Packing light with good quality gear can have you ready for your trip in minutes. You’ll have the things you need, packed in a way that’s easy to find, and not be burdened with a lot of needless stuff.
We didn’t spend a fortune on our gear- just lots and lots of time researching. Here’s the list of the gear we use and love.
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Dinictis 40L Travel Laptop Backpack. We love this backpack. It always fits airline carry-on regulations and has some really great compartments for your toiletries, laptop, water bottle, and all the other extra gear you bring along.
Even though it looks like a backpack, it unzips like luggage so it’s really easy to pack and find your gear. Plus there’s a handle and a strap you can use if you wish to carry it in a different way than a backpack. Plus, it’s under $50 and customer reviews are off the charts.
Amazon Basics Carry-On Travel Backpack is our runner-up. It’s a little bigger than the Dinictis, but we still have never had a problem using it as carry-on luggage. It works well with the Amazon Packing Cubes and also has some good compartments for our laptop and other gear. It also has a feature where you can expand your storage space by unzipping one of the zippers which is a great bonus if you want to pack a little more.
It received runner-up status only because we feel that the Dinictis is better quality, cheaper, and received better customer reviews. We own both and like both.
Zomfelt Rolling Backpack is a great option if you are concerned about carrying a backpack long distance. This one is highly rated and has the option of pulling it on wheels. We don’t own this pack, but it looks like a good bet if you need a rolling backpack.
EKLOEN 5pcs Mini Titanium Locking Carabiner. These mini carabiners fit perfectly on both the packs listed above. The simple step of securing your zippers can save you from some nightmare situations like your bag coming unzipped while you travel or a pick-pocket nabbing your laptop.
These will take you from being a good packer to a GREAT packer. Plus, your backpack will stay organized so you can find the things you need- your ENTIRE trip.
All bag sizes have handles, are washable, and are partially made of mesh so you can see what each bag contains. Each size comes in several colors. Our pro-tip is to buy each size of bag in a different color so you can easily identify your gear.
Below are the sizes we own and what we pack in them. The small and medium-sized are our favorites.
Amazon Basics 4 Piece Packing Travel Organizer Cubes Set – Slim, Black. These are the perfect size to store your brush, comb, flat iron, blow dryer, and make-up bag.
Amazon Basics Small Packing Travel Organizer Cubes 4 Piece Set. One of these can fit all your undies and socks for 4 days ( we can usually pack 5 of each ). Depending on your size, you could also use one of these for all your t-shirts for the trip.
You could also pack an entire outfit (thinner, summer clothing) in one of these and just pull out one bag per day.
Amazon Basics 4 Piece Packing Travel Organizer Cubes Set – Medium, Red. You can pack pants, shorts, dresses, cardigans, and pajamas in one of these.
Amazon Basics 4 Piece Packing Travel Organizer Cubes Set – Large, Black. This is our least favorite size because it’s almost as big as our backpacks. You can pack a few pairs of pants, a jacket, and a couple of sweaters. It’s big. I usually use this cube for my dirty clothes. It’s the perfect size.
I’m tempted to use one of these INSTEAD of a backpack if I was going on a quick over-nighter. Let us know if you ever try it.
POLENTAT 17 Pcs Silicone Travel Bottles Set are TSA-approved and leak-proof. Store all sorts of things like hair gel, sunscreen, shampoo, hair spray, and even aloe vera.
Our pro tip is to NOT FILL THEM COMPLETELY. You’ll be glad you left some extra room for pressure changes. Also, re-fill these when you RETURN from a trip so all you have to do is throw them in your bag when you are packing for your next one.
Eco Sheets Laundry Detergent is a travel hack one of our fellow travelers recently shared with me. I’m a big believer in only bringing 4 days worth of clothes on trips so I usually end up doing laundry on the road. These work great and are so much easier than packing pods or powdered detergent.
BAGSMART Toiletry Bag Travel Bag with Hanging Hook. This bag is so handy for when you are staying in a hotel and don’t have counter space for all your toiletries. Just hang this on the back of the bathroom door and you are set!
Although the bag can hold full-sized bottles of shampoo and such, we still recommend sticking to the travel size. It will help you limit your stuff to one bag and keep the weight down.
I ❤️ my CLUCI Small Sling Bag for Women. It’s the perfect size and has a hidden zipper pocket on the back to prevent pick-pockets. Plus, I think it is super cute and under $30.
This drawstring backpack is perfect to pack your gear or sack lunch for the day when you are on your trip. I always pack one of these because I don’t want to have to carry my larger travel bag for day trips.
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