Traveling for work can sometimes be a pain.
Waiting in lines, jet lag, and packing everything you need each and everytime.
To make the journey as comfortable as possible I try to simplify the stuff I carry.
This usually means sticking with smaller carry on sized luggage to avoid the check-in counter,
a small backpack perfect for my electronics on the plane and professional enough to bring
to meetings, and organizing it all so there’s minimal stress getting through the airport
and on to the plane.
Hi I’m David and this is my simple and minimal work travel bag setup
Starting with my carry on luggage.
I’m am using this TravelPro Tote suitcase, which by first impressions is really small
compared to what most people are carrying, standing only 18 and half inches from the
floor.
Still I find I can fit just enough for couple days on a business trip in here.
Inside the luggage you’ll usually find dead space around the integrated handlebars so
I’ll usually wedge an umbrella, my belt and a bag for my dirty laundry back here.
Next I’ll stuff my shoes full of socks and place them at the bottom of the case.
My pants, dress shirts and spare t-shirt I put inside a packing cube.
Underwear and PJs compressed in another cube.
And finally my suit jacket wrap in a plastic bag on top to reduce wrinkles.
So while this small tote fits everything I need for my clothes.
To be honest, my ideal bag would be a little taller to give more breathing room in here
but finding that perfect sized carry on luggage is a lot more difficult than it really should
be with every airline having their own carry on requirements.
And luggage manufacturers constantly fudging their dimensions with slightly protruding
handles and wheels that often push them past these restrictions.
So to save myself the headache I’ll just travel smaller with this tote suitcase for
now.
This bag does feature some other extras like a sleeve for a 13” laptop, small pockets
for accessories, built in USB plug to route power, even Velcro straps that keep the case
from fully opening when you want to peek inside but most of that is pretty unnecessary for
me since I always also travelling with a backpack.
A small day backpack is must for me on any trip.
It’s convenient to leave under the seat on the plane for quick access to my electronics
and snacks.
But I also need it to carry my laptop to any meetings or the office.
For this I’m using the Aer Flight Pack 2.
It has a nice clean and minimal design.
You can tuck away the straps to use it as a briefcase or attach the shoulder strap to
give it a more compact professional look.
Inside the main compartment I’ll throw my laptop in here, with my sweater and jacket
that I’m wearing if it gets too hot out, as well my bagged up liquid toiletries.
In the front pocket, I have my laptop and phone chargers, Powerbank and cables.
Pens, notebook, keys and noise cancelling earbuds.
There’s also pocket in the front where I’ll put a granola bars for a snack.
A place for a water bottle on the side, if I buy one at the airport.
And a quick access pocket on top to store my wallet or cellphone when needed.
And that’s pretty much everything I carry for a trip but just as important as the stuff
I carry.
I also like to think about how it’s all being carried to minimize travel pains.
For example, A lot of your time in the airport is just standing in lines.
Sliding the backpack onto the handle of the luggage keeps everything together and helps
with comfort.
Having 4-wheel spinners on luggage do waste space at the bottom but the advantages of
being able to just push it along with you in slow lines and maneuver down the thins
aisle in the airport or the plane, feels like a worthwhile tradeoff for me.
The other pain point I have with air travel is going through security check.
So to make it as quick and efficient as possible I don’t wear belts to the airport, I throw
my wallet and cellphone into a pocket while waiting in line for security.
And my liquid toiletries and laptop are both in the same bag pocket, so they both go onto
the tray followed by my backpack and luggage through the xray machine.
Quick, easy to repack and no worries about forgetting any of my belongings at security
check.
So that’s the stuff I carry and my routine for my minimal work travel bag setup.
Sure you could one bag it in a single backpack like I did for Japan a couple months ago but
for a work trip I usually don’t need that level of mobility, so I prefer a more convenient
and comfortable two bag approach.
But hope you guys enjoyed this one.
You know what to do.
And I’ll see you in the next video.