30 Products To Help You Pack More Efficiently Since Your Favorite Sweater Takes Up A Third Of Your Carry-On

Buzz Feed

21-02-2025

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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Step 1: Snag the neck pillow designed to sneakily hold several outfits.
1. First, a helpful "Pack this!" checklist because sometimes the biggest travel headache is figuring out what to bring. This should help you figure out exactly what you need ahead of time so you can avoid spur-of-the-moment overpacking.
www.amazon.com
Promising review:"This is perfect. Whenever we travel, my kids always say, 'Make me a list of what I have to pack.' I always worry I will forget to tell them something random like underwear or pajamas...so now, I just check the boxes, they pack, and can review the list if they want to add anything." — AmyH
Get it from Amazon for $7+ (available in two colors and a road trip edition).
2. A Tencel travel shawl to make you question how you ever traveled anywhere without it. Equipped with UPF 50+ protection, this multi-talented addition can be a sun shield for bare shoulders, an airplane blanket, a trendy scarf, or a cozy wrap when you're feeling chilled. All in a foldable style that's compact enough to stash in a purse.
www.amazon.com, Amazon
Promising review: "I love my new everywhere scarf/shawl. I purchased the silver for travel and am now wearing it almost daily. It is sooooo soft and versatile. Looks great with jeans and a sweater as a scarf. Looks really nice as a shawl with a dress or slacks and a blouse. You will love how you feel wrapped up in it on an airplane or in the car on a trip. Don't pass up owning this great accessory. Enjoy it!" — George K.
Get it from Amazon for $46+ (available in nine colors).
3. A dual-voltage 2-in-1 straightener and curling iron so you don't have to decide between packing light and styling versatility on your trip.
It has a swiveling, tangle-free cord, too.
Promising review:"I bought this for a trip to Italy, as I didn't have a dual-voltage iron (and you can't just use a converter-adapter combination with things that heat up). I liked that it was a flat iron and curling iron combo, so I could change things up as I desired. It worked beautifully on our trip — I look nice in all my selfies ;) — and continues to work beautifully at home. In fact, I've replaced my old flat iron with this because of its versatility, and now I use this one every day. BTW, in case you are wondering, it automatically switches to the appropriate voltage, no looking for a switch or anything. You don't need to do anything but plug it in! Great product!" — Diane Field
Get it from Amazon for $49.99+ (available in black and white).
4. Or just opt for a lightweight mini flat iron for smoothing out your wavy locks when the blowout you banked on lasting the whole trip doesn't cooperate.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
It also comes with a heat-resistant pouch for easy carrying!
Promising review:"This fits perfectly in my toiletries travel bag that I take with me as a flight attendant. Anything that comes in small size and still works well is perfect for me." — Kathy S
Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in three colors).
5. Plus, an adaptable hair diffuser if you're tired of lugging your blow dryer halfway across the world just so you won't have to be without your diffuser. This attachment adjusts in size to fit most any blow dryer, so using the Airbnb dryer doesn't feel like a sacrifice.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review:"Purchased for a recent trip to the UK, Croatia, and Montenegro. Doesn't disappoint. Great for curly hair. Lightweight, small enough, and doesn't take up lots of room. Highly recommend for international hotel travel!" — Karen and Liz
Get it from Amazon for $25 (available in seven colors).
6. A set of moisture-wicking long thermal underwear with a soft fleece lining that you can layer under any 'fit for loads of extra warmth. The lightweight set might just be warmer than your beloved, bulky cable knit and is infinitely more packable when space is tight.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Thermajane is a small business that specializes in thermal gear for the whole family.
Promising review:" Bought these in advance of travel to the frigid farmlands of Iowa. As a native Floridian, the prospect of -30s and -40s chilled me to my bones. Honestly, I did not have much hope these would keep me warm, but I was thrilled to be wrong. These were lightweight and comfortable to wear under my clothes, and the fleece lining was warm and soft against my skin. So glad I bought my child and self a pair; we would not have survived the holiday blizzard without these." — La Chula
Get it from Amazon for $31.99+ (available in women's sizes XXS–3XL and 15 colors).
7. A spacious travel backpack that pushes the spatial limits of what you thought a personal item could carry, making it the perfect companion for all the outfits you couldn't cram in the carry-on.
Reviewers say it meets even Spirit and JetBlue 's personal item rules and fits under airplane seats!
Promising review:"This is a perfect size backpack for traveling on a plane as your personal item, especially to international destinations. You could fit rolled-up clothes in here for another week, and it has a very handy shoe bag and tons of places for your electronics. This will be an excellent addition to my carry-on suitcase. Best purchase all year. I consider myself an expert on travel bags. I have way too many. It's smaller than it looks but so roomy." — AP
Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in three sizes and 22 colors).
8. A set of waterproof packing cubes because it's time to start working with your tendency to overpack instead of against it. Simply follow the packing directions, and each cube will pleasantly surprise you with how much it can hold. Not to mention the sheer joy of being able to find the right outfit without tearing apart your entire pack job.
www.amazon.com
This set comes with an extra large cube, large cube, medium cube, small cube, roomy shoe bag, and a laundry bag for dirty clothes!
Promising review:"The sheer amount of clothes I jammed into my carry-on with the help of these cubes was obscene. Four floor-length gowns, four pairs of shoes, business attire for four days, enough underwear for a zombie apocalypse, and toiletries/blazers. The laundry bag was super helpful for the trip home. I also left the largest cube at home because it was totally big for my carry-on size trip. Fantastic value. 10/10 recommend." — akstevie
Get a six-piece set from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in 11 colors).
9. And a space-saving compression bag to significantly compress your clothes by sucking out all the air — no vacuum required! These are designed for travel, so all you have to do is fill up a bag and roll it out to release air through the built-in valves.
Emma Lord / BuzzFeed
BuzzFeed Shopping editor Emma Lord has had major success with these:
"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 made a habit of taking them with me in case other people joining me on trips needed 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."
Get a set of eight from Amazon for $15.98.
10. A windproof packable puffer jacket with an included storage pouch so you can show up to your destination prepared for inclement weather without having surrendered two thirds of your limited bag space.
Promising reviews:"It fits in the travel bag well and packs well in a suitcase." — Carrie Weidle
"I am so pleased with this jacket! Super lightweight and keeps you plenty warm. I REALLY love the pocket on the front which holds my cellphone comfortably and the bonus pockets on the inside. Love it!" — Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $63.97 (available in women's sizes XS–3XL and in nine colors).
11. Some Tide sink packets each loaded with the perfect amount of detergent for washing those salty bathing suits and dirty undies so you can avoid overstuffing your suitcase even on multi-week excursions.
Tide
Each pack comes with three packets, and they're tiny enough to easily slide into the side of any toiletry bag,
Promising review:"I have taken these packets on travels worldwide. They are small and fit in my bag. They are good for a wash in a sink or wash bag... Glad to have them. They don't leak either." — Barbara Jefferson
Get nine packs from Amazon for $6.93.
12. Plus, a 6-foot travel clothesline that'll make drying your freshly cleaned laundry right in the hotel room a straightforward affair that doesn't involve draping wet clothes over every square inch of available space. You don't even need clothespins — just hang the clothes between the braided cords.
www.amazon.com
Promising review:"Love this clothesline! We take this with us on resort vacations. It's nice to be able to wash out swimsuits, etc., and hang them to dry every day so they don't smell after days of nonstop ocean fun. This one is nice because you don't need clothespins, and it stretches pretty far. I could hang up two kid's swimsuits, two kid's rash guards, two adult swimsuits, and two adult rash guards, and I still had room for more. This is a must if you take any tropical vacation where it's humid and hard for clothes to dry out." — Haley G
Get it from Amazon for $11.50.
13. A space-efficient travel cable organizer if you're sick of surrendering so much space to a rat's nest of charging cords. This handy organizer will keep everything organized, and loads of reviewers say it works great as an organized makeup bag, too!
www.amazon.com
Promising review:"I love this pouch and have actually purchased a black and pink one. The black one I use for my tech cords when traveling and the pink one I use for my makeup when traveling. Since I travel a lot, it is important to not have a lot of bulky stuff, so this pouch works great for my makeup as well." — Becky Meng
Get it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in seven colors).
14. An all-in-one universal wall adapter to avoid showing up in a new country with no way to charge your phone — no matter where you go — since several chargers for that multi-country expedition is valuable space we can't afford to lose.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review:"Probably the best $13 I've spent on anything. If you travel a lot, especially internationally, this is a must-have because you have every kind of adapter on one plug and don't have to worry about constantly buying a certain adapter every time you travel to a different country. This has it all." — Abby Graumann
Get it from Amazon for $11.99 (available in four colors).
15. Plus, a braided 4-in-1 fast charging cord because why pack four chargers when you can pack one super long and sturdy cable that can handle all your destination charging needs?
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.
16. Or a foldable 3-in-1 wireless charger for forgetful packers who always seem to leave behind at least one vital charging cord. With this all-in-one dock, you'll always have what you need to power your iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods.
Promising review: "I bought this for myself and have also given it as a gift three times. It's one of those little things that makes your life that much better when you're traveling. It works perfectly, and my devices connect to it super easily and charge quickly. It packs up so nice and small and is 100% worth the money." — Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in six colors).
17. A plush velvet travel jewelry case so you can cram your extensive jewelry collection in your carry-on without also committing to a half-hour untangling sesh while rushing to make your 8 p.m. reservation.
www.amazon.com, Amazon
Promising review: "I purchased this box for a weekend getaway. In the past I have just thrown all of my jewelry into little makeup bags, but then everything gets tangled and disorganized. I love that this box keeps everything organized and leaves all my necklaces tangle free!" — Dogmom206
Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (available in eight colors).
18. A Trtl neck pillow for actually supporting your neck while you try to catch some mid-flight Z's. It's way less bulky than traditional travel pillows and will keep you from head bobbing onto your neighbor's shoulder.
www.amazon.com
Promising review: "I am a terrible flyer who recently took the red-eye from Dubai to Chicago (15 hours). The Trtl Pillow was a mini lifesaver! I was able to comfortably rest my head on the support and felt warm enough to actually doze off....a rare accomplishment for this skittish flyer. The Velcro works wonderfully with regard to adjustment, and I liked wrapping the fabric around my mouth and nose. Sort of felt cozy...even if I did look like a ninja in a neck brace! Overall, this product has changed the way that I fly, and I am so thankful for this invention and the opportunity to support a small company with big ideas." — S.Viruly
Get it from Amazon for $64.99 (available in four colors).
19. Or a neck pillow you can stuff with clothing if it's your life's mission to never pay extra baggage fees. This downright magical hack clips to your luggage and can hold 2–3 days' worth of clothing, so all those chunky knits can come out of the carry-on and cushion your head during your snooze in the skies.
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: "I travel a lot and try to use Spirit, which, as we know, charges extra fees. I put three days' worth of clothes in this and had room to spare. Freed up space in my computer bag for bulky items. One thing: it is definitely larger than a typical neck pillow. I attach it to my computer bag, and nobody has said anything." — david
Get it from Amazon for $49.95.
20. A refillable travel perfume atomizer that's a quick and easy way to transport your favorite scents so you don't have to spend your whole vacay not smelling like your best self.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Using the atomizer is easy: Simply unscrew the cap to your perfume bottle, place the perfume nozzle into the hole at the bottom of the atomizer, and pump the perfume inside.
Promising review:"This product is great for smaller bags or for going on vacation. It works well and hasn't leaked. I've had these for about a year now and would still get more. They look exactly like the photos and work well. Would get again." — Angelena
Get a pack of four from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in six color combos).
21. A heavy-duty bag strap because no one wants to be stuck wearing (or holding) their puffy jacket while navigating the airport. This simple little add-on attaches to luggage, purses, or backpacks to free your hands of those travel essentials that are just too bulky for your bags.
www.amazon.com, Amazon
Promising review:"I bought two straps to use for my trip. It was so worth it! It held my family's light jackets and kid's travel neck pillow. We also used it to hold our water bottles on our hikes. I wish I knew about these sooner!" — Lisa H
Get it from Amazon for $8.49+ (available in six colors and multipacks).
22. A waterproof toiletry bag with enough space to pack up your entire 14-step self-care routine in the most space-efficient way possible. Plus, it's equipped with a rotating hook so you can hang it on the back of a door or in the shower for convenient access.
Promising review:" We are a family of seven, and this held all of our bathroom supplies for a weekend trip. This is a must-have for traveling. The best feature is it being able to hang up on a robe hook or the back of a door. It frees up hotel sinks and keeps you well organized." — Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $17.99+ (available in two sizes and in 11 colors).
23. Or a set of Cadence containers with custom removable labels and wide openings so traveling with TSA-compliant versions of your entire self-care routine is a breeze. And, yes, they're totally leakproof, airtight, and supremely space-efficient since they magnetize together.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
This "daily routine" set includes four flex medium and three flex small Capsules.
BTW you can also get sets with labeled tiles for hair care and skincare!
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: "I am a chronic over-packer with a tendency to jam-pack my toiletries bag with anything and everything I mistakenly THINK I need to bring on a trip with me. Not only does this reel me in to bring what I actually need in compact, beautiful containers, but these vessels also stay together with the greatest ease and keep my essential products ready to go for my next trip. No more buying wasteful travel-size cosmetics. The best part is they seal so well and just live in my travel bag, so I know all my creams and soaps are ready to go for my next getaway. Thanks, Cadence, for helping me keep it all together!" — Amazon Customer
Get the daily routine set from Amazon for $138 (available in five colors and other sets).
24. A pair of reusable waterproof shoe covers for smart weather prep that doesn't involve packing your absurdly heavy galoshes. These easily fold down tiny enough to stash in a purse, so you can keep your tootsies dry even when a storm rolls in out of nowhere.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Check the handy sizing chart on the product listing so you can find your ideal fit!
Promising reviews: "Exactly as described. The size was exactly right for my shoe size. Perfect for a trip, as they take up very little space in a suitcase and work quite well to keep the rain out and puddles away from shoes." — Caroljean
Get a pair from Amazon for $15.89 (available in unisex sizes S–4XL and five styles).
25. A lightweight crewneck sweater you might want to pick up in every color if you're struggling to balance warmth, style, and portability while traveling. Reviewers praise this soft sweater for its warmth while still being a lightweight option for some clever layering.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review:"I think I read in another review that these are magic sweaters, and I would have to agree! Not too loose, not too tight. PERFECT for layering and travel. Used extensively on our European vacation this month, where we needed layers at times and also did not have a lot of room in our carry-on. I would recommend these 100%. If I did it over again, I would buy two (one stripe and one solid) so my photos would have had variety!" — Heather Johnson
Get it from Amazon for $17.90+ (available in women's sizes XS–6X and 37 colors/styles).
26. A cream-to-powder E.l.f. multistick that'll simplify your beauty routine with one vibrant pigment that can play the part of eyeshadow, blush, *and* lipstick. Now, you can stash a full face of makeup in your tiniest purse. How's that for packing light?
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "Never liked blush until now. I've tried so hard to wear blush but it always looked wrong on me, no matter what color or brand. I got [Glistening Peach] a pink that is so subtle it's almost imperceptible but it does something. I can put it on in seconds with no mirror, and it will still look good." — Wednesday
Get it from Amazon for $5 (available in six shades).
27. Plus, a 4-in-1 makeup brush set because now you can ditch the bulky pouch of brushes and still have everything you need to blend out your entire beauty routine from the hotel room.
www.amazon.com
Promising review: "The bristles are soft, and they apply 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 five colors and with a plastic or silicone brush holder).
28. A Kindle Paperwhite with 16GB of storage and three free months of Kindle Unlimited to bring your entire TBR list with you on the road without bogging you down. So when your flight is delayed and you fly through your vacation book in one sitting, a backup is just a few taps away.
BuzzFeed Shopping editor Samantha Wieder has only good things to say about her Kindle Paperwhite:
"I did it. I caved on October Prime Day and bought myself a Kindle Paperwhite, and boy, am I glad I did. For starters, I always thought of myself as someone who preferred physical books over e-books. There's just something SO exciting to me about unboxing a book order or walking into a bookstore and spending way too much money. I even spent two years creating a rainbow library on my bookshelf in my apartment. BUT! After taking two vacations this year and realizing how annoying it is to pack physical books and move somewhere that requires a long train ride to get to the city (aka increased boredom), I decided to just get myself a Kindle. For starters, I'm reading more on this Kindle in the past month than I have all year. It is incredibly lightweight (it fits into my small little BELT BAG WITH ROOM TO SPARE!!!), easy to use, and not to mention a really great investment! I also had three free months of Kindle Unlimited, which meant access to tons of great books for free, but the best is Libby! I just go on the Libby app from my phone, choose a Kindle book to check out through my local library, and boom, it's instantly delivered to my Amazon account to add to my Kindle library. It's safe to say I'm obsessed.
Get it from Amazon for $149.99+ (available with or without three months of Kindle Unlimited and ads, three colors, and a kids version).
29. A 3-in-1 travel razor equipped with a refillable spray bottle to wet skin, a shea butter moisturizing bar, and two triple-blade razor cartridges to cram all your on-the-go shaving needs in one packable little package.
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).
30. Or a teeny on-the-go Gillette razor because it takes up basically no space at all, and plenty of reviewers like it enough to keep using it once they get home.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com