Have you ever wondered exactly what you should pack in your carry on luggage? That glorious 7kg allowance. So much potential. 7kg or so of potential to be exact. How many books should you pack? What’s more important clean teeth or clean underwear? Do I need my own water bottle? Are snacks important? Let’s take a look at what I take on in my absolutely essential carry on packing list.

Generally speaking, I do prefer to only travel with carry-on. It’s so much easier to have your life on your back in a snazzy bag and in the overhead compartment. Never worrying about the very minor potential chance that some airline employee rifling through your bag or the more likely case that your bag will be left out in the rain and all your worldly possessions, including your clean underwear, will be soaking wet on arrival. However, I may try it’s not always possible to travel with carry on only. Our upcoming trip to South America will see our bags full of things which can’t be taken as carry on – cooking gear, tents etc. Lots of sharp, pointy objects that generally are frowned upon by airlines.

The very basic & very essential carry on packing list.

Now this list isn’t the bee’s knees. We like bees and don’t want their knees. But in all seriousness, it’s a guideline on what we take on board that metal bus in the sky. It doesn’t take into consideration your fashion sense, food needs or general life choices. No judgment here. 

Well documented

Do you know where are you going? Have you got an itinerary planned, printed and ready to roll? Passport? Any hotel bookings that require a print out (note most these days don’t). A small folder or waterproof planner slip is perfect for carrying all your important documents.

• Valid passport
• Copy of complete flight itinerary
• Boarding pass – remember that many low-cost carriers won’t print a boarding pass for you on arrival and will charge up to $100 to do so for you.
• A copy of hotel, hostel or Air BnB booking? You’ll need this information on arrival to complete immigration requirements. We got stuck in Tokyo not having these details and ended up being kicked out of the line, along with many others and wasting a lot of our own time.
• Medical documents – vaccination booklet if needed. Some countries don’t allow certain and very common drugs into the country without a doctors letter.
• Insurance certificate – more and more countries are requiring proof of travel insurance on arrival.
• Visa – if you have received an e-visa it’s best to have a printed copy. You may arrive to discover that the internal systems are down, it’s 2am and you can’t get into the country without applying for a visa on arrival.
• Local currency in smaller notes. This is the best travel tip that my Dad has ever given me. Small notes so you can buy a can of diet coke or a coffee on arrival.

Keepin’ clean and fresh

As Australian’s we suffer from long flight syndrome. Just about everywhere we want to fly to is considered a ridiculously long flight by comparison to our European and American friends. For most Australian’s an 8 hour flight is considered an average flight. 8 hours in a metal bus in the sky, with all those other people. It’s smelly, dehydrating work.

• Tooth brush & toothpaste – if you stay in fancy hotels that have these in the bathroom grab them. I have a stash at home for these situations. I always have one in my handbag too. Never know when you’ll need clean teeth.
• Hairbrush
• Lipbalm
• Deoderant
• Sea to Summit body wipes

It’s an amazing feeling to refresh just before you land and gives you a little boost of happy energy. Which you’ll need trying to get through the customs line.

Snacks

We all know how important snacks are. No one wants a hangry traveller seated next to them. I always pack a few snacks. Even when travelling with a full cost carrier.

Not all snacks are created equally. Please don’t pack really smelly polarising snacks. Avoid anything that has fish, seaweed or similarly strong smells. It might be a delicious snack that you’ll enjoy but it will stink out the plane. You don’t make friends with stinky snacks.

• Water bottle.
• Electrolytes. Travelling really is dehydrating work. A berroca or similar product will help you kick out jet lag and general flying woes.
• Kit kat. It’s time to

Snooze time

Sleeping on a plane is an art form. I am almost the Picasso of our duo when it comes to flying. With the appropriate entertainment, I can sleep just about anywhere.

• Eye mask
• Ear plugs – disposable
• Sound blocking headphones

Entertain me

Not all airline entertainment systems are created equal. Or are even available on all flights. As adults, we are responsible for our own entertainment.

• Books
• Headphones
• Charge cable for phone
• Power bank

I’m old school and like to read paper books. I do have a backup few books on my iPhone as a just in case. I tend to take smaller books and play the book swap at the hostel game.

Fashionably late

No one ever wants their checked in luggage to turn up late. Even a day or two can put a real damper on your travel vibes. After having a very well known Australian airline deliver my bag and all my possessions soaking wet I now make sure that I have fresh essentials on me at all times when flying.

• Clean underwear
• Clean t-shirt. A basic cotton shirt folds up so tiny you’ll barely notice it’s there
• Travel scarf – these easily double up as a blanket on the plane.

What cabin baggage do you need?

This is such a personal choice. If you have checked in luggage then you don’t need to take a big ass carry-on bag. Please don’t be one of those people that takes ten different bags, distributes them all around them and eventually delays the plane as the poor air host team have to play tetris to put everyone else’s bags on. Really just #dontbeadick. We’ve noticed that more and more airlines are cracking down on these kind of people. The rules are pretty clear. One bag to rule them all.

Ideally, you want a bag that’s around 20ltrs at most. Our two recommendations are the Crumpler Great thaw or the Cabin Zero 28 ltr carry on.

These are just a few of the things that I pack as carry on. I never take the full 7kg of allocated baggage. It’s too much to drag around airports and waiting lounges. Also, it means that there is so much more stuff floating around that I’m likely to leave behind. I always like to consider what emergency items, like clean underwear, that I’ll need at the other end. Despite James wishes, I refuse to join the youth of today and read books purely on an online device.

Have I missed anything? Is there one thing that you never leave home without? Let me know in the comments below.