What To Take In Your Hand Luggage When You Travel

Last Updated on: 12th March 2026, 09:21 am

Some people travel with only hand luggage; we try to be those people. We have mastered the process of squeezing everything into a small bag. When you are packing with hand luggage only, we cut right back and only take the necessary things. I travel with a small bag to carry important things that I need to grab in a hurry. And a backpack with my clothes. So I will break down what to take when you go travelling with your hand luggage.

The Front Small Bag As Hand Luggage

I have a cute blue Radley bag, which I love. I bought it for travelling to Morocco in October. You need to place this bag over your head so it hangs diagonally over the front of your body. You need to put the zip on the inside of your body, so it makes it harder for pickpockets. And you can get clips to clip the zipper closed.

Inside this bag, I keep the following things that you need as you travel. Although it seems like a lot, it will all fit in your bag.

• Passports (I keep mine in a ziplock bag in case it rains heavily)
• Earbuds to listen to music on the go
• A phone wire, I don’t usually bother with a plug because most trains and buses have USB chargers.
• A power bank, I prefer Voltz chargers that I get from Superdrug. These have the connector included.
• Bank cards, although you can travel without them and use your Apple Pay instead.
• Painkillers because I have arthritis and need them when I walk a lot.
• A small bottle of perfume to freshen up during travelling. Perfume samples are perfect for this.
• A pair of wired earphones, in case my others run out, and I can’t charge them up.
• GHIC cards, take these, as well as having travel insurance.
• Boarding passes or tickets that you might need
• Your mobile phone, although I use a lanyard on my phone and carry it separately.

Your Main Backpack As Hand Luggage

After an attempted pickpocket in Nice in October, I bought a different backpack. I invested in a backpack called a

• My clothes, I normally take enough clothes for 3 days and stay in places with a washing machine. I put these into suction bags and squeeze as much air as possible out of them.
• My toiletries, I take as few toiletries as possible, because most places you stay will have toiletries included.
• A blanket in case I am on a sleeper train or sleeping at an airport.
• A raincoat like a PacMac, these fold up small in your bag.
• A microfibre towel, these are great for travel, and they dry so fast!
• A booklet with emergency contacts, my itinary etc in it.

Other Things You Could Take Travelling With You

There are many other things that you could take in your hand luggage, and I wanted to add them here. You never know what you might find that comes in handy.

Travel Books

If you are travelling a lot, you will have time to sit and relax with a book. So why not take a travel book or two to read as you slow travel? For the UK, we use Pocket Mountains books. The books are small enough to pop into your handbag or pocket, and they hold information for where you are going. What I love most about them is that they are written specifically for those who enjoy walking. So they have walks available for an hour or two, or walks for those who love to go for a whole day out walking. The books are a great price at £6.99, and you can buy them in advance on the website.

Medical Equipment

If you have a CPAP machine or other medical equipment that you need to travel with, you can add an extra hand luggage bag for free. BUT you need to notify your flight company before you leave. Sometimes it is easier to travel with a suitcase if you have a CPAP machine, because it can be heavy in your backpack when you are walking a long way or jumping on and off trains.

Snacks

If we are travelling on long train journeys or travelling to expensive countries, we usually take snacks with us. This saves a lot of money and is also so convenient if you want to travel without stopping for snacks and drinks. If you are travelling on a budget, it’s always good to take snacks to save a few Euros. Sometimes I get ziplock bags and put a day’s worth of snacks into the bags, so it’s easier to grab and go. We also pack porridge pots and pot noodles for quick and easy meals on the go.

Gadgets For On Go For Your Hand Luggage

I usually take my big camera if I have enough room for it in my hand luggage. But I also have some Ray-Ban Meta glasses that are great for on the go. Also, an Insta 360 camera is small enough to pop in your bag. But if you have a mobile phone, the cameras on there are pretty good, especially if you use ‘pro’ mode. You can always take a spare phone in case of emergencies, too. Gadgets like iPads or Nintendo Switch, don’t take up much space, and they can keep your kids quiet on a long journey. Its the difference between a good and a rough journey.