Hi, I’m Kayla. I travel for work and for fun. Planes. Trains. Wet buses in the rain. I’ve packed light. I’ve overpacked and cried in a hotel sink. So this list isn’t cute. It’s real. It’s what I use and what I skip, with wins and fails baked in.
A bunch of these picks also show up—complete with embarrassing photos—in my deeper dive on what actually stays in my bag over on ValidTravel, if you like to open ten tabs while you pack.
My carry-on setup that survives baggage claim chaos
I use the Away Bigger Carry-On (the one with the ejectable battery). I’ve dragged it across Lisbon’s cobbles and up subway stairs in New York. It rolls smooth and the shell can take a hit. The battery saved my phone during a six-hour delay at O’Hare. I did have one scuff that looked bad, but a magic eraser cleaned most of it.
For a personal item, I carry the Osprey Daylite travel pack. It’s light, has a sternum strap, and holds a silly amount. But the side pockets are tight; bigger bottles pop out. I learned that in Tokyo when my water bottle tried to make a run for it.
Here’s the thing: a good bag doesn’t make the trip. But a bad bag can ruin it fast. For more field-tested packing guides and destination-specific tips, I always cross-check the advice on ValidTravel before zipping my bag shut.
Packing cubes that don’t fight me
I use Calpak packing cubes (the 5-piece set). The mesh lets me see what’s what, and the zippers don’t snag. I roll tees and tuck leggings. Socks get stuffed into shoes like little cupcakes. The small cube is my “sleep kit” (eye mask, earplugs, melatonin gummies). Once, a cube zipper failed on a cheap set I tried, so I went back to Calpak and stuck with it.
Laundry on the road? Tide sink packets. I wash bras and undies in hotel sinks, then hang them on a travel clothesline with tiny clips. Not glamorous, but my room smells like clean cotton, and I pack half the underwear.
While we’re on the subject of underwear: travel can be the perfect excuse to lean into some liberated, body-positive fun. If you’ve ever toyed with the idea of snapping a cheeky vacation photo set just for yourself (or a partner), the French guide Je montre mon minou dives into confidence tips, camera angles, and consent reminders so your playful pics stay empowering and private. Similarly, if your itinerary swings through Southern California and you’re curious about sampling the local after-dark scene in a way that feels vetted and low-pressure, check out AdultLook Anaheim—the rundown highlights verified listings, user reviews, and practical safety pointers so you can decide whether a spontaneous fling belongs on your trip agenda.
I also field-tested a bunch of random hotel hacks—some winners, some hilarious flops—and wrote them up in these travel tweaks I use in hotels if you want to borrow (or avoid) my experiments.
Clothes that earn their seat
- Uniqlo Ultra Light Down jacket: Packs into its own pouch. Warm on chilly flights. It’s not rainproof, but it shrugs off mist. I wore it in Kyoto during a surprise drizzle and felt fine.
- Athleta Brooklyn pants: Stretchy, polished, and they dry fast after a sink wash. The pockets hold a passport without that weird bulge.
- Lululemon Align leggings: Soft for long flights. They do pill if you wear a backpack that rubs at your hips. I still bring them.
- Bombas ankle socks: Cushy. I double up on long walking days. My feet thank me.
- Hoka Clifton sneakers: Plush. Saved me in Rome when we “just walked a bit” and hit 22,000 steps. Not cute with every dress, but my knees don’t care.
- A light scarf: Blanket on planes. Head cover in old churches. Neck pillow in a pinch.
I skip white jeans now. One airport coffee spill taught me that lesson fast.
Toiletry kit: leak proof-ish, TSA-proof
I keep a clear 1-quart bag for security and a Dagne Dover small toiletry bag for the rest. Real picks I use:
- CeraVe AM facial moisturizer with SPF 30: Gentle. No burn. Layer-friendly.
- Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen (mini): Silky, no white cast. Slides under makeup.
- Dr. Bronner’s unscented soap (2 oz): Face wash, body wash, even hand-wash for clothes. A little goes far. Don’t get it in your eyes. Ask me how I know.
- COSRX pimple patches: Magic dots. I put one on a surprise zit before a client demo in London. Crisis over.
- Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream (mini): Smells like summer. Moisturizes flight-dry skin. It’s strong, so I use a pea size.
- Tangle Teezer travel brush: Doesn’t pull. Sand and salt come out easy after a beach day.
I keep liquids in silicon travel bottles. I used cheap ones once, and my shampoo leaked over a Lisbon sink. Now I squeeze and twist-test every cap like a weirdo.
Tech that saves my sanity
- Anker PowerCore 20,000: Big, but it keeps two phones alive. It’s heavy in a small purse, so I sometimes bring the 10,000 instead.
- Apple AirTags: One in my suitcase, one in my camera pouch. My bag went missing in Lisbon; Find My showed it in the wrong terminal. I showed a staffer, got it back in 20 minutes. Heart rate: high. Outcome: fine.
- Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones: Noise canceling is strong. I use “ambient” mode during boarding so I don’t miss gate calls. The case is bulky; worth it.
- World travel adapter (Epicka compact): Has USB-C and fuses. It’s not a voltage converter, so I skip hair tools that don’t handle dual voltage.
Lost luggage is annoying, but surprise hospital bills are worse; after actually needing my policy in Southeast Asia, I wrote a warts-and-all travel insurance review that might save you some headache.
I also pack a short USB-C cable, a long one, and a tiny USB-A adapter. Cords tangle. Zip ties help.
Health, comfort, and that one thing you forgot
- Nuun hydration tablets: Planes dry you out. I drop one in my bottle right after security. Lemon tastes clean.
- Collapsible water bottle (Que or Hydrapak Stow): Light, packs down when empty. I also bring a solid 21 oz Hydro Flask if I know I’ll hike.
- Mack’s silicone earplugs + a soft eye mask: Overnight train from Milan to Naples? Slept like a cat. Well, a light cat.
- Compeed blister pads: Lifesavers. I got a heel blister in Seville. Slapped on a pad, kept walking. No drama.
- Period care: Thinx underwear and a DivaCup. Fewer runs to the store. I carry a few sealed pads too, because bodies surprise us.
- Tiny meds kit: Pain reliever, allergy tabs, motion sickness strips, and a few Band-Aids. I label each with a Sharpie so I don’t play “mystery pill.”
Mosquito country on the itinerary? My pocket-size net became a lifesaver—here’s the brutally honest Traveller Net review if bites love you like they love me.
You know what? A little zip pouch keeps the chaos calm.
Beauty that travels well
I keep makeup simple:
- Glossier Boy Brow, a mini mascara, and a cream blush stick that doubles as lip color.
- A tiny perfume atomizer. Le Labo Santal is my “grown-up” scent, but I spray lightly on planes. Courtesy matters.
I tried bringing a big palette once. It shattered. Sad glitter everywhere.
Real trip moments these items actually fixed
- Lisbon baggage scare: AirTag showed my suitcase in another terminal. Found it. Hugged it. Looked odd. Didn’t care.
- Kyoto rain: Uniqlo jacket and that scarf kept me warm while we waited for ramen. Steam fogged my glasses; I laughed and wiped them on my sleeve like a kid.
- Tulum sun: I missed a spot on my shoulder. Supergoop mini lived in my crossbody. I saved the rest of my skin.
- Six-hour delay at O’Hare: Anker brick kept my Kindle and phone alive. I watched two rom-coms and ate pretzels. Could’ve been worse.
- Rome blisters: Compeed pads turned a bad day into a long, sweet walk at sunset. Gelato helped too.