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Top 10 Essential Carry-On Items Travel List

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Essential Travel List for Carry-On Luggage

I travel quite a bit, it comes with the territory when you're a travel writer. One of my essential steps for preparing for any trip is writing out my travel list for my carry-on luggage and checked baggage. I think you will find many if not all of the items I list quite useful for your carry-on luggage as well. I'll tell you why these are my essential items for my carry-on luggage.essential travel listNow don't let my travel list above fool you that's just a short example of what I do. I'm a bit type A if you will about this stuff but let me tell you making my travel list has saved us many times from forgetting something essential. My family has even come to expect lists for themselves now after forgetting much-needed items on trips before "the list".

Essential Travel List Items

Passport/Identification

I'm not counting this as the first one as really you need to have your ID but this serves as a reminder. My passport and of course my e-ticket whether it's a paper copy or on phone go in my purse. This should be a given but know anyone who ever forgot their passport? Not me but we all know someone. Even if you're just flying within the US it's handy to have your passport as your ID. It's become the more expected piece of ID and as someone who travels from Canada to the US a lot like weekly by car I either have my passport or my Global Entry card.

Hand Sanitizer Wipes

Forget those gels or sprays, I find them sticky and hello if you're not on that special trusted traveller's list you have to bag your liquids etc.. I use the hand sanitizer wipes. Easy to use, great to wipe down arms of the chairs, the airplane trays etc.. you can't do that with a gel.

essential travel list

Immune Boosting Essential Oils

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Now you don't have to do essential oils but whether you take some vitamins, Cold FX or whatever we all know planes are notorious for germs and people getting sick. I use On Guard from doTERRA. I put it on me before boarding, I keep a roller bottle of it and reapply if necessary. Also I've been on long-haul flights where the air was not so "fresh" after several hours and put my roller bottle under my nose to smell something nicer.

Power Bank

In this tech run world you don't want your smartphone/tablet or whatever to inconveniently run out of juice. I ALWAYS have a power bank of some kind with me, usually a couple. The myCharge Razor Max and HubPlus are a perfect pair to take on your travels!

essential travel listThe HubPlus has cords attached to it so you never have to worry about whether you have a cord or the right one with you. essential travel listIt's a rechargeable 6700mAh portable charger with an integrated Apple® Lightning™ cable and an integrated micro-USB cable and the newly added USB port. Carrying cables is a thing of the past, not only are the cables built in for effortless charging but wall prongs are built-in for effortless recharging. Boasting a 30% reduction in size, the HubPlus is more compact and portable than ever before. essential travel listThe RazorMax is crafted from anodized aluminum, the 6000mAh RazorMax delivers an extra 27 hours talk time for your smartphone. This powerbank comes equipped with 2 USB ports and is perfect for charging two devices at once. With a 2.4A output, the RazorMax portable charger is great for charging tablets and other power thirsty devices. It's also super light at only 0.38lbs and is perfect for keeping in your purse as you sightsee at your destination.

A change of clothes (include a scarf/shawl), toothbrush and toothpaste.

If you've ever had checked luggage not arrive at your destination you'll know why this one is important. I put them all together because these are necessary if your luggage doesn't arrive. You at least now have a change clothes until you can figure out what happened to your luggage or at least have time to pick up more essentials.

I bring a lightweight scarf that can double as shawl for both using as a light blanket on the plane and to deal with varying weather. It's great as an added layer or a light layer if the weather is hot during the day and colder at night but not so cold you need a jacket.

Snacks

No one loves airplane food but I really don't love it. Usually, it's always only sandwiches you can buy and I know it's weird but I'm not a sandwich person. Most premade ones have stuff in them I don't like. I just bring my own snacks to keep me going and in case I arrive to my destination late at night and there's nowhere to eat close by or the hotel doesn't have a restaurant I have something to eat. I can't tell you how many times this has saved me. I usually pack protein bars that aren't going to melt, nuts, beef jerky and something a little sweetessential travel listEarphones/Headphones

I'm either going to listen to my music, watch an onboard movie or a movie on my iPad so yes this is a must. I usually pack headphones and earphones as I've had it where one didn't work whether it was the airplane plug or a glitch, so I had to take out the spare. Bonus if the headphones are also noise cancelling then you can block out the noise on the plane if you want to sleep. If not add the next item.

Ear Plugs 

If you want to sleep on a plane especially a long-haul flight or even for hotels. I've yet to stay at a hotel even the high-end ones where it was super quiet. There's always some noise and it's hard to adjust sometimes that first night so some quiet can be good.

Eye Mask

I'm a bit of a vampire. No light shining in the morning into my hotel room please so this is a must for me and yes another must if you want to catch some zzzzs on a plane.

Blister Band-Aids

I pack blister protectant in my checked luggage if it's a gel but the blister band-aids go in my carry-on. These are a lifesaver if you're doing a lot of walking on a trip. Let's face it most travel you're doing a lot of walking. essential travel list

iPad/Tablet/Laptop

Not everyone may consider this an essential but for me it is. I've been on 5+ hour plane rides where the movie service was not available. I like to pass the time watching a movie. As well I have a keyboard for my iPad Air so it doubles as my emergency laptop if needed. I try to schedule as much of my work as I can ahead of time but things come up and sometimes I need to get a few things done.

No those are not the only things I bring on my carry-on but they are the top 10 essential items on my travel list. It may sound like a lot but trust me it isn't. Many are small items and when packed properly don't take up much room. I bring a purse/small backpack and a larger backpack as my carry-on so I easily fit these and more in my carry-on.

Now of course adjust your travel list to your needs but I won't be surprised if some of my essential items were on your list too!

By on September 17th, 2018

About Powered by Mom

I’m Michelle aka Powered by Mom. I’m married with one daughter, my hubby was my high school sweetheart, our two dogs Nyx and Cleo and our cat Oliver. As you can see we’re a family of animal lovers. We love to travel when we can, try different food and activities all over the world and enjoy being together. My passions are writing, travelling, creating new recipes, encouraging people to adopt not shop and just to enjoy life while we can.

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125 thoughts on “Top 10 Essential Carry-On Items Travel List”

  1. I travel with the same items in my carry on bag. The most important is a change of clothes, so many times the airlines lose your luggage and it is not delivered until the next day.

    Reply
  2. I like all your tips and I do bring most of them in my carry on. I never thought to bring a toothbrush and toothpaste with me though and that's a great tip.

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  3. I always take small sample size toiletry items when I travel, especially if I am flying and don't want to have to check a bag. And if you are flying, make sure you put any prescription meds in your carry on in case your luggage gets "misdirected". I don't really use essential oils much so that would not be an item I would take

    Reply
  4. I'm always looking for small samples and Other uses for my travel trips! Having to sit still and not move, when you know everything around you is full of germs. Having things to do can keep your mind off it. At least till you can get to a location and take a shower that is!

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  5. I definitely agree about bringing some clothes and essentials like toothbrushes in your carry-on. You never know if your luggage will show up!

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  6. I agree with your entire list. I now carry wipes with me everywhere. I am new to essential oils and never thought about bringing them on a trip. I will now after reading your list. Thank you for the great ideas!

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  7. Thank you for this! Definitely the charger and the hand sanitizer wipes! This will help when my daughter travels without me. I'm showing her this!

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  8. I love the light weight scarf idea as a blanket! I wish I saw this two weeks ago before my son traveled to Israel for the first time. I remembered many of these items. I was nervous about the charger because I heard certain batteries weren't allowed on the plane. I have to disagree with the oils because certain oils give me a headache and I wouldn't want to cause an asthma attack for anyone on the plane with allergies.

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  9. Thanks for this list. I never thought of packing sanitizing wipes in my carry-on bag...I will from now on. I also need to pick up a power bank.

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  10. That is a very useful list. I will definitely be bringing an eye mask on my next trip. I find travel to be stressful so anything that helps is wonderful.

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  11. I like the idea of your roller On Guard. I am a bit freaky about people germs and to have something to breathe in that at least made me feel better would be good.

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  12. I got to be honest, not a fan of the ipad or i-line of electronics. I find when traveling, they're the first things to get stolen. So I started taking Samsung instead or other brands. They are usually just as good, but have less street resale value. My stuff is usually left alone while my friend's i-stuff is constantly getting ripped off. Sometimes traveling low-tech is safer.

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  13. I am also a big believer in lists. I have a packing list saved on my laptop and I add to it depending on where we're going.

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  14. I negelected to take my passport along on a trip to Las Vegas for my birthday. I didn't remember that was the birthday my driver's license was expiring, and I couldn't sign up to play at any casinos! I really could have used that passport as my other ID!

    Reply
  15. I love the tips here im not going to lie i hve sort of been living in fear of traveling with my son because he is medically fragile and 4 years old with a feeding tube etc meaning tons of medical equipment would have to come with us your blog inspires me i want to do it anyways i want to forget about the excuses and go to all the beautiful places you go to with your kids and write about thank you for the inspiration

    Reply
  16. I didn't even know there was such a thing as hand sanitizer WIPES - thanks so much for the info. This is a good idea not just for flight travel, but as a handbag addition as well.

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  17. These are great tips, I could have used a couple the last time I traveled! The toothbrush and extra change of clothes to be specific. I'm definitely pinning this post for next time, thanks for sharing!

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  18. Super useful advice! I love the blister bandaids idea, it's one that I never think about until AFTER I could really use some!

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  19. My daughter just headed to Disney a couple weeks ago. We made sure she had a power bank with her. She said it really helped.

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  20. The handsanitizer wipes make so much sense (I wouldn't have thought to pack those at all but because you can't pack bottles of handsanitizer it definitely earns it's place on the list! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  21. This post is perfectly timed. We will be traveling in May and it has been a long time since we have flown. I am sure I would likely forget something without this list. I live by lists and haven't made my carry on list yet. This makes it much easier. Thank you.

    Reply
  22. Great list of items. Last year I found the perfect size zip pouch to fit in my back pack. I keep most of this in their and just restock when I get home............ Of course I make sure the charger is charged

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  23. I'm planning a trip which includes obtaining a new passport. Good article, love the list especially the power bank and the bandaids for blisters. Thank you!

    Reply
  24. I always have a portable charger with me when I travel. What I love on your list is the immune boosting essential oil roller!! Gotta get me one of those!

    Reply
  25. I have most of these items on my list. I travel more now than I used to so I've learned to be more organized. I actually keep a carry on packed with most of the essential items so I only have to add an item or two and I'm good to go

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  26. Most of those items are on our list. My husbands takes a lot of medications so he packs those in his carry on in case out luggage gets lost.

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  27. I will tuck this info away for later. We used to live in Europe and travel all the time. Now we have kids so I need to restrategize!

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  28. a great list of things you might need which is always the way to pack. If my sister is going on a long flight she includes some sleeping pills. Me I can just close my eyes and go out :-0

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  29. I'd say it's a pretty comprehensive list. Personally, I'd add my meds because on occasion, your bags just don't arrive when you do, lol.

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  30. This list pretty much sums up what I carry. If possible I carry food and a drink depending on how I am travelling as well.

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  31. These are great suggestions. I always seem to forget something. I will keep this list handy for my future travels. Thank you so much for sharing

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  32. Good reminders, don't pack your passport in your suitcase. When I was getting off a cruise a passenger ahead of me had packed her passport into her suitcase so she wasn't allowed into the US until they could find it.

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  33. Thank you so much for sharing the great review. I thank you for enlightening me with the information , so that making a buying decision is easier.

    Reply
  34. Thanks for the information. Some of the things I would have never thought of. Snacks and a power bank are needed. When I first flew I forgot to bring along ear plugs. The plane had to climb due to turbulence and our daughter was crying due to the pain in her ears.

    Reply
  35. I love your list, I didn't think about blister band-aids (added to my list). Some of the things I don't have and really need to get. Of course the snack, I wouldn't leave home without them. I'm always afraid to get stuck on the runway or in an elevator and ould be without food or water. Thanks for your suggestions, some of these things you just don't think about.

    Reply
  36. That's a solid list of carry-on items to have on hand. I feel better about traveling when I have enough snacks, water, and external chargers on hand. It definitely takes some of the stress out of traveling to be prepared.

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  37. Love the tips on what to pack with you and like the one about packing snack with you just incase nothing is opened when you land after being on the plane

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  38. Thanks for the great review & travel tips! I am so glad to know there are cords attached as I frequently forget mine, or as you mentioned, don't get the right size.

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  39. i think at work this charger would be very handy instead of fightin for a chance to use the outlet or on my gobs of trips to drs as well

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  40. This is a great list!! For me, I wouldn’t use the eye mask. If you’re traveling overseas, don’t forget the outlet power converters or you’ll fry your electronics - not unless things have changed. 🙂

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  41. this is a great list. i am about to travel for work once a month and i will bookmark this and use your list to make sure i have everything i need when i travel.

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  42. Your travel list is helpful. I wouldn't have thought of all of these things, but can see how the hand sanitizer wipes would be useful! A power bank seems like a good idea too!

    Reply
  43. Thank you for the awesome list. It is going to help me be better prepared. I would never have thought of ear plugs or an eye mask or blister bandaids. I appreciate your taking the time to put it together.

    Reply
  44. That is one great list you have, I would have never thought about packing Band Aids and ear plugs. What great advice. I'm so forgetful when packing... I usually forget to think outside the box. Lol

    Reply
  45. (Essential Travel List For Carry-On Luggage) Wow! It's amazing that you can remember to pack all those things when you go traveling. I do like that this charging unit is great in these ways; The RazorMax is crafted from anodized aluminum, the 6000mAh RazorMax delivers an extra 27 hours talk time for your smartphone. This powerbank comes equipped with 2 USB ports and is perfect for charging two devices at once. With a 2.4A output, the RazorMax portable charger is great for charging tablets and other power thirsty devices. It’s also super light at only 0.38lbs and is perfect for keeping in your purse as you sightsee at your destination.

    Reply
  46. My iPhone battery drains so fast - I’m always on the lookout for additional power. Love that these chargers are slim enough to carry in my bag!

    Reply
  47. Great, advise when traveling is essential to make a list of items we do not want to forget. Every single item you listed is essential for a trip.

    Reply
  48. Two portable chargers are listed as travel essentials list. My Charge RazorMax and My Charge HubPlus have cords already attached, so you don't have to carry cables. Plus you won't run out of "juice."

    Reply
  49. Hand sanitizing wipes are a must wherever we go. We have iPads and iPhones that constantly need to be charged, and the MyCharge is a fantastic way to charge 2 devices at once. I love the portable size for convenience and travel.

    Reply
  50. WOW that is a list. I am usually a make the list in head person, but also there are a lot of things in my suitcase/travel bag that never come out. I will look and see if any thing needs restocked. But have to admit never though of taking my passport in the us for travel. These myChargers really look good and come in handy. I also like to take my ipad to watch movies/games etc and you always need power

    Reply
  51. This is all super advice! I know I always carry Hand Sanitizer Wipes and first aid products. I do like my iPad also to bring with me.

    Reply

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