by Emily Thompson, Newsletter & Partnerships Editor
When I decided to try out Team Carry-On a few years ago, I knew I had to be ruthless in deciding what I would and wouldn’t pack. Only what was absolutely necessary made the cut, so I had to decide early on what my packing nonnegotiables were.
I’m mostly back to my first love — Team Checked Bag — these days, but my time making cutthroat decisions to pack a carry-on still serves me well. No matter where I’m going or how big my bag is, here are five things I never travel without:
Portable fan: I’ve lived in the South for my entire life, and one thing I can’t sleep without is a fan. This one is rechargeable and stands on its own — making it perfect for a nightstand or desk in any space where the air conditioning just isn’t cutting it.
Multiport charger: This power bank is my travel ride-or-die. It has four different ports, including lightning, USB-C and micro USB, so it charges everything from my phone to my portable fan. Plus, it plugs right into the wall to charge itself, so no keeping up with a cord to charge my charger.
Kindle Paperwhite: I was an English major in college, so I spent the first several years of my travel life refusing to give up my paperbacks for an e-reader. But my paperback principle was no match for the lure of having multiple reading options with no added weight to my backpack. Even better? The light-up screen of my Paperwhite means I don’t have to elbow my neighbor on the plane to turn on my reading light.
Compression packing cubes: These packing cubes are the only reason I could ever fit my stuff into a carry-on bag. But now, even when I check a bag, these trusty cubes come with me. I can fit way more into my bag with them, and they help me stay organized throughout my trip.
Apple AirTags: I refused to get on the AirTag train for a long time. But on a fateful day when my beloved carry-on was gate-checked out of my hands, I ordered a pack of AirTags from the plane and have been tracking my bags with them ever since. I’ve even been known to carry extras to force upon friends who are traveling with me.
Together, these items make my packing decisions (and travel experiences) a breeze.
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