Travel packing guide: bags, cubes and essentials

Good packing is a system, not a bigger bag. This guide covers choosing a bag, organising with cubes, and packing liquids to airline rules.

Choose the bag for the trip

• Carry-on only: a cabin bag that meets your airline's size limits.
• Checked: larger, but keep essentials in your personal item.
• Packing cubes: keep categories together and compress soft, bulky items.

Browse bags and organisers in our store, and read our guide to what to pack in a toiletry bag.

Organise, then compress

Roll or fold into cubes by category, keep one change of clothes and medication in your personal item, and put liquids in a clear bag inside your toiletry kit.

Liquids rule

Decant into small refillable bottles within the airline limit and check your airline before you fly. Rules vary by country.

Keep a ready kit

Pre-pack a toiletry kit and top it up after each trip, so leaving is a matter of grabbing the pouch.