Top Ten Items we Bring in our Carry On Bags

 

As avid travelers and an expat family we find ourselves on a plane rather frequently. During our various flights we have discovered that some items are needed close to hand, weather it be for convenience, safety or necessity here is our list of hand luggage must haves.

Headphones

Our carry-on packing list is all about staying comfortable and entertained during potentially long and boring plane trips. Headphones are a must for being able to zone out and listen to them tunes or watching movies that make your trip fun and entertaining. We invested in noise cancelling head phones that can be pricey but worth it for the extra convience. Sure they often give you a cheap pair in flight but after hours of those buds in your ears they can actually become sore. So we prefer to bring our own over the ears headphones.

Chapstick

Plane air is so dry so it seems like you need to apply chapstick even more frequently than normal. Plus, having chapped lips is awful on it’s own let alone when you have a lot of time on your hands to sit and think about it. The last thing you want to be is uncomfortable, planes are uncomfortable enough as it is.

Cell Phones

Most of the worlds population owns one, and with the advances in technology cell phones are able to do so much more. As we are frequent flyers and travelers we utilize the virtual wallet that can be used to store credit cards and travel tickets, we ensure we have the latest version of the uber app so we never have to worry about being stranded once we arrive at our destination, and when planning activities for the trip, having access internet, weather apps and utilities such as maps will all come in handy.

Chargers

 

As most of you probably own one, you will all know the feeling of seeing the dreaded red battery flash which usually means you haven’t got long until that phone needs a charge. We always keep our charger at hand so that we can ensure that our phones always have juice. The USB is the universal plug so gone are the days of buying plug adaptors depending on the country you travel. On a recent hunting trip Ryan’s brother Ash introduced us to the Ridge Monkey power pack, it has a Huge 264Wh capacity that allows 20+ charges of an iPhone! it also has two USB ports and a 12v car charger so you never have to worry about powering all of your devices. There are all kinds of products like this that can give you extra battery time. 

Books

For those that love to pass the time away by indulging in a great novel ensure to stop by the bookstore to pick up your latest fix before you fly, prices in the airports can be more expensive so I take advantage of picking up books pre travel, check out your local thrift store for the best deals. Or if you prefer, get them downloaded on your device. If, like my spouse you are not an avid reader, magazines, puzzle books, or coloring books may also suffice.

Heavy Items

Unlike the check baggage, the carry on usually does not have weight limits, but does have size limits so check with your airline before arriving to the airport. Given that we are often pushing up against the weight limits on our carry on bags we take full advantage of this fact, putting heavier items in the carry-on rather then check bag as much as possible. This can include, jeans, shoes, heavy sweaters, hair appliances, and on one occasion, literally rocks, brought home as a souvenir from the Lake District.

Valuables

We have all heard horror stories about people losing their luggage. Thankfully we have yet to experience this. However, just in case we ever do, we try and keep all our valuables on the carry open which given it does not leave your side, shouldn’t be at risk of getting lost. We don’t tend to bring too much expensive jewelry around with us but sometimes when we are traveling for a wedding this will apply. Any gifts that we are bringing people or were given by people we try to fit in our carry on as well. Additionally, anything that is irreplaceable due to it’s sentimental value you are going to want to keep in your carry on.

Identification

With all the TSA check-ins and immigration stops you are going to want to keep all the identification and important documents readily accessible. Additionally, this is another thing you wouldn’t want to have to replace in case of lost luggage. Keep it all in one place and you won’t have to be rummaging through your bags to find it if it is needed unexpectedly.

Money

Another item you do not want lost or stolen is your cash. I can’t imagine a better way to put a damper on your vacation then to lose all you spending money. Same goes for your credit cards or travelers checks (side note do people still use those?)

One Outfit

Last but not least , pack at least one spare outfit in your carry on luggage. Best case scenario it allows you to change before you land, change at the airport if you cannot immediately check into your hotel, or just refrain from immediately digging through all your luggage when you check-in. Worst case scenario it gives you something to wear in case of delayed or entirely lost luggage.