Upgraded My Carry-On, Plus 10 Must-Haves I Always Take Along Whenever I Travel

Welcome to the 790th Metamorphosis Monday! Do you have any big travel plans coming up this spring or summer? I don’t have anything specific planned just yet, but I hope to focus on seeing more of the USA. There are so many wonderful states that I’ve never been to or explored.

A few months back, I updated my carry-on bag. I very much liked my Away bag, but unfortunately when I purchased it, Away was not yet offering bags with pockets for laptops. That’s important if you like taking along a laptop since sometimes it’s necessary to remove your laptop when going through security at the airport. (Note: Away now makes bags with a front pocket. If you have ever thought about getting an away suitcase, you can use this link to get $20 off one of their suitcase: $20 Off Any Away Suitcase.)

 

This is the small, carry-on suitcase I purchased a few months back to use when traveling with my laptop. I chose a London Fog fabric/canvas style bag since those tend to be a little lighter weight for lifting to place in an overhead bin. Of course, wouldn’t you know the first time I used this suitcase on a trip to see family in Ohio, I was told that I didn’t need to remove my laptop to place it in a separate bin like has so often been required in the past. Ha! Though I’ve had Global Entry/TSA for many years, I’ve still always had to remove it in the past. Not sure what has changed.

 

This is the big suitcase I’ve always used/checked when going on longer trips. I can’t tell you how much I have loved and enjoyed this suitcase! I love the plaid color; it has always been super easy to spot on a carousel. It holds a ton and being made from a heavy fabric/canvas material, it is pretty lightweight for being such a big bag.

 

That bag gallantly took me through 11 countries over the space of 5 years, not to mention countless trips to visit family. It finally met with disaster on my last trip to see family when one of its wheels was shattered at some point. The bag was just starting to get a bit frayed at one of its seams, so I knew its days were numbered even before the wheel incident.

 

My much-loved suitcase with the broken wheel is a London Fog, purchased for around $100 in Marshall’s back around 2015, so I stopped by Marshall’s recently to see what large suitcases they had in stock. They had plenty of small, carry-on size London Fog suitcases, but none in the large suitcase size. I only saw the poly-carbonate kind in the bigger size. I decided to wait until I got back home to see what I could find online and here’s what I found. I really like this London Fog set and it’s very reasonably priced for so many pieces! I like suitcases that are easy to spot on the carousel at airports and the brown accent on this set would help with that.

 

 

It also comes in this pretty gray color that looks very sophisticated. Both of these sets are available here: London Fog Luggage.

 

 

Do you use packing cubes when you travel? I’ve tried them and just couldn’t make all my stuff fit the way I wanted. I tend to overpack whenever I travel so that’s probably why I couldn’t make the packing cubes work, but I love the idea of being able to sort and organize clothes because that way, when you reach your destination, to unpack all you have to do is lift the cubes out and place them in the drawers. If you’ll be traveling this year and would like to try packing cubes, you’ll find a lot of different sets from which to choose here: Packing Cubes and Organizers. I may try them again because I love the concept!

 

 

Another must for me (especially since I tend to stuff my suitcase to the brim) is a luggage scale. I don’t want the anxiety of wondering all the way to the airport if my suitcase is going to be overweight, so I always weigh my large suitcase with a little digital handheld device. This is the one I use and I have found it to be incredibly accurate. Whatever it shows is always what my suitcase weighs at the airport. Great peace of mind! The one I like and use is available here: Luggage Scale.

 

I don’t ever travel without my Bose noise-canceling earbuds! Not only do they make the plane ride so much more enjoyable, but they have saved me many times when I’ve found myself in a noisy hotel with music blaring outside, or on a ship with paper-thin walls. They have been a lifesaver! I use mine here at home when I’m working at my computer and my grass or a neighbor’s grass is being cut. You don’t even have to have music or anything playing to activate the noise-canceling feature. Love that! I take them along anytime I know I will be waiting in a long line or stuck in a waiting room because I can listen to Audible books via my phone while I wait.

 

Bose has come out with a newer style case now that may fit even better into most handbags and pockets. You’ll find the newest version of their awesome earbuds here: Bose Ultra Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds in 3 Colors.

 

 

You know any post sharing my favorite must-have travel items has to include my Travelon bag!

 

This was THE bag that foiled a pickpocket thief in Egypt when she tried her best to scan my credit cards while I was shopping in a public market. See those pockets containing my Passport, credit card, debit card, and ID? Those are all RFID protected so that’s why her repeated attempts to scan them failed.

 

I especially enjoy this bag when traveling because it contains pockets on both sides that are perfect for carrying a water bottle, an umbrella, or both! Definitely a great bag for travel! You’ll find it available in a bunch of different colors here: Travelon Bag. You can see all the styles of RFID protected bags and accessories that they offer here: Travelon Bags and Accessories.  (Read how this bag kept a thief from stealing all my credit card numbers while traveling in Cairo, Egypt in this post: How I Foiled a Pickpocket Thief in the Khan Al-Khalili Bazaar in Cairo.)

 

If you’ll be traveling out of the country this year and are in need of a passport cover, this one is RFID-protected.

 

I read that the chip that is embedded in our passports is RFID protected, but I still like the idea of having a passport cover that’s also RFID protected, especially if I’m sticking my Driver’s License or a credit card inside as I’m walking through the airport.

 

 

You’ll find the passport above in a lot of pretty designs here: Passport Holder with RFID Blocking. They have some really cute designs!

 

If you prefer a more low-key passport cover, this leather passport also offers RFID protection. It’s available here: Leather Passport.

 

I’ve tried several toiletry bags over the years and the next two I’m sharing are by far my favorites. I love how much room they offer and how they can be hung for easy access on a towel bar in a bathroom when traveling.

 

This one even has a spot especially designed to hold makeup brushes. I don’t use those, so I just use this area to store other items. This bag is available in 5 colors here: Toiletry Bag in 5 Colors.

 

 

This is the other travel toiletry bag that I really enjoy using when I travel.

 

 

It comes with a separate see-through pouch, as well. You’ll find it available in 7 colors here: Toiletry Bag in 7 Colors.

 

 

A lovely BNOTP reader recently emailed to ask for a link to the Tiffany-colored, travel jewelry box that I shared at some time in the past. I wasn’t sure which one it was but while trying to find it again, I found this one that has great reviews. This may be the one I shared previously since it’s the color she mentioned. If you love taking along a little jewelry when you travel, I like how this one secures necklaces so they don’t get all tangled. Check out the reviews and details for this jewelry box here: Travel Jewelry Box.

 

Since I’m always taking my laptop, earbuds, phone, etc… along on trips, a voltage converter/charging station that I can trust is always a must! I always tuck it away inside my carry-on bag so I know it won’t get lost in my checked luggage. This one is compact so it doesn’t take up a lot of space in my suitcase and it lets me charge up to 7 things at one time. It is always the very first thing I pull out of my suitcase when I arrive in my room. I can’t really explain how much peace of mind it gives, and the convenience it offers is awesome! I like it so much, I have a spare one just in case I accidentally leave it somewhere when traveling, although that has never happened, so far. After many, many trips, my original one is still going strong. You’ll find it available here: Converter/Charging Station.

I’m sure I’ve left something out but I’ll end with my favorite travel pillow for catching some Zzzzzzs on long plane trips. It’s super easy to blow up, only takes a few seconds, and then easily deflates so you can tuck it back into your carry-on or personal item before getting off the plane. Funny story: I had this pillow with me on a long flight once and used it during the flight. When I awoke, the guy sitting next to me said I slept a long time–he was impressed! lol He wanted to know where I had gotten my pillow and said he was going to order one as soon as he got back home. It is comfortable!

 

I love how compact it rolls up, too! No big puffy pillow to lug around the rest of the trip! There are some great photos of the many ways it can be used for sleeping while sitting up here: Travel Pillow.

 

Looking forward to all the wonderful Before and Afters linked for this week’s Met Monday! Pssst: Did you know Between Naps On The Porch is on Instagram? You’ll find me on Instagram here: Between Naps On The Porch. Like to know when a new blog post is up? Subscribe for email updates (it’s free) and your e-mail will never be shared. Subscribe for free post updates here: Subscribe.

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