27 travel essentials for your carry-on bag in 2023

In my pre-pandemic life, I was on a plane at least six times a year. As a Canadian living abroad, I spent my days and dollars finding cheap flights, avoiding checked baggage and (literally) living out of my suitcase. Therefore, even if only self-proclaimed, I consider myself something of a carry-on expert.

While I typically travel with two larger carry-on bags (a mini suitcase and a backpack), I like to wear a crossbody or belt bag in the airport, like this one from Old Navy, so that I can easily access my passport, boarding passes, phone, wallet, and headphones.

$25 at Old Navy

Aside from an easy-access belt bag, a backpack is my accessory of choice for a busy travel day. While a duffle bag and oversized tote are certainly cute, anything that requires hands or limits your mobility is entirely impractical when you’re speeding through an airport.

My go-to backpack is a decade-old lululemon bag that has (sadly) been discontinued. However, I stand by the quality and durability of the brand, so I have my eye on lululemon’s Wunderlust Backpack 25L for an in-stock alternative.

$168 at Lululemon

What I love about my (and this) Lululemon backpack:

• Water repellant fabric: Trust me, any travel bag that is not water-repellant or waterproof is a waste of your money

• Padded laptop pocket (for obvious reasons)

• Exterior water bottle pocket

• Interior pockets for your wallet, keys and more

• Trolley-compatible sleeve — destined for an airport!

Now, equally as important: What to pack in your carry-on bag. From a reusable water bottle to noise-cancelling headphones, here are 26 travel essentials I never leave home without.

Don’t leave home without them: 26 carry-on bag travel essentials

1. Reusable water bottle

If you take only one tip from this article, let this be it: Always pack a reusable water bottle in your carry-on bag. I repeat: Always pack a reusable water bottle in your carry-on bag. Between global warming and inflation, buying a disposable water bottle at the airport is not helping anyone, anywhere. Pack an (empty) water bottle, fill it up inside, and just like magic, you’ve saved $8 at the airport convenience store.

Brita’s BPA-free Premium Filtering Bottle holds 26 oz of water and features the brand’s famous filter. The filter reduces chlorine, improving the taste and odour of your water. With nearly 30,000 reviews on Amazon, shoppers call it a “surprisingly sturdy” water bottle.

$25 at Amazon

This luxe self-cleaning water bottle uses PureVis technology to eliminate up to 99 per cent of bio-contaminants such as E. coli from your water and bottle. Reviewers say the LARQ bottle is a worthwhile (albeit expensive) investment and call it a backpacker “must-have.”

$125 at LARQ

2. Over-ear noise-cancelling headphones

Next to a reusable water bottle, a pair of noise-cancelling headphones is a travel essential, in my opinion. Why? Wireless headphones (i.e. Apple AirPods) can’t connect to in-flight entertainment, so unless you’re keen to stream a show on your phone via the airline’s app, you have to either forgo entertainment or purchase a pair of single-use headphones for the flight. Secondly, the noise-cancelling function helps to drown-out noisy neighbours and comes in handy if you’re looking to snooze.

These over-ear headphones come with a staggering 23,000 reviews from Amazon shoppers and an average rating of 4.3 stars. According to one user, the sound is “great” and the “bass is excellent.” The headphones can wirelessly connect to your phone when out walking or at the beach, but also include a cable that can connect to in-flight entertainment.

$32 at Amazon

These best-selling over-ear noise-cancelling Bluetooth headphones allow you to listen to music for up to 23 hours on a single charge and adjust the amount of external sound you hear via their noise-cancelling feature. The set includes a USB-C cable that can charge the headphones in as little as 2.5 hours and an airplane-compatible cord.

$450 at Best Buy Canada

3. Change of clothing

If this year’s airline blunders have taught us anything, it’s to bring a change of clothes in your carry-on, just in case. On my personal packing list: socks, underwear, a cute day-to-night maxi dress and a sweater.

This versatile maxi is made with airy lightweight linen, making it the perfect travel and vacation piece.

$90 at Dynamite

Dubbed Anthropologie’s “best-reviewed dress, ever,” this maxi dress is available in several colours, materials and prints. It’s “amazing,” raves one reviewer. “So comfy and so flattering.”

$168 at Anthropologie

This cozy and affordable cardigan has earned nearly 500 reviews from H&M shoppers who compliment its “unique and classic” design.

$30 at H&M

Yes, it’s expensive, but if you have a bit of cash on hand, Reformation’s cashmere cardigan is my no.1 draft pick of the season. It’s beyond luxe, ultra cozy, and there’s something about wearing cashmere on a plane that makes you feel like Kris Jenner’s long-lost child.

$348 at Reformation

4. Eye mask

While my body seems physically incapable of sleeping on a plane, I still reach for an eye mask on every overnight flight, hoping for a miracle. A teacher once told me that your brain waves during deep meditation are similar to the early stages of sleep. So if anything, I venture for a lights-out meditative session and pray that it’s enough to keep me going until I eventually find a bed.

This blindfold-style sleeping mask is made from skin-friendly organic cotton and is designed to block out 100 per cent of outdoor light, including around the nose area. The mask has earned more than 8,000 reviews from Amazon shoppers and an average rating of 4.3 stars.

$30 at Amazon

This contour sleep mask is made from high-grade mulberry silk that’s designed with eyelash extensions in mind.

$77 CAD at Sephora Canada $55 USD at Nordstrom U.S.

21 carry-on bag travel essentials, according to an avid traveller:

1. Mini toothbrush & toothpaste

2. Granola bars & snacks (basic enough that they could double as breakfast)

3. DIY first aid kit with additional ibuprofen, anti-nausea medication, melatonin, Pepto-Bismol, allergy pills, Band-Aids, antibacterial hand wipes, plus antidotes for whatever else you’re prone to

4. Emergen-C Immune+ drink mix packs (I swear by these! Plus, they taste good)

5. A good book (I couldn’t put this one down)

6. A cozy scarf (never trust the forecast — airplanes are freezing)

7. Socks (I repeat, airplanes are freezing)

8. Ear plugs

9. Extra pads & tampons

10. Neck pillow (this one has a lot of reviews)

11. Pen, pencil and paper

12. Kleenex

13. Phone charger

14. Power bank (for when you can’t use your phone charger)

15. Lip balm (this one is my go-to and it’s incredibly versatile)

16. Hand sanitizer

17. A travel-sized version of your beauty essentials (sunscreen, face wash, etc.) I love Cadence’s 6-piece bundle for organizing my must-haves (and saving on plastic).

18. Gum (for your ears and for flavour)

19. Any and all travel documents you may require

20. Enough cash (in the correct currency) that you can pay for a taxi to your hotel

21. Your favourite chocolate bar — for when the going gets rough

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