As Real Simple reports, air travel expert and life coach Aura E. Martinez advises following a simple principle when packing carry-on luggage: take fewer items, but choose more versatile and compact ones. ### 1. Bulky Sweaters and Hoodies Warm clothing can indeed be necessary while traveling: airports and airplane cabins can be chilly. However, a thick sweater or bulky hoodie takes up a lot of space, and removing such clothing in a cramped seat is inconvenient. Instead, Martinez suggests bringing a lightweight zip-up hoodie. It’s easier to put on over a t-shirt and take off during the flight, and it takes up less space in your luggage. ### 2. Multiple Chargers Having a separate block and cable for each gadget quickly turns your carry-on into a tangle of wires. An alternative could be a single universal charger with built-in cables, allowing you to charge multiple devices. This can be especially useful during a long layover or flight delay. ### 3. Full-Sized Cosmetics Large bottles of creams, lotions, and other products take up unnecessary space and can cause issues at security checkpoints. For travel, it’s more convenient to use **travel-sized mini-packages**. A small moisturizer and lip balm are recommended to keep on hand, as the air in the airplane cabin is usually dry. ### 4. Huge Travel Pillows A massive pillow can take up a significant portion of your bag even before you pack the truly necessary items. If flying without a pillow is uncomfortable, the expert recommends looking into **inflatable or foldable models**. When deflated or folded, they take up much less space. Another option is a foldable memory foam seat pillow that can be folded and secured with a luggage strap on the outside of the bag. ### 5. Large Water Bottles Even an empty hard bottle remains bulky. A more practical alternative could be a **foldable silicone bottle**. You can bring it through security empty, then fill it with water, and after use, squeeze it down and store it in a small pocket. ### 6. Regular Socks for Long Flights For long flights, Martinez suggests using **compression socks** instead of regular ones. According to the expert, they help maintain blood circulation in the legs and reduce discomfort during hours of sitting. However, compression products are not suitable for everyone, so individuals with vascular diseases or other medical issues should discuss the choice of such socks with their doctor beforehand. ### The Main Thing Is Not the Number of Items The essence of these tips is not to give up comfort. On the contrary, it is suggested to replace bulky items with more compact ones: a heavy sweater with a light cardigan, several chargers with one universal charger, large bottles with mini-versions, and a hard bottle with a foldable one. As a result, there will be more free space in your carry-on, and finding the needed item during the flight will become significantly easier.
