The most stylish hand luggage essentials
Words: India Gladstone
Every well-travelled gentleman wants to think of himself akin to George Clooney in Up In The Air; a stylish, slick traveller who packs impeccably and sticks to all of the relevant (and tedious) airline restrictions. In reality, traveling (particularly when you’re not checking in a bag) can be a sweaty mess with one too many bags and one or more of your beloved grooming essentials failing to stick to the under-100ml rule. We believe that every gentleman deserves to travel with ease and style, so here is a breakdown of the most stylish hand luggage essentials every gentleman needs.
A portfolio
If you’re travelling with just hand luggage, it’s more than likely that you’re heading towards a couple of days of back-to-back business meetings. Don’t be the guy that turns up with papers everywhere and doesn’t know which way is up. Keep your cool and stay organised with this beautiful Maison Margiela portfolio.
An iPad case
A decent iPad case is often something that most gentleman skip out on, but it’s time that changed. The iPad case you choose says a lot about you; mainly because a cracked iPad is never a good look.
Wireless headphones
Gone are the days of tangled wires and cheap headphones. You’re a gentleman and the items you use on a daily basis need to reflect that – including the headphones that you use. Investing in a pair of wireless headphones is something that we would highly recommend every gentleman does – and these Bose ones come highly recommended.
Eye mask
No gentleman should feel any shame in wanting to get some shuteye on the plane; it’s often the perfect time to catch up on sleep – particularly if you know that you’re going to be full-on when you get there. Don’t settle for the British Airways standard issue eye mask: you’re a gentleman and a gentleman deserves cashmere.
Macbook Air
What is the point is hefting around a whole lot of weight that you really don’t need? If you’re a regular traveller – whether it’s for work or play – make your life a lot easier (and a lot more comfortable) by investing in a Macbook Air, which is genuinely as light as a feather.
Laptop case
With your new laptop needs to come the perfect case; no gentleman should ever walk around with a dented or scratched laptop. This one is sleek, stylish and will have enough room to fit any essential papers or documents you need, too.
Atelier de L’Armée laptop case, £155
Fragrance
If you’re going straight from the plane to your first meeting, it’s essential that you arrive clean and groomed. Don’t use the under-100ml rule as an excuse to ‘forget’ your grooming routine: smell incredible and nail that deal with this incredible fragrance from Le Labo.
The right bag
The ultimate hand luggage accessory is the bag; choosing the right one is essential if you want to show the world that you’re a serious, slick, well-travelled gentleman. You need something incredible to fit all of the above essentials in, and we recommend spending the money and investing in something that is going to last you years – and many plane rides – to come.
For more shopping, see here.
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