SUBSCRIBE + GET NEW POSTS DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX:

Just enter your email address; I promise you'll only receive notifications when there's a brand new post.

Mommy Gearest

Real life. Real reviews.

The best personal item bag + how to pack it

By Leave a Comment

Whether you found this post because of my how-to-pack Instagram Reel or thanks to good ol’ GoogleJuice as you searched for the best personal item bag for your next trip, I’m so excited to share my most extreme packing challenge yet: a six-day Caribbean vacation — in just a personal item. Yeah, the one that fits under the seat in front of you. Think it can’t be done or you’ll be wearing the same thing for dinner every night? Think again.

In Canada, when you book WestJet’s “UltraBasic” or Air Canada’s newer “Basic” fares, you have to pay for an overhead bin carry-on. But, your personal item — the one that fits under the seat in front of you — is included with the price of your ticket.

And because I’d rather spend my money on rum punch, I booked the UltraBasic flight for my next girlfriend getaway and decided to figure it out. AND I DID, so I want to show you how to do it, too.

The best personal item bag + how to pack it

Before I dive in, I’ve linked as many of the things I’m going to show you as possible below. A lot of these are things I already owned and are no longer available, though, so think of it more like a template and take it as an opportunity to shop your closet. Be sure to bookmark this post so you can reference it as your own trips get closer.

First up, the bag I’m using is the Monos Gesso Tote, which is hands-down the best personal item bag I own because it’s the most versatile. It has become my go-to personal item for sun destinations because it’s nearly bang on in terms of the maximum dimensions but, even better, it’s the perfect beach bag once you arrive and unpack.

best personal item bag

The Monos Gesso Tote is the best personal item bag for your next sun getaway because it not only fits under the seat in front of you on the plane, but it’s also a fantastic beach bag once you unpack!

Some other packing-light tips:

  • Your plane outfit should maximize pieces that you’ll use on vacation — except the socks you see in my video. Those are just to keep my feet warm enough en route to and from the airport. I’m not a socks with sandals kind of girl, but no shade if that’s your jam
  • I added an eyewear chain to my sunglasses so I can just wear them like a necklace and save even more space in my personal item
  • Taking as few pairs of shoes as possible will also keep more space free for clothes, makeup and toiletries, so I’ll only be wearing either dressier sandals or flip flops, which means if you want to do this, too, you need to build an entire capsule around just two styles
  • I normally don’t use packing cubes, and I can confirm that everything here still fits in the best personal item bag I’ve featured whether you roll, flat-pack or do some combination of the two should you not have the Monos compression packing cubes (I tried all three ways with success; it’s just much more organized in such a small bag when I used one of the cubes)
  • And if there’s only one thing you take away from this post and video, it’s that a capsule wardrobe is the most essential trick to packing lightly. Things that mix and match to create multiple outfits is key. I like to wear something new each night for dinner, but I’m happy to re-wear things from day to day in different configurations. If you don’t care about nighttime outfit repeats, you could get away with even less! Plus, it’s a sun holiday, so you’ll be spending a lot of time in a bathing suit anyway.

Finally, I think it’s also important to point out that (a) I don’t think I could do this nearly as effectively for a cold-climate holiday; (b) I wear a medium or large — usually a North American size 10 (UK size 12) — and this packing strategy may be easiest for small and midsize people, though a lot of it is rooted in choosing very thin fabrics; (c) there is no room for PJs and I’m happy to sleep in the nude — if you don’t, swap out an evening outfit for them; and (d) I don’t pack any hair products except a brush when I travel for such a short time because I’m a messy bun kinda girl and happy to wear my hair up every day and night so I can max out my toiletry bag with skin care, SPF and makeup.

Here’s everything I’ve packed to avoid baggage fees

avoid baggage fees

Be sure to watch my Instagram Reel (linked in the opening paragraph) to see how I fit everything from this post in to this tote bag.

Let’s start with the only bags I’m bringing…

  • Monos Gesso Tote — absolutely the best personal item bag I’ve tried to date, which will be repurposed as a beach bag at my destination
  • Longchamp Energy XS Handbag — I haven’t been this excited about a new purse in a longgggg time! I think I’m in love and I think it’s going to become my favourite travel purse of all time. This will be stuffed with everything I want to keep close during my flight and sit on my lap — wallet, passport, iPhone, AirPods Pro, power bank, charging cord and block — then be used for evenings out at my destination. It’s got a water-resistant shell and waterproof taped-seam zipper with an included crossbody strap. It also folds completely flat when not in use and holds WAY MORE than you’d expect!
  • No Reception Club’s Dopp Kit — the perfect little toiletry and makeup bag for shorter getaways

Clothes, swimwear, shoes + accessories

  • Cardigan — this is a super-old Kate Spade cardigan
  • Zara white T — this might be the perfect white T and it’s super affordable
  • Aritzia white tank — an ideal basic piece for every wardrobe; it has some light stretch and a really nice scoop neck
  • Jeans — the “Robbie” style from AMO; on the pricier side but they fit like a dream and don’t stretch out. My favourite jeans right now, without fail!
  • ON Merino socks
  • Dressy sandals — I took FitFlops with me (an older style, similar to these) to Europe for 32 days and they’re the ultimate vacation shoe because they’re so comfortable for city exploration but also look great with everything at night
  • Archie’s orthopedic flip flops — the only kind I’ll wear
  • Necklaces — my every day necklaces from Mejuri — the Anya Turquoise Necklace and the Boyfriend Chain with a couple of charms — that are gorgeous paired or solo
  • Sunlight raffia (straw) hat — I saw this at Aritzia and had to have it after trying it on
  • Magnetic hat clip — I haven’t travelled without this gadget from KLIPSTA since I got it two years ago
  • Linen shirt + shorts set — an older set from my beloved Left on Friday (seriously, its stuff is the best), which you can find in updated patterns here and here
  • LONDRE one-shoulder one-piece — so versatile it goes from day to night (and it’s Canadian!)
  • Left on Friday bikini top — the Sunday Top in Zinc Neon Pink (also a Canadian brand!)
  • Left on Friday bikini bottom — the Hi Tide Bottom in Deep End (oh, and if two-piece swimsuits aren’t up your alley, the Weekender Suit is my absolute fave bathing suit of all time)
  • Left on Friday rash guard — the Rays Sleeveless Top in Deep End
  • SKIMS bodysuit — yes, the Kardashians are trash but I bought SKIMS underwear years ago and unfortunately, it’s fantastic; this bodysuit goes with jeans, dress pants, skirts and works overtime under blazers and sweaters back home but you’ll have to find it on your own because I don’t want to profit from anything they do
  • Dress pants — these are from Zara and I’ve had them for probably 15 years
  • COS long dress — this packs into nothing and looks as good with flip flops and sandals as it does with heels; unfortunately, it is no longer available online but you may still be able to find it in-store. This dress is a good online alternative
  • Aritzia jumpsuit — another piece I’ve had for more than a decade, which you could easily swap out for a shorts version like this one
  • Jean skirt — from Earnest Sewn, which I’ve had since 2006 (!!!), so it’s no longer available but here’s a close second that is; you could replace this piece with shorts if you don’t like skirts
  • Breezy white T-shirt — an open-backed beauty from Velvet that’s 10+ years old, but the My Time Tee from Free People is kinda similar and comes in a zillion colourways
  • COS striped tank top — this is a wardrobe staple for me at home and away
  • Floral Mini Dress — from Canadian designer Hilary MacMillan
  • Plus, bring along six pairs of your favourite underwear and a couple of bras that work with your capsule

Looking for other packing lists? I’ve got you covered, with everything from a packing list for Europe in carry-on and a packing list for a cruise to Alaska to a packing list for Ireland in spring and a ski trip packing checklist.

Toiletries + makeup

carry-on toiletry bag

The Dopp Kit from No Reception Club has come away with me on most of my recent trips and packs away a lot more than you’d expect in such a tiny footprint. It fits ALL of this!

From top to bottom, left to right, all housed in the Dopp Kit…

And, yes, it all fit into the Monos Gesso Tote — the best personal item bag there is. Seriously. You can do this.

Now go get packin’!

 

 

DISCLAIMER: some of the products featured here have been gifted over the years but I’ve purchased most myself across decades. Some of these links may be affiliate links, which means when you shop, a tiny portion of the sale goes to me at absolutely no extra cost to you; this helps me produce free content and run a website without ads. 

Check out these related posts:

Things to do in St Moritz (in less than 24 hours)

Carry-on only packing list

What to pack for a canoe trip with kids

Every comment counts -- what's yours?

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.