Maturing Is Realizing You Really Only Need A Carry-On, And These 28 Travel Products Prove It

Buzz Feed

30-03-2025

1. A set of packing cubes to level up your packing game since these keep your items compressed and organized. You can sort them by item or by day — so when you get off the plane and make it to your hotel, you can easily change outfits without cave-diving into your carry-on to find that one cute top!
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Promising review:"I travel frequently and travel light. My luggage is usually limited to a backpack that slides under the airline seat. For a two-week European cruise, I added a carry-on rolling suitcase. I've used these packing cubes twice so far, and I am hooked. One cube holds everything (including clothing) I take on a three-night trip. The cube slides into my pack, saving massive amounts of room, and everything is easy to find during travel and at the hotel. Taking out one cube and unzipping is much better than digging through a pack! I will never leave home without these!" — Gura
Get a set of four packing cubes (also comes with a laundry bag) from Amazon for $16.99 (available in 16 colors and two sets).
2. Or, a pack of vacuum-free, space-saving compression bags that come in handy when you're packing for the trip, but come in SUPER handy when you realize you went a little overboard at those local boutiques and are bringing back way more than you packed in the first place. Just zip up your clothes, roll, and watch all the air leave the bags, making sure you can still zip up your roller board!
BuzzFeed Shopping writer Emma Lord says:"HELLO, I AM OBSESSED WITH THESE. Despite all the rave reviews I was definitely skeptical of space-saving bags that didn't require a vacuum, and even as they were actively squishing my clothes into oblivion I still couldn't quite believe it. I had easily two suitcases worth of clothes I wanted to pack for a three-week trip to London, and I managed to neatly pack the entirety of my wardrobe in one roller carry-on bag. Truly all I had to do was put my clothes in the bag, push them to the bottom, and then sit on it to get the air out before sealing it up. I had tons of extra bags and make a habit of taking them with me in case other people joining me on trips need them to be able to pack souvenirs on the way home. I'm never taking a long trip without these again — these are worth every damn penny."
Promising review: "I travel monthly for work, usually gone for 4–5 days. Before these, I would have to check a bag. Dress shirts and pants roll up nicely and stay wrinkle free. It's tempting to want to over-stuff these, but if you're packing golf shirts or cloths with 'slippery' fabric, they slide out of the top of the bag as you get close to the end. The clips take a minute to get used to, but after a couple of times zipping up the bags, it's pretty easy." — BigSkinny
Get a set of eight from Amazon for $15.98.
3. The 4-in-1 Alleyoop Pen Pal, which is basically a cooler makeup version of the classic Bic 4 Color Pen. This has four retractable colors so you can touch up your brows, eyeliner, lips, and highlights. Plus, it's small enough to fit in your purse if you need to do some on-the-go touch-ups!
Promising review:"I love that this product is an all-in-one! It saves me so much space when I travel, and the products are high-quality too. The lightest brow pencil is still a little dark for blondes like me, but the other shades complement me perfectly. I like the lip liner the best; it easily elevates a simple lip look!" — Sam
Get it from Amazon for $20 (available in three colors).
4. And a Subtl Beauty Stak that has genius written all over it. It allows you to keep up to NINE makeup products in one compact and convenient place, AND you can customize it if your routine is more of a no-makeup makeup routine. Plus, it comes with a mirror lid and includes a brush!
Subtl Beauty
Subtl Beauty is a small business that specializes in vegan, cruelty-free beauty products, including compact, customizable beauty stacks.
Promising review:"I absolutely love how compact this product is. I have been pleasantly surprised at how natural the makeup feels, and I love the natural look it provides. I originally purchased for traveling, but have been using it daily and love it!" — Paula Bowie
Get the Starter Stack from Subtl Beauty for $60 (originally $70; available in 19 tones), or customize your own stack starting at $12 per layer.
5. A sturdy, lightweight eight-compartment pill organizer so you can bring all your important medications and supplements without their bulky bottles taking up all the room in your toiletry bag. Plus, some reviewers have even used the compartments to store smaller items like jewelry!
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review:"My husband and I travel a lot and take a number of prescription drugs. It was always a hassle accessing our medication when needed, so I purchased this organizer to make things easier. I used a label maker and labeled each little compartment and it has performed wonderfully. I highly recommend this organizer to anyone who travels and needs medications throughout the day." — Jacqueline
Get a three-pack from Amazon for $6.97 (available in two color set options).
6. A jewelry organizer to prevent your necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and rings from basically getting into a full-on catfight in your suitcase. This is easy to roll up and a LOT easier to pack than a mini jewelry box.
Promising review:"Best jewelry travel pouch ever. Plenty of room for all my travel jewelry needs. Half the size of previous pouches I have tried and holds more than any of them." — T Rex Mom
Get it from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in two sizes and 10 colors).
7. A Kindle Paperwhite because the list of books you want to read is getting larger by the second (thanks a lot, BookTok), but the space in your suitcase for a book is just non-existent. This little thing holds thousands of books, is waterproof, and has a glare-free screen. Reviewers love how the charge lasts for weeks (yes, weeks!) and the optimal warm light feature that's easy on the eyes.
Promising review:"I always have my Kindle Paperwhite with me when traveling or just sitting at the beach to read. Recently, we traveled to a tropical wedding destination, I was sitting by the pool reading when my daughter's boyfriend sat down with his book and said he was almost finished reading it, he was complaining that he wanted to bring more, but they would be too heavy. I showed him my Kindle and said that I loaded five books into it for the trip, he was was very interested and amazed after I let him play with it. So now, he's getting one for Christmas." — Steve M.
Get it from Amazon for $159.99 (available in three colors and with or without lock screen ads).
8. Some Tide sink packets so you can wash your dirty clothes and not force yourself to re-wear a stained and stinky top to dinner. These are easy to slip into your toiletry bag and will def come in handy in case your travel nightmare comes true, and you actually do poop your pants (lol).
Tide
BuzzFeed Shopping editor Elizabeth Lilly is a big fan of these:"Each pack comes with three packets. And, because they *are* liquid, they'll easily slide into the side of your toiletries bag. I've packed these on international trips to much success!"
Promising review: "Taking these out of the country to wash under things is exactly the right size." — Laura Wilson
Get nine packs from Amazon for $6.35 (available in two scents and four pack sizes).
9. A splurge-worthy set of Cadence Capsules if you're a little picky about hotel shampoos and prefer to stick to your tried and trues. These are super sturdy and they're magnetic, so they'll keep all your vitamins, moisturizers, lotions, and basically anything you want to put in them super safe and organized.
The "daily routine" set includes four medium and three small capsules as well as magnetic, interchangeable labels for shampoo, conditioner, body wash, moisturizer, cleanser, a pill icon, and a blank tile.
They also offer skincare, bodycare, haircare, and pill case sets as well as extenders that increase the size of the capsule! And if you fall in love with these and *really* want to customize your collection, head to their site to build your own unique set.
Cadence is an AAPI woman-owned small business that was founded by Steph Hon with the goal of eliminating single-use travel-sized plastics. The containers are made from recycled ocean-bound plastic.
Promising review: "These containers are perfectly sized for all my travel needs, whether it's skincare products, vitamins, or even small jewelry pieces. They fit neatly into my carry-on, saving space and keeping everything organized. No more messy toiletry bags or digging around for tiny items — everything has its place with Cadence. The quality of the materials is top-notch. The containers snap together securely, making it easy to keep them organized and prevent any spills. It's such a clever and practical feature that adds a touch of luxury to the whole experience. Plus, it's oddly satisfying to hear the little click when they snap into place!
"I'll be honest — the price did give me pause at first. These containers are definitely an investment, but I can confidently say they're worth it. The peace of mind they provide, knowing my products are safe and secure during travel, is priceless. Plus, the high-quality build means they'll last for many trips to come, making them a smart long-term investment." — Randy G.
Get the daily routine set from Amazon for $138 (available in five colors and other sets).
10. Or, if you don't want to splurge, a TSA-approved 16-piece travel toiletries set that comes with four squeeze bottles, three little pots, and one spray bottle for all your skincare and shower necessities. These are leak-proof, refillable, and easy to clean!
www.amazon.com
Plus, they come with labels so you know what's what and a little bag for storing them all.
Promising review:"I've purchased a lot of different travel sets for my toiletries over the years. Inevitably, they are hard to fill and tend to leak. This set was magic! The wide mouth made it easy to fill from a larger bottle, and the little scoops made transferring creams to the jar containers very easy and with much less mess. The only con (hardly worth mentioning) is that once you squeeze the bottle, it takes a few minutes to expand with air again, so the sides are a bit sunken. I solved that by unscrewing the top just a bit for a quick release of the vacuum pressure. I had no leaks, and plenty of containers for every toiletry." — MDC
Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in eight colors).
11. A travel cable organizer because you've got gadgets and gizmos a plenty which all come with So. Many. Charging. Cables. This keeps everything organized in one convenient place, and it's even waterproof!
www.amazon.com, Amazon
Promising review:"Excellent for travel! Nice to have a go-to individual pouch especially for the chords. Husband travels for business and this is a must, so if he's in an airport or hotel he can locate them easily and they don't get mixed with others." — Brent Webb
Get it from Amazon for $9.85+ (available in three sizes and 19 colors).
12. A 2-in-1 hair tool that curls *and* straightens, but doesn't take up a lot of room in your carry-on. So when you want pin-straight hair for Day 1 of vacay, but then want voluminous curls for Day 2, you'll be so glad you packed this.
Amazon
Plus!!!!! This is also dual voltage which is so handy when traveling internationally!
Promising review:"Don't be fooled by the tiny price or size, this little baby is serious. If you are looking for a small travel option rather than lugging your big straightener and giant curling iron around the world, than I think you'll love this. It performs really well, turning my frizzy wavy hair into a smooth and sleek style. The curling iron option also creates shiny, silky lasting curls! It's easy to transition between both. I also like the grippy handle and the fact that the curling iron clip is a different color than the straightening bars because that helps me see how I should be maneuvering it around. The voltage goes up to 240m, so you are good using it internationally without a converter (but you will need an adapter just to fit it into various foreign outlets). At this price, definitely give it a try and flaunt your tresses abroad." — Christine
Get it from Amazon for $49.99+ (available in two colors).
13. A skyline mini wallet emergency kit equipped with things like an extra hair tie, Tylenol, a bandage, and a deodorant wipe. Whether you use it on the actual plane ride or keep it in your purse for the vacation days following, this will be sure to come in handy.
Anne Cate
Anne Cate is a woman-owned small business based in Cleveland, Ohio, that handmakes minimalist keepsakes with a skyline from more than 100 cities and colleges around the world!
The kit includes a hair tie, lip balm, two floss pics, a sewing kit, bandages, emery board, two safety pins, two earring backs, a makeup wipe, two bobby pins, two mints, a deodorant wipe, a Shout wipe, a tampon, hand sanitizer, and Tylenol.
Promising review: "I'm heading to Rome this fall with my best friend and our husbands. I thought this would be the cutest little emergency case to bring along so I got each of us one. I am so excited to give it to her. She will love the Rome skyline and all the goodies inside." — Jen
Get it from Anne Cate for $25 (available in 96 skylines).
14. A plush microfiber makeup-removing cloth so you don't have to settle for 3.4 ounces of makeup-removing liquid for your whole trip or bring wasteful makeup-removing wipes. This will gently get your makeup off with just water! And you didn't hear this from me, but this is three times cheaper than the Makeup Eraser!
Promising review: "This is incredible! I can't believe how well this works! I travel a lot for work and usually take makeup remover wipes because of the liquid restrictions for travel, but they are expensive and heavy. I have been using this cloth all week and LOVE IT! A bit of warm water and everything comes off in a few easy swipes. I am super excited to travel with this. It weighs nothing and rolls up to take very little space. I am ordering another for my mom who also travels. Highly recommend!" — KT
Get it from Amazon for $6.99+ (available in six colors and in multipacks).
15. A 3-in-1 foldable magnetic wireless charging station that charges your iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods all at the same time. You can stay organized by getting rid of tangled cords *and* the high-quality magnets in the pad make sure your items don't slip away. When folded up, it easily fits into your pocket!
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: " This is my new favorite travel gadget! Super compact and sleek, so far no issues with charging my iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods, and performance remains consistent. This charger has eliminated at least two additional cords and I deeply appreciate not having to shuffle chargers around when packing for travel. The charging light has an on/off feature by the watch pad, so I'm able to keep it on the bedside table at night without a bright green light shining in my face. It's also hard to overlook when packing back up to leave a hotel, which might be the second most important feature! Overall a great value for the money and such a great tool for staying organized during travel." — Cassandra
Get it from Amazon for $29.99 (available in two colors).
16. Or a braided 4-in-1 fast charging cord to minimize the amount of space your charging cords take up and maximize the amount of devices you can charge at one time.
www.amazon.com
Promising review:" My husband and I have different phones with different charging ports. This was great for our international travel and limiting the number of cords we needed to carry. Was useful during travel for charging both devices and for charging other family members' devices as well. Quick charging as well." — veronicawhite
Get it from Amazon for $13.99.
17. Or a compact, all-in-one international travel adapter if you find yourself taking a multi-country and need something that won't take up a lot of space in your tech bag, but will work for all your bucket-list destinations. Plus, this lets you plug up to seven devices at once!
www.amazon.com
The charger can be used in Mexico, Canada, the UK, the UAE, Japan, China, Australia, New Zealand, and countries in Europe, Asia, and South America.
Promising review:"My partner and I traveled to a few different countries that had different outlet styles. He travels with a CPAP so we weren't sure if a traditional adapter would hold up. This fit every country we went to and allowed him to use his CPAP without any issues at all. The additional USB-C and USB ports were also extremely helpful, as we were traveling with a host of electronics. Very pleased with this purchase!" — ElizabethN
Get it from Amazon for $39.99.
18. A neck pillow you can stuff with clothing, which many reviewers have said helped them skirt around those strict carry-on restrictions many airlines enforce. Sometimes you gotta work smarter, not harder, to get in those extra vacay outfits, and this thing does just the job!
www.amazon.com
Check out a TikTok showing how someone used a similar neck pillow to just take that and a personal item onto a RyanAir flight that was charging for hand luggage.
Promising review: "The Tube Pillow was a savior on my last trip. It held a surprising amount of clothes and doubled as a dirty laundry bag. I used it as an on-the-lap pillow... for extra storage without extra fees, it's worth it!" — Sharon
Get it from Amazon for $49.95.
19. A hanging toiletry bag that proves you can do a carry-on only, but still bring every toiletry you need. This holds so many things, keeps them in one compact place once you unpack, and lets you see everything at a glance!
Promising review:"This is so handy. My friend and I both got one for our travels. We love to cruise and want to take our beauty items with us, but we can't always find the small travel sizes. So, this fits us WELL... we put our full-sized bath soap, shampoo, conditioner, and other supplies in it as well as some makeup... It hangs nicely on the towel rack, or you can get a super strong magnet and use that. I love the light pink color that I got, and she got a minty type of green that is so pretty as well. If you need to travel but want those regular-sized items, get this... it is a big blessing!" — Pattie
Get it from Amazon for $16.19 + (available in three colors and two sizes)
20. A collapsible silicone water bottle because even though you love your refrigerator-sized Stanley Cup, you need something a lil' smaller for when you're traveling. This is refillable and rolls up to be super compact when you're done sipping.
Promising review: "I got this the day before a cruise, and it made it so easy to throw into my carry-on and was able to fill once I got through security at the airport. I used it all through my cruise as well, and when I was done with it, I folded it back up, and it went right back into my purse at each port. People asked where I got it, and I honestly loved it. It's a little bulky, so it isn't slim for small purses, but my backpack and having it was nice. I will not use it for day-to-day use, but it's another great travel find for those who travel often :)" — Mary
Get it from Amazon for $8.99 (available in six colors/styles).
21. An on-the-go Gillette razor that proves that many of the best things in life come in small packages. This five-blade razor saves space and saves you from using those disposable razors that just don't step up to the plate.
Amazon
It comes with one handle and one blade refill but will work with other normal Venus refills!
Promising review: "I am a flight attendant, space is limited in my bag. Great product for your travel bag." — Caitlin Hemphill
Get it from Amazon for $9.99.
22. A refillable travel perfume atomizer so you can take your signature scent on the go and not worry about a floral-scented mess leaking in your entire carry-on! This doesn't require a funnel and simply connects to the nozzle of your perfume bottle for easy refilling.
Promising review:"I originally bought these for traveling purposes so I did not have to carry my full-size perfume bottles but now they are a daily use item and keep them in my purse so that way I can always refresh my favorite scents. TSA approved small and convenient." — Tee63143
Get a four-pack from Amazon for $8.99.
23. A 4-in-1 makeup brush set that saves so much room in your makeup bag because it's only the size of ONE brush. You get a foundation, eye shadow, concealer, AND powder brush! Any wannabe makeup artists on the go, this one's for you.
www.amazon.com, Amazon
Promising review: "The bristles are soft and it applies the product very well. Love that it has a case which is perfect for traveling. Now I don't have to travel with 10+ brushes." — Yashira
Get it from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in 10 colors).
24. A lightweight, waterproof raincoat, which surprisingly packs up super duper small, allowing you to reserve most of your carry-on space for your sunny weather wardrobe.
Amazon
Promising review: "I got this a little bigger to go over my sweatshirt and it was perfect. It is super lightweight and kept me dry. It also helped lock in some extra warmth so that was a bonus. It's the perfect little rain jacket for the price." — Amie Linsday
Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in women's sizes S–XXL and nine colors).
25. Or, an even smaller portable rain hood if you don't want to even bother with packing a designated rain coat at all. So when Mother Nature tries to pull a fast one on ya, you can be like, "Not today!"
Amazon, Amazon
It can be easily stashed in your purse when the rain finally stops, and it takes up way less room in your luggage than a regular rain jacket.
Promising review: "I love this! The quality is very nice and it fits great. Wore it last week in the rain with a coat I love that doesn't have a hood and it was perfect. It slips right under your jacket so all you see is the hood, so it pretty much blends in with your jacket. Such a great idea! Wish there were more colors and patterns, I'd order more." — Jill Hammel
Get it from Amazon for $29.
26. A travel version of the popular "flossing" toothbrush with super fine bristles that get into the hard-to-reach crevices, so it'll brush *and* floss at the same time. It folds into itself, and the handle even acts as a cap, so you won't have to go out to buy one before your trip!
Amazon
BuzzFeed Shopping contributor Katy Herman swears by these:"The brand sent me a sample of these to try out, and I love them for all the reasons above! Mine has honestly stayed super clean- and fresh-looking after several trips over the past couple of months, so I haven't immediately tossed it after short trips like I usually do with travel toothbrushes. It's super convenient, compact, and my teeth and gums feel fresh and invigorated after use!"
Mouthwatchers is a dentist-founded small business specializing in upgraded toothbrushes. While these can't be a full substitute for flossing, they're helpful if you don't floss as much as you should (I feel you).
Promising review: "This toothbrush is a new staple item for my on-the-go Invisalign bag. When I need to brush my teeth and don't have time to floss before putting my aligners back in, this brush makes sure my teeth and mouth feel clean and removes debris in between my teeth. The bristles are soft, this toothbrush is sturdy, and the different lengths of bristles help remove debris or help floss your teeth on the go. This brush also dries very fast in between uses." — V. Brown
Get it from Amazon for $5.99 (available in two colors).
27. A 2-in-1 contact and glasses case perfect for those who aren't blessed with 20-20 vision. (Curse you, vision gods!) This allows you to keep your glasses and everything you need for your contacts — a case, contact solution, and rubber-tipped tweezers — in separate compartments but in one place for traveling!
Amazon
Promising review: "Because of my job, I live out of a suitcase, and I am always worried if I need an extra set of contacts or a spare pair of eyeglasses. This is perfect, because I just put it in the bottom of my suitcase, and I am confident I have them both in one place. I got the pink case, and it's very cute. Very happy with this purchase." — N. Rivera
Get it from Amazon for $13.95+ (available in 10 colors).
28. A fully tricked-out travel backpack with *brace yourself* two laptop sleeves, a shoe compartment, a "wet bag" for damp clothes, a waterproof interior, and an anti-theft design. Plus, it has a USB charging port! This personal item is in a league of its own.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review:"I recently took a cross-country flight with my three kids. I really didn't want to worry about checked bags getting lost so maximizing our carry-ons was a priority. This backpack fit an unfathomable amount of stuff! Lots of zippers and compartments for everything from shoes to laptops/iPads, easy access compartments for cell phones and boarding passes, I fit tons of neatly folded clothes. The best part was that fully loaded it easily slid under the seat." — Kindle Customer
Get it from Amazon for $22.79+ (available in five sizes and 40 colors).