The Best Carry-on Must-haves, According to T+L Editors

It’s no secret that airplanes are chilly, so we always recommend bringing layers to cozy up en route. This travel wrap from White + Warren pulls double-duty thanks to its ability to be a warm blanket in flight or a stylish scarf once you’re at your destination.

“Regulating the air temperature on board a plane is always a bit of a challenge — I find it’s best to layer; that way, if you get too hot, you can take off a sweater or jacket (and vice versa). One ‘layer’ that proves to be useful, time and again, is a cashmere travel wrap from White and Warren. You can use it as a shawl to keep warm, as a blanket while you sleep, or even as a pillow, folded delicately into a tight little square. It also looks great when you step off the plane, wearing a chic accessory,” editor-in-chief Jacqui Gifford raved.

I’m a firm believer that these are the best earbuds Apple has released. I fly between coasts every few months, so I’m sitting on long flights frequently and always keep my AirPods in since they block out the pesky airplane engine hum. They easily fit in my pocket, purse, or carry-on, and the different-sized rubber ear tips make it easy to find the most comfortable fit to wear the buds for hours on end without ear pain.

I think traveling in style can be easily achieved without sacrificing comfort, so I turn to quiet luxury travel accessories like these cashmere socks. It’s basically like a soft and cozy cashmere sweater for your feet, and the socks look nice while on, too. Best of all, they aren’t even the slightest bit itchy or too hot.

Luggage fees can be an unexpected expense when you arrive at the airport, so investing in a luggage scale is one of the best ways to save money while traveling.

“I am, unfortunately, a serial overpacker, which can be an expensive bad habit. To avoid overweight luggage fees, I always travel with this ultracompact and lightweight digital luggage scale. It’s a handy, intuitive little device that weighs my suitcase or bag in both pounds and kilograms. It’s also small enough to fit into a personal item, which is perfect for when I travel light. Since purchasing it, I have yet to pay any overweight luggage fees — much to my wallet’s pleasure,” writer Asia London Palomba said.

Minimalist and light packers will appreciate the unique use and compact size of this hand pillow from Ostrich, especially if you’re a window-seat person.

“While I love knowing that my upgrades have cleared before I leave for the airport, it’s sadly not always the case. I’m not going to tote a full-sized travel pillow that I may not even need, but this small, smushable alternative takes up pretty much no room in my bag. I can slip it over my hand to lean and rest against the window — which surely beats my old method of balling up a sweatshirt and hoping for the best,” associate director Morgan Ashley Parker raved.

Plane rides can be notoriously boring, so don’t forget to pack some entertainment like this device from Nintendo.

“I always travel with my Nintendo Switch Lite because it’s an easy way to be entertained during a long flight, especially if I’ve already exhausted movies or the book I brought with me. I’ve also found that it keeps me distracted whenever a bout of flying anxiety hits,” editor Erin Cavoto said.

A dying phone battery can cause all sorts of unwanted stress to your travel, which means a portable charger is a non-negotiable in our eyes.

“I never leave my house without a charger, but it used to be a scramble to try to find a spare power bank, wall plug, and cord. I’ve been loving this new three-in-one portable charger from Anker because it has a built-in plug and cable. I can use the built-in USB-C cable to charge my laptop, and there’s a place for an additional cable if I want to charge my phone at the same time. It also tells you the exact battery percentage that’s left on the outside of the charger,” editor Jackie Cucco said.

Compression socks are one of those travel accessories that might not seem necessary to some, but once you start using them, you might be pleasantly surprised at the benefits.

“I wore compression socks on a long-haul flight for the first time a few years ago and never looked back. I used to always experience swollen feet and ankles after sitting for long periods, which would make already uncomfortable 8-plus hour flights even worse. These socks provide gentle compression from my feet up to my knees without feeling tight or restrictive,” writer Anne Taylor said. “At the end of a flight, I’m ready to hit the ground running. They’re also easy to take off, even standing up in an airport bathroom, so I don’t have to wear them for the rest of the day if I don’t want to — although they’re comfortable enough that sometimes I keep them on anyway.”

Reading a book is my favorite way to pass the time on an airplane, so this handy e-reader comes with me every time. It’s super slim and compact, making it easy to slip into my backpack. I love that this Kobo model can show color, so I can make coordinated highlights in my books or write my to-do list in the notes section. I also got a stylus for it, so I can doodle and write notes if I’m extra bored on a plane.

Sometimes, bringing your own cozy blanket is the best way to get comfortable for a flight. Especially if you fly with multiple people or your family, it pays to have a larger one.

“This is one of the softest blankets I own, and it gets bonus points for being easy to travel with. While it isn’t small (my husband and I can share it on the plane), it has the most stylish leather buckles that help you keep it contained when rolled up. The leather strap also doubles as a handle, so you don’t have to make room for it in your bags,” editor Taylor Fox said.

If you’re not a fan of the C-shaped travel pillows, this rectangular one is the perfect alternative, especially for use beyond just an airplane or road trip.

“A comfortable travel pillow is absolutely essential for long flights, but sometimes neck pillows can leave my neck feeling uncomfortable and stiff,” Fox said. “This compact mini pillow is plush, comfortable, and easily fits in my backpack, so I can take it with me to ensure comfort (while the pillow also stays clean inside my bag).”

Earplugs are a must for traveling, whether you’re a light sleeper or just looking for some peace and quiet on the go. Parker swears by the earplug brand Loop for all of her noise-tuning-out needs.

“The Loop Dreams are the most comfortable earplugs I’ve ever worn because they mold to my ear shape with a closed ‘loop’ (so it’s like a cookie versus a donut),” Parker raved. “They’re also slimmer than the classic style so they fit securely in my ear — I can rest my head on a mini handy pillow against the window and feel zero discomfort, and I’m not worried they’ll slip down into the abyss if I’m in a lie-flat seat either.”

These over-ear noise-canceling headphones come highly recommended by Cucco for their comfortable fit and ability to block out all sounds.

“These noise-canceling headphones have made all the difference in helping me sleep and relax on flights, whether I’m listening to music or podcasts or just using them to block out background noise so I can read in peace,” Cucco raved. “I’ve always been an earbud user before trying these, but these over-ear headphones are so much more comfortable to wear for long periods of time.”

In recent years, I’ve adopted quite the skincare and makeup routine on flights. I often go straight from the airport to sightseeing, so I like to step off the plane ready to go. This compact blush from Merit stays in my personal item since I can swipe a bit on my cheeks and rub it in without a brush. I also dab a bit on my lips, and it brings natural color back into my face after an exhausting day of traveling.

The other part of my airplane makeup routine includes a layer of this tinted moisturizer from Laura Mercier, which is a must-use. I recently learned about the importance of wearing SPF on an airplane, and now I won’t board one without SPF 30 on my face. It also keeps my skin hydrated throughout the flight, and it’s travel-size at 45 milliliters or 1.5 ounces.

To keep my entire face hydrated, I opt to bring this compact lip mask with me wherever I go. I just dab a bit of super hydrating formula onto my lips before, during, and after my flight, and I can prevent cracked, cry lips from haunting me during a vacation.

The airplane seat pocket is not the cleanliest of spaces on a plane, as it turns out, so Fox uses this pocket organizer from Care.e.on to protect her valuables.

“I have left my cell phone, books, pens, tickets, and other small items in airplane seatback pockets too many times to count,” Fox shared. “This little accessory removes the likelihood that you will leave something behind while keeping everything you need for a long flight easy to access. From earbuds to chapstick to a passport, this little carry-all can hold it all in organized spaces, so you don’t have to go diving into your personal item mid-flight if you want something.”

Airport prices are astronomical, especially plastic water bottles, which cost upwards of $10. To save you money, a reusable water bottle like this one from Owala will pay itself off over time and keep you hydrated.

“Ever since I read a T+L article about why you shouldn’t drink water from the plane during your flight, I’ve become insistent on packing an empty water bottle in my carry-on that I can fill up in the terminal before I board,” senior writer Merrell Readman said. “This Owala water bottle is perfect because it has a built-in straw as well as a locking cap so I never have to worry about spilling all over myself (or my belongings) during the flight. Plus, it has a slim design that easily fits into the pocket of my favorite backpack.”