The Personal Item You Should Carry, Based on Your Traveler Type

Featuring my most-used personal items (and three from a trusted male traveler)

Over the last few years, I’ve leaned heavily into my personal item bag. Before every travel day, I make sure it’s stocked with snacks, all of my electronics, my toiletry bag, a book, and an extra layer. During a flight, I like to have my essentials nearby—and packing some of the bulkier items in my personal item allows me to fit more in my carry-on suitcase. That said, I tend to go for tote bags that are on the roomier side (but still compact enough to fit under the seat in front of me). If you ever see me at the airport, I’m likely carrying either the MZ Wallace Large Metro Tote Deluxe or, more recently, the Tom Beckbe Classic Camo Carryall.

But I also know these two styles aren’t for everyone—some travelers gravitate more toward backpacks—and I put together a list of the ones I’d recommend, based on who you are as a traveler.

Bonus: I also included three picks for men curated by my friend and fellow traveler Red Fabbri of Colossal Expectations, a newsletter featuring his recommendations for travel, golf, menswear, and more.

For the Recovering Overpacker: MZ Wallace Large Metro Tote Deluxe or the Tom Beckbe Classic Camo Carryall

Tend to pack more rather than less? I have two personal items for you. If you appreciate pockets, go for the MZ Wallace Large Metro Tote Deluxe—more colorways here. The material is incredibly flexible but still high-quality, and I’ve never had any issues shoving it under the seat (even when it’s completely full). The Tom Beckbe Classic Camo Carryall is a similar size, just without all the extra pockets. My favorite features, though, are the exterior slip pockets, which are perfect for keeping a water bottle upright and easily accessible.

For the Minimalist: Cuyana Tall Easy Tote and Classic Easy Tote

Cuyana has long been a brand I recommend to fellow travelers. The leather bags and accessories last forever, and the simple, elegant designs are genuinely timeless. For personal item bags, I like the Cuyana Tall Easy Tote and the Classic Easy Tote (I’ve previously written about the latter for Condé Nast Traveler). They’re not quite as spacious as the two personal items above, but they can still fit a decent amount—and they make a bit more sense, looks-wise, for business travelers.

For the Mom: Dagne Dover Dakota Neoprene Backpack

I’m not a mom, but I frequently travel with friends who are—and several of them swear by the Dagne Dover Dakota Neoprene Backpack. You get all the hands-free functionality of a backpack, without looking like you’re about to go to school (or go hiking). This particular style also comes with a laptop pocket, a tablet sleeve, a zip top pouch, and a shoe bag, all of which aid in travel-day and in-flight organization.

For the Ready-For-Adventure Guy: Yeti Crossroads 27L Backpack

“My go-to personal item on a plane is the Yeti Crossroads 27L Backpack. Yes, Yeti, the cooler company, makes luggage, and they make my favorite travel bag. It’s got everything you need on the outside: a tough exterior, featuring some give if you overpack it (but sturdiness for when it’s standing upright), with a trolley sleeve, sturdy shoulder straps, and loops to hang or buckles to strap things onto the exterior.

Inside are dedicated zippered pockets for your laptop and cords, with a generous main compartment with a water bottle sleeve (that fits their Yonders and Tumblers perfectly). It’s waterproof, comfortable to wear, and keeps everything in place.” - Colossal Expectations

For the Businessman: Leatherology Laptop Messenger Bag

“If I’m headed right off the plane to work, I opt for a smart-looking messenger bag just for my essentials (for on the plane and the meetings after landing). I have tested these bags extensively for Travel + Leisure, and on top remains the Leatherology Laptop Messenger Bag, which is made of full-grain leather and sustainable cotton lining, which feels as premium as the design looks.

With a zippered main compartment and a dedicated sleeve for your laptop, it somehow packs in four additional interior pockets for cords and smaller items without ever getting bulky, and has a trolley sleeve on the back to pair up with your roller for the walk between terminals.” - Colossal Expectations

For the Dad: WANDRD Sling 9L

“The wildcard (because as a dad, you truly never know what could happen) is not what you’d expect. My kids are out of diapers, so this is less a baby bag and more a ‘have every distraction possible, and something to clean it all up’ bag. For that, I looked for inspiration from professionals at being prepared on the go: photographers.

The WANDRD Sling 9L is made for DSLRs, lenses, and pro photo equipment, but I have found it to be the perfect bag for stuffing full of long-haul travel essentials for a family of four (or more). With expandable storage, I keep every possible charging cord, tissues, band-aids, passports, snacks, and even a laptop and iPads in here, ready and accessible. It slings across your body, as the name suggests, so even when you’re hauling all the checked luggage, your essentials are close by.” - Colossal Expectations