You Won't Believe How Easy Traveling With Only A Carry-On Can Be With These 29 Travel Items

Buzz Feed

08-04-2025

1. A waterproof Kindle you can consider a pocket-size portal to another dimension. It's compact, glare-free, and has a ton of storage for thousands of books, plus a battery life that lasts much longer than your seven-hour flight — up to 10 weeks!
It also features adjustable warm light that's much easier on your eyes.
Former BuzzFeeder Abby Kass swears by her Kindle as a travel must-have: "Yes, that is me ^ sitting in a pool in Hawaii holding my Kindle over the water without fear or stress that if it falls in, it will break. Truly living my best life."
Promising review:"I LOVE reading and being able to access a book anywhere with this thing. It is easy to navigate, very easy to read and adjust the brightness or how warm the light is. It doesn't auto adjust, but I don't need that feature. I've read in bright sunlight to dark rooms, and it's always been so clear. You can adjust the font and use the library to search whatever books you want. Makes packing books for traveling very easy. Battery life lasts me two weeks if I'm reading every day for a few hours." — R@L0
Get it from Amazon for $149.99 (available in three colors, in 8 or 16 GB, and with or without lockscreen ads).
2. A set of packing cubes to help you squeeze in more by keeping everything neat and compressed. You'll be amazed at how much you can fit in your luggage, and since everything is organized into little sections, it'll be a snap to unpack and get on with your trip!
www.amazon.com
Promising review:"These packing cubes are the best. I use them for long weekends or two-week trips. They help me pack things as I would use them and locate what I need inside my suitcase, especially on trips where we change hotels every couple of days and don't unpack into the hotel closet." — Pat
Get a set of eight packing cubes (also comes with a laundry bag) from Amazon for $14.44+ (available in 17 colors and a set of six).
3. A pack of vacuum-free space-saving compression bags so you can bring all your bulky sweaters and jackets on that trip to Scotland. These are great for cramming as much as you can (and then some) into your carry-on, AND they make it much easier to sort through your bag to pull out toiletries or other items for security.
Just pack in your clothes, roll up the bag, and watch as the excess air is squeezed out.
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.
4. *OR* a Stow-N-Go travel organizer that's basically a portable closet. You can arrange everything while you pack, and when you get to your destination, just hang it up and that's it! You'll have perfectly organized clothes for the whole trip.
www.amazon.com
Plus, it has a zipper compartment at the bottom for putting all your dirty clothes in so they don't get mixed with clean items (forcing you to end up just washing everything when you get home).
Promising review:"I just love it. I travel a lot. Now I don't have to hang anything up but my organizer. I can see what I pack and where everything is. Just love it. I can easily fit seven days' worth of outfits and three pairs of shoes in a carry-on suitcase. Just great." — Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $26.99+ (available in two sizes and nine colors).
5. Some Tide sink packets allowing you to wash your smelly clothes in the sink so they don't stink up your bag. These can easily fit in your toiletries bag — even when it's packed to the brim — and you'll be so glad you brought them when you run out of clean underwear.
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 $6.99 (available in two scents and four pack sizes).
6. A luggage strap to keep your personal items (neck pillow, jacket, purse, etc.) together so you can easily run around the airport without worrying about leaving anything behind.
www.amazon.com
Promising review:"I love this little gadget. I used it to attach my jacket and computer bag to my luggage on an extended business trip. It made my airport walks so much easier. Now that I'm back home, I've been using it daily to attach my jacket or cardigan to my work bag or purse." — Michele
Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in five colors and packs of two).
7. A splurge-worthy set of Cadence Capsules that stick together ~magnetically~ and take up way less space in your bag than big pill bottles. They'll help you condense so you're bringing what you actually need (and not overpacking); plus, they're leakproof and incredibly sturdy so you can fill 'em with whatever: creams, vitamins, small jewelry — truly anything small that you want to keep safe.
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).
8. Or a TSA-approved 16-piece travel toiletries set with a container for each and every one of your tried-and-true faves so you don't have to spend more money on the travel-size versions. These are reusable and leakproof, so your products (and other stuff in your bag!) will stay protected.
www.amazon.com
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).
9. A Hackwith Design House shirt because there's nothing more travel-friendly than a top you can wear *five* different ways (that we know of — but you might discover more playing around with it). It's timeless because you can always change how you style it, and it's made from a high-quality fabric that's soft, breathable, and can last for years.
Hackwith Design House is a woman-owned small business that creates made-to-order apparel. This shirt can be worn as a V-neck, off-the-shoulder, boatneck, V-back, and even open as a jacket. And the color is simple, which means it can be paired well with many different bottoms.
BuzzFeed Shopping editor Chelsea Stuart says:"I have this shirt and I *love* it. All credit for its discovery goes to TikToker @jennifer.bianca who I happened to stumble across on my FYP. It checks all my boxes: black, comfortable, versatile, and durable. My initial worry was that I wouldn't feel secure in it (I have a 38DDD chest and most wrap tops/dresses I've tried haven't stayed where they're supposed to), but I haven't had an issue with this! I've worn it tied in the front giving me a square neck (like the middle picture) and tied in the back giving me a V-neck up front (just like the photo on the right) — both were super comfortable, and I didn't have to adjust myself at all. As someone whose weight fluctuates, I also appreciate that this piece can handle pounds gained and lost. The fabric is medium weight, so I'll be wearing it season to season, and there's just enough elasticity in the arms that if you roll up your sleeves, they won't fall back down. All that is to say trust that I will be buying additional colors!"
Get it from Hackwith Design House for $145 (available in women's sizes XS–4X and in three colors).
10. A 2-in-1 hair tool that curls and straightens so you can achieve the perfect balance of texture and shine with just one tool. It's easy to pack for trips and dual-voltage so you can have gorgeous hair no matter what country you're visiting.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
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).
11. A portable rain hood to pair with *any* jacket so you don't have to try to cram in your practical raincoats. You can keep it in your bag for any impromptu downpours!
Amazon
It's a water-resistant microfiber hood attached to a vest, which you can wear under *any* jacket to protect yourself (and your hair) from whatever the weather has planned!
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 (available in two sizes).
12. A flying USB port with four spots to plug in your gadgets so you don't have to pack different power adapters. And bonus: This allows you to make the most of that one working outlet you managed to find at the airport!
Multitasky
Multitasky is a woman-founded and -run small business that began in 2020 as a way for founder Julia Xu to create products that were both functional and cute.
Promising review:"It does as it says it does, allowing my Dell XPS15 to operate a pair of USB devices from my lightning port! The laptop has two USB ports, one of which is always occupied by my USB mouse dongle and the other by my protected USB drive. If I wanted to plug in my phone to switch data or add another thumb drive to transfer a device, everything might have to be disconnected, but not anymore. It was really worth it." — Liberty
Get it from Multitasky for $25 (available in three colors).
13. A Subtl Beauty Stak to condense up to 10 makeup products into one small stack. You can customize yours with anything from lip tints to face powder. And as convenient as it is for travel, it's also perfect to keep in your purse for any on-the-go touch-ups!
Subtl Beauty
Each stack also includes a mirror lid, a base, and a mini brush.
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 it for traveling, but have been using it daily and love it!" – Paula Bowie
Get the Starter Stak from Subtl Beauty for $60 (available in 19 tones), or customize your own stack starting at $12 per layer, with up to 10 product types available.
14. A skyline mini wallet emergency kit packed with the practical items that are easy to forget (like hair ties, tampons, Tylenol, and more!) while still being small enough to fit in your purse — so it definitely *won't* take up too much space in your carry-on.
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, ChapStick, 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).
15. A waterproof travel cable organizer to keep all your chargers, earbuds, and other cords from becoming a tumbleweed that takes up a quarter of your bag. It has different compartments so you can easily find what you need without any unnecessary digging or detangling!
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 $7.85+ (available in three sizes and 23 colors).
16. A reusable gel lint roller that'll keep those five shirts and three pairs of pants looking pristine. It's compact, easy to throw in your bag, and all it takes to restore its stickiness is washing the interior. If you're someone who wears a lot of black, this will definitely make your life better.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "I travel frequently for work and keep this in my suitcase. Works great; I no longer carry a lint roller." — Liza Przekop
Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in four colors and in packs of two or four).
17. A capacious travel backpack to make the most out of your personal item (just make sure you can still stuff it under the seat). It has two laptop sleeves, a secret anti-theft pocket, a USB charging port, a shoe compartment, and a bag to isolate your dirty clothes or keep liquids away from your electronics. This thing is like the LeBron of backpacks. 🏀
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
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 $23.99+ (available in four sizes and 38 styles).
18. A set of TSA-friendly travel bottles with pumps that makes traveling with shampoo, moisturizer, and other liquid products sooo much easier. You spent good money on that fancy conditioner, and you should be able to use it wherever you go!
www.amazon.com
Promising review:"It's a little hard to fill but if you have a small funnel already it makes it a lot easier. They're super easy to use and really convenient for packing. I use it for the gym, travel, and I also travel for work often and it comes in handy there." — Kelsey Jacobi
Get a set of two from Amazon for $6.99 (available in three colors).
19. A foldable jewelry organizer with an earring panel, necklace holders, padded ring rolls, and zippered compartments to organize all your different accessories. It's made from soft quilted cotton that compresses nicely so you can squeeze it in with everything else.
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 $19.99+ (available in two sizes and eight colors).
20. A pack of Neutrogena makeup remover towelettes because unfortunately, you can't always bring your entire skincare routine on trips, but at the very least, you can always take off your makeup and hit the hay with a clean face. They're much more compact than any cleansing liquid or balm; honestly, you could just throw these in your travel bag and keep them in there indefinitely — and a huge bonus, they *won't* explode all over your stuff.
www.amazon.com
Promising review:"Just what I needed. This worked perfectly on a recent business trip. Felt refreshing and left my skin feeling soft." — Glenda E
Get a pack of 20 from Amazon for $6.88 (also available in a larger pack).
21. Or a makeup-removing cloth that can take the place of your large (read: *not* TSA-friendly) bottle of liquid makeup remover or bulky pack of wipes. To cleanse your face, all you need is this and some water!
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).
22. A fast-drying microfiber towel you can fold into a compact square and fit into the smallest of carry-ons. It's perfect for travelers who aren't staying in hotels, and reviewers love to bring it camping because of how lightweight it is!
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review:"Perfect. Have used these for hiking and business travel. Can't imagine anyone having a bad thing to say about them." — G. B.
Get it from Amazon for $20.99 (available in 18 colors and six sizes).
23. The 4-in-1 Alleyoop Pen Pal that combines everything you need (mascara, brow pencil, eyeliner, and highlighter) into one compact tool so you can save space and still look cute.
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).
24. A travel-sized wrinkle release spray because while rolling all your clothes into a tight ball may be convenient for packing, it does leave them looking a little crumpled. Now you don't need to hunt down an iron or go to dinner with a crinkled shirt.
Promising review:"Hate dragging out the old hotel iron and board, so I just spray my wrinkled clothes with this, and viola! Takes the wrinkles out, and off I go — no wrestling while putting the iron and board away. I even have a small travel iron or use my hair styling irons if I want a better finish, but this usually does the job nicely." — Audie
Get it from Amazon for $6.05.
25. A foldable water bottle that will squish right down when you're trying to close your suitcase, unlike those metal and plastic water bottles that do NOT budge (it's actually really annoying)! This one is basically the antithesis to those since you can squeeze it into any nook and cranny of your luggage, *and* you can fill it up at the airport instead of buying overpriced water.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
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 $8.99+ (available in three sizes/styles and 13 colors).
26. A compact I Dew Care "Tap Secret" mattifying powder shampoo with a sponge applicator — it's not a liquid, so you don't have to take it out of your bag when going through security! It'll come in clutch when your flight lands and you've got dinner plans, but your hair is looking a little too greasy for your liking.
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 and packs of two or three).
27. A high-quality hair conditioner bar so you don't have to deal with the extra hassle of transferring your nice conditioner into travel-sized bottles or using hotel conditioner that ends up drying out your hair. This is formulated with rice water, and reviewers love how soft their hair feels after using it!
Elizabeth (that's her above) has traveled with this in her carry-on and loves it:" Here, I used hotel shampoo (it was pretty fancy, NGL), this shampoo bar, and my roommate's Moroccan Oil curl cream. The bar is basically foolproof. You rub it directly on your wet hair after rinsing out your shampoo. I normally wash my naturally curly hair once or twice a week but on this trip was taking daily dips in the sea, so I washed my hair 5x over a week. Because of this, I let the conditioner sit for a few minutes, though you probably don't need to do that if you're washing your hair your usual amount on your trip."
Promising review: This is incredible! It leaves my hair feeling soft, hydrated, and healthier with every use. I was skeptical about switching from a traditional liquid conditioner, but this bar exceeded my expectations. It's compact, eco-friendly, and lasts longer than I expected." — Niki Saigeon
Get it from Amazon for $11.99.
28. A 3-in-1 travel razor that's got it all: a refillable spray bottle for easy skin prep, a shea butter moisturizing bar, and two triple-blade razor cartridges — aka everything you need for smooth, on-the-go shaving in one compact, travel-ready kit.
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 or blue).
29. A mini belted pack to keep all your travel essentials close by and easily accessible — because even when traveling with a carry-on, there's still too much to dig through when you're just looking for your wallet. Don't let its size fool you; this little guy can hold a lot — wallet, phone, earbuds, keys, those all-important snacks — all while keeping you hands-free.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "I used mine nonstop for almost a year and loved the versatility. I travel a lot for my job and wanted something easy for the airport, but I ended up using it all the time. I purchased the brown color, which is more like a mauve pink, exactly what I was looking for. I used mine until it died and am going to purchase another!" — sarah noe
Elizabeth also owns this — she packed it as her only day bag for a busy trip to Iceland, and not only did it hold a ton and keep her hands free, it easily fit around her waist over her outerwear!
Get it from Amazon for $12.98 (available in 42 colors).