5 Things to Add & 5 Things to Ditch in Your Travel Bag(s)

Feb 28

Travel back in time with me to January - April 2014, will you? I am in Cambridge, England studying abroad for a semester and I’ve got two suitcases and a backpack to my name. Knowing that I was fitting 3.5 months of a wardrobe in two suitcases was a challenge in and of itself, but I made a silly mistake. A very, silly mistake. I packed way too many pairs of shoes. And it took up too much room. In reality, I only wore 1 pair of boots, 1 pair of tennis shoes for hiking days, and occasionally wore rain boots if the weather was especially dreary. Multiple pairs of shoes took up space and simply sat in that suitcase for those 3.5 months. I could’ve packed more jeggings and infinity scarves, dammit! (Easy… it was 2014, remember?).

Since that time, I learned my lesson and I’m more realistic about my packing + traveling. I’ve also learned about what other things simply take up room and what has become an essential. I’ve made these mistakes, I’ve watched family and friends make these mistakes, and I’m here to suggest, recommend, and maybe even plead a little bit with what needs to go and what should always come with you.

Ditching: Regular Airport Lines -

Adding: TSA PreCheck

Let’s start with the pleading. I’m here, once again, begging you to get TSA PreCheck. I’m well aware of how much of a broken record I’ve become with this (secretly hoping you’ll get so annoyed that you’ll give in). I cannot emphasize enough how much of a time-waster going through the regular line at the airport is. And who wants to take off their shoes in a public place? Literally no. one. And it doesn’t have to be this way! TSA PreCheck is $78 and lasts for FIVE YEARS. An absolute no-brainer. The process couldn’t be more simple — I found the closest TSA kiosk in my area which happened to be in a Staples. I made an appointment, they took my fingerprints and picture, and I signed a few documents and was outta there. Took maybe 10 minutes and after processing, I had my TSA number within 2 weeks. I’ve heard the reason why some don’t do TSA PreCheck is because they don’t fly often, which is completely understandable. However, $78 for peace of mind and getting through any airport quickly is so, so worth it. If I have worn you down, here’s your You’re Welcome: https://www.tsa.gov/precheck

Ditching: Multiple Toiletry Bags -

Adding: One that Fits All!

Not to be dramatic (I think I covered that with TSA PreCheck), but my life changed once I got one toiletry bag that fit everything I needed. Emphasis on needed. I’ve used a couple different ones as normal wear and tear happen over time, but to me, the cherry on top of a toiletry bag that has all the space you need is the hook to hang it. You don’t have to transport it from your suitcase to the bathroom every time you need it, and it won’t use up counter space! Win-win for us all. I do have a separate make-up bag, but have recently downsized the bag as I got rid of the things in it that I don’t use. One more side note with the hanging toiletry bag: I always have it packed. I’ve bought a travel size of everything I need that stays in there so when I’m packing for a trip, I already have that part done! Here’s the bag I currently have: Narwey Hanging Toiletry Bag

Ditching: Filling Personal Item with Nonsense -

Adding: An Extra Pair of Clothes

Nonsense is a broad and vague term, but ride with me on this one. Whether you’re bringing a tote or backpack on the plane as your personal item to store under your seat, there should always be room for an extra shirt, underwear, and pair of jeans (joggers, leggings, whatever is fitting for the weather of the destination you’re going). Hear me out: I traveled to Positano, Italy in September 2022. Gorgeous, a dream. Once I arrived in Naples, I had a little bit of fiasco with luggage (you can read about it here) and didn’t have my suitcase for 48 hours. Luckily, I packed an extra set of clothes in my weekender bag so I was able to make it through those 2 days without having to buy a whole new outfit. This along with my travel size Febreeze (recommended!), was a reminder for me to always do this. Obviously, this isn’t always necessary for short & quick domestic flights, but if you happen to have layovers, there’s always a chance something can happen to your bag and you’ll need a change of clothes. As for the nonsense, reconsider if what you’re bringing is worth the space. Example: do I need to bring this 400 page book or can I download the e-book version or audiobook instead? Here’s the weekender bag that has enough room for an extra set of clothes, a compartment for shoes, and more that I swear by: Beis Convertible Mini Weekender

Ditching: Searching for Outlets -

Adding: Power Bank

Charging stations aren’t always available at airports and it seems wall outlets are sparse whenever you really need them. Power banks are a great way to get charge immediately without having to search or stop and wait for your phone to get enough juice to keep your travel day going. Having a power bank that can charge your phone and laptop that will keep your devices running even on a long flight is a step up in the travel game. While there are restrictions when it comes to packing batteries in your carry-on (check the Federal Aviation Administration guidelines), Anker has the best reviews: Anker Power Banks

Ditching: Mixing Clean & Dirty Clothes -

Adding: Laundry Bag

While I do recommend a travel size Febreeze to be packed in your bag, that spray will only take you so far. Mixing your worn, sweaty clothes with ones you haven’t worn yet in your suitcase is just a no all around. If you have Away luggage in the medium, large, or larger sizes, they all come with a water resistant laundry bag and a compression pad so when it’s time to zip up and travel onto the next spot, you’ll have more space! This is great to put dirty clothes in or clean ones to keep away from the worn ones. If you don’t have this suitcase / bag, you can always snag a mesh laundry bag from the Dollar Tree!

I’ve said this before… and I’ll continue to say it: Investing in how you travel is investing in yourself. Traveling can be overwhelming, frustrating, and stressful. But it doesn’t always have to be, and these suggestions listed will help (I promise!) with putting your mind at ease and will allow you to have a more enjoyable traveling experience. Got a trip coming up and you ditched / added one of these things? Let me know!

“If you wish to travel far and fast, travel light”

-Cesare Pavese

Molly Mann