What’s in My Bag (For a Long, Long Flight)?

Remember when I used to do these “what’s in my bag” posts?! I haven’t done one in ages, but this week, I laid out all the stuff I’m packing in my carry-on for an upcoming 9-hour journey to Germany, and thought it’d be a good time to bring back this format.

The bag itself

…is a Perry medium satchel by Kate Spade, in a bright yellow shade called daffodil. I’ve chosen a turquoise/green/yellow color scheme for this trip’s wardrobe, and had been wanting a yellow bag anyway, so I bought this for this trip specifically and am sure I’ll carry it a lot when I’m back, too.

It has two open compartments and one zippered compartment in the middle, and is roomy enough for all of this stuff, except the travel pillow which needs to be tied onto the strap. I wish it had an outer pocket for my passport, but other than that, it’s pretty much a perfect carry-on bag for my needs.

Sleep/comfort

I’m taking a red-eye, and hoping to get some sleep during it, although sleeping on a plane is always trickier than it should be… To make it as easy as possible, I have a memory foam travel pillow that supports my head and neck, and has an angled back that lets it sit flush against the seatback for more comfortable spinal alignment. It came with some earplugs, plus a little bag that you can stuff the pillow into when you’re not using it.

Next to that is my trusty Nidra Deep Rest eye mask, the only one I’ve ever found that truly blocks out all light and doesn’t cause any eye discomfort. Here’s hoping I’ll be able to get some much-needed rest on the flight with the help of these accessories!

Meds, etc.

probably won’t feel sick on the plane, but you never really know, so I’ve packed chewable motion sickness pills and Pepto Bismol tablets. I also always bring a pain pill or two on flights, because air travel makes my fibro pain flare up a ton.

Then there’s the obligatory minty gum, for freshening up, giving myself a burst of wakefulness in the morning, and/or chewing to prevent ear-popping issues during takeoff and landing. I’ve also got lip balm (the air is dry AF up there), a charger for my iPhone/iPad/Apple Watch, and a couple of disinfecting wipes, which I use to clean my phone and other much-touched objects after traveling.

Entertainment

Keeping yourself occupied on a long flight can be a challenge, but I’ve packed the best tools for the job: my Kindle, loaded up with a zillion ebooks; my noise-canceling AirPods Pro (in a cute floral case) for all my audio needs; and my iPad mini, well-stocked with TV shows, podcasts, and a few games. Normally I bring my laptop when I travel, but for this trip, I wanted to unplug as much as possible.

After taking these photos, I also decided to add in my reMarkable 2; it’s slim enough to easily fit amongst the other stuff, and will enable me to get some writing done, if inspiration strikes, which I will later be able to auto-transcribe and export to other devices if I need to.

The yellow iPhone-shaped thing is a portable battery pack which can recharge any and all of my devices on-the-go. I was delighted to be able to get a yellow one to match the bag, haha! This’ll give me a lot of peace of mind when I’m traveling; no more hunting down unoccupied power outlets in airport terminals!

Glasses & wallet

Nothing too exciting here, but I’ve got my glasses, my prescription sunglasses, and a microfiber cloth to clean their lenses.

The Kate Spade heart wallet is surely one of the cutest-looking objects I own, and was a gift from my spouse. It’s got my payment cards, ID, etc. and also a printed copy of my COVID vaccination record, which no one really asks to see anymore (womp womp) but I’m glad I have it anyway, just incase.

Miscellany

Can’t forget my passport! I’ve also got a travel-sized pack of Kleenex and a black KN95 mask (there are extras in my checked luggage).

My house keys have a couple of different keychains on them: a heart-eyes emoji one from Aerie and an internal clitoris one from the sex toy brand Womanizer. My journal, in which I’ve written my packing list, is (as ever) a large ruled hardcover Moleskine, paired here with a pink Retro 51 Tornado pen.

And that’s about it! What do you bring on long-haul flights (or what would you bring)?

What’s In My Bag: Fall 2015

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Do you ever look through the contents of your bag and just think, “This really sums up my entire personality/life”? I do that on the regular, but today was a particularly great example.

I recently bought this Zatchels shoulder bag, and while it doesn’t fit the zillions of items I would like it to, it can still hold a good amount of mostly-flat stuff. And it’s so damn cute that I don’t mind its low capacity too much.

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Today the bag contained (clockwise from top-centre):

  • My journal, without which I rarely leave the house. I always bring this with me when I go to work (for epic emotional unpacking on my break-time) or when I’m going to be sitting and waiting anywhere for a while (like on the streetcar or at the doctor’s office). Writing about my life helps me process its events, figure shit out and decide what I want to do next.
  • My iPad mini. This was one of those purchases that I thought I “didn’t really need,” but then I’ve ended up using it for soooo many different things. I often bring it with me when I interview folks for articles I’m writing, so as to record our conversations; I also listen to music on it all day at work, take notes in Evernote on it at school, watch movies on it when I’m bored, and so much more. It’s my constant companion and my surrogate brain!
  • My iPhone earbuds. Crucial. What would life be without music and podcasts?! I love that these earbuds have a little remote on them, so I don’t have to take my phone out of my pocket to pause the audio or adjust the volume. Brilliant.
  • My wallet, which is by Danier Leather. It’s so simple and classic and sexy. You’ve gotta carry a wallet so it might as well be one you like the look of!
  • Maybelline Creamy Matte lipstick in “Rich Ruby.” This isn’t even available in Canada yet so I had to order it online, but it was worth it. It is such a perfect red, and the formula really stays put on my lips without being too drying. Best!
  • My beloved We-Vibe Tango. Normally this would be by my bedside, but I packed it in here a few days ago because I thought I might be having sex that night and wanted to be prepared. The sex didn’t pan out after all, but it’s still nice to have a good vibrator on hand for all eventualities…
  • Lifestyles Tuxedo condoms. I find these hilarious because they’re black and supposedly for “formal occasions.” They also get pretty good reviews, sensation-wise, from both internet commentators and my ex-boyfriend.
  • Junior Mints. I practically fell asleep multiple times at my desk today while at work, and bought these to pep me up. They worked, but they also made my stomach hurt. Sad trombone.
  • Extra pen + pencil. A writer is always prepared!

What do you keep in your bag on the regular?