When we first traveled to Africa, we were limited to 15 kg/33 lbs per person for all of our luggage–our main bag as well as our personal item. The light aircraft we would be taking into the bush couldn’t hold more than that, and every piece had to be soft-sided. While it was a challenge–especially with our cameras and technical equipment–I found it incredibly freeing, and ever since then I have pushed for us to travel carry-on only.
Here are just a few of the advantages of going carry-on only: 1) It costs less, 2) We don’t have to wait at the baggage area when we arrive, and 3) We don’t have to worry about lost luggage.
For Africa, I bought the Burton Boothaus bag shown below for my husband and myself; however, I also wanted a wheeled carry-on suitcase, so last year I invested in the hard-sided Monos Carry-On Pro suitcase. The Monos Carry-On Pro fits in most overhead compartments and features an aerospace-grade protected zippered area for a 16 inch laptop in the front. It’s been a perfect carry-on except that there are a few airlines where it doesn’t quite fit in the overhead compartment, and Icelandair is one of them. (Note: the link above isn’t an affiliate link, but I still swear by this suitcase. Message me if you’d like to learn more about it!)
As I started packing for Iceland, I realized that I have steadfastly researched and accumulated many products that make carry-on traveling easier and more organized, and other people might benefit from my knowledge. So here you go! You can watch an overview of each item in the video below, and I’ve also listed them with affiliate links later in this post. As a reminder, affiliate links allow me to receive a small commission on any purchased items at no extra cost to you.
Best Bags
The Burton Boothaus Gear Bag 35L is a great choice when you’re traveling to a destination where wheeled luggage is impractical. Created for snowboarders, it has a separate compartment specifically for snow boots. This is an ideal place to pack 1-2 pairs of shoes (I put my hiking boots and running shoes in there to keep them separate from my clothes.)
To keep clothes organized inside the duffel bag, packing cubes are essential. I like packs that come with assorted sizes. A set of 6 packing cubes with 4 different sizes, like this, is a great choice.
In addition to the Burton medium-sized duffel bag, I’ve found the New Outlander backpack to be an essential piece of travel gear for a really reasonable price. I regularly use it as both my personal item on the plane and then my daypack for hikes. At 20L it holds more than you would think, and it’s surprisingly durable. Plus I love the separate compartments, and the shoulder straps are comfortable, too.
There are countless toiletry bags on the market, but the one I swear by is the eBags toiletry kit. It has a hook so you can hang it on the bathroom door and well thought out compartments which I use to keep my make-up, medicine, dental hygiene, and TSA sized bottles separate. I especially love that it lies pretty flat, so it doesn’t take up much space in my backpack or carry-on suitcase. Unfortunately the eBags toiletry kit doesn’t appear to be available, but a similar design can be found here: https://amzn.to/3zqZXI9
My other favorite bag that I bring on most trips is the Bagallini women’s purse. All travel purses seem to be expensive; however, this one is worth the investment. I like that it’s a crossbody design, machine washable, water resistant, and lightweight. With credit card slots and 4 different compartments, it’s easy to find a place for everything, and I find it large enough to hold both a rain jacket and my kindle.
The New Outlander backpack is ideal for day hikes, but I also wanted a more professional backpack for my laptop. After scouring the internet at length, I finally found the July Carry-All backpack. Like the Monos suitcase mentioned above, this isn’t an affiliate link, but I still highly recommend you consider it. It looks sleek, has a separate zippered compartment for a water bottle, and keeps your passport tucked in a secret pocket at the back. At 20L, it’s not too big, and the straps are surprisingly comfortable as well. Plus, I love its pass-through band for luggage.
Other worthwhile gear
For water activities and rain:
- Joto waterproof iPhone case. I haven’t fully submerged my phone with this case, but I’ve used it in the rain, and it’s been perfect.
- On a boat or on a hike when we know we’ll be swimming, we always pack a couple wise owl quick dry microfiber towels.
- Joy Walker waterproof backpack rain cover. My husband says that it looks like a shower cap, and maybe it does, but it’s effective.
- For hikes, kayaking, and general boating activities, he prefers his geckobrands 30L waterproof backpack. With its dry bag closure, it hasn’t failed us yet!
To make flights more comfortable:
- Trtl travel airplane pillow. At $65 (on sale right now) this is a splurge, but I’ve found it more comfortable than just about any other carry-on airplane pillow, and I like that the cover is removable and machine washable.
- Vapur collapsible water bottle with carabiner. It’s always a good idea to pack a water bottle, and these serve us well. We just roll them up and tuck them in our carry-on or clip them on to our strap, then fill them up once we clear security.
- Travel size wet one packs. I’ve read too many articles about how unclean airplanes are. As soon as I reach my seat, I use one of these to wipe down my armrests, tray table, and seat belt.
A few more practical items:
- Especially when traveling to remote areas, it’s a good idea to come prepared with a few days worth of medication. This Lewis N Clark medication organizer is ideal.
- For prescribed medications, I find it’s helpful to pack a weekly pill case so I can make sure I take my pills every day without losing track.
- When traveling internationally, it’s important to bring adapters. I use this universal adapter to plug in my phone by my bed and the Bestek universal travel adaptor voltage converter to charge our laptops.
- For domestic travel, this Belkin wallmount surge protector is a good choice to keep everything charging in one place.
Recommended clothing items
I feel like this should be its own post, but for the sake of keeping packing recommendations in one place right now, here are four great clothing items worth purchasing from Amazon for your next adventure:
- Columbia Women’s Tamiami II Long Sleeve Shirt. I have this shirt in two different colors, and it is perfect for hiking, days on the water, and even going out to dinner. I love the roll up sleeves, the vented back, and the range of colors.
- BALEAF Women’s Fleece Lined Leggings. I’m obsessed with these leggings. I bought a pair to go hiking in North Carolina at the end of November, and then I bought another pair so I would have two to take to Iceland. These leggings are cozy, water-resistant, and full of pockets. Plus, they’re a bargain!
- Every packing list I saw for Africa included a Buff, and to be honest, I didn’t understand why this item was so essential, but it has come in handy on every trip we’ve taken. Similar to a bandana–but better–it can be used as a headband, a neck gaiter, or a face cover to avoid dust and mosquitoes. It takes up hardly any room and adds a pop of color to an outfit as well. I like this National Park series from Amazon.
- Sunshade Hat for Ponytail. I pack this hat for any vacation where we’re going to be in the sun. It’s foldable, breathable, and inexpensive–plus it offers UPF 50 protection.
If you find lists like this useful, let me know! I’ll keep these types of posts coming.
Wildlife & Water Adventures 