Best Travel Gear: 20 Things to Pack in Your Travel Bag (2026 Edition)

The right travel gear doesn't make travel easier because it's expensive. It makes travel easier because it does one job well and gets out of the way. Below is the list we'd actually pack — tested against airports, tournaments, and a lot of red-eyes — plus the carry-on setup that holds it all.

The Bag (Start Here)

Travel gear is downstream of bag choice. A modular travel bag with a clip-on accessory system means you bring exactly what each trip needs, not a default kit you drag everywhere.

• Carry-on: All Court Backpack ($249) or Racquet Bag Voyager ($219) for racquet sport travel.
• Personal item: Day Bag XL ($119) — fits under the seat, carries laptop + essentials.
• Compression: Wet-Dry Bag ($89) for sweaty kit or wet swimwear.
• Wallet: SnapFold Wallet ($49) — RFID, magsafe, razor thin.

The 20 Things

1. Universal power adapter with USB-C ports, not the wall-warts of 2015.
2. 20,000+ mAh power bank. Bigger means fewer charges on long-haul days.
3. Noise-cancelling earbuds. Earbuds over headphones — less to carry, fit under a hood.
4. Compression packing cubes. Reclaim 30%+ of bag volume. Cheap and effective.
5. Lightweight rain shell. Packable into its own pocket, weighs under 200g.
6. One pair of merino socks. Worn for travel days, anti-microbial, dries fast in a sink.
7. Collapsible water bottle. Empty through security, fill at the gate. Saves $5 every airport.
8. Sleep mask + earplugs. The pair that finally lets you sleep on planes and in noisy hotels.
9. Hand sanitizer + wet wipes. Still the best in-flight hygiene combo.
10. One paper book or e-reader. Phone batteries die. Books don't.
11. Spare AirTag. One in checked, one in carry-on if you're nervous.
12. Cable organizer or pouch. Chargers tangle. A small zip pouch saves you twenty minutes per trip.
13. Toiletry kit under 100ml limits. Refilled, not new. You don't need travel-size everything; you need TSA-size of what you actually use.
14. Quick-dry towel. Microfiber, packs down to the size of a fist. Replaces hotel towel anxiety.
15. Eye drops. Cabin air is desert-dry. This one item makes long-haul tolerable.
16. SnapFold Wallet. Front-pocket fit, RFID, no bulk.
17. Sunglasses with hard case. Either bring the case or leave the sunglasses at home.
18. One "smart casual" outfit. Covers restaurants, work meetings, photos. Take the pressure off your full wardrobe.
19. Reusable shopping/laundry bag. Doubles as dirty-clothes separator on the way home.
20. A list of your prescriptions and key documents in your phone notes. Stored offline. The one thing you'll wish you had if a wallet or phone disappears.

What to Leave Behind

• A second backpack. If your main bag is modular, you don't need a backup.
• Three pairs of shoes. Two max. Travel pair on your feet, casual or court pair in the bag.
• A bulky laptop you won't use. Tablet covers 90% of travel use cases at half the weight.
• Books you won't finish. One book max. Anything more is hopeful, not realistic.
• "Just in case" toiletries. Toothpaste exists in every country.

The Setup We Actually Use

For a 4-7 day trip:

• All Court Backpack as the carry-on — clothes, electronics, books, recovery gear.
• Day Bag XL as the personal item — laptop or tablet, headphones, snacks, travel docs.
• Wet-Dry Bag clipped on the carry-on — for the workout clothes you'll generate in transit.
• SnapFold Wallet in the front pocket of the carry-on.

This setup fits standard carry-on dimensions, weighs under most airline carry-on weight limits, and adapts day-to-day on the trip itself — unclip the Wet-Dry for gym day, swap to the Sling for a night out.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should you always pack in a travel bag?

Passport, phone charger, power bank, a change of clothes (in your carry-on, not just your checked bag), one warm layer regardless of destination, and your wallet. Everything else is optional.

How big should a travel backpack be?

For a weeklong trip, 25-35 liters as a personal item, or 35-45 liters as a carry-on. Anything bigger gets checked under most airlines' standard size limits.

What is the best multi-purpose travel bag?

A modular bag with clip-on accessories. The benefit: one core bag handles work, gym, day-trips, and sport without buying multiple bags. The All Court Backpack is built for this — 16-inch laptop, 2 racquets, modular clip system.

Can I use a tennis bag as a travel bag?

Yes, if it's designed for it. The Racquet Bag Voyager and Racquet Bag Pro are built around carry-on dimensions and travel use cases. Traditional sponsorship-driven thermal racquet bags are not.

Browse the travel system: Core Bags · Attachments · Bundles.