Avoid checking a bag during your spring break travels with these 20 carry-on essentials

Looking for a travel backpack instead? The Lo & Sons Hakuba is a great option for those who want to skip a suitcase altogether. It has separate compartments for clothes, shoes and other travel accessories, keeping you organized on the road. Its large 35-liter capacity should be enough for two- to three-day trips. Plus, there's a dedicated laptop compartment for quick access to your computer or tablet.

Having a crossbody bag in tow for your trip can help you keep your documents organized and within reach at all times. This bag is perfect for travelers, as it's got a locking main compartment and internal slots with RFID-blocking technology. The crossbody strap is adjustable to fit most body types. Plus, it's available in 14 different colors to match any outfit.

Packing cubes are an essential tool for helping you stay organized while you're on the go without taking up too much space. You can use cubes of varying sizes to pack neatly rolled shirts, pants or dresses as well as socks, undergarments and even shoes. This pack of five cubes from Calpak is made of mesh fabric that's durable and water-resistant. Once your packing cubes are full, you can neatly organize them in your carry-on bag before heading to the airport.

If you want to stick with your regular lotions, soaps and beauty products, but they're too big to fit in your carry-on bag, consider investing in this reusable and customizable set from Cadence. We love the Build Your 6 pack, which offers six customizable, leakproof and magnetic containers that allow you to take all of your essentials on the go with you. Say goodbye to single-use plastics and hello to this aesthetic set that you'll want to use over and over again.

The Bite Daily Habits Set is ideal for travelers looking to upgrade their dental hygiene on the road. It includes liquid-free toothpaste bits and mouthwash as well as a travel toothbrush and floss. This kit includes four months of dental care essentials, and the fact that there are no liquids included means you can breeze through TSA without any worry. Your dental care also comes in recyclable glass bottles, so the entire kit is plastic-free and waste-free. The Bite Daily Habits Kit comes in four different flavors to suit your taste: mint with fluoride, mint without fluoride, berry and charcoal.

Don't sacrifice your skin care routine just because you're sticking solely to a carry-on bag. This adorable travel pouch comes with a rose gold eye roller, four organic and reusable rounds, a petite rose quartz uplifting gua sha and a green tea makeup sponge. There's also plenty of packing room left, so it's perfect for bringing along small items like lip balm, tweezers and floss. Pack this travel pouch within a larger packing cube with your makeup and other toiletries or stuff it in your travel backpack by itself. Either way, you'll have several beauty essentials along for the ride.

Shampoo and conditioner bars from The Earthling Co. can help you check off several boxes on your packing and travel lists. You get the benefit of bringing shampoo and conditioner along on your trip without having to worry about TSA limits on liquids for carry-on luggage. And, as an added benefit, you can avoid creating more plastic waste along the way. These hair care bars come in compostable packaging, and you can store them in nearly any container within your carry-on bag.

Having your own portable clothesline makes it considerably easier to avoid checking a bag. You can hand-wash some of your clothing during your trip, then simply hang it to dry while you're out sightseeing for the day. Built-in clips are included on this clothesline, so you can wind it up in your luggage without having to bring clothespins or other accessories along. This portable clothesline is also retractable and stretchy, so you can customize its size to the space you're inhabiting.

If your goal is to pack just a few items of clothing, consider bringing a convertible pair of pants along. This pair for men from Columbia (a similar pair is also available for women) can be perfect for active trips as well as leisure travel, mostly because they can turn from pants to shorts and back again with ease. These particular convertible pants also come in seven different colors to suit any style, and you can choose tailored options based on your length and waist size. They also come with multiple pockets, a built-in belt and UPF 50 sun protection.

The Zipplicity Neck Pack offers a sneaky way to bring even more clothing and essentials along for a plane journey without sacrificing any space in your suitcase, and its dual purpose means it's also useful in its own right to support your neck. This neck pillow comes entirely empty since it's meant to be stuffed with soft items you need for your trip. In fact, the PillowPack holds eight shirts and four pairs of socks, thus saving that much room in your suitcase. While this isn't our top pick for travel neck pillows (that's the Cabeau Evolution S3), this is a solid option if you're looking to maximize your packing space.