Real-World Travel Gear: What We Actually Pack (Full Bags and All)

Let's get real for a minute. We're Jo Ellen and Joe from Don't Wait To Wander!, and we're here to talk about what we actually pack and honestly, we admire those minimalist travel influencers who can fit everything in a single carry-on, but that's just not where we are in our travel journey right now. We're the ones with full-size checked bags, rolling carry-ons, and yes, sometimes we even check one of those carry-ons when we need to bring three months' worth of full-size toiletries.

We travel for extended periods, generally 30+ days at a time (with our upcoming adventure being 85 days), hopping between Airbnbs and exploring countries at a pace that requires real gear for real comfort. Since we typically rent a car for our travels, we're not schlepping all this gear through public transportation hubs, which definitely influences our packing philosophy. This isn't about impressing anyone with our packing prowess—it's about sharing what works for two people who prioritize comfort, organization, and functionality over minimalism.

What We Each Use vs. What We Share

Jo Ellen	Joe	Both
Packing Philosophy: Organization queen with packing cubes	Packing Philosophy: Pack and unpack as we go, no cubes needed	Luggage: Delsey Chatelet Air 2.0 Large Spinner (checked)
Audio: AirPods Pro	Audio: AirPods Max	Luggage: Delsey Chatelet Air 2.0 Carry-On Spinner
Sleep: Manta Sleep Mask	Reading: Kindle (but prefers movies)	Laundry: Breezo Laundry Sheets
Sleep: Loop Quiet 2 Ear Plugs		Power: 30W portable charger, 40,000mAh with built-in cords
Reading: Kindle loaded with free library books		Tracking: Apple AirTags on everything we check
Packing: Packing cubes (non-compression) for organization		Accommodation: Book places with washing machines
		Hydration: Vapur Collapsible Water Bottles (testing)
		Wrinkle Management: Steamer only for formal trips

Our Current Luggage Setup

We're loyal to Delsey's Chatelet Air 2.0 line for good reason—they're sturdy, roll smoothly, and look good doing it. Here's our current arsenal:

Each of us has:

• One Chatelet Air 2.0 Large Spinner (checked bag)

• One Chatelet Air 2.0 Carry-On Spinner

  
  

For our upcoming 85-day trip, we're testing two new personal carry options:

• Chatelet Air 2.0 Weekender Travel Bag

• Chatelet Air 2.0 Weekender Duffel Bag

  
  

Why the extra personal bags? Because we're checking one of our usual carry-on spinners with consumables—lotions, shaving cream, and all those things that laugh in the face of TSA's 3-1-1 rule when you're gone for three months.

Our Real-World Travel Gear

Power & Connectivity Our 30W portable charger with 40,000mAh capacity and built-in cords is a game-changer for long-haul flights. No more hunting for outlets or carrying extra cables.

For staying connected abroad, we both use Hola fly eSIM for internet and calling on our cell phones. It's incredibly convenient to have reliable data without dealing with local SIM cards or outrageous roaming charges.

Laundry Solutions We always book accommodations with washing machines and pack Breezo Laundry Sheets to reduce bulk. These are a revelation compared to lugging heavy detergent bottles.

Sleep & Comfort Jo Ellen's sleep kit includes a Manta Sleep Mask and Loop Quiet 2 Ear Plugs—essential for different time zones and noisy accommodations. Joe relies on his AirPods Max to create his own quiet zone.

Organization Philosophy We have completely different approaches: Jo Ellen swears by packing cubes (the regular kind, not compression) to stay organized and avoid unpacking entire bags at each stop. Joe prefers the freedom of no cubes and simply packs and unpacks as needed.

Hydration We're testing Vapur Collapsible Water Bottles with carabiners on this trip—they pack flat and should be perfect for day trips.

What We Don't Pack

Steamers: Only for formal trips. For Italy? Let the linen wrinkle and embrace the relaxed vibe.

Minimalist Pressure: We're not trying to prove anything with carry-on-only travel. Our goal for a future trip might be to pack only the carry-ons with personal carry bags, but first we have to get through this trip and see how our new system works.

The Real Talk

We use Apple AirTags on everything we check because peace of mind is worth the small investment. We're not light packers, although we try to be strategic. We're not going to influence the world with our carry-on-only prowess, and that's perfectly okay.

This is real-world travel gear for real people who want to be comfortable, organized, and prepared for extended adventures without sacrificing quality of life for the sake of appearing minimalist. Sometimes that means full-size bags. Sometimes it means checking luggage. And sometimes it means bringing both AirPods Pro AND AirPods Max because we have different preferences.

We'll report back on how our new personal carry system works for our 85-day adventure. Until then, pack what works for you—not what looks good on Instagram.

Stay tuned for our real-world test results of the weekender bags and collapsible water bottles. Because authentic travel advice comes from actually traveling, not from photo shoots.

Don’t Wait To Wander!

Jo Ellen and Joe

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Planning your own adventure? We find our flight deals on Going.com and use Hola fly eSIM to stay connected without the hassle of local SIM cards or roaming charges.