I Fly 200,000 Miles a Year, and I Never Leave Home Without These 15 Essentials in My Personal Item—From $7

After 10 years of flying around the world as a full-time travel writer—I once touched down on all seven continents in one calendar year—I’ve got packing down to a science. While most travelers focus on what they have on wheels, I’ve learned the hard way that it’s what’s in the pack strapped on your back, hung over your shoulder, or worn around your waist that matters most. After all, these days it’s not uncommon for luggage to be checked at the gate. (That’s why you should never put your passport in your carry-on.)

My personal item, the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack, has served me well on flights to approximately 70 countries. And while I tailor what I bring to each destination, there are some items I always pack in my personal item, regardless of whether I’m going to Kenya or Krakow. These travel essentials aren’t expensive, but they ensure I’m comfortable at cruising altitude. This makes all the difference between how I look and feel when I walk out of the airport’s arrivals doors. Unlike that friend or family member who insists on keeping their award-winning recipe classified, I’m happy to reveal the contents of my well-curated personal item. 

EnergyCell Pilot 4GS Portable Charger

Airlines are getting stricter about portable power banks—on a Lufthansa flight last week, there was an announcement that we could only use them if we were awake and monitoring them. Never put a power bank in your carry-on because they can’t be checked (and there’s always a chance that your carry-on will be gate-checked).

While in-seat power is a thing, it only works about half of the time. This TSA-approved power bank is designed for iOS devices and is about as slim and lightweight as an iPhone. It’s so popular that over 10,000 were purchased at Amazon in the last month alone.

Charmast Portable Charger With Built-in Cables

While it’s not as cute or sleek as the EnergyCell power bank above, this portable charger is compatible with Samsung and Google Pixel products. It boasts built-in cables as well as the ability to charge up to six devices simultaneously. If that sounds too good to be true, check out the more than 8,500 five-star ratings and subsequent reviews. Personally, I like the digital LED display, which shows exactly how much juice you have left.

Dude Wipes On-the-go Flushable Wipes 30-pack

While United flight attendants hand you a sanitizing wipe as you board, one is never enough. That’s why I stash these handy wipes in my personal item. Whether I need a wipe to clean my screen, use in lieu of toilet paper (these are flushable), or remove my makeup, I’m always prepared. And I’m not alone.

“I carry these wipes in all of my bags,” wrote one flight attendant at Amazon, where Dude Wipes have nearly 19,000 five-star ratings. The flight attendant even said they use them to wash their face after every flight. That’s right—these individually wrapped towelettes are made of plant-based ingredients that are gentle on your skin. I’d even go so far as to say they’re soothing!

Apple AirPods Pro 2 Wireless Earbuds

I don’t like to wait for flight attendants to hand out earbuds, nor do I have patience for their poor sound quality. Investing in these AirPods Pro 2 Wireless Earbuds—which have nearly 25,000 five-star ratings at Amazon—was one of the best things I’ve done.

Not only do they allow me to listen to in-flight entertainment with what feels like surround sound, but they also offer active noise cancellation. Don’t worry, I have them on the conversation awareness mode during the flight attendant’s safety speech. Pro tip: Take the time to find the size that’s most suitable for your ear canal. Apple AirPods come with four different silicone tips, so play around with them until you find the best fit. 

Twelve South AirFly SE Bluetooth Audio Transmitter Adapter

Of course, in order to be able to use your personal Bluetooth-equipped wireless earbuds or headsets with in-seat entertainment, you’ll need a transmitter. I personally use this best-selling adapter from Twelve South, which is so popular that more than 10,000 were purchased at Amazon last month. Simply plug it into the audio jack and pair it to your devices (up to two at a time). It charges via USB-C, and on a full charge, it can last up to 20 hours.

Fyy Travel Cable Organizer Pouch

Much like you should always keep your electronics in your personal item, you should also keep their cords with you. Otherwise, you might find yourself on a surprise 20-hour layover where you’re forced to pay for overpriced cables you already own—stuck in your checked bag—just to recharge your devices at the airport.

That’s where the Fyy Travel Cable Organizer Pouch comes in handy. It has six smaller compartments for cables, cords, and adapters, as well as two larger compartments for your phone and power bank. Choose from three different sizes and nearly two dozen colors at Amazon, where this pouch has more than 21,600 five-star ratings.

Nidra Contoured Sleep Mask

I’m no sleep scientist, but I do know that darkness encourages the body to produce melatonin, which helps us fall asleep and stay asleep. While we can’t control the cabin lighting, we can treat our eyes to these breathable blackout curtains that feature a unique 3-D contoured shape. This means there’s no pressure on the eyeballs. In fact, the mask doesn’t even touch them, making it a great option for those who wear mascara or false eyelashes. “Hands down the best sleep masks I have found,” wrote one nurse, who works the night shift, in their five-star review at Amazon.

Charmking Compression Socks 8-pack

I always keep a pair of socks in my personal item for two reasons. First, I use them if I’m flying in sandals (you won’t find me walking barefoot through security). I also use them to keep ankle swelling at bay and prevent deep vein thrombosis during the flight.

With nearly 62,000 five-star ratings, these flight attendant-approved compression socks are an Amazon bestseller. They feature graduated compression, so they’re only tight in target areas, and thanks to the “no-slip cuff,” they don’t slide down. This year alone, I’ve worn them on long-haul flights to Africa, the Maldives, and Europe.

Fintie Passport Holder and Travel Wallet

In 2023, I had to spend hundreds and make an emergency trip to Denver after I noticed the photo page of my passport was scratched just days before I left for an international trip. The first thing I did when I received my replacement passport was put it in this protective holder that now takes the brunt of the wear and tear. It also doubles as a travel wallet thanks to the four credit card slots and built-in RFID blocker, which gives me peace of mind because I have been the victim of tech-savvy thieves.

The Fintie Passport Holder has over 4,500 five-star ratings at Amazon, where it’s available in dozens of colors, textures, and prints that all look more expensive than the asking price.

Chomps Beef Jerky Snack Sticks 24-pack

Because airlines can be stingy with snacks, and I don’t travel well with low blood sugar, I always keep emergency rations in my personal item. Recently, I discovered these grass-fed beef sticks from Chomps, which I’m now buying in bulk.

Unlike Delta’s Biscoff cookies or JetBlue’s signature blue potato chips, these protein-packed sticks satiate my hunger, and there’s not a single gram of added sugar. In fact, I can read all of the ingredients without the help of an interpreter.

Colgate Max Fresh Wisp Disposable Mini Travel Toothbrushes 24-pack

I’m so obsessed with these two-inch-long toothbrushes that I’m thinking of handing them out on Halloween (if I’m home). They don’t require rinsing—never use water from the tap in the lavatory—and the dissolvable freshening bead tastes much better than the chalky off-brand toothpaste most airlines give you. Plus, these disposable, individually wrapped brushes don’t take up precious space in your one-quart bag for liquids.

“I kept these on me at all times,” confessed one former flight attendant in their rave review at Amazon, where the toothbrushes have over 29,000 five-star ratings. Bonus: The handle comes to a point, so it can be used as a toothpick (which comes in handy after enjoying a Chomp or two).

Yeti Rambler 18-ounce Water Bottle

Besides my MacBook, the heaviest thing in my personal item bag is my beloved Yeti Rambler. It’s not the most affordable water bottle, but if you prefer your beverages to be a certain temperature, you have no other option. Yeti’s game-changing double-wall vacuum insulation keeps cold drinks cold and hot drinks hot for hours.

Don’t be that traveler at the gate throwing away the cappuccino they just paid $10 for because they can’t bring it on the plane. Instead, pour it into this indestructible leakproof bottle, stash it in your personal item, and take it out to enjoy once you’re at cruising altitude. The Rambler is available in more than 40 colors at Amazon, where it has an impressive 4.8-star average rating.

EverSnug Travel Blanket and Pillow 

Fun fact: Airlines intentionally keep their cabins uncomfortably cold to prevent passengers from fainting. It’s even colder if you’re like me and choose an aisle seat because that’s where most of the air blasts (to keep flight attendants cool as they’re moving about). To stay cozy, I always pack my Rumpl Travel Puffy Blanket. If you don’t want to drop $89 on a mini duvet, consider this best-selling blanket, which is easy to clip to the outside of your personal item.

Thanks to the attached carabiner, you don’t even need to reserve precious real estate for it inside your bag. The EverSnug Travel Blanket and Pillow is made of a premium micro plush fabric that feels as soft as velvet. In its stuff sack, it also doubles as a travel pillow. 

Meacolia Travel Pill Organizer 3-pack

Between my Crohn’s disease, allergies, and OCD, I pack a lot of medications. But even if you’re not a walking pharmacy, you may take vitamins or fish oil capsules, which you won’t want to risk losing if your carry-on is checked and lost or delayed. While you can always use your grandma’s old seven-day organizer, consider these stylish pill cases.

Each case is about the size of a deck of cards, has eight compartments that fit pills of all sizes, and even comes with customizable labels. At Amazon, they have over 13,300 five-star ratings, and shoppers—including flight attendants—sum them up as “perfect” for travel.

Aloha Collection Small Pouch

I recently traveled to Kenya, where there’s a ban on plastic bags, which I often use to keep things separate in my personal item bag. Fortunately, I had this handy reusable pouch from the brand behind Travel + Leisure’s top beach bag pick.

The pouch is incredibly versatile—I use it to store everything from makeup to snacks and toiletries. It’s also cute enough that you can carry it as a small clutch. It has an impressive 4.8-star average rating at Amazon, and I love that the Aloha Collection was co-founded by a former flight attendant who leveraged her experience in the friendly skies to design an accessory line with travelers in mind. 

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