The Smartest Things To Bring In Your Carry-On Bag

Packing for a vacation shouldn’t feel like a challenge, but more often than not, it seems to be. Unless you’re willing to travel with a bunch of luggage, you must resist the urge to bring more than you need. In the moment, though, it can be hard to differentiate between what you need for your vacation and what you’d simply like to take.

Things can be even harder when trying to work out what to pack in your checked luggage and what to take with you in a carry-on. The latter is what you’ll have access to while on the plane, so you’ll want to use this bag for anything you may need or want on the flight. Still not sure what to put in here? In that case, these are the smartest things to bring in your carry-on bag.

A spare shirt, socks, and undergarments will be ideal if your checked luggage vanishes

One thing you should try to ensure is in your carry-on before you leave for the airport is a spare set of clothes. A fresh shirt, socks, and undergarments are good things to pack in here, just in case your checked luggage walks off somewhere. You’ll be grateful to them when your current clothes start to smell, and you wish to freshen up. Plus, these items are small and lightweight, meaning adding them to your carry-on bag won’t stop you from packing everything else you need. 

You might need your phone charger to keep your device alive until you arrive

Depending on how long your journey is, your phone might need to last a long time. Even if it’s at 100% when you leave for the airport, if you use it throughout the day, it might not make it to your destination. That’s why a phone charger is one of the smartest things to bring in your carry-on bag. You should find that there are plenty of charging ports in the airport that you can use to keep your device topped up. If not, a portable battery may be worth bringing as well. That way, should you require your phone when your plane lands, you won’t be without it.

Pack your medication in a carry-on in case your checked luggage goes missing

Plenty of people take regular medication for one reason or another. If you’re one such person, you’ll likely need to bring these items with you on vacation. However, you should make sure to pack them in your carry-on bag, not your checked luggage. Even if you won’t need them before you reach your destination, there’s a risk your checked luggage may get lost or even stolen. So, it’s important to put this stuff in a bag that you can keep better track of.

Put something in your carry-on to keep you entertained during the flight

The fact of the matter is that there’s not much to do on a flight. Depending on which airline you fly with, you may have the option to watch a movie or play games. However, this isn’t guaranteed, which means you need to bring something to keep yourself entertained. Whatever it is you use to stave off boredom, make sure that you pack it in your carry-on bag. Otherwise, you’ll have to spend the entire time twiddling your thumbs. That’s not ideal if you’re going to be on the plane for several hours.

A toothbrush, toothpaste, and facial wipes are worthwhile essentials for a carry-on

Medication isn’t the only essential you’ll want close to hand if there’s a problem with your checked luggage. If there’s a chance you’re going to be stuck overnight with just your carry-on bag, it’s worth packing your toothbrush and toothpaste in here. That way, you won’t have to worry about being stuck with bad breath and poor dental hygiene while you try to track down your luggage. If you wear makeup on the plane, facial wipes might also be a good idea, so you don’t have to go to sleep with your face still made up.

Valuable items are worth too much to leave in your checked luggage

You may well bring some valuable items with you on your travels, such as an expensive camera or laptop. While there may be more space for these things in your checked luggage, the risk of losing them should deter you from doing this. It’s frustrating enough to find that your suitcase has gone AWOL, and you suddenly have no clean clothes for your vacation. However, it’s even worse when you realize that hundreds of dollars worth of belongings have just vanished, potentially never to return. So, be sure to keep all of your valuables in your carry-on.

Many of the smartest things to bring in your carry-on bag revolve around the possibility of your checked luggage going missing. Hopefully, that doesn’t actually happen because it will simply add unwanted stress to your vacation. At least if it does, though, you know you’ll have everything you need to tide you over in your carry-on.