My top 10 carry-on essentials for travellers

Bianca O'Neill
The Travel List
Published in
4 min readDec 9, 2021

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Here are my top 10 must-haves to make you feel human during any long haul stint or short jump across the pond (which also sneak in under that magical 7kg mark!)

I’ve been at this carry-on packing thing a while now. (Photo: Bianca O’Neill)

As a travel writer and travel lover, I have ventured to 37 amazing countries to date — and yet, it’s still just a drop in the ocean. However, working whilst travelling has helped me refine my carry-on packing down to a fine art. Here are my ultimate carry-on essentials that I never leave home without.

1. Portable charger: I’m *that* annoying girl taking constant pics out the window (always a window seat here), so my phone can tend to hit 5% battery before I’ve even arrived at my destination. A portable charger is a must, with several different device connections. I use this great Mili charger.

2. Comfy shoes for the flight: I must admit, I love the idea of boarding a flight in fab clothes — but realistically, flying long haul in a pair of chic heeled boots is a nightmare. I always pack a pair of comfy shoes to swap into on the flight (as well as some warm socks to sleep in). Slip-ons are the cleverest option — that way, you can easily slide them on for your quick bathroom trips over your socks.

3. Leather passport holder: If you cherish your passport stamps as much as I do and want to keep your passport in peak condition, a passport…

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Bianca O'Neill
The Travel List

Culture columnist at Rolling Stone, Refinery29, Yahoo, Fashion Journal Magazine. Instagram at @ bianca.oneill.