The Ultimate Carry-on Packing List

The right luggage can make or break your carry-on packing experience. In order to not check a bag, your carry-on needs to be expertly designed to hold as much as possible. I usually opt for a suitcase or duffel that will easily slide into the overhead bin (and won’t call attention to gate agents when they’re seeking travelers to gate-check luggage to save space) and pair it with a roomy travel backpack that can pass as a personal item and be stored comfortably at my feet. Since you’ll be carting your carry-ons around the terminal, look for a suitcase with 360-degree spinner wheels, a duffel with a hideaway handle, and backpacks with trolley sleeves.

Best Carry-on Suitcase

Samsonite Freeform Carry-on Spinner

$180 $137 at Amazon $150 at Samsonite $140 at Ebags

It takes a lot for a product to earn a perfect score in all categories, but the Samsonite Freeform Carry-on Spinner was clearly up for the challenge. This suitcase checked all of our important boxes including durability, value, and size. With exterior dimensions 23 x 15 x 10 inches and interior packing space measuring 20.5 x 14.5 x 10 inches, the design maximizes packing space while maintaining an airline-friendly size. During testing, the double set of 360-degree spinner wheels offered a smooth and supported glide over multiple surfaces, including carpet, while its lightweight hardshell molded exterior protected against bangs and bumps from overhead bins and trunks. The interior is divided up with a zippered privacy compartment on one side and an open well with cross-X compression straps on the other. Plus, it comes with a 10-year global warranty, so you know it’s built to last.

Best Carry-on Suitcase with Laptop Compartment

Carl Friedrik The Carry-on X

View on Carlfriedrik.com $545 at Selfridges.com

Never travel without your laptop? Carl Friedrik's The Carry-on X is a spacious carry-on with a dedicated laptop pocket that can be easily accessed and is independent from the main compartment. We loved being able to effortlessly slip our laptop into place regardless of how full we packed the suitcase — and unlike many suitcases with laptop sleeves, the laptop storage section itself isn’t part of the interior packing space. The integrated compartment features a slip pocket for holding up to a 16-inch laptop, a USB-charging port, and mesh storage for accessories. The interior organization includes an impressive compression panel on one side (with the option to purchase another for the other side) and X-style compression straps across the other. The 43-liter capacity made it possible for us to pack for a five-day trip without using compression cubes or getting too strategic with contents.

Best Carry-on Backpack

Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack

$230 at Amazon $225 at REI View on Cotopaxi.com

The Cotopaxi 35L Travel Pack combines the accessibility and portability of a backpack with the spaciousness and durability of a carry-on suitcase that can hold up to a week’s worth of items. Its recycled 1000D polyester and 840D ballistic nylon keep it durable, rugged, and lightweight, while the padded backpack straps and removable weight-distributing waist strap make it very comfortable to carry. The main compartment features a suitcase-style, clamshell opening with zippered mesh compartments on each side for organization and preventing accidental spillage. Side access to the main compartment, a padded back laptop sleeve, a top front zippered pocket for essentials, included rain cover, and several well-placed carry handles and loops make this bag feel like the Swiss Army Knife of carry-ons. The only potential drawback? The colorways and style feel more casual than business.

Best Carry-on Rolling Duffel

Samsonite Weekend Wheeled Duffel

View on Samsonite $154 at Ebags $315 at Bloomingdales

This Samsonite wheeled duffel couples a sleek profile and sophisticated look with excellent organization. We love the discreet padded laptop and tablet pocket, RFID-lined side pocket, and tech storage pocket with organization, a removable wristlet bag, and a pocket USB-charging port. During testing, we loved how smoothly the wheels maneuvered — even over gravel and carpet — and how lightweight the bag felt. We also like the matte black appearance of the durable nylon fabric, and the bag seems to be high quality and well made. The trolley sleeve, top handles, wheels, and removable shoulder strap give plenty of carry options. At this price point, we think this bag is a steal considering it’s big enough to hold up to a week’s worth of items (if you’re being judicious) or a weekend’s worth (if you’re not).

Again, when it comes to a carry-on, every inch counts. One of the best ways to maximize space is to get organized — really, really organized. Using organizational products and cases will not only help you see where you can cut the fat when it comes to packing, but they also streamline accessibility and make unpacking a breeze. From packing cubes and jewelry cases to tech sleeves and pill cases, we’ve rounded up our favorite organizational products to keep you — and your bags — as organized as possible.

Best Compression Packing Cubes

Gonex Compression Packing Cubes

$30 at Amazon View on Gonexsport.com

Take your packing cubes to the next level with compression so you can add up to twice as much clothing into your carry-on. This four-piece set of Gonex compression packing cubes gives you a great selection of sizes for packing a carry-on suitcase. It comes with an extra-large cube for larger items like sweaters and dresses, a large cube for shirts and shorts, a medium cube for bras and undies, and a small cube for socks. My personal hack for shorter trips is to use the larger cube for dirty clothes. While I personally own Gonex cubes with mesh sides so I can easily see what’s inside, I also like how these non-meshed cubes offered full-coverage compression and allow you to push the capacity to the limits. Don’t forget: compression packing cubes also save space in backpacks, totes, and other bags, too.

Best Garment Sleeve

DEGELER Garment Bag

$280 at Amazon View on Degeler.com

Think you can’t pack for a proper business trip in a carry-on? The Degeler SkyHangar Carry-on Garment Bag has an innovative design that will hang up to three items, including suits, on its interior titanium hanger and keep them wrinkle-free. Add to that, this bag also includes storage space for your business outfit accessories like cufflinks, ties, pantyhose, or shapewear, and then goes the extra mile with sleeves for up to a 15-inch laptop and tablet, too. The nylon fabric is also water-resistant so you don’t have to fret when it comes to minor luggage spills or a sprinkle of bad weather. Just be sure your carry-on interior dimensions will work with the 21 x 21-inch size of this bag when folded.

Best Travel Vacuum Bag

VMSTR Vacuum Storage Bags

$36 $30 at Amazon

Travel vacuum bags are another excellent and effective way to cram more clothing into your carry-on. Fair warning, though, they require a bit more effort than packing cubes. Where I find they pay off the most is for packing bulkier items like sweaters, pants, and winter accessories like scarves and long, thick socks. This set of VMstr Travel Vacuum Storage Bags  are worth it thanks to the included portable USB-powered electric pump — that way, you don’t have to fuss with a manual pump or finding a vacuum to repack. The set comes with eight bags in four sizes that can be used to pack clothes, accessories, or even toiletries — just keep your bag’s overall weight in mind as it’s easy for things to get real heavy, real quick when using vacuum bags.

Best Travel Pouches

Baggu 3D Zip Set

$36 at Amazon View on Baggu.com View on Bando.com

Not quite bags and not quite packing cubes, travel pouches are a great flexible storage solution for just-in-case scenarios. This set of three Baggu travel pouches are made from a durable and sturdy recycled nylon material and pack down flat, which means you can stuff them into any crevice of your carry-on luggage and break them out to hold sandy shoes or dirty clothes. They are also great for organizing items in your luggage — from tech cables to scuffable shoes— and have a convenient fingerloop on one end for quick snatching out of your bag or for hanging.  However, it’s important to note that there is no insulation and the fabric is not waterproof, so think twice before storing any liquids, breakables, or wet items in these bags. Plus, they come in colorful, fun patterns and are machine washable.

Best Toiletry Bag

Dagne Dover Mila Toiletry Organizer

$40 at Dagnedover.com View on Zola

We found this soft-sided, recycled polyester toiletry bag to be surprisingly sturdy and spacious enough to fit our skin care minis, makeup, and essential bath products. It comes with a removable grid to help organize your items — a boon for keeping them padded and safe against falls and bumps but a slight bummer when it comes to maximizing the interior space. During testing, a fully-loaded bag was tossed into the air and roughly shaken without any damage (or movement) to the products inside. We also like the look of the cylindrical design (instead of the usual rectangle) and the easy-grab handle on the top. This cute and compact bag will fit into any carry-on bag or backpack and is easy to clean with soap and water in case of spills.

Best Travel Jewelry Bag

Cuyana Travel Jewelry Case

$98 at Cuyana.com $98 at The Container Store

For years I overlooked the importance of traveling with a dedicated travel jewelry case. Several tangled necklaces and lost rings and earrings later, I’ve learned my lesson. This ultra-compact 5 x 3.5 x 1.5-inch jewelry case keeps your essentials organized, safe, and in one place. The smaller size is best for minimalist jewelry wearers and has space for three pairs of earrings, a handful of rings, and a couple of bracelets (though you can get creative with the storage options as per your needs). The oval-shaped case exterior is made from Italian leather and the inside is lined with soft suede to avoid scratching your precious pieces. This jewelry case made such an impression on us that we no longer travel without it.

Best Tech Gear Organizer

ProCase Travel Gear Organizer

$17 at Amazon View on Procase.com

This roll-up organizer is the perfect tech organizer for those that are dedicated to the carry-on lifestyle. It not only has room for all of your necessary cables and cords, but you can also fit charging bases, compact international outlet adapters, and even a portable mouse. The rolling-mat and elastic closure design of this case means it’ll only get as bulky as what you’re packing inside, and the long and slender shape makes it easier to pack between clothes and along the sides of your luggage. Plus, when you get to your destination, you just have to unroll the mat for a neat display of all your cords, chargers, and adapters.

Best Pill Organizer

AUVON Pill Organizer

$12 $10 at Amazon $10 at Walmart View on Auvonhealth.com

As someone who travels while managing chronic health conditions, having a good, compact pill organizer is a must. This Auvon travel pill organizer is the best one I’ve found. Each day is split up into its own removable, double-sided container, making it convenient to take out a full day’s worth of doses and slip them into your pocket, purse, or bag (very key on those long international flights). I also love that I can reorganize the chronology of days to start whenever my trip starts, so I never get mixed up while away from home. The pill wells are also large enough to hold multiple pills, including large vitamins and supplements, and have tight snapping closures that I never worry about opening unexpectedly. All seven containers fit snugly into a discreet black canvas carrying case, complete with a mesh pocket where you can store necessary prescription documentation while traveling.

Grabbing the right gear can also help you efficiently pack a carry-on. Lean into soft-sided products that allow for flexibility to help take up minimal space or fill in weird gaps in your carry-on bag. Accessories that store things outside of your bag, like a hat clip or a travel pouch with a clip attachment that can store, say, your travel pillow, can free up loads of space inside your bag. Here are a few items to help get some ideas flowing.

Best Toiletry Bottles

LiquiSnugs Premium Silicone Travel Bottles

$17 at Amazon View on Travelsnugs.com

This five-piece set of toiletry bottles received a perfect score during our testing. The set’s two three-ounce bottles and two two-ounce bottles are simple, straightforward, and reliably get the job done without fuss or hassle — a travel win in our book. Made from 100-percent silicone, these bottles are flexible and durable. The tops unscrew easily, making them easy to fill, and we appreciate the built-in suction cups on the side that allow them to stick onto the shower wall, just in case there’s no shelf. They work with a simple squeeze and we absolutely love that you’re able to squeeze out every last drop of product, eliminating waste and saving money. These bottles also hold oily products and micellar water without leaks, and are a cinch to clean out and dry after your trip.

Best Hat Clip

Niveaya Hat Clip for Travel

$25 at Amazon

Buying a hat clip can often be an afterthought, but they’re actually a clever way to keep multiple items out of your carry-on without raising suspicion from the bag police. This clip’s minimalist design and chic Italian leather and gold metal materials make it a stylish addition to your carry-on bag’s strap, zipper, D-ring loop, or suitcase handle even when not in use. It’s also compact enough to slip into your back pocket. We love that the magnetized leather clasp firmly fastens onto the brim of almost any type of hat without leaving an indentation. And, since I’m all about getting as much mileage out of any travel accessory I can, I love using this for non-hat items I want to keep right at the ready, like boarding documents, gloves, or bibs. I also like that there’s enough space in the metal clip loop to slide a pair of sunglasses and thread a neck scarf through.

Best Luggage Strap

Cincha Travel Belt

$40 at Amazon View on Cinchatravel.com

No trolley sleeve? That’s not a problem when you’ve got the Cincha Travel Belt. We’ve appreciated this luggage strap ever since it came out. If you’ve yet to use a Cincha belt, it is basically a fashionable way to secure personal item bags (and some other items) to your carry-on suitcase’s trolley handle. It works by slipping a middle elastic band through your bag’s existing luggage handle, wrapping the belt around the sides of the bag you want to secure, clipping the belt into place, and then cinching for a snug fit, if needed. It comes in 16 colors and contemporary patterns and so you can match your personality, travel vibe, or luggage. We love the vegan leather accents that make this belt feel grown-up and elevated over its lookalikes.

Best Laundry Bag

Stnky Bag Pro

$46 at Amazon View on Stnky.us

When you’ve got a week’s worth of clothes tightly compacted in a carry-on suitcase, the last thing you’ll want is your dirty clothes mixed up with your clean clothes. That’s why a laundry bag is a carry-on loyalist’s best friend. This one by Stnky is the perfect size for a suitcase. It’s great for keeping wet swimsuits, muddy shoes, and sweaty hiking gear separated from your yet-to-be-worn clothing during your trip. It’s also built with an internal mesh lining that makes it easy to flip the bag inside out and throw the whole thing in the wash on laundry day. The Stnky bag is available in both standard and extra large, and also comes in a variety of discreet colors.