I Travel 100+ Days A Year. Here’s What I Pack For Every Flight.

As a travel journalist, long flights and lack of personal space in economy is just part of the job. At 33, I’ve traveled to all seven continents from visiting penguin colonies in Antarctica to scuba diving in Fiji.

Once I land, I need to hit the ground running, so I do everything I can to make the journey as smooth as possible. That means prepping for the chaos, controlling what I can, and packing smart. Here are the flight essentials I never travel without.

Black Friday Sales

A few of the travel essentials below are deeply discounted for Black Friday 2025. For those long-haul flights, we fervently recommend the 43% off contoured sleep mask. Comfort is key when you’re stuck on a plane or in a car, so we also suggest the crowd-pleasing Crocs – get them at an all-time low price of $30. Once you arrive at your destination, you’ll be thrilled to have the Therabody TheraFace Depuffing Wand (currently an even more thrilling 20% off).

Amazon

Cotopaxi’s Bataan fanny pack

This fanny pack is definitely an original — each one is handmade in the Philippines from repurposed materials, so no two are alike. I don’t trust my loose pockets on a plane, so all of my valuables (wallet, passport) will be kept safely in my fanny pack. I wear mine crossbody for easy access in the airport and always get compliments.

$40 at Amazon

$33 at Cotopaxi

$33 at REI

Amazon

The Brevitē backpack

Meet a lightweight, carry-on approved travel backpack that fits perfectly under the seat or over your suitcase handle. This isn’t your average laptop bag — it holds up to a 16-inch MacBook Pro, has a passport pocket, and is extra spacious for my most precious cargo: camera gear. An added perk: It comes with a lifetime warranty!

$130 at Amazon

Amazon

Ostrichpillow Go travel neck pillow

I’ve tested more travel pillows than I care to admit, and the Ostrichpillow Go is the one I actually use. The high-density memory foam molds to your neck like it was custom-made, and the 360-degree ergonomic design means no more awkward head bobs or waking up with a crick in your neck. I used it on a 14-hour flight to South Africa and I slept eight hours. It compresses down small enough to stash in your bag, but still offers full support.

$69 at Amazon

Amazon

Crocs

Once you fly in Crocs, there’s no going back. These are my go-to shoes for long travel days: they’re lightweight, breathable, ridiculously comfy, and slip off in a second at security. Bonus: they rinse off easily if you spill your coffee mid-flight. When I’m running late I convert them to “sport mode,” utilizing the strap on the back to keep the shoes in place.

$30 at Amazon (regularly $49)

$50 at Zappos

$50 at Dick’s

Amazon

TheraFace depuffing wand

This little wand has become my secret weapon for looking decent after a red-eye. The device chills in seconds to zap under-eye puffiness, then switches to heat to boost circulation. I use it mid-flight, post-flight, or even just when I’m feeling a little dull — it’s like giving your face a reset button. I always have it in my fanny pack onboard and it instantly makes me feel fresh again after sitting in my seat for hours.

$135 at Amazon (Regularly $170)

$140 at Nordstrom (Regularly $170)

YETI

YETI

A Yeti Rambler water bottle

This is the water bottle that’s survived every trip, tumble, and TSA bin I’ve put it through. The YETI bottle keeps water ice-cold for hours, and it’s totally leakproof — so I never have to worry about it soaking the rest of my bag. It’s hefty but easy to carry, and the wide mouth works great for easy refills. Hydration station, secured.

$40 at Yeti (Regularly $50)

$50 at REI

Away Travel

Away Travel

Away’s “bigger” carry-on

This is the suitcase I take when I want to pack a little extra without checking a bag. This popular suitcase from Away fits in most US airlines’ overhead bins, but gives you more space thanks to its interior compression system. It’s sleek, durable, and glides through airports smoothly. I’ve brought mine to more than 10 different countries and it still feels brand new.

$221 at Away (Regularly $295)

$295 at Amazon

Amazon

Bose QuietComfort Headphones

These Bose QuietComfort headphones might just be your lifesaver for your next 10 hour flight. The noise cancellation is top-tier (seriously, it’s like flipping a switch on the outside world), and the plush earcups make them wearable from gate to gate without any pressure or pinching. Bonus: they last a full 24 hours on a charge and come with an old-school cord for when Bluetooth isn’t an option.

$199 at Amazon (Regularly $359)

$199 at Walmart (Regularly $359)

Amazon

MZOO sleep eye mask

This isn’t your average flimsy airline freebie — it’s an eye mask that actually works. Made with breathable memory foam and a contoured design, it gives your eyes space to blink and blocks out all the light without squishing your face. It stays put, doesn’t pull your hair, and somehow feels like a tiny pillow for your face. Whether I’m trying to nap on a plane or reset after a weird hotel check-in time, this mask is a game-changer.

$13+ at Amazon (regularly $23)

Hyperice

Hypervolt Go 2 massage device

After long flights or cramped car rides, I use this compact massage gun on every trip. The Hypervolt Go 2 may be travel-sized (it weighs only 1.5 pounds), but it packs a serious punch when it comes to loosening tight shoulders, calves, or that weird spot in your back from sleeping uncomfortably on a plane. It’s lightweight, portable and easy to pack into a backpack.

$109 at Walmart (regularly $139)

$109 at Amazon (regularly $139)

$109 at REI (regularly $139)

Amazon

An 8-pack of Purell hand sanitizer

Some bulk hand sanitizer might seem like an obvious choice for this list, but it absolutely cannot be skipped. I fly with a few — tucked into my pocket, backpack, and fanny pack. Purell’s formula kills 99.99% of germs without wrecking your hands (it’s free of harsh, drying ingredients like parabens and triclosan), and the adorably named “jelly wrap” holder makes it easy to clip onto a bag for quick cleanups.

$19 at Amazon

Amazon

An Apple iPad

Sadly, more and more new aircrafts are dropping their built-in televisions, so my iPad has become my in-flight entertainment center. Before the flight, I download all of my movies and shows so I have hours worth of mindless content to consume from 35,000 feet in the air. It’s lightweight but powerful, with enough battery to last from wheels up to touchdown and then some.

$279 at Amazon

$279 at Walmart

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