I've Perfected the Art of Carry-On Bag Packing—25 Things I'm Never Without

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(Image credit: @emilisindlev)

One thing about me is that I despise packing. Admittedly, it almost even makes me dread trips. So over the years, something I've learned is that having the right tools to make packing easier makes me dread the task far less. In my opinion, one of the most important elements of packing is getting the contents of the carry-on bag right. In fact, I even usually start with it so that I know I won't be rushed (as I usually am when I leave something to the last minute).

The items in your carry-on bag are the ones that should be most readily accessible to you both during your journey and when you get to your destination. Your carry-on bag should also contain those important items that you don't want to leave your side (jewelry, passport, and medication, etc.). 

I'm someone who can't take a trip without making a packing list, so I referred back to a few of mine and saw that I pretty much pack the same things in my carry-on every single time I go somewhere, whether via car or plane. Scroll for my list in case you need a little carry-on assistance too.

Next up, 28 useful Amazon items only the most dedicated TikTok users know about.

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Allyson Payer
Senior Editor

Allyson is a senior editor for Who What Wear. She joined the company in 2014 as co-founder Katherine Power's executive assistant and over the years has written hundreds of stories for Who What Wear. Prior to her career in fashion, Allyson worked in the entertainment industry at companies such as Sony Pictures Television. Allyson is now based in Raleigh, North Carolina, and is originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She holds a BFA in theater. Her path to fashion may not have been linear, but based on the number of fashion magazines she collected as a child and young adult, it was meant to be.