If You're Traveling With Just A Backpack, Here Are 25 Space Saving Products That'll Make Your Trip A Whole Lot Easier

Buzz Feed

07-04-2025

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
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When your friends see just how much stuff you lugged on your trip, they won't believe you were able to fit it all in just a backpack.
1. First off, a capacious travel backpack to fit as many items as you can possibly jam-pack into it while still being able to slide it under the seat in front of you. It's able to zip open completely — yes, like a suitcase — so you can find whatever you need! It has plenty of pockets, a compartment just for wet items and another for shoes.
Promising review:"Lots of space. I bought this for a business trip so I could carry my laptop and clothes for two nights and not check a bag at the airport. This worked perfectly and looks nice." — Angie J
Get it from Amazon for $22.79+ (available in four sizes and 40 styles).
2. And a fanny pack that can keep your most valuable items strapped close to your chest — it's necessary while you weave through busy airport terminals and also great for getting around the whole "only one personal item per person" thing. With four zipper pockets to store all of your miscellaneous necessities, as well as a keychain hook, this bag is perfect for your excursions too!
Elizabeth Lilly / BuzzFeed
See what BuzzFeed editor Elizabeth Lilly has to say: I wear a size L/XL in clothing and sometimes waist bags just don't work out so well for me. With this one, I can confirm that it fits around my waist comfortably without outerwear, across my chest without outerwear, *and* over a thick coat and several layers. The pockets inside are so handy, and I even had room to spare throughout my Iceland trip. This was the only purse I brought for the whole trip and it performed its job flawlessly. Just make sure that you zip the zipper ALL the way because the zipper goes down pretty far on the sides for easier access to contents. Having my hands free was wildly convenient for a number of reasons, including crawling around inside of an ice cave and putting out my hands for some extra balance while walking on sheets of ice along cliffs. Oh, and it comes in so so SO many colors.
Get it from Amazon for $12.98+ (available in 32 styles).
3. A set of packing cubes for smushing down any bulky articles of clothing into the perfect size to slide comfortably into your backpack — no vacuum suctioning required.
www.amazon.com
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 $21.99 (available in 25 colors and two sets).
4. A travel-friendly "flossing toothbrush" designed with "floss" bristles to reach between your teeth to banish those lil' bits of food stuck in your grin. It's small, can be folded down, and takes up very little space in your backpack pocket. Chip Skylark himself will burst into song at the sight of your smile. 🎶My shiny teeth and me... 🎶
www.instagram.com, Amazon
Mouthwatchers is a small business established by Ronald Plotka, DDS, that specializes in antimicrobial toothbrushes designed to get deeper cleans even patients with "great" dental hygiene might miss with traditional brush and floss routines.
See what BuzzFeed Shopping writer Emma Lord has to say about these: I've been using the regular-sized version of this for over a year now and I LOVE it! I used to use an electric toothbrush, but I feel like I'm getting a much more satisfying clean from these — e specially because I tend to get yellow stains between my teeth no matter *how* much I floss, and these bristles seem to actually target that a lot more effectively. My teeth feel genuinely ~squeaky clean~ after I use this, too.
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 as well." — V. Brown
Get a set of two from Amazon for $9.99.
5. A splurge-worthy set of Cadence Capsules for holding all of your needed toiletries together without hogging all the room in your backpack. The magnetic sides make it possible for you to organize these in the best way needed to fit in your case (without losing one). Plus, they're super sturdy, leak-proof, and even work great for a few days worth of vitamins or holding small jewelry.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
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!
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).
6. Or a TSA-approved 16-piece travel toiletries set so you can minimize the amount of space your bathroom essentials take up in your backpack. These bottles are perfect for carrying all your fave beauty products and are set in a leakproof bag, so you don't have to worry about getting shampoo stains on your clothing as you jog through the halls of the airport, tryna make it on time for your flight.
The set comes with four bottles, four jars, two spray bottles, two scoopers (to help transfer creams), one funnel (to help transfer liquids), one cleaning brush, a page of labels, and a bag that everything fits in.
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).
7. A waterproof travel cable organizer to keep all of your favorite small gadgets and chargers on hand and keep the mess of wires compact so that they're not taking up any much-needed space in your bag.
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).
8. A foldable jewelry organizer for storing your absolute *best* of friends. This folded case has several pockets and slits, so you can store anything from rings to earrings to necklaces without having to carry several bulky boxes that take up too much room. Don't deal with the stress of misplacing any of your favorite pieces; keep them on hand for those fun nights out!
Promising review:"My favorite traveling item! Before, I was sticking jewelry in ziplock bags and in my suitcase, and I'd lose them in there, or they'd tangle, and I was limited on what I could bring. I bring this with me every time we go out of town for business." — Kristy and Jose
Get it from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in two sizes and six colors).
9. A compact I Dew Care "Tap Secret" mattifying powder shampoo so you don't need to carry around a bottle of your favorite aerosol version that's liable to take up wayyy too much space in your already overpacked backpack. This lil' baddie will become your absolute favorite as it comes in a compact travel case, soaks up excess hair oil, and volumizes your locks so that your hairstyle will get compliments no matter where you go!
Amazon
This powder shampoo is benzene-free!
Promising review: "I was looking for a dry shampoo that would be easy to use on the go for a trip I was taking. I had no issues taking this through TSA and it was so easy to use on the go. You literally just pat the poof on your scalp and then rub the powder in. I do have black hair so dry shampoo is usually very visible in my hair, but I didn't have any harder time than usual rubbing this powder in. It did a really good job of soaking up all the oil and giving my hair volume. I'm not a fan of the price for the amount that you get, but it is lasting longer than I thought it would. I would definitely recommend and will purchase again." — Teresa
Get it from Amazon for $18 (available in six shades).
10. A foldable water bottle to take up very little space when every square inch counts — it'll be incredibly helpful when you want to take a bottle of water onto the plane but don't want to spend triple the regular price for a bottle at the gate.
Plus, it's lead-, latex-, and BPA-free, dishwasher safe, and can be used for hot or cold drinks.
Promising review:"Bought this water bottle for a trip to Disney World. At home, I always have my 40-ounce water bottle nearby. I was worried about walking around the park and not having quick access to water on those hot park days. We only brought a fanny pack in and didn't have room for something big. This was perfect! It wasn't too overbearing to hold and was super easy to fold up and throw in the bag when not in use. My only regret is I didn't buy two!" — E. Alarcón
Get it from Amazon for $8.29+ (available in three sizes/styles and 14 colors).
11. A travel-friendly blanket-slash-pillow so you're always comfy, even when those budget airline seats seem to be getting harder and harder each time you book them. You can use it as either a blanket or fold it into a pillow, and it even has a little clip so you can attach it to your backpack!
Amazon
EverSnug is a small biz specializing in travel pillow/blankets. Check it out on TikTok.
Promising review: "I have never missed taking this blanket on a trip and it has saved me from cold planes to hotels. It's soft, comfortable, and convenient. Easy to clean. Buying more!" — Hayley
Get it from Amazon for $29.95 (available in seven colors).
12. An international power converter to prove that you are always prepared no matter which country you're in, as it works in over 160 different countries! Making an unscheduled trip you weren't quite planning on for the holidays? Don't worry about carrying several different chargers or converters; this one device works pretty much everywhere.
www.amazon.com
See it in action on TikTok.
Promising review:"Prior to this purchase, we've killed an appliance or two in overseas travel. We bought this for a trip to the Philippines. It worked like a champ! We charged our iPhones and other high-end devices with peace of mind. My wife used her flat iron with this just fine. I like that it has plug adapters for outlets around the world, so I know wherever we go, we can use this. I recommend this to anyone doing international travel." — David Aiken
Get it from Amazon for $39.98.
13. And a 3-in-1 foldable magnetic wireless charging station so you don't have to debate which of your chargers you need to leave behind — because carrying three separate wires takes up a ridiculous amount of space. This can charge your phone, smartwatch, and earbuds all at once!
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 on 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).
14. A handy travel wallet to hold all of your cards, money, and travel documents. It's thin enough to slip into the tiniest of pouches, and this RFID-blocking case can help protect your sensitive information as you catch that last-minute red-eye flight back to your hometown.
www.amazon.com
Promising review:"I bought this wallet right before a business trip. I wanted something that was small, but still had room to carry necessities. This wallet did that and more. Besides my ID and credit cards, I carried my passport and organized my receipt s. It held a lot but didn't take up much room in my purse. It was also cute to carry alone as a small clutch. I'm actually planning to buy more as gifts." — Sherlethia
Get it from Amazon for $13.99 (available in 29 colors).
15. And a waterproof family travel document holder for the parent of the friend group (or just parent in general), who needs to keep the whole party's passports and boarding passes safe on your travels — so that one friend doesn't accidentally misplace their documents while going through security.
Promising review:" I took my kids on their first international trip, and this thing was a total lifesaver. It fits easily in a fanny pack or small purse for easy access, and it fit my whole family's passports, vaccine cards, boarding passes, and a pen with plenty of room for cash and cards if you decide to use it as a wallet for your trip. It made getting checked in a breeze and helped my family keep everything organized." — Kevin Garcia
Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in five colors).
16. An Alleyoop 3-in-1 travel razor that's got everything you need for a quick shave on the go: a refillable spray bottle for easy skin prep, a shea butter moisturizing bar, and two triple-blade razor cartridges. This compact razor is the perfect addition to toss into your backpack.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review:" I recently traveled and had no problem with TSA. I like the moisturizer; you can just rub it in. If you have coarse hair, the blades may dull sooner than later. I preferred just to wet my leg and then spray the water. It seemed to get more of a lather for me. Super convenient!!" — Western Pa mom/grandma
Get it from Amazon for $15 (available in pink and blue).
17. And the 4-in-1 Alleyoop Pen Pal so you're not lugging around a packed bag full of makeup — this one lil' pen has eyeliner, brow liner, lip liner, and a highlighter all in one. Just toss it into your fanny pack so you can make a quick touchup on the go.
www.amazon.com, Amazon
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 shades).
18. A makeup-removing cloth you can easily carry instead of lugging around a huge pack of disposable wipes. This simple washcloth can safely go through TSA (since your regular full-size bottle of liquid certainly cannot), and all it needs is some water to wipe your face clean.
Amazon, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "This product...I have no clue how this works, but it does! Let me start by saying I was wearing a full face of makeup. I mean foundation, contour highlight, eyeliner, seriously the whole nine yards. All I did was wet it and wiped my face, my jaw literally dropped. This is hands-down my favorite makeup remover. The best part is that they are reusable so you don't have to keep buying those expensive disposables that leave your face feeling greasy." — Heather Griffith
Get it from Amazon for $6.99+ (available in six colors and in packs of three or six).
19. A fold-up duffel because let's be honest, you're sooo gonna end up bringing back a lot more than you came with — don't you just love shopping sprees?? Pack this on your trip folded up, and bring this duffel back on the plane filled with all your new things as your personal item.
When not in use, this can be folded down into an itsy-bitsy lil' pouch, is water and tear-resistant, and has a side pocket for shoes! Plus, it has a strap on the side, so you can easily slide it onto your luggage handle!
Promising review:"We bought this to take with us when we visited our daughter, who is studying abroad for four months. We figured she would not have enough room in her luggage when it was time to come home. Folded up, this bag was so compact and lightweight that it took up almost no room in our own luggage for the trip over. Then, sure enough, she had a ton of clothes and shoes to send home with us and packed this bag full. We checked the bag, and it made it through two international flights without a scratch. The BEST feature is the side strap that allows you to slide it over the handle of a rolling suitcase so you don't have to carry it. This is probably the most practical and the best-value item I have purchased in years." — Tosa Mom
Get it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in 13 colors and patterns).
20. A set of travel perfume carriers that can hold all of your favorite eau de parfums no matter where in the world you may end up. They're incredibly small and durable — these bottles ensure you can pack a variety of your favorite scents while taking up very little space.
They're incredibly easy to use and refill, with zero leakage! Just press the bottom of the tube against your favorite perfume gauge and keep clicking until it is refilled. No need to carefully pour and waste your favorite perfume on the bathroom tile, just click it and you're good to go!
Promising review:"Soooo easy to use! Fit every single one of my various perfumes, expensive to inexpensive! They're small to fit right into an already packed makeup bag or purse pocket. I have a varying schedule and feel my perfume is the topper to a pulled together look - so knowing I can rotate through all my scents easily each day is a nice little perk!" — Denys Davis
Get four from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in three color packs and a pack of five)
21. Tide sink packets because it is absolutely necessary when you want to pack as few clothes as possible and don't want to pack 30 different undies for your trip. Just rip open one of the packs and pour it into any sink full of water — instant suds for a wash on the go.
Tide
Each pack comes with three packets. And, because they *are* liquid, they'll easily slide into the side of your toiletries bag.
Promising review: "I used these during a month in Italy and two months in a nursing home when I was recovering from a broken leg. They are a perfect size. Each packet was good for two washes of my delicates. I folded the top down and stored it upright in a plastic bag for use for the second washing. Super useful and convenient. I highly recommend for the traveler who likes to travel light. I was gone a month and only took a backpack and a suitcase that stowed under the airplane seat. So frequent washing was necessary to not offend my fellow travelers. These were perfect." — Gigi
Get three packs from Amazon for $4.03.
22. A compact travel towel that will prove itself to be your saving grace when you are unable to find anything to dry yourself with after taking an unscheduled dip at the beach. The towel is lightweight and fast to dry, so it is easy to pack and soft to the touch! (Bonus: It's sand-resistant and machine-washable!)
Promising review: "This is an excellent product, easy to use, absorbency is great, thin, carry case takes up little room, and it dries quickly. Terrific for travel." — Amazon Customer OP
Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in 16 colors and six sizes).
23. A mini lightweight flat iron so you're not lugging around a heavy straightener across international lines when you're well aware that you couldn't possibly survive without touching up your hair before touring the city. Plus, it is dual voltage, so you can use it in whichever corner of the world you find yourself in!
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
It also comes with a heat-resistant pouch for easy carrying!
Promising review:"Loved having this on my recent trip to Ireland. So glad I purchased something with dual voltage so there were no hair worries while traveling. It works well and takes up little space. Plan for it to take longer to style your hair; it's small. But it doesn't take a lot more time. Glad I purchased!" — Ashley
Get it from Amazon for $16.99 (available in three colors).
24. Mini Wet Brushes that detangle just as well as your favorite brush at home — and it's itty bitty enough to fit in your backpack no matter how much you overpacked. Now, you can have this puppy on hand for those beach days when you need to tame your curls after a dive into the salty sea.
www.amazon.com
I personally always keep one on hand when I need to travel because they don't tug on my curls like many other brushes seem to do.
Promising review: "I use this brush for travel, and I keep another in my gym bag, but I also use the full-sized one in my shower at home. This brush is perfect for curlies because we can't dry brush our hair - with this, we can brush out your curls while wet and lathered in conditioner. After that, just rinse, scrunch, and air dry! I really love the mini-sized one that is very light and small, but it still gets the job done. (And I have a LOT of hair!) They dry quickly as well. I fully recommend it!" — Rachel
Get it from Amazon for $6.89+ (available in packs of two or three and 13 colors).
25. A pack of Starface acne stickers so you can take care of those pesky little pimples on the go. It comes in a *CUTE* carrying case with a mirror inside, as well as 34 stickers that can be refilled, so you always have something on hand!
www.amazon.com
Promising review: "I love this !! Cute and compact! It comes with a mirror. All you have to do after you buy this is just get refills. That's why the ones inside are a different color. I bought them for my teenager, and he loves them. I use them too as well, lol I love these super cute, and you can just toss them in your makeup bag, purse, backpack, etc. Definitely worth it!!" — Kelli/Kevin
Get 32 patches from Amazon for $14.97.