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After more than two years of traveling to a new city every month, I think it’s safe to say I have done my share of flying. Whether I am on my way to my new monthly destination or zipping back home to see my friends and family, I have learned a thing or two about what takes my flight experience to a new level. Other than the times I have had to stack all my hats on my head because they won’t fit in my luggage, I try to be as efficient as possible when traveling. I find this makes the journey a lot more enjoyable if I am not toting around lots of extra things.
Whether I am traveling two hours or ten, these are ten must-haves that I always have in my carry-on.
- Portable charger – this is a gamechanger as I swear my battery never lasts on long flights. My favorite one is also 54% off on Amazon right now, RUN!
- Belt bag – there are so many reasons I love a belt bag (and this Lululemon dupe is only $17) when traveling, but the number one has to be for keeping all my small essentials easy to grab while at the airport and on the flight. I throw things like my wallet, passport, headphones, lip gloss, and a snack in for good measure. It’s so much easier than digging through my backpack when I need something quick.
- Headphones – I often like to listen to my favorite podcasts or music on flights to pass the time. It’s a time where I typically have few, if any, distractions so I can truly unplug and just enjoy listening for a few hours.
- Snacks – my favorite snacks for flights include Chomps, protein bars (One Bar, rX Bar, Perfect Bar, to name a few faves!), Justin’s nut butter, and trail mix.
- Hoodie – I feel like flights always run a bit cold for me, so I love to have a cozy hoodie on hand to throw on and stay warm. If it fits in my backpack, even better!
- Dagne Dover backpack – this bag is the perfect size (I have size LARGE) to hold all my travel essentials, and is super comfy to wear, too!
- My favorite scrunchie – this one is amazing and doesn’t crease your hair, so you can fly in comfort and still look cute when you land!
- Socks and sneakers – while this one doesn’t go in my carry-on exactly, it is essential for me. My feet always get cold on flights, so you will rarely catch me in sandals on a flight!
- Kindle – I swear I read so many more books since I snagged my Kindle a few years ago. This is one of my favorite ways to pass the time on flights… a good book! Plus, the Kindle weighs next to nothing so it’s an easy thing to toss in my backpack without adding a bunch of extra weight or bulk. Win-win!
- WATER! This is a big one. I always get so dehydrated when flying, so I love to bring a reusable water bottle with me so I can sip on it the entire flight. I definitely feel better landing, and even the next day following travel, when I have hydrated en route! This water bottle is easy to throw in your bag, keeps my water cold, and the straw helps me stay hydrated, without having to worry about spills (plus, comes in lots of fun colors!).
And whether I am traveling two hours or ten, there are ten must-haves that I always have in my carry-on. I’d love to hear your favorite travel essentials in the comments below 😉
