From the experience of my many trips over the years I think I've got packing my hand luggage down to a fine art.
But you can always learn from others so be interesting to see what people put in their hand luggage.
I actually use a rucksack style bag because I find it easier to handle when also got my main luggage with me, just sling it over the shoulder and you only one bag to concentrate on.
Will add I'm a little old fashioned and don't believe hand luggage should have wheels, especially some of the larger items people clutter the shelf with nowadays.
I actually never empty mine just clear out old paperwork and stuff after a trip, a lot of items i only use for travel stay in there, dont get lost that way.
So here is my list (i'll start with the obvious) :-
1. Passport
2. Spare wallet with foreign cash
3. Travel documents
4. Insurance documents
5. photocopy of passport (also in main luggage).
6. Spare clothes (undies, socks, t shirt, etc) - this proved a very good idea when my luggage flew to Denver as I went to Rapid City on my last trip. The T Shirt provided by Delta in their overnight pack wouldn't wintoo many fasion awards.
7. Spare shoes - learnt this when m heel came away from a shoe many years ago, 2nd benefit is it takes weight out of your main luggage as some airlines restrictions are tight.
8. Spare reading glasses, just cheap ones in case i lose mine.
9. Puzzle Books - Not a big reader so its things like suduku, logic problems, wordsearch for me to pass the hours on long flights.
10 - Music Player - Have a cheap mp3 player i got from argos with abut 1000 songs on, only use on hol but wouldn't be without it for flight and chilling by the pool.
11. Plasters - Cut myself in budapest so bought a box of them, stay in my bag and have used and provided for others a few times.
12 - Valuables - Camera, like it with me dont trust putting that sort of thing in the main case in case it vanishes.
13 - plastic cable ties - use to seal my main case before handing over, some airlines dont like locks.
14 - Sewing kit - dont laugh its just a pack with a cople of needles and some cotton that fell in my bag from a hotel room, only used once when a button came off mybest shirt.
15- Note Book - Well need something to put the email address of all the new friends i make.
16 - Pens - Always handy
I'm sure I've forgotton something, so what do you take ?