How do you live out of a suitcase? That's the second-most common question I get as a travel journalist. I'm on the road 365 days a year. And it's true: I manage to fit almost everything I own into a regulation-size carry-on bag.
I've tested countless travel products, but when my readers challenged me to narrow it down to just 10 items that I can't live without, how could I resist?
(Oh, and if you're wondering about the most common question — I'll get to that in a moment.)
Here's what I carry. But you'll want to keep reading, because I will explain why these are the ideal travel companions.
I arrived at this list after years — decades, really — of testing and evaluation. Here's why I carry these items with me on every trip.
The Spectra 3.0 is made with high-performance recycled polycarbonate that can take a beating. And believe me, my carry-on has taken a beating. As I write this, it’s in the cargo hold of a LATAM flight from Quito, Ecuador, to Guayaquil. The luggage handlers will try to destroy it, but they will fail. I have sat on the Spectra, stepped on it, thrown it across the room, down a flight of stairs, and it just looks at me and says, "Is that the best you can do?" (OK, it only talks when I've had less than three hours of sleep.)
The Knack Travel Backpack 45L is one of my favorite backpacks of all time. It fits everything you need in an intuitive and practical way. But mostly, I love it because it's discreet. The luggage police — uh, I mean, the flight attendants — don't notice when you haul one of these fully loaded backpacks with you on the plane. Mine carries all my electronics, a change of clothes and toiletries, and there's usually plenty of room left. I love that.
Why I can’t live without them: The Spectra 3.0 has easy-access pockets and an extension system in case you need more room. It's also highly maneuverable, thanks to a four dual caster wheels. It has a thoughtful design, too, like a front-opening compartment that allows you to add stuff to your bag without having to open it all the way. But mostly, it's indestructible. The Knack Travel Backpack is so well-designed that you will never want to be without it. Seriously, everything is right where you would expect to find it.
The Tile Pro is a Bluetooth tracker that helps me keep tabs on my luggage. It has a range of up to 400 feet and is fairly easy to set up and use. It's also water-resistant and loud. The loud part is important for when you can’t find it and you need it to tell you where it is. If you use an Android phone, this is the tracker to get, despite its shortcomings. I use a Tile to track all of my bags. It finds my backpack quickly, but it sometimes takes time to locate my carry-on bag, especially when it's fully packed,
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