You'll Regret Bringing This Common Type Of Personal Item To The Airport

Deciding what bags to pack your belongings in may not be the first thing on your to-do list when planning a trip that takes you to the airport, but maybe it should be. The type of bag you choose will impact not just your comfort level but possibly your long-term health if you're a frequent flier, and if you opt to use a shoulder bag, we can almost guarantee you'll end up regretting it. There are many common mistakes you should avoid when going to the airport, and while learning your airline's baggage policy will help you avoid some of them, there are good reasons to pay attention not just to the size of a bag but where it will bear its weight on your body.

On a road trip, you're in control of how many bags you bring and how often you pick them up. They can be almost any shape, size, or weight you desire, but the same cannot be said when it comes to traversing the security line at the airport, or fitting luggage into an overhead bin or underneath the airplane seat. While they seem convenient and often look attractive, shoulder bags present a myriad of problems for the average traveler, including the discomfort and potential health issues of having to bear weight on only one side of your body. Repeated use of shoulder bags can lead to muscle fatigue, spinal misalignment, and chronic pain, not to mention logistical issues like the increased possibility of losing items, or even inviting theft.

I've been a flight attendant for nearly 10 years, and while any flight attendant can give you their top packing tricks for maximizing space and staying organized, this knowledge requires time and experience. Ultimately, one thing's for sure: The type of bag you choose is just as important as what you put inside. Personally, I'll never forget how I made this mistake myself, when the airline I work for afforded us a small uniform and luggage allowance. When it came to selecting my medium-sized overnight bag, I was faced with a choice: wheels or a shoulder bag of the same size. The shoulder bag cost less, so I made what I thought was the smart, economical choice. However, after hauling it around for less than a week, and experiencing immediate neck, shoulder, and back pain, I ditched it for good. 

After all, there's a clear reason why children are encouraged to carry school supplies and books in backpacks rather than other types of bags: Backpacks, when worn properly, provide even weight distribution. According to The American Occupational Therapy Association (via Premier Health), uneven weight distribution can both strain back muscles and disrupt proper blood flow to the shoulder. "We're creatures of habit and tend to carry things with the same arm," Dr. Caleb Spreiter, a chiropractor based in Oklahoma, told Healthline. If done consistently, this practice can eventually lead to weak muscles and more severe physical health issues.

Beyond how weight is distributed, the total amount of what you carry also matters. "Overloading a bag with heavy items can be damaging to wrists, elbows, shoulders, or back, depending on where it's carried," Dr. Kevin Lees, the director of chiropractic operations at The Joint Chiropractic in Scottsdale, Arizona, told HuffPost. "Carrying less weight is always the priority."

Losing or having your luggage stolen while traveling is everyone's worst nightmare. No one wants to be stranded at the airport, or even in another country, without their valuables or travel necessities. And while using a genius luggage trick to prevent theft at the airport is great for keeping track of your belongings, you still need to worry about more than your larger bags when it comes to theft.

Bags slung over only one shoulder are easy targets for anyone intent on swiping something as they pass you by. Worse yet, many totes don't properly close at all, making them perfect for pickpocketing. And out of all the hacks that will protect you from pickpockets while traveling, nothing compares to choosing a bag that closes completely with a sturdy zipper, where you can always keep valuable items like wallets and passports out of sight. In addition to this, pretty much any bag with an open top will make it easier for you to misplace or lose your own items. If you just can't imagine giving up your open tote as your personal item, be sure to bury important items toward the bottom, or secure them inside a zippered section of the interior. 

Another good alternative to the shoulder bag is a cross-body bag. Just make sure to keep the weight of it on the low side, as you won't get even weight distribution with this style either. Nonetheless, the option of keeping your valuables in front of you and close to your body will give you more security and control than utilizing an open shoulder bag.