The Carry-On Essentials We Would Never Fly Without

For something a little more elevated than your typical U-shaped travel pillow, I recommend Ostrchpillow’s Go pillow. The memory foam makes it feel as comfortable and luxe as a pillow or mattress from your favorite five-star hotel. It’s ridiculously soft and not at all stiff or bulky. It keeps my neck at a good angle to avoid aches and pains and it’s easy to adjust on the plane. I like that the cover can be tossed straight in the washing machine, so it’s ready to go for your next trip. —Charley Ward, commerce writer, Condé Nast Traveller UK

Mzoo’s best-selling eye mask is great for travelers who need help shutting out ambient light. The contoured design means nothing presses on my eyelids, yet it somehow blocks out every trace of light—whether I’m on a red-eye or dealing with jet lag in a bright hotel room. It’s lightweight, extremely comfortable, and the adjustable strap keeps it in place without slipping. It’s the sleep mask I reach for every time I travel. —Paris Wilson, commerce writer

With a medium compression level, Bombas Everyday compression socks are perfect for travelers who want something effective and supportive, but not so tight to the point of potential discomfort. The way they increase circulation is supposed to help with jet lag, puffiness, and just feeling better after a long journey. I recommend these for every five-hour-plus flight, and though you have to fight a bit to get them on, they do the trick. I swear they’ve helped me arrive feeling fresher than I used to. —Megan Spurrell, senior features editor

My favorite place to catch up on movies I’ve been wanting to watch is on the plane. And so, I never board a flight without my small-but-mighty audio transmitter. It connects to your noise-canceling headphones via Bluetooth and lets you watch in-flight movies on the screen in front of you. And it’s super tiny (about the size of AirPods), so I can even fit in inside the case of my over-ear headphones. —Meaghan Kenny, commerce editor

As an avid reader, I’ve always got a few books going at a time—usually a memoir, a nonfiction read, and a novel. I like to maintain those options when I travel, which is why I finally converted to the Kindle life five or six years ago. This little guy has been a must-have ever since—it has a crazy long battery life, so I don’t need to worry about it dying mid-flight, and is water-resistant, so I can take it into a pool or hot tub without stressing over it getting splashed. —Madison Flager, commerce director

I’ve had my AirPod Pros for three years now, as a replacement for a pair that I lost. Since then, I’ve taken my AirPods everywhere with me. They’ve traveled to the deserts of Saudi Arabia, to the islands of Palau, and to the seaside resorts of Capri and Portofino. I keep one AirPod in one ear with the transparency feature on to give me a little bit of a movie soundtrack to accompany the ambient sounds of the location. In the more boring parts of their life, they come with me on my subway commutes and to the gym when I exercise. They do a lot on a single charge, and they only die when I forget to put them back into their case. I love that they pair easily with my phone and that they can use the same charger as my laptop. The spatial audio features are also very cool, as they dynamically adjust the sound quality and “direction” when I move my head and body in relation to where my phone is. I mean, granted, that’s not a must-have, but it’s one of those cool tech-y things that I think is very fun without much true function. —Matt Ortile, associate editor

This slim tray table cover might seem unnecessary, but if you’re a total germaphobe like me—you’ll be glad to have it, every time. It slips right over your seat tray, like a pillow case or book cover, offering you a clean surface to eat and work on. Even better, when your seat tray is up and locked in place, four compartments hang down, giving you room to keep your water bottle, Kindle, snacks, and any other in-flight essentials secure (and outside of the plane’s frequently used pockets). When I’m back home from a trip, I just toss it in the washing machine and it’s ready to use for my next flight—genius! —M.K.

From the moment I slipped them on at the airport, the WH‑1000XM6 headphones from Sony transformed the chaotic roar of gate announcements, rolling suitcases, and cabin drone into a serene hush. With its foldable design and plush synthetic‑leather earpads, they nestled comfortably over my ears for my entire 13‑hour flight to Fiji. The 30‑hour battery life (with ANC on) means I can stream hours of playlists without missing a beat. The advanced noise-canceling chip tunes out engine rumble and the higher‑pitched clatter of nearby keyboards and chatter. If you travel long‑haul, want rich sound, deep ANC, and a luxurious feel suited for airports and lounges worldwide, these are your next buy. —P.W.

I keep tubes of this stashed in every one of my travel bags. The hydration is intense—exactly what I need on long flights. I usually slather it on as soon as I board (always massaging into my cuticles, which tend to tear on planes) and reapply before landing.It even kept my hands moisturized on a long-haul flight to Asiah—it really is that 20% shea butter. Plus, it’s only lightly scented, so it doesn’t overpower my traveling companions. —Arati Menon, global digital director

Spraying water on your face may seem like a torture tactic, but it’s different when it’s Evian. Instead of shriveling up into a certifiable SpongeBob SquarePants mid-flight, I like to mist myself with this soothing facial spray every hour or so. Its ingredients are super simple—just micro-droplets of mineral-rich water—but it keeps my skin dewy and hydrated despite the dry cabin environment.—Hannah Chubb, senior commerce editor

This Clinique under-eye serum has been a mainstay in my carry-on for years. It’s exactly what I want for a little refresh after a long flight; the metal roller ball is cool on my skin, and the serum does its best to smooth out puffy, tired eyes. A few swipes and I’m feeling ready to go. —M.F.

I love that this self-filtering water bottle lasts for a reasonable amount of time (two months), so I have peace of mind that I’m actually getting filtered water (I’m skeptical of water bottles with long filter lifespans). The flip-top makes it easy to drink one-handed while dragging a suitcase, and the insulation keeps water cold through long flights. This is the bottle I reach for when I’m unsure about the water situation, but I know I’ll be thirsty. —P.W.

My most re-ordered product is quite unglamorous, but it’s an absolute necessity in my life, and a lifesaver in-flight: a tiny tin of Vaseline. I order them three at a time, and keep one in every bag I own. You’ll also find one in most of my coat and jacket pockets. In-flight, it is the one thing I make sure I have on-hand throughout the entire journey. I mostly use it for my lips, but it also does the job for chapped hands and any other dry patches I may be dealing with. —Mercedes Bleth, global social director

I was skeptical about the relatively new peptide craze, but this serum has helped my perimenopausal skin resist crumbling like sawdust in a dry airplane environment. I like to apply it before I leave home, and again before boarding. It makes a huge difference when it comes to keeping my skin moisturized and comfortable. —Alexandra Sanidad, research director

I always keep Baggallini’s small pocket cosmetic bag tucked inside the purse that goes under my seat. It’s basically my tiny in-flight first-aid kit—Advil, a couple supplements, and a few just-in-case essentials I’d rather not dig around for at 35,000 feet. The bright red color feels appropriately first-aid coded, but it’s also practical: It pops instantly in my bag. Small, simple, and it only fits what I actually need—nothing extra. —Jessica Chapel, commerce writer

The zipper on Peak Design’s tech pouch is heavy-duty and the exterior is weatherproof but still soft and packable, so it fits easily in any bag. Inside there are tons of compartments (eight and in all different sizes) for organization, but the stretchy middle sections are my favorite because they flex to fit whatever you’re carrying. I don’t wear it as a fanny pack with the strap, but you surely can for ease of organized movement. —Emily Bukowski, visuals contributor

I keep my Dagne Dover card case close to me on the plane. It’s slim, compact, and perfect for holding cards and a few dollar bills. The card case is small enough to fit in a pocket, but I usually keep it in a purse or small bag. Its accordion design makes it easy to grab and flip through quickly in-flight, so I’m never fumbling through zipper pockets when I need my (folded) boarding pass. It’s practical, minimal, and travel-friendly. —J.C.

Aesop’s Ginger Flight Therapy has been in my travel bag for nearly a decade. The blend of ginger, lavender, and geranium helps when fatigue or nausea hits mid-flight, and the scent is distinctive enough to wear on its own like a subtle perfume. —E.B.

Like I said, I’m a bit of a germaphobe. There’s a pack of Lysol wipes permanently stored in my personal item at all times. I wipe down my plane seat when I first board and use them to clean my hands before and after enjoying my in-flight snack (I love my Stroopwafels!). I’ve also reached for these when first arriving at an Airbnb or hotel room, at an amusement park, and after a subway ride. —M.K.

I almost always travel with a small red hardcover Moleskine Classic Pocket notebook. It’s the perfect size to slip into my personal item on the plane, so it’s always within reach. I use it for the usual things—notes, ideas, the occasional travel list—but the hardcover also lets me press flowers or little finds from a trip, which then tuck neatly into the pocket in the back. There’s something about being in the air that makes me want to write things down, and pen and paper still feels like the simplest, most satisfying and healing way to do it. The red color doesn’t hurt either—it’s easy to spot and somehow always feels right for travel. —J.C.

Saje’s Pocket Farmacy is like carrying a mini aromatherapy kit in your carry-on. The roll-ons cover nearly every in-flight need, from boosting energy to easing headaches, nausea, or travel fatigue. The scents are subtle and earthy, so they feel comforting without overwhelming the person sitting next to you. —E.B.