Carry On Packing List (For One Bag Travel)

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Imagine a world where you could only access places where you had to carry everything you wanted. You would have several checked bags, a large carry on backpack, plus person items. Going anywhere with this much stuff would be difficult and expensive. You would be pretty limited in the places you could go.

Now imagine you had a small backpack with only the items you needed. Your bag would be much smaller, lighter, and less expensive. You could easily jump off a train into a taxi, you wouldn’t miss flights or have to pay baggage fees. The list of places you could go just got bigger, your world just got bigger.

I’ve been packing light and traveling for years. I spend a lot of time researching and testing the best travel products. This carry on packing list are the items I travel with most often, and have found the most useful in my travels. With some practice this list will help you pack lighter, so you can spend more time exploring the world!

Bags

This site is dedicated to the art of one bag travel, you have a ton of choices here. My list of Maximum Sized Carry On Bags is a great place to get ideas. These bags are all in the 35-45 liter range, a good size to start your adventures.

Main Backpack: Eagle Creek Global Companion, Osprey Farpoint, or Tortuga Outbreaker

Packable Daypack: Outlander Packable Daypack

Packing Cubes: Eagle Creek Pack-it Cubes

Mesh Pouch: Eagle Creek 1/4 Cube

Clothes

Clothes and shoes will take up the majority of your bulk. Favor synthetic or wool fabrics, and avoid cotton if possible. Synthetics liky rayon, nylon, and polyester are light and dry quick, but can hold odors. Wool (100% is best) is naturally antibacterial, but is expensive and itchy.

Button-up Shirt: Wool & Prince button-down Oxford

T-shirt: Icebreaker Tech Lite Crew, or Wool & Prince Crew Neck

Pants: Eddie Bauer Horizon Guide Chinos

Shorts: Outlier New Ways Shorts (Expensive, but convert to swim trunks)

Socks: Darn Tough (100% merino wool, guaranteed for life)

Shoes: Lems Nine2Five (Leather, Zero Drop)

Underwear: Wool & Prince Wool Boxers, or Exofficio Give N’ Go Boxer Brief

Jacket: Lightweight layer fleece like the Patagonia R1 Techface Hoodie

Rain Gear: A small travel umbrella is all you need for almost every situation

Electronics

Electronics heavy and can take up a ton of space. Focus your carry on packing list on a small number of high quality items. Tablets can replace laptops, a good phone can replace a heavy DSLR camera. Use a gear pouch to keep your cables organized.

Organizer: Eagle Creek 1/4 Cube or Bond Gear Pouch

Universal Adapter: Epicka Universal Adapter (Largest with 4 USB-A ports), The Mu USB Universal Adapter (Small, One USB-C port), or Kikkerland Universal Travel Adapter (Minimalist)

Charging Cable: Anker makes the best cables and chargers on the market

Tablet: Kindle Fire HD 8″ (Packed with travel guides, books, movies and music)

External Battery Pack: Anker PowerCore 10000 (~2 phone charges)

Headphones: Shure SE215 (Sound Isolating Earphones), or if you want to get fancy try the Bose QC35 II (Wireless, noice cancelling)

Toiletries

Get yourself a good toiletry bag, preferably with a hook. Plan your liquids before you pack so you know how many tubes you need. Experiment with non-liquid products like shampoo bars to save space in your liquids bag.

Toiletry Bag: Eagle Creek Spectre Quick Trip or Sea to Summit Hanging Toiletry Bag

Liquids Bag: Cable In The Bay Clear Toiletry Bag (Holds more than a ziplock)

Liquid Tubes: Eagle Creek Silicone Travel Tubes

Small Containers: Small 0.5 oz or Medium 2.0 oz Go Tubbs (Thick creams, pills, vitamins, not leak-proof)

Toothbrush: Your brush from home with a toothbrush cover works fine, or to save weight try a foldable travel toothbrush

Toothpaste: Tom’s of Maine Sample Toothpaste (refill with larger tube)

Razor: Disposable razors are lightweight and work great for travel

Hair Comb: One of those cheap black plastic combs

Nail Clippers: Victorinox Travel Nail Clipper (This nail review article is insane)

Floss: Travel Sized Dental Floss

Mirror: Unbreakable Travel Mirror, or the Summit Hanging Toiletry Bag comes with one

Shampoo: Save space by using a solid shampoo bar by Lush USA or Rocky Mountain Soap Co.

Sunscreen: Consider a Coral Reef Safe Sunscreen if you’re planning on going to the beach

Deodorant: Crystal Mineral Deodorant Stick (This stuff is amazing and lasts for months)

Hand Sanitizer: Travel Sized sanitizer or Wet Wipes)

Lip Balm (Twist-off tubes won’t leak)

First-Aid Kit: Rick Steves First Aid Kit (Preassembled for you in a nice little pouch)

Eye Mask: 40 Blinks by Bucky

Ear Plugs: Macks Earplugs work well for sleeping, for airplanes try plugs that regulate pressure.

Documents

Round out your carry on packing list with smart documentation. Save money by using cards with no international fees and reward miles programs. Electronic copies are ok for many of these items, but paper copies are a good backup if your electronics are lost or stolen.

Moneybelt: Eagle Creek Hidden Pocket to hold passport, cards, and cash

Debit Card: Charles Schwab High Yield Checking (No international ATM or transaction fees)

Credit Card: Travel card with bonus miles and no international fees (This podcast by Choose FI is a good introduction to travel hacking with credit cards).

Itinerary: As detailed as you need to be (Send a copy to family so they know where you are).

Photocopies: Bringing a copy of your passport, credit cards, and luggage will help if they get stolen. Bring a copy of all your reservations (especially if you’ve already paid).

Emergency Contact Info: Emergency contacts, embassay information, nearest hospital, allergies, medications etc. As warranted by your needs and location.

Packing List: Travel takes practice. Bring a copy and refine your carry on packing list for your next trip.

Miscellaneous

Pen: Original Bic (For filling out customs and immigration documents)

Water Bottle: Vapur Element 1 Liter (Foldable, Refillable)

Wallet: Chums Surfshort Wallet (Tied to your belt loop)

Travel Lock: Flex Lock (Lock more than one zipper) and Nite-ize Microlock (to clip zippers together)

Sunglasses: If you wear glasses, transitioning ones can save space.

Notebook: Moleskin Cashiers Notebook are the perfect size (3.5″ x 5.5″)

Travel Guides: Rick Steves and Lonely Planet are my favorites

Books: Check out my Best Travel Books of All Time

Plastic bags: Thick freezer bags, (great to store toiletries, wet clothes, or food)

Bonus Items

Things you don’t NEED, but adding a few of these items to your carry on packing list might make your travel experience more enjoyable

Wine Opener: TSA compliant corkscrew (Remember that time you bought a bottle of wine in Paris and had no way to open it at your hotel?)

Binder Clips: Small clips are perfect (There is no end to the usefullness of binder clips.)

Multitool: Leatherman Style PS (TSA Approved)

Utensils: Sea to Summit Ultralight Utensil Set (Save money by preparing your own meals)

Hot Sauce: Yellowbird Habanero Hot Sauce (Travel sized 2.2 oz.)

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