Essential Travel Bags to Pack Light
I’m a big believer in packing light and only carrying the essentials. Despite having taken several trips two weeks or longer in duration, I have whittled down my luggage collection to only a handful of essential travel bags that can be carried on a plane if needed. Traveling with smaller, carry-on luggage means:
- more flexibility to take different transportation options, like public transit
- avoiding on baggage fees
- saving my back from lugging around heavy luggage
- limiting the amount of souvenirs I can bring back (which is kinder to my wallet!)
But to pack lightly, I found that the right luggage is essential to maximize space and keep me organized. I’ve experimented with several types of luggage and organizers over the years, and I’ve settled on the following essential travel bags bags that I trust to carry all my stuff!
Essential Travel Bags: Rolling Carry-On Suitcase, Packing Cubes, Clear Toiletry Bag, Cross Body Bag or Daypack
Though I think these four types of travel bags will be enough for most travelers, sometimes it’s nice to have other options. I’ve also found these five bags come in handy in certain travel scenarios.
Nice to Have Travel Bags & Accessories: Packable Tote, Dry Bag, Hanging Toiletry Bag, Carry On Backpack
Essential Travel Bags
Essential Travel Bag: Rolling Carry On
A good carry-on bag will be the workhorse for any traveler who wants to pack light. I’m sure many travelers could dedicate an entire post to the merits of different carry-on options, but I find that hardside spinners are the most versatile and durable. When looking for a rolling carry-on suitcase, I look for:
- Hardside. I think they’re much more durable than softside (fabric) luggage, and if I need to check my bag, I’m more confident that the items inside are protected.
- Spinner wheels (4-wheels) versus the older style 2-wheeled suitcase.
- Dimensions are smaller than 9 inches x 14 inches x 22 inches (22 cm x 35 cm x 56 cm), including handles and wheels. ( These are the maximum carry-on dimensions for most US and European carriers. But always check with your airline’s bag policy to make sure there’s isn’t more restrictive.)
I Use: I have the Away Carryon and Mike uses the Samsonite Winfield 2 Hardside Spinner Carryon.
I’ve found my Away back to be a durable workhorse with ample room that has survived probably close to 100 flights and barely shows it’s age. It has a few downsides- at $225, it’s not particularly inexpensive, the handle sometimes feels flimsy, and I almost never use the ejectable battery to recharge my devices since it has to be removed on board flights. On the plus side, it’s small enough to fit on small regional jets, so I almost never have to gate-check my bag. Perhaps the biggest downside is that it’s a very popular suitcase (for good reason) so you’ll need to customize it somehow (a sticker, unique luggage tag, etc.) to ensure you can easily pick it out of a crowd!
The Samsonite bag has also served us well. It’s slightly less spacious than the Away bag, and it’s glossy exterior shows more wear than our matte Away luggage. But at less then half the price ($90), our Samsonite Winfield 2 has been a good, durable budget option.
Essential Travel Bag: Packing Cubes
I’ll admit- I thought these were totally unnecessary at first, but after receiving a set of packing cubes as a gift, I’m now totally hooked. I can’t explain how, but these little cubes seem to somehow create more space in my luggage. They also help keep me organized . For example, I can keep my garments in seperate cubes depending on my organization system. For example, I can sort my garment type (tops vs. bottoms) or by outfit (keeping coordinating pieces together). I’ve also found that clothes packed in cubes shift around less in transit and wrinkle less.
I Use: Ebags Packing Cubes. I have a multi-pack set that came with multiple sizes, but I usually always use these medium ones and these slim ones. I also have a set of Eagle Compressible bags, and while I love how they compress clothes and are lightweight, I’ve had a few rip, so I only recommend them if you’re a careful packer.
Essential Travel Bag: Clear Toiletry Bag
While you could go the cheap route and use a quart sized ziplock bag to stash your TSA-approved toiletries, I highly recommend investing in a reusable toiletry bag. I travel often enough that I keep one stocked with travel-sized versions of my favorite makeup, skincare, and personal items, so I can just grab it and throw it in my bag whenever I need to pack.
I Use: Sadly, the Liliput toiletry bag I use is no longer available, which is a shame, because I love it and would highly recommend it. The reason I like it so much is that, instead of being totally made of plastic, the clear plastic panels are sewn into a fabric ‘frame’ that houses the zipper. I’ve tried several highly rated versions of totally plastic bags, and they’ve never lasted long as the zipper easily separates from the plastic. This bag and this hanging kit feature a similar construction to my favorite bag, and are highly rated, but I can’t personally vouch for them.
Essential Travel Bag: Crossbody bag
A hands-free purse or alternative is a must for keeping your essentials nearby while exploring your travel destination. I prefer a lightweight crossbody bag for most destinations, but I’ll swap in a lightweight daypack for more active itineraries like hiking.
I use: Although pricey, I’ve found my Tumi Voyager crossbody bag ($175-$200) to be a great investment. It’s lightweight, stylish, and has plenty of internal pockets to organize my things. It also holds more than you’d expect- I can easily fit my phone, small wallet, a travel guide, and a water bottle or umbrella with room to spare. I also like that it packs flat when empty so I can stash it in my luggage if needed.
Though it’s not in my purse rotation at the moment, I’ve also had good luck with Travelon bags (similar to this style). While less sleek and stylish, they come with anti-theft features like anti-RFID pockets and anti-slash fabric. Plus, they’re usually really cost effective, with many styles under $40.
Nice to Have Travel Bags (Depending on Your Destination)
Most travelers will do just fine with the four essential travel bags I’ve listed above, however, this ‘Nice to Have’ list features items that might make your life a little bit easier!
Nice to Have Travel Bag: Packable Tote
Despite best efforts to pack light, sometimes I don’t leave enough room in my luggage to accommodate souvenirs that I want to bring home. So, I always stash a packable tote in case I need extra room on the return trip. While any packable tote will do, I like ones that zip shut so I can secure the contents.
I Use: the RuMe Cfold Downing. ($33). It’s lightweight, packs flat when folded up, and has durable zippers and an external pocket to boot. I also like that I will sometimes check my luggage on the return trip (especially if I bought, say, wine that I can’t carry on), and I use my RuMe duffel as a carry on to stash essentials that I need on the flight. Just be careful not to overpack- although I’ve had this bag for 2 years and it’s held up quite well, I don’t pack anything too heavy or pack it too full as I’m sure it has it’s limits.
Nice to Have Travel Bag: Drybag
I often pack a drybag when going on more active trips (hiking, camping, etc.) or when we’re headed to the beach or on a boat. These bags are inexpensive (usually under $10), durable, and keep contents bone dry.
Bonus- these also make great sacks to stash dirty laundry that you want to keep separate from the rest of your clothes.
I use: Forbidden Road Waterproof Dry Bag ($7) in 2l and 5l.
Nice to Have Travel Bag: Hanging Toiletry Kit
This was a later addition to my travel bag arsenal, but I really like these hanging bags for longer trips. I’ve found that international hotels often have tiny bathrooms with pedestal sink, and these hanging toiletry bags help keep makeup, skincare, etc. visible without cluttering up precious counter space.
I Use: Ebags Hanging Toiletry Bag
Nice to Have Travel Bag: Carry- On Backpack
Though I use my rolling carry on Away bag for the majority of our trips, I typically upgrade to a slightly larger, but still carry on sized, pack for trips longer than a week or for international trips. I find backpacks more convenient particularly in Europe where cobblestone paths and busy streets wreak havoc on luggage wheels.
I Use: Ebags Mother Lode Weekender. This bag is deceptively roomy, which can be both a blessing and a curse. While it fits A LOT of stuff, it can also get heavy, so this pack isn’t for someone with back or shoulder problems. (Although EBags now makes a rolling version ($170) and a smaller Junior version ($100) that look promising.) That said, I’ve found it to be very durable, it has pockets galore, and it’s all in all a great value at $110.
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