The notebook
27 field notes
Each note explains the job, the method, and the gear picks logged for it. If you would rather start from who is traveling, pick a journey. A laptop week starts from the business traveler gear picks.
Field note 01
Carry-on backpacks
Best carry-on backpacks in 2026: the Osprey Farpoint 40 at 40 L and 22 × 14 × 9 in, then Fairview, Aer Travel Pack 4, Allpa 35L, and Tortuga on published liters, weight, price, and warranty.
Field note 02
Packing cubes
Best packing cubes in 2026: Peak Design for its travel pack, Eagle Creek Isolate for dirty clothes, Reveal for a clear panel, Cotopaxi Cubo from $22, and Away's four-piece set.
Field note 03
Travel bottles
Toiletry bottles with published capacities, sized for the 100 ml liquids rule.
Field note 04
Noise-cancelling headphones
Over-ear and in-ear ANC ranked on published price, weight, battery hours, form, and warranty.
Field note 05
Weekend city packing list
A 48-hour city list organized by the job each item does.
Field note 06
Week-long packing list
Seven days in one bag, planned from laundry cadence and carry-on volume.
Field note 07
Travel adapters and power
Plugs and power banks with published wattage and plug diagrams.
Field note 08
Travel daypacks
15 to 25 L city and trail daypacks with published liters and laptop claims.
Field note 09
Sleep on planes
Pillows and masks filed under their official names, materials, and design.
Field note 10
Water bottles
Daily bottles with published volumes and insulation claims from the maker.
Field note 11
Tech pouches
Cable kits with published dimensions or volumes: admin for the brick pile.
Field note 12
Weather layers
Packable rain shells, insulated fleece, and sun hats with published fabric, length, UPF, or ounce figures from the maker.
Field note 13
Safety and documents
Trackers and RFID document wallets with published size, weight, and protection claims from the maker.
Field note 14
Travel comfort
Sleep liners, compression socks, travel pillows, and eye masks with published fabric, size, mmHg, or listing claims.
Field note 15
Kid gear
Aircraft-certified seats, travel strollers, car-seat bags, kid headphones, and snack cups with published limits from the maker.
Field note 16
First aid
Waterproof travel kits with published weight, person-days, and a contents list from the maker.
Field note 17
Wheeled carry-on
Hardside spinners sized against published overall dimensions, weight, and liters.
Field note 18
Cruise extras
Non-surge cabin strips, magnetic hooks, and waterproof ship-card lanyards with printed claims from the matching listing.
Field note 19
Sleep systems
Sleeping bags, quilts, pads, and liners, from a warm-night bag to a 0 F winter bag.
Field note 20
Shoes
Road shoes, trail shoes, a waterproof hiker, a water sandal, and a packable sandal.
Field note 21
Pants
Trail pants, zip-offs, merino travel pants, a softshell, a chino, and a cold-weather alpine pant.
Field note 22
Shirts
Merino tees, UPF sun shirts, a travel polo, a wrinkle-free button-up, and a quick-dry hoodie.
Field note 23
Socks
Merino hike socks, no-shows, a lightweight city crew, and compression at two printed levels.
Field note 24
Underwear
Merino boxers, a longer cold-day brief, and a 2 oz brief the maker says dries quickly.
Field note 25
Layers and jackets
Packable down, insulated hoodies, wind shirts, rain shells, and fleece.
Field note 26
Hats
Sun caps, a UPF bucket, a rain cap, a waxed hat, and beanies for the cold.
Field note 27
Towels
Packable towels for a sink, a camp, and a beach, including a poncho.