasts for months, even with frequent use. —M.F.
Packable snacks
Blue Diamond Almonds Variety Pack
A lot of plane food is trash, so I always pack nuts when I travel. I’m obsessed with the ‘Bold’ line from Blue Diamond because the almonds come in tongue-lashing flavors like Salt & Vinegar, Spicy Dill Pickle, and Wasabi & Soy Sauce. They’re completely addictive—and at 30,000 feet, you need aggressive flavors to punch through the dulling of your palate. —A.H.
Perfect Bar
Under most circumstances, if I’m eating a bar of any kind, it means that something has gone terribly wrong with my eating plans for the day. However, when it comes to plane snacks, Perfect Bars are worthy of their name. They taste significantly better than other high protein bars—really, they eat like crumbly cookies—and they have the ability to keep you full for two or three hours in the air. —N.K.
RXBAR
I love RXBars because they taste good but feel quite healthy—and when I travel, I know I’ll be eating and drinking everything possible when I reach my destination, so swapping the Reese’s pieces at Hudson News for something made of fruits and nuts feels like a kindness to my body. On most flights, I have to have my own snacks, too, because there’s nothing worse than realizing you’re hungry mid-flight and having nothing to turn to beside Biscoff cookies (sorry, Biscoff hive). —M.S.
Hydration essentials
BKR Glass Water Bottle
I’ve started carrying a reusable water bottle whenever I travel, whether I’m getting on a long flight or a short car ride. I love the way the BKR looks, with its sturdy glass material, carry-handle, and the wide variety of color options. For something more lightweight, Nalgene is the way to go. —S.W.
Nuun hydration tablets
I take in-flight hydration seriously. Actually I take hydration seriously all the time, and I don’t let a flight derail me. I love Nuun electrolyte tablets because you can drop them in your water and get a fizzy little drink, and they have less sugar than other brands like Liquid IV. I swear I land feeling fresher for it—and I like to think my effort saves my skin from reaching that wretched bone-dry airplane state, though I’m not clear on the science of the whole hydrating-from-the-inside-out thing. —M.S.
Athletic Greens
Early morning flights are tough, but sometimes, they’re unavoidable. When I’m leaving my house before the sun rises, I like to bring an Athletic Greens travel pack with me to drink on the way to the airport or before boarding my flight. It gives me a boost of energy, without having to stand in the inevitably long line for coffee at the airport. And between the hydration, vitamins, and minerals, I feel like I’m starting my day off on the right foot. My only qualm—I wish the travel packs were narrower, so no powder would spill out when I’m pouring a pack into my water bottle. —M.F.
More in-flight items we like to pack
Moleskine Volant Journal
No matter how many gadgets I have on me, I always pack a small notebook and keep it close on every trip. Sometimes my neighbor turns out to be from wherever I’m headed and I want to jot down their tips; other times, I know my phone is going to die before we land and I need to scribble out the address of my Airbnb to show a cab driver. There’s something romantic about having a physical notebook at the ready, and with a tiny one like the Moleskine Volant, I never have to ask if I really need it when deciding what to pack (or cut) in a carry-on.—M.S.
