18. Hunting for a better carry-on bag

Backpacks and totes to take on the plane, plus what I always put in them.

Long before liquid bans, I remember my grandmother traveling with a hard-sided Samsonite train case. The blocky, boxy bag—filled with lipstick, sticky hairspray, and cold cream—slid under the airplane seat. When she showed up at our house dangling it in one hand, she briefly resembled a Hitchcock film heroine. That is, until she opened up the case and pulled out her ever-present stack of Kleenex and supply of cough drops.

I want a new carry-on bag with that kind of swagger. I mean a piece of what gran would call “hand luggage” to take on the plane when I’m checking a larger suitcase. My current carry-on, an unwieldy nylon Away tote, digs into my shoulders and gets too heavy on long walks through the airport. (Sunday, I cursed it as I walked 8,000 steps to get from the C terminal to the E terminal in Houston.)

This unicorn of a carry-on might be a backpack or a smaller lighter duffle bag. It’ll be a survival kit for those lost-in-space hours on the plane—or time stuck overnight in an airport Marriott. It needs to be large enough for gadgets and goods to deal with travel delays, boredom, or a crummy night’s sleep.

I’m also vehemently anti status bag; not only are Chanel’s interlocked Cs out of my price range, it’s just dumb to travel with accessories that people might want to steal, or that positions you as a “White Lotus”-level mark for pickpockets.

I study the measurements, volume, and fine print for bags I’m pondering. Many brands detail what you can store in your sack (a laptop, please!) and showcase a bored-looking person holding or wearing the bag.

Here are a few of the carry-ons I’m eyeballing, plus a short list of the unsexy-but-necessary things I’ll stash in it.

Note: Any products mentioned are my picks, and I don’t make any money if you buy something.

A few backpacks

My physical therapist says one-shoulder bags are the enemy of my creaky shoulder and computer-caused tennis elbow. He’d hopefully approve of one of these backpacks. An added bonus is you can slip one on and still carry a slice of airport pizza, your small child, or a purse.

Backpacks I like, clockwise from top left: a Rains Rucksack Mini ($125) in waterproof, metallic rubber; a trail and economy-cabin ready daypack from Topo Designs ($199); a sleek, suede, spendy bag by Carl Friedrik ($595); Leatherology’s black Parker style can double as a work bag ($350).

Tote bags

I won’t pitch my Away tote, which works swell for car trips. But I might buy one of these sleek totes if my backpack plan doesn’t pan out. I watch for multiple compartments, a sturdy bottom, and a zippered top—open bags tend to tip over and spill your treasures.

Duffles, clockwise from top left: Think Royln’s camo-print Jetsetter tote is made of durable, light nylon ($188); a dead-simple, dead-useful leather duffle by Leatherology ($360); State of Play’s tiger-print, PVC duffle looks like a Gucci fever dream ($145)

What goes in my bag:

Comfy ear plugs

Yep, I’ve got noise-cancelling headphones, too, and they’re great for watching a movie or listening to a podcast on a flight. But if I just want to sleep—or block out the dude in the next seat yapping about Elon Musk and DOGE—I use silicone ear plugs.

Unlike foam ear plugs, which feel like jamming bullets in your ear canal, silicon ones simply form a seal over your ear opening. Result: Quiet, underwater-like bliss either on the plane or in your hotel, where a snoring partner/car noise/Mardi Gras might disrupt your naps.

Baby wipes

Airport sandwiches explode on your shirt; plane bathrooms run out of toilet paper; the world is just gross in general. Bring a travel-size pack of baby wipes to solve these and other problems. They’re less likely to bleach out stained clothes than a Tide Pen, and, they can also remove makeup, seat tray schmutz, and more.

An eye mask or dark sunglasses

Overly bright cabins. That guy in the window seat who WILL NOT shut the blind even in the blazing sun. A sleeping mask blots out such annoyances for snoozing or overnight flights. I prefer silky ones, but my husband C swears by foam ones with molded cups that don’t touch his eyelids.

These silky fabric masks come from Hello Mello.

A change of clothes and a big T-shirt

I am often team carry everything on. But for longish trips, coldish weather—or visits to spots I might, um, shop—I check a larger suitcase. Statistically, lost bags are increasingly unlikely. But if your checked suitcase is delayed—or a missed connection leaves you trapped in Indiana or Istanbul overnight—fresh clothes and something to sleep in can make you feel human in the inhumane world of air travel.