A Pro Packer’s Top Carry-on Packing Hacks

To become a confident carry-on-only traveler, you need to be two things: thoughtful and strategic. You have to carefully think through your packing list and take advantage of every inch of your luggage allowance—on most airlines, that includes your personal item. In my experience as a travel journalist and the writer of a packing list newsletter, I’ve found that having the right personal item bag (and packing it correctly) is the key to avoiding a checked bag fee or an extended wait at baggage claim. It may have to fit underneath the seat in front of you, but that still allows you plenty of room to pack a plethora of on-the-go essentials that might not otherwise fit in your carry-on. 

Below, I put together my top products for packing and organizing a personal item bag—from traveling with a collapsible water bottle to investing in versatile travel pouches that keep your belongings readily accessible. Shop my essentials for an organized, roomy personal item from just $7 at Amazon. 

A Pro Packer’s Top Personal-item Essentials

A Spacious Tote or Weekender Bag

Airlines have slightly different size requirements for personal items—and gate agents are known to use their discretion during the boarding process—but most provide 18 by 14 by 8 inches as the maximum size. Most airlines won’t measure your bag before boarding, though; the general rule is that it must fit under the seat in front of you. I carry a pretty full personal item (laptop, snacks, my toiletry bag, electronics, an extra small purse), and I alternate between the MZ Wallace Deluxe Large Metro Tote and the Tom Beckbe Classic Camo Carryall Bag. This Bagsmart Weekender Bag also has the same appeal for an affordable price; it’s roomy, soft-sided, and easy to sling over your shoulder (or slide under the airplane seat). 

Compression Packing Cubes

If you’ve run out of space in your carry-on and you’re desperate to bring a few more items of clothing, consider using a small or medium-sized compression packing cube. The dual-zipper technology is designed to remove bulk, so you can pack your remaining items in a cube, zip it up, and stash it away in your personal item bag. 

A Compact Toiletry Bag

There are two reasons I’ll always carry my toiletry bag in my personal item bag. First, I want to be able to access my sunscreen, moisturizer, etc., during the flight. Second, I find that toiletry bags nearly always take up too much space in a carry-on suitcase. Using something like this Eachy toiletry bag or this machine-washable makeup case from Kusshi covers both issues—and both are compact enough to slide into a corner in your bag. 

Travel-sized Toiletries

This one is a no-brainer—TSA won’t let you bring liquids, gels, and aerosols larger than 3.4 fluid ounces on the plane—but it should still be said that having travel-sized toiletries on hand will make your personal item packing process easier. I like to collect Sephora samples and tiny bottles of body lotion at hotels, as well as stock up on small toiletries from Amazon. This allows me to quickly and efficiently pack up a toiletry bag (and not make a last-minute, stressed decision to check a bag because my beauty products are too large). But if I’m really strapped, having travel-sized bottles like this set helps me pack liquids from full bottles in a pinch. 

Your Daily Medications

Daily meds are one of those things you absolutely don’t want buried at the bottom of your bag—or worse, forgotten altogether. These slim, foldable pill organizers keep everything neatly separated, protected, and easy to access mid-flight or during long travel days. It takes up barely any space, snaps shut securely, and keeps your pills organized so you know exactly where they are when you land. 

A Packable Travel Pillow

If you’ve ever tried to sleep on a plane without a pillow (or with one of those sad, neck-craning airline pillows), you already know this is a must-pack. This Nappler travel pillow is lightweight, compressible, and small enough to stash in your personal item without sacrificing precious space. It packs down when you don’t need it, then fluffs up just enough to support your neck or lower back mid-flight. 

A Tech Organizer

In my early travel days, I used to experience the “I can’t find my phone charger” panic frequently. I’ve since learned better, and I organize my electronics accordingly. I prefer using a cable organizer, which I keep safely stored away in my personal item, but I know others who like to have their cords, AirPods, and extra batteries in a tech organizer. 

An e-Reader

A chunky novel takes up more than its fair share of space in a personal item bag. Not to mention, depending on page length, it can significantly weigh you down. The solution to this issue is simple: invest in a Kindle or another e-reader. It’s a lightweight option that can be tucked in a side pocket of your bag, and you’ll hardly notice its presence, like your own personal library in tablet form. 

Extra Travel Pouches

You can certainly stuff your tote bag with all of your belongings, but a personal item packed without organization in mind is a recipe for disaster (a.k.a. items falling out of the bag as you’re digging through everything trying to find your phone charger). I like to use a few zippered travel pouches to keep my tote bag somewhat orderly. One for snacks, one for cords and chargers, one for my wallet, passport, and cash. Go for different colors or styles, so you can easily differentiate between them while traveling. 

A Collapsible Water Bottle

A water bottle is a non-negotiable for me when I travel. As I’ve gotten older, I prioritize hydration, but I refuse to pay $7 for water at the airport. That said, some water bottle designs are more conducive to a personal item bag than others. Unless you can spare the space, opt for this collapsible, leak-proof version. When it’s not filled with water, it can collapse down a few inches, leaving a smaller footprint.

A Shoe Bag

Oftentimes, I’ll carry an extra pair of shoes in my personal item bag. This saves me space in my carry-on, and it means I have the option to immediately change my shoes upon arrival at my destination. (When I’m traveling somewhere tropical, I’ll slip a pair of sandals into my tote, switching them out with my sneakers the second the plane touches down). You don’t necessarily want the bottoms of your shoes to touch your toiletry bag or snack pouches, though, so this is when a shoe bag comes in handy. 

A Backpack with Ample Storage

Some travelers prefer a backpack as their designated personal item bag. If you fall into that category, go for something simple, stylish, and sleek, like the Away Everywhere Zip Backpack. Designed with multiple pockets, including a 16-inch laptop pocket and a pocket for a water bottle, it will help keep you organized and your valuables secure while in transit. When you’re maneuvering through the airport, you can either wear the backpack by the straps or slide it over your suitcase handle using the trolley sleeve.

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