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Buzz Feed
05-05-2025
- Buzz Feed
If You Want To Be In Your Travel Era This Summer, Check Out These 44 Useful And, Also Importantly, Cheap Products
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. Shopping · Whether you're jet-setting to Europe or doing a quick weekend trip, you'll want the foot hammock to make your countless flights a 'lil more comfortable. 1. An affordable travel backpack that's super roomy with *lots* of compartments so you can fit everything that didn't fit in your carry-on roller. One reviewer was able to fit a pair of jeans, two pairs of leggings, a long-sleeve tunic, a short-sleeve blouse, two lightweight sweatshirts, two t-shirts, five pairs of underwear, five pairs of socks, their liquids bag, AND a laptop. And while it was packed to the brim, it still fit the airline's dimensions for a personal item. 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 $20.39+ (available in four sizes and 39 styles). 2. A foldable water bottle so you can avoid purchasing the ridiculously priced water bottles at the airport Hudson News. Just pack this into your personal item (empty, of course) and fill it up once you're through security! 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). 3. A set of packing cubes to help compress your million outfit changes (which are essential) so you don't struggle when zipping your suitcase shut. You'll fit all of your favorite tops *and* have them all nice and organized, so unpacking is quick and easy. 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 15 colors and two sets). 4. Or a pack of vacuum-free space-saving compression bags that can squish out all the air once it's been stuffed — aka you'll be able to fit so much more. One reviewer said a small bag was able to fit six t-shirts, seven pairs of shorts, and four boxers! So, a set of these will easily fit your week's worth of clothing at that rate. Just pack in your clothes, roll up the bag, and watch as the excess air is squeezed out. Here's what BuzzFeed Shopping writer Emma Lord has to say:"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. 5. *OR* a portable hanging luggage organizer if you identify as someone who lives out their suitcase for the entirety of their trip because you despiseee unpacking. This streamlines the process, so all you do is lift up the organizer and attach the hooks to your room's closet rod — BOOM. DONE. You'll go from cozy traveler to sightseeing extraordinaire so fast that the hotel receptionist will literally not believe it. 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 $26.95+ (available in two sizes and nine colors). 6. A roll-up wide brim UPF 50 sun hat so you can protect your face *and* give off "rich aunt who winters in Palm Springs" energy. If you start turning red approximately 0.2 seconds in the sun, this hat is calling your name. Reviewers say it keeps its shape even after being shoved in a suitcase — so no sad, floppy hat moments while you're sipping a piña colada poolside. Promising review: "This hat has been my go-to hat for summer and vacations. Looks super cute paired with a swimsuit or jeans and a tank. I have packed it in a suitcase multi times for travel and had no issues with it breaking or creasin g. [It comes in] many cute colors, but I love the the lighter cream with the black band." — ND Get it from Amazon for $25.99 (available in three sizes and 20 colors). 7. And, an E.l.f. Suntouchable Invisible Sunscreen for a quick swipe of SPF 35 without the ghostly whitecast. It's water-resistant, so if you take a spontaneous dip or forget to reapply right away (we've all been there), you'll still have some backup protection. If you're a fan of Supergoop's Unseen Sunscreen but not its price tag, this one's a budget-friendly alternative reviewers swear by. It has a similar smooth consistency *and* the same ability to be used as a primer, too. Check out BuzzFeed Shopping editor Jenae Sitzes' review of this sunscreen (hint: it's worth the full read):"The packaging similarities are impossible to ignore, but that's not where the comparisons between this E.l.f. sunscreen and Supergoop's cult-fave product end. I've tried both, and I honestly prefer this E.l.f. version. Supergoop's had a slight graininess to it that I didn't love, while this E.l.f. sunscreen is exactly what I'd hoped Supergoop's would feel like: totally smooth and velvety. Like Supergoop's, it goes on totally clear and doesn't feel like you're wearing a mask; it sinks in immediately. And of course, a major selling point: A 1.7-ounce bottle of E.l.f. Suntouchable will cost you $14, while Supergoop's Unseen Sunscreen in the same size will put you back $38. Now, it's worth noting that Supergoop's Unseen Sunscreen has SPF 50, while E.l.f.'s product offers SPF 35. Both of these meet the American Academy of Dermatology's recommendation of using a sunscreen with SPF 30 or more, which blocks 97% of the sun's UVB rays. Anything over SPF 30 offers only slightly more protection (and nothing can block 100% of the sun's rays), yet the higher number, the more brands tend to charge. So do with that info what you will! This isn't the only SPF I use, but I love having it in my arsenal, especially when I do want to layer makeup on top!" Promising review: "This sunscreen is a gem. I was not expecting to love it as much as I do. I absolutely love E.l.f. products, but I rarely try their skincare. Something told me to try this. When I put it on, it gave a smooth silicone finish and feel. I was faithful to Supergoop but didn't want to spend as much as the product is listed for. I will continue to use this sunscreen; it has been one of the best I've ever tried. I've been into skincare since I was 15; I am 37, and for me to say that this product is a gold mine is rare." — Angelina S Get it from Amazon for $14. 8. Some Tide sink packets so your sweaty socks and beach-walk undies smell much better *and* don't stink up your whole bag. Toss 'em in the sink with these packets instead! Future you will be so glad when it's time to rewear that cute bikini and it doesn't smell like a sea-salt sauna. 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 $6.28 (available in two scents and four pack sizes). 9. A super convenient handheld mini fan for when the summer heat has you sweating before takeoff and the plane's AC is practically nonexistent. Just pop it open and let the cool breeze work its magic while you chill. Bonus: it's also got a flashlight *and* a USB port to charge your phone — 'cause clearly, this little guy is going for travel MVP. Check out why BuzzFeed Shopping writer Gabriela Manjarrez *always* keeps this on her: " You know how everyone has those little items that are permanently in their carry-on bag? This is one of them for me. Being able to get some nice airflow wherever I go has been so amazing I can never go back. And not even just for travel! I also take it to amusement parks and on hikes, and I even use it throughout my makeup routine to help set products in place. Plus, the battery life is *top-tier*." Promising review: "This thing was a godsend while I was in Florida in the summertime. Love that it has a flashlight, and you can use it as a backup power bank in a pinch. For me this fit all my needs, it kept me cool in Florida, fit perfectly in my purse/backpack and on my wrist. I pretty much took this wherever I went and even used it on the plane during boarding when it was super hot in there. I'm giving this 5 stars. It worked perfectly for me." — Erica Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in six colors). 10. A TSA-approved 16-piece travel toiletries set because travel-sized versions of your favorite products don't exist — and you don't have room for your entire skincare and haircare routine anyway. They're reusable so you can use them all summer long *and* they don't leak, so your toiletries bag won't get covered in shampoo. 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 $8.49+ (available in eight colors). 11. A jacket and bag gripper you can attach to your suitcase or backpack to free up your hands. Now, you can easily grab your jacket without ripping open your bag once you've boarded, especially when the airplane is feeling a little chilly. 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 $7.99+ (available in six colors and packs of two). 12. A skyline mini wallet emergency kit that's gonna solve every little mishap that pops up on your trip, but BARELY take up any room. You'll have a stain remover, deodorant wipes, a sewing kit, and MORE all at your disposal — Psst, it has 20 different things in it! 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). 13. A waterproof travel cable organizer so your cords, chargers, earbuds, and other small tech gadgets stay super neat, because throwing them loosely into your bag means a tangly mess when you need them. 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 23 colors). 14. A fast-drying microfiber towel 'cause your hotel towels will be wet for wayyyy too long and you want to lay out by the pool! It's super absorbent, feels oh-so-soft, and will barely take up room in your bag compared to normal bath towels. Plus, reviewers say sand falls right off — just give it a quick shake before you leave the beach so you *don't* have a mini beach exploding all over your hotel room floor. 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. Promising review: " I bought this for a trip to Mexico, during which we moved from pool to beach to ocean a lot. This towel was the perfect travel companion to keep me somewhat dry and get me to the next stop. I especially appreciated taking it on our snorkeling trip because it could fit easily in a waterproof bag with my other things and not get wet. It was a great blanket when it was chilly as well. And it dries so quickly so you can be ready for your next adventure. I like the bag it comes in to keep it contained within your tote bag, too." — dmw Get it from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in 18 colors and six sizes). 15. And, a set of towel clips because nothing's more annoying than your towel slipping off every five seconds while you're just trying to soak up the sun. And when you're done lounging, you can use them to hang up your bathing suit — ok, double use! 😍 Check out a TikTok of the towel clips in action. Promising review: "I purchased these for a family of eight going on a cruise and they loved them! So easy to use, just put your towel on the beach chair and clip down with these. They said they were especially awesome on windy days when others towels were blowing away if they were not sitting on the chair. The family was able to go to lunch or take a walk and not worry that their towels had been blown away and someone had then snagged their seats. Very inexpensive and functional clips." — TypeA Get a set of 16 from Amazon for $8.99. 16. A foldable jewelry organizer if you bling yourself out to the max while on vacay (each day is a new opportunity to accessorize!) but don't want to bring a bulky jewelry box. This will compactly fit, organize, and protect your endless array of rings, earrings, bracelets, and necklaces while on the move. So bring those three sets of hoops! I can *also* tell they're all different — even if your partner can't. 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 eight colors). 17. A soft makeup-removing cloth that *only* requires water to work, so you *don't* have to make room for cotton rounds and a clunky bottle of micellar water in your bag. Reviewers say it works like a charm, with one reviewer noting it can take off thick waterproof mascara. Amazon, 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). 18. A set of travel bottles with pumps so your fave shampoo, conditioner, or moisturizer can come along for the ride *and* breeze through security. You paid good money for that glossy hair routine, so it will be coming with you during your Euro summer. 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. Alleyoop's Pen Pal — a 4-in-1 pen to do your lip liner, brows, eyeliner, *and* highlighter. If your toiletries bag is already overflowing, this will give you all of your makeup must-haves while traveling (without taking up precious room). Idk about you, but it's making me nostalgic for my 5-in-1 pen from elementary school. 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). 20. And Alleyoop's 3-in-1 travel razor that'll help you touch up your legs on the go if you missed any spots! Just spray your leg with the mister, shave, and go over your leg with the moisturizer bar. Reviewers with children also say this is a clever way to pack razors since kids won't know a razor is inside — aka no accidents during ~vacay time~. You can use it for shaving your entire leg, too, but you'll want to do it in the shower since the mister can run out! 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). 21. A travel-size wrinkle release spray 'cause no matter how neatly you fold your clothes, they always seem to get a little wrinkled — and I *know* you want to look freshly polished when sightseeing! There's no need for the hotel room iron, just spritz this onto your clothes and let it work its magic. 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. 22. A compact, easy-to-apply I Dew Care "Tap Secret" mattifying powder shampoo to keep your hair more volumized and less greasy in-between shampoos — you won't have to FULLY wash your hair to get the "fresh out the shower" look. Just dab this ultra-fine powder into your roots, shake out the product, and style, then you're done! 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 seven shades). 23. A pair of quick-dry water shoes 'cause walking on the beach in flip flops always ends with sand everywhere — and that's just the worst. With these, you can handle rocky shores or scorching sand without doing the "ow, ow, ow" dance on your way back to your chair. Promising review: "Purchased three pairs for our cruise. We all loved them. Best water shoes I've ever worn. Feels like you are barefoot but keeps your feet safe from anything you step on. Very comfortable! Highly recommended!" — Donna M Get it from Amazon for $7.64+ (available in seven sizes and 36 colors). 24. A digital luggage scale that'll squash *any* anxiety that your bag is too heavy so you don't have to worry about forking over some money (for that big overweight bag fee) or ripping open your suitcase in front of everyone — with this, you can avoid both! Promising review: "I would absolutely recommend this for anyone who travels, especially internationally, because of all the extra costs for going over in weight. We were among the few people in line who didn't need to rearrange our luggage at the airport to meet the weight requirements in Milan. So easy to pack and take with you." — Addison Promising review: "This little device was well worth the money spent. It saved us a lot of money on our flight home since we knew the weight was over and could pre-purchase the overage in the app instead of paying double at the airport. I'll never travel without it!! Very easy to use." — Michael Ellis Get it from Amazon for $7.64+ (available in four colors and also as a two-pack). 25. A lightweight mini belt bag you can wear as a crossbody or around your waist with your daily items safely secured inside — reviewers are always shocked by the amount of stuff it can fit! It'll be easier to find smaller items like your AirPods, chargers, and lip products since you won't have to dig around larger bags. Promising review:"I bought this as a purse for traveling to populated European cities as there are heaps of pickpockets. It worked perfectly! It is the perfect size to fit everything I need and was super comfortable. Highly recommend." — Jessie Anela Promising review: "I bought this fanny pack to take on our trip to San Francisco, and it worked out better than I thought it would! We hiked through Muir Woods, and I loved that my hands were free from holding a purse! Then we walked across the Golden Gate Bridge, went to Chinatown, the wharf, etc., and again, it was great not having to hold anything. This is by far the best bag I've ever traveled with. It is almost the same exact size as a (name brand) bag but a lot less. Best purchase for the vacation :)" — Pat Get it from Amazon for $11.98+ (available in 45 colors). 26. A luggage drink caddy if your morning Starbies is a must as you travel, but you want your hands free as you walk to your gate. It can hold your Brown Sugar Shaken Esspresso, pink cake pop, water bottle, phone, or anything else that's keeping your hand occupied. Reviewers say it's ideal for a suitcase that can roll on four wheels! If you have a suitcase that has to tilt while it rolls, just be careful if the drinks are open at the top. Check it out on TikTok. Promising review: "This cup holder is perfect! It helps me a lot! Last time I took a plane with a suitcase and a cup of coffee, I dropped and spilled my drink everywhere when it was my turn to check my passport and ticket. It was a nightmare! This time, I bought this cup holder to do me a favor! I don't have to worry about where my cup and phone are! I can free my hands to do other things. I love it so much! Hope you love it too." — Philip Get it from Amazon for $11.99+ (available in 22 colors and patterns). 27. A comfy pair of kids' headphones 'cause as soon as your plane leaves its gate, your little one is gonna want to watch movie after movie. One reviewer said they lasted five-plus years and survived their "children's abuse," so don't let the cheap price tag fool you, these are high quality! Promising review:"These headphones are great! They have a nice shape and comfort and sound isolation that serves my kid well on a 10-hour flight with other screaming kids. These headphones have great sound isolation that make it still possible for my kid to listen during plane rides despite volume limitation, and also able to ignore four other screaming, tantruming toddlers in our cabin. I was just about to dig deeper in my pockets to buy much more expensive headphones for my kids, but these worker great with a nice budget! They fold compactly, so they were easy to pack. The cord had a nice fabric soft feel. Highly recommend for travel." — Elizabert Get them from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in five colors). 28. A travel-friendly blanket/pillow combo that packs up into a little square and clips onto your backpack or carry-on so it can *always* come with you. Now you can be extra comfy when you catch some Z's on your flight! Amazon Check it out on TikTok. Promising review: "I ordered two of these and my daughter and I both used them numerous times while flying recently. They compact nicely, have a loop that can go through the handle of a carry-on, and are the perfect size for snuggling up and sleeping on the airplane. It is lightweight, and I will not fly again without it!" — SweetMama Get it from Amazon for $29.95+ (available in seven colors). 29. A light-blocking contoured sleep mask so if the person at the window *insists* on keeping their shade open, you won't really care because these are like black-out shades for your eyes. They're comfortable, adjustable, and better than your average sleep mask because you can actually blink in them. Can someone say game changer!? Check it out in this TikTok. Promising reviews: " The BEST BEST BEST and most comfortable sleep mask I've found. Night shifter for years and have tried everything. Many other sleep masks have some qualities, but not all. This one is AMAZINGLY SOFT, VERY THICK, plush, high-quality material, quality stitching that won't come apart like so many others that are cheaply made, and it's EXTREMELY COMFORTABLE even though it's a good price. Very impressed and pleasantly surprised." — Amazon Customer "I loved it so much that I bought a second for my boyfriend! We both travel so much that sometimes you end up in a hotel room where the blinds still let in light, and this blocks it out without compressing your eyelids where it feels like you're being forced to keep them shut. I love that the compression contours around your eye so that you can open your eyes without feeling like you're restricted. I love it so much I sleep with it at home now, and I never travel without it!" — Jordann Get it from Amazon for $22.99+ (available in eight colors). 30. A hands-free (rotating!) phone mount if your plane is ~old-school~ and you assumed all planes in 2025 had TVs these days... Newsflash: they don't. 🥲 You can *still* enjoy the comfort of looking up-right at a screen by mounting this onto the tray table. You'll have a comfortable viewing experience without having to prop your phone up yourself (and straining your neck in the process). Amazon See it in action on TikTok. Promising review: "I bought this nifty gadget about six months ago for a multileg, ultra-long-haul trip, and it more than held up the entire duration. I was able to finagle it to fit the tray tables on different planes, and like others, I find the height just nice when clamped onto a stowed tray table. It also works on my roller carry-on handle during layovers. However, I find myself using it a lot outside of travel, too! Work-wise, I've clamped it onto my office desk shelving to hold my phone at eye level beside my computer. At home, I simply clamped it to a deck of cards, and it turns into a versatile stand that I can place on any flat surface. Heck, I've been using it to hold my phone comfortably at eye level while watching videos in bed. It's extremely well-built, and I find myself fidgeting with it all the time. Thus far, it still feels solid, and I don't anticipate breaking it any time soon. Even if it does break, I'll be happy to buy another one or two of it!" — Earendil Get it from Amazon for $9.78+ (available in seven colors and in packs of two). 31. An in-flight foot hammock so you feel like you're in business class when you're sitting in the back of the plane. Just hang it around the arms of your tray table to elevate your feet a little. Reviewers absolutely *love* this for international flights because it helps them feel like they're lying down when they're upright, reduces soreness, *and* makes long travel days more bearable. Promising review:" I will never fly again without this. I've recommended it to everyone. East Coast US to Southeast Asia, 24 hours in long haul flights each way with serious low back pain condition to start. But being able to hang my legs, even in a sideways position, saved me from hours of pain that I have endured previously flying with economy leg room. It is easy to loop over tray table brackets in both the stowed and open positions. This is a must-have for any flight." — DL Flin Get it from Amazon for $14.99 (also available in multipacks). 32. An insulated water bottle carrier to stay hydrated more easily *and* keep your phone, keys, cards, and snacks nice and secure as you sight-see on your trip or walk through your terminal at the airport. It eliminates carrying around a bulky bag *and* makes it easier to find your cash when you come across a ~delicious-looking~ ice cream stand. Amazon Promising review:"Absolutely love this water bottle carrier bag for my Stanley tumbler! The added phone pocket is such a convenient bonus, allowing me to keep my essentials together while hiking, traveling, or camping. The adjustable strap ensures a comfortable fit, and the straw cover keeps my drink clean and accessible. It's sturdy, well-made, and exactly what I needed for outdoor adventures. Highly recommend." — GG Get it from Amazon for $13.99. 33. A set of mosquito-repelling bracelets for anyone who wants to keep their skin itch- AND DEET-free. They're infused with citronella and essential oils to help those unlucky folks who get targeted for no good reason. Cliganic is a small biz specializing in health and wellness products. Check out a TikTok of the mosquito-repelling bracelets in action. Promising review:"I bought this to take on a cruise. Never had issues with bites. Once back home I put them on my son who is allergic to some bites and always itchy after time outdoors. Since he's had these on outside it's hardly an issue anymore. Very cool." — MardiGrasGirl Get a 10-pack from Amazon for $9.99. 34. A set of silicone "EarPlanes" because the sometimes painful ear popping that happens when you take off or land is the last thing you want to deal with. And if you're going across the sea, there will definitely be some altitude changes, so these can come in handy. Amazon, Check out why BuzzFeed Shopping writer Gabriela Manjarrez *loves* these: Before I started using these a couple of years ago, my ears would *always* start to hurt when the plane started to descend. I'd have to press my fingers on my ears and chew gum just to try to reduce some of the discomfort. Now, as soon as the captain announces they are starting the descent, I put these in my ears (BTW, they're surprisingly comfortable!), put my headphones on over them, and can actually enjoy the last half hour of my flight. Promising review: "I am very sensitive to the change in pressure on airplanes, to the point where I am in tears on takeoff and landing. I finally had to do something about it, or I would fear flying again. I wish I had known about these years ago. They alleviated ALL sensitivity to the pressure change and made for a very comfortable and anxiety-free flight. I can't recommend them enough." — Nancy Cardella Get a pair from Amazon for $7.89 (also available in multipacks and kids' sizes). 35. A acupressure anti-nausea wristband for the easily nauseous or occasional barfer on planes who needs a helping hand. This is designed to hit an acupressure point that can help reduce nausea and even motion sickness. So the next time you're doomscrolling during your annual road trip, you won't need to tell the driver to make an emergency pull-over. Reviewers swear by these nonmedicated bands for nausea relief: they've used them while traveling on airplanes, boats, and cars and for morning sickness during pregnancies. Read more about acupressure and nausea at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Check the bands out on TikTok. Promising review:"I bought these for an upcoming cruise, but thought I would try them out when flying (as I tend to get motion sickness even after taking Dramamine). I was very surprised that I had no motion sickness after wearing these on two different work trips. I also took these on a cruise and only had to use them once. Once I felt the motion sickness coming on, I put on the bands and the sickness was gone in about 15 minutes. They came in a nice plastic case and are reusable." — Jessica Get a two-pack from Amazon for $8.05 (available in six colors). 36. A portable charger when you marathon-watch your entire show at 30,000 feet and land with 3% battery. Don't worry, this has got your back! It'll fully juice up your phone *and* can even charge three devices at once, meaning you and your crew can take that "we made it!" selfie before any of you find an outlet. Check it out on TikTok. Promising review:"This little gem is amazing! This year we were fortunate enough to do some local traveling and attend quite a few concerts this year. I take a ton of videos and pictures, often draining the battery. This power-packed product charged not only my phone when it was low but also my boyfriend's AND the girl next to her!! Since you can only take small bags into venues, this slipped right into the pocket behind my phone! We had numerous comments on it because of the little paw charge indicator. The flashing came in handy a few times when we found ourselves in the dark! I will be buying more and giving them as gifts this year!" — Annetastic Get it from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in four colors and a mini size). 37. A water-resistant duffel bag with six pockets on the inside and two pockets on the outside so you can separate your socks, shoes, and shirts and keep things super organized. Not only is it the perfect size for a weekend trip, but it also counts as a personal item on budget airlines, so you can save even *more* money. Amazon, Promising review:"I can't say enough good things about this travel duffel bag; it's been an absolute game changer for my trips. I've taken it on several journeys, including some rough adventures, and it still looks as good as new. The size is just perfect — it holds a surprising amount of stuff while remaining compact enough to fit in overhead compartments or under seats on flights. The compartments and pockets help keep everything organized, which is a lifesaver when you're on the go. The quality of the zippers and handles is top-notch. The shoulder strap is comfortable, and the option to carry it as a backpack is a fantastic feature. It's great for weekend getaways, business trips, or even as a gym bag. I've used many travel bags in the past, but this one truly stands out in terms of quality and functionality. It's become my go-to travel companion, and I wouldn't travel without it. If you're in need of a reliable, stylish, and spacious travel duffel, look no further. This bag is a winner!" — Liz Get it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in two sizes and 62 colors/styles). 38. A waterproof phone pouch if your next trip has you by sandy beaches or snowy mountain tops and you don't want to replace a water-damaged phone while on vacay. Reviewers say it's completely waterproof and that they could still take crystal clear photos through the plastic. Because what's a vacation with no-brag-worthy photos to show off? It's designed to fit any phone up to 100mm x 170mm (or about 3.9 inches x 6.7 inches). Promising review:"A vacation essential. I was skeptical about the case protecting my phone, but while kayaking on vacation, my phone fell into the water and was submerged in 6 feet of water. I was able to recover the phone with no water damage whatsoever." — Will N Promising review: "I purchased this case in July for an upcoming canoe trip with a friend, and as luck would have it, we flipped our canoe. Being the rebel that I am, I chose not to wear my phone around my neck, and so my phone, my ID, and my debit card ended up at the bottom of the river, and I just assumed it would be discovered a thousand years from now and placed in a museum as an ancient artifact. Fast-forward to this week. I was contacted via FB by an Alachua County Sheriff's Office diver and guess what he found? Yup, my phone case with all of the contents intact and dry as a bone! He had to cut the case open, but there was not one single drop of water in it, and he ended up purchasing a case for himself because he was just that impressed!" — Julie McDonald Get it from Amazon for $6.29+ (available in 14 colors and designs). 39. A pair of compression socks for absurdly long flights because they're designed to help with circulation and reduce swelling. Reviewers say they're not too tight, feel comfortable, and can help legs feel more energized — which is *just* what you want when you step off that plane! Read more about compression socks and long flights at Cleveland Clinic. Promising review:"My ankles got really swollen after a 14-hour plane ride last year, so I thought I would give these a try. I recently completed another 14-hour plane ride, and these socks really did their job! I had them on for a good 24 hours straight, and they remained comfortable the whole time. My ankles were not swollen after the long plane ride. My legs and feet felt really good after the plane ride and the day after. The sock can be stretched over the knee but I did not stretch it that much and left the socks right below the knee. The socks stayed in place the whole time." — MYamo Get them from Amazon for $12.97+ (available in 13 colors and sizes S–XXL). 40. A universal travel adapter that works in over 160 countries, so you don't get to your destination and say "oh 💩" when the adapter you brought turns out to be the wrong one. This can charge up to four devices at once, making this ideal for traveling light — all you'll need to bring are the cords! But remember that this is not a voltage converter! Promising review:"I am a digital nomad, so I travel full-time around the world. I have a lot of devices to charge (laptop, Kindle, phone, backup battery, portable Wi-Fi device, camera, the list goes on). A lot of times, hostel bunks or hotel rooms only have one outlet, and with the previous adapter I was using, I had to charge one device at a time. I used to literally set my alarm to wake up in the middle of the night and switch devices so that I could get more than one device fully charged overnight. I did my research finally and settled on this one because it is universal and has four USB ports. What a GAME CHANGER. On my latest trip, I was able to charge all my devices at once, and it made traveling so much smoother. It seems well made and good quality, too. Definitely recommend to my digital nomad and traveling peers. Happy travels! :)" — Maggie A. Get it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in two colors and an option with a UBC-C port). 41. A pack of foldable hangers so you can hang up all of your dressy clothes. 'Cause why did your hotel only provide three hangers for you? They fold up nice and compact, so they won't take up too much room *and* can hold your spaghetti straps or light cardigans perfectly. Promising review:"On a trip to Europe, I used these hangers to hang my laundry to dry. I even hung a pair of wet jeans (through the belt loops). I thought the hanger would break, but it held up fine! Hotels never supply enough hangers, so I will be bringing these along when I travel." — debi Get a pack of 12 from Amazon for $9.99. 42. A portable safe for your jewelry, keys, sunglasses, and other valuable items, because who wants to deal with replacing those things? No one. You'll feel super calm, cool, and collected as you step out for an activity since everything is secured and locked away! Amazon, Check out why BuzzFeed Shopping editor Elizabeth Lilly is happy she finally caved for this:"After putting this in MANY travel stories, I bought one for myself for a summer European vacation where I found myself at several beach clubs. It was perfect for keeping my and my friend's belongings safe while we dozed in our beach chairs or swam in the sea. Plus, it's the perfect size to hold phones or wallets, and easily carry in your beach or tote bag. It's come in clutch in a few hotels and Airbnbs that didn't have working safes." Promising review:"Loveeeee this safe! Took it on a cruise, and it was such a great feeling of security. I put all my cash and docs in it while around and off the ship in the larger room safe. In my case, I had a roommate I did not know prior to sailing. With this, I didn't have to worry about a thing. Easy to lock and unlock. Easy to secure around things. I just love it! I will be using it with other things at home/work as well." — Cara Sievers Get it from Amazon for $19.97+ (available in black and pink). 43. A travel "flossing" toothbrush with regular and longer, thinner bristles designed to reach under the gum line for a deep clean. It folds in half to keep your bristles safe from mingling with your questionably clean razor. *And* reviewers even ditched their electric toothbrush for the normal-sized one 'cause they loved it so much! 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. Check out why BuzzFeed Shopping writer Emma Lord *loves* this: I've been using the regular-size 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 — especially 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 it from Amazon for $5.97 (available in two colors, a two-pack, and a four-pack). 44. A mini white-noise machine because you can't fall asleep without one, especially when you're not in your own bed. This small but mighty device has 15 different non-looping sounds, with a battery that lasts for days at a time. And since your carry-on is probably packed to the brim, you can just throw this in your pocket! Promising review:"I am a flight attendant and sometimes have a hard time falling asleep while away in my hotels without my home white noise maker. This is compact and rechargeable, so it is super easy to keep with me on my trips! It also has a great volume range from very low to quite loud! I would recommend even for home use if you don't have a ton of space but want to use a white noise machine." — Faith Morris Get it from Amazon for $18.99+ (available in 12 colors and in packs of two). Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.
Buzz Feed
20-04-2025
- Buzz Feed
If You're In Your Travel Era, These 48 Products Will Help You Globetrot Like A Pro
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. Shopping · If I had a dollar for every place you could wear this jumpsuit, I'd be able to pay off my student loans and buy a house. 1. 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. 🏀 Promising reviews:"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 "This is the second bag we ordered. It holds sooooo much. We use a carry-on and this bag for our trips to Florida. No more checking bags." — Georgette Get it from Amazon for $22.29+ (available in four sizes and 34 styles). 2. A versatile, lightweight scarf if you're fancy, and because the plane is somehow *always* colder than expected. But this lovely pashmina will also come in handy throughout your trip: Wear it around your neck while walking to dinner, then drape it around your shoulders for some added warmth inside the chilly restaurant. Amazon Promising review: "I absolutely love this wrap!! It is the perfect weight and size for travel. It didn't leave my side on an 11 day backpack trip through Europe and was used as a scarf, blanket, towel, and wrap all throughout the trip. Fashionable enough to dress up a basic travel day outfit, warm enough to keep away a chill on a cooler night, and light enough to pack away small into a bag or tie around a purse strap. I can't say enough great things! I am buying these as gifts for everyone I know that travels." — Jenn Get it from Amazon for $46 (available in nine colors). 3. Lightweight Croc platforms so you can look chic while strolling through city streets and lounging by the beach. They've got that classic Croc comfort (we're talking foam footbeds that don't leave your soles aching) but are way cuter. Promising review: "These sandals look cute and are super comfortable at the same time. I can wear these walking for hours and my feet don't hurt. I have three pairs and my sister has five pairs. I'm a nurse so I know a thing or two about our feet hurting. Get this now!" — Placeholder Get them from Amazon for $39.58+ (available in sizes 3–11 and 16 colors). 4. And some splurgeworthy Rothy's flats made from a stretchy knit material that you don't have to break in (thank you, magic shoe inventors 🙏), AND they're machine washable. Easy to wear, easy to clean — what more can you ask for? Plus, they'll easily fit in the fullest of suitcases, making them the perfect travel companion. It's recommended to go half a size up if you have narrow feet and a full size up for wider feet in this particular style! BuzzFeed Shopping editor Jenae Sitzes backs that up: "I have a pair of Rothy's flats, and though I usually wear an 8, I went with an 8.5, and they fit perfectly. Though I haven't had the chance to wear them a *ton* (because I WFH most days), I have commuted in them several times with no issues. They're super comfy and feel so lightweight and stretchy! I have them in the neutral Ecru color, but they come in a ton of gorgeous colors — if I were going into the office regularly, I'd be tempted to grab them in several shades. Psst — check out my colleagues' full Rothy's flats review for more deets!" Promising review:"I have lived with bunions for many years and have to be very careful with the cut of a shoe in that area of my foot. Rothy's felt like walking on a cloud the minute I put them on and that comfort has not stopped." — Jane C. Get them from Rothy's for $129 (available in sizes 5–13 and in 18 colors/patterns). Rothy's flats come in a bunch of different styles, and you can check them out here! 5. 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. 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 $26.95+ (available in two sizes and nine colors). 6. *Plus* 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! 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 $16.99 (available in 17 colors and a set of six). 7. A pack of 30 aluminum-free deodorant wipes made with a blend of coconut milk and essentials oils to remove any unwanted odors while leaving behind a fresh coconut scent. They're perfect for road trips, camping, long flights, or anywhere you might not be near a shower for a while. Amazon Promising review:"I have always suffered from bad odor on my underarms since I have very delicate skin, so I can't use strongly scented deodorants. I'm always trying out cream deodorant or gels, but it either irritates my skin, or it doesn't stop my bad odor. THIS IS THE BEST INVENTION EVER. I LOVE IT! I can't believe that something finally works! My armpits don't smell bad. I can finally move my arms freely. The scent is wonderful; I love the smell, and it's not harsh on my skin. Even after a long day, my underarms are still smelling like coconut." — Vicky Reyes Get it from Amazon for $8.99 (also available in a pack of two or four). 8. An Arden Cove anti-theft *and* waterproof vegan-leather purse with enough space for all your travel essentials, and even a Kindle. There's an RFID-blocking compartment for your cards, so you don't need to bring your wallet if you don't want to. This is just THE "it girl" of travel purses. Arden Cove is a woman-owned brand founded by sisters Carmen and Karin Yuen after carrying disappointing bags and gear while globetrotting. It has a waterproof body and zipper, slash-proof lining all around, locking zippers, RFID blocking material, a chain shoulder that strap attaches to a post or chair, built-in wallet, shoulder pad on strap for added comfort, bottom studs to protect it from wear and tear when setting the bag down, and an interior D-ring to attach a keychain. Promising review:"Just got back from two weeks in Athens and the Greek islands and loved this purse for travel. It has all the security options that give piece of mind but it's also cute enough to take for an evening out. It's smaller than what I typically carry, but I found the interior design meant I eliminated a wallet and other internal holdalls, plus the position of the purse cross body made it a perfect location to easily get to my passport, phone, etc." — Chris Jones Get it from Amazon for $179 (available in seven colors and three chain drop lengths). 9. Or just an RFID-blocking travel wallet to keep your most important documents protected and together. This thing is nicely organized — so when you're going through security, you *won't* be frantically digging through your bag for your passport as the TSA agent glares at you. The wallet has a passport pocket, boarding pass compartment, three credit card slots, an ID slot, a slim card pouch, a slim pocket, a ticket slot, a cellphone pouch, a coin zippered pocket, a key holder, and a pen holder. Promising review:"I bought this for traveling to make it easy to have my vaccine card, passport, cards, cash, and boarding tickets close and all in one place. But I've loved it so much that it's now become my everyday wallet for over a year! High quality and holds up well to daily use." — Lydia J Get it from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in 32 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. Just be sure to still pack a plug adapter if you're traveling to another country! Promising review:" Traveled with just a carry-on and personal item from USA to Italy and this worked perfectly. Convenient size for luggage and worked perfectly as a curler or straightener! My hair looked cute the entire trip so I was happy!" — Jessica Get it from Amazon for $49.99 (available in two colors). 11. A universal travel adapter made to work in 160 countries, so you can rest assured your devices will stay charged on all your international adventures. It has four USB ports and one outlet socket, so you can charge up to five devices at once! I'd bet money that if there were a modern-day Indiana Jones, he'd have this in his travel bag. But remember that this is not a voltage converter! Promising review:"I am a digital nomad so I travel full-time around the world. I have a lot of devices to charge (laptop, Kindle, phone, backup battery, portable wi-fi device, camera, the list goes on). A lot of times hostel bunks or hotel rooms only have one outlet and with the previous adapter I was using, I had to charge one device at a time. I used to literally set my alarm to wake up in the middle of the night and switch devices so that I could get more than one device fully charged overnight. I did my research finally and settled on this one because it is universal and has four USB ports. What a GAME CHANGER. On my latest trip I was able to charge all my devices at once and it made traveling so much smoother. It seems well made and good quality, too. Definitely recommend for my digital nomad and traveling peers. Happy travels! :)" — Maggie A. Get it from Amazon for $17.99 (available in two colors and one with a USB-c port). 12. A compact, foldable Hairbrella to keep in your bag for when the weather app lies, and it IS, in fact, raining, and you don't want your freshly styled hair to get ruined. Plus, you can't let a little rain stop you from exploring the streets of Paris! Amazon Hairbrella is a Black-owned small business that has been creating fashionable hats that protect hair from all kinds of weather since 2016. Promising reviews: "I wore this on a rainy work trip and was so glad I had it! I walked to my office in the rain one morning (15 minutes in moderate rainfall) and my silk press was PERFECT after I got into the building and took it off. I even took some headshots later in the day. When walking back to the hotel after work I neglected to put it on because it wasn't actively raining. Well, I forgot about humidity, so when I stepped into my hotel room my hair was reverting and poofed up! I truly believe in this product now; it is a must during silk press season! It's well made, comfortable once you adjust it, and silky soft on the inside." — Olivia Danae Get it from Amazon for $44 (available in nine colors). 13. And a pair of reusable waterproof shoe covers so those white sneakers you wear every day can stay white instead of getting soaked and covered in mud from all the rain. (There are only so many pairs of shoes you can bring on a trip, so keeping them clean is high priority!) These have a handy elastic tie at the ankle so they stay securely on and don't let any water in. 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). 14. A Subtl Beauty Stak for condensing up to nine 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. 15. A pair of no-tie elastic shoelaces that make the whole "taking your shoes on and off" portion of going through security a breeze. You can swap out the regular laces of your favorite sneakers, and they can even help accommodate feet swelling during the flight! Promising reviews:"At first I was skeptical that these laces wouldn't hold my shoes on tightly enough, but I decided to give them a try in my Converse Chucks. They're fantastic! I like the way the 'hidden' fasteners sit inside the shoes below the eyelets, but on top of the tongue, and I can't feel the fastener at all with my foot in the shoe. I've had them in for around eight months, and they're still just as elastic as ever. They haven't stretched at all and show no signs of wearing out. I loved them so much that I bought five more sets to put in all of my shoes! No more triple knotting my shoes so they don't become untied. I tie knots pretty slowly so these laces have honestly saved me tons of time. I couldn't be happier with them." — lucidity "With lower extremity lymphedema, my feet swell during the day. These laces allow for stretching and provide comfort all day long. And they're very convenient; just slip your shoes on and start walking!" — K. Halloran Get them from Amazon for $11.99 (available in 34 colors). 16. A digital luggage scale — just strap it around the handle, pull up a little, and it'll tell you the weight of your suitcase! We all know that haunting feeling of approaching the check-in desk, not knowing if we'll have to A) pay way too much for a bag or B) open our suitcase on the floor in front of everyone and frantically rearrange everything. Promising review:"We use this in every trip to avoid paying for extra weight as we travel internationally quite often. I have tested in several ways and also always note the weigh number in the airport. After several trips, I can say that the accuracy of it is right within 2 lbs. I have it for almost two years and I am still using the same batteries." — Cass Young Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in six colors, a pack of two, and another style). 17. A Megababe anti-chafing balm formulated with moisturizing ingredients like aloe, pomegranate, and grapeseed oil that help keep your thighs from rubbing themselves raw. Plus, it's small enough to keep in your purse to reapply throughout the day. Chafing hurts, but wearing short skirts and dresses is fun, so this product is honestly a game-changer. Megababe Megababe is a woman-owned small business founded by Katie Sturino, an entrepreneur, body acceptance advocate, and influencer. Promising review:"I was hesitant to buy this product because I wasn't sure if it would work or not, but WOW!!!!! It works!!!! Amazing!! I've been to a music festival for the past two years, and from walking too much, I've gotten the worst chafing. This year, I decided to buy this and use it during my two days at the music festival. No chafing whatsoever!!! I did reapply a few times (because I was walking tons/sweating). But seriously, this product is wonderful. I tried deodorant last year, and that was no help for me. This is my new go-to, and I'm excited to use it more this summer! Buy this!" — Queen268 Get it from Amazon, Target, or direct from Megababe for $14. 18. A solid Neutrogena SPF 50 sunscreen that's carry-on friendly and works just as well as spray-on or lotion sunscreens. Now you can enjoy your sunny vacation without burning up or spending waaay too much on sunscreen while you're relaxing in Costa Rica! Amazon Promising review: "This was my go-to sunscreen stick for YEARS. I don't even know why I stopped using it… I recently repurchased and remembered why I loved it so much. As a dry skin girly, it really helps keep my skin protected from the sun but also hydrated. Love, love, love!" — Kateri Brianna Get it from Amazon for $9.88. 19. And a roll-up straw sun visor to further help protect your beautiful face from sunburn while doubling as a cute accessory that elevates your outfit. It's very compact when folded up *and* retains its shape when un-rolled, so it won't look all droopy and wrinkly once you get to your destination. Promising review:" I get a lot of compliments when I wear this hat. I actually saw it on a friend, and it looked amazing, so I had to go and buy it. I also love how easily it rolls up for travel. In the past, I've had hats that were much more delicate. This hat seems to be resistant to bending out of shape, which is exactly what I needed." — Schiccatano Get it from Amazon for $17.99 (available in 12 colors). 20. Some TSA-friendly shampoo and conditioner bars so there's one less thing to pull out of your bag going through security. These long-lasting bars are made with plant-based ingredients that'll help your hair look and feel all soft and fluffy after a sweaty day of exploring a new city. Amazon Brixy is a small biz specializing in solid bar body care. They're vegan, plastic-free, and safe for color-treated hair. Promising review: "I'm pleasantly surprised. The shampoo lathers easily. It doesn't take much. The conditioner works so well, too, and left my hair feeling soft and clean. I have long, curly hair, so I wondered how this would go. I'm so happy. I love it and will be using it all the time. The best part about a bar of shampoo and a bar of conditioner is they can be taken through airport luggage without dealing with the liquid limit. Sometimes, I travel for weeks at a time and need more than the small sizes of shampoo and conditioner. I don't want to check my luggage, and I want to conserve space. Here's my answer to all of that. These products are awesome in more than one way." — SJ Get them from Amazon for $28.98 (available in three scents). 21. 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 really come in clutch when you're vacationing in places with hard water and want to minimize the number of times you wash your hair. 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). 22. 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 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). 23. A waterproof pouch so you can use your phone 🎶 under the sea 🎶 and get those cool underwater pics! It's also a great fix for keeping out sand and dirt. It fits any phone up to 100 mm x 170 mm (or about 3.9 inches x 6.7 inches). Promising review:"I purchased this case in July for an upcoming canoe trip with a friend and as luck would have it, we flipped our canoe. Being the rebel that I am, I chose not to wear my phone around my neck. And so it, my ID, and my debit card ended up at the bottom of the river, and I just assumed it would be discovered a thousand years from now and placed in a museum as an ancient artifact. Fast-forward to this week. I was contacted via FB by an Alachua County Sheriff's Office diver and guess what he found? Yup, my phone case with all of the contents intact and dry as a bone! He had to cut the case open but there was not one single drop of water in it and he ended up purchasing a case for himself because he was just that impressed!" — Julie McDonald Get it from Amazon for $6.97 (available in 14 colors and packs of two). 24. 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 seven colors). 25. 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. 26. A versatile slip dress that'll fit in your suitcase even when you think you've maxed out your packing space. It's super comfortable with its silky material and adjustable straps, and you can style it for a variety of travel occasions: Hit the town with sneakers and an open button-up thrown over the top, then jazz it up with heels and elegant jewelry for a night out. Promising review: "Great for a capsule wardrobe. I bought this for a summer trip to Italy. It paired beautifully with a cotton blouse. It's especially good for evening." — theof Get it from Amazon for $27.22+ (available in women's sizes XXS–5XL and in 26 colors). 27. And 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 @ 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). 28. Annnd a fan-favorite off-the-shoulder jumpsuit that's as comfy as it is chic — with endless styling opportunities, it's perfect for the plane ride and all the activities you have planned for your vacation! Promising reviews: "I. LOVE. THESE. JUMPSUITS. I bought three different styles: one like this, one sleeveless and one with a surplice front. I tried them out at work and got lots of compliments. Determined to travel out of my carry-on for three weeks, I centered my entire packing list around two of them. Paired with a jacket, scarf, button up shirt, I got tons of mileage with them, was super comfortable and looked sharp the whole way. At night, I sponged them down to get the travel dust off and they were dry by morning. Highly recommend." — TravelnTeachin "It is a favorite among our flight attendant group when we are traveling. We call ourselves the sisterhood of the traveling jumpsuit! I absolutely love it, it's comfortable, inexpensive, easy one piece, dress up or dress down. I add a belt and it's perfect!" — Floridagirl0611 Get it from Amazon for $37.99 (available in women's sizes S–3X and 32 colors/patterns). 29. A Bug Bite Thing because unfortunately bugs are everywhere, and you never know when one will getcha 😳 but this portable gadget will help relieve itchiness, swelling, and redness from those pesky bites. It's super easy to use — just place the tool over the bite, pull up on the handles until you feel a suction, hold for 20 seconds, then push the handles back down and you're done! You can also use it to treat bites and stings from bees, wasps, biting flies, no-see-ums, chiggers, and sea lice. Bug Bite Thing is a family-owned small business established in 2017 that specializes in bug-bite relief products. Promising review:"I live in Florida and have had a huge mosquito problem lately. This thing is a miracle. I use it right after I get a mosquito bite and it still itches for 15–20 minutes, then no itching! It never itches again after that. It gets the saliva that the mosquito put into your skin and gets the saliva out! It heals way faster and no more itching! This is a lifesaver and a miracle!" — Customer Get it from Amazon for $9.95 (available in five colors and multipacks). 30. And a pack of insect-repellent wipes you can slip into any pocket — then thank the universe when you aren't getting eaten by bugs in that tropical locale you're flying to. Amazon BuzzFeed Shopping editor Elizabeth Lilly says, "I've used these wipes on several park days here in NYC (sitting on a picnic blanket drinking wine with friends is more or less screaming 'COME GET ME' to skeeters). But I've really found success with them on a recent hot weekend trip to Savannah, Georgia. I don't notice any smell when using them and have found one wipe to have enough repellent for my arms and legs. So basically, a one-and-done. I don't think I've gotten *any* bug bites on days I've used these wipes. Plus, I have extremely sensitive skin but haven't had any irritation from these seemingly powerful wipes!" Get three packs of 12 wipes (36 total) from Amazon for $26.37. 31. A handbag organizer that has a spot for everything, from your ID to the jewelry you need to remove before security, so those essentials can stay neatly arranged in your bag — it's especially great for totes. Now you don't have to choose your purse based on how many pockets it has, *and* it'll be super easy to switch bags since you can just move the organizer from purse A to purse B. Promising review:"I love this!! I bought it purely to organize my work tote. I'm a flight attendant and I have so much stuff that I need for work that I didn't want to carry in my nice purse. So I bought a huge black tote but the biggest problem was the lack of organization. This organizer has plenty of places for all the things I need and helps me find things very quickly." — Jamie H Get it from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in sizes S–L and in 15 colors). 32. A waterproof Kindle so you can delve into the fantasy land of ACOTAR while relaxing by (or in!) the pool. 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! Abby Kass / BuzzFeed 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 [above] 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, with eight or 16 GB, and with or without lockscreen ads). 33. Some Tide sink packets that allow 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 Elizabeth 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: "I bought these just in case. I'm the overly prepared type. And then I was sitting there in Florence eating this incredible sandwich for lunch, and it all came pouring out the bottom on to my linen pants. Olive oil, liquid from sundried tomatoes.... FUUUUUUUUDGE. Luckily we were eating in our room, so I immediately stripped my pants off, put them in the tub and dumped in two of these Tide packets. We'd packed carry-on only, so I needed these pants frequently! The Tide saved the day. They also came in handy to refresh my husband's socks after walking around in the heat all day. GET THEM. It's an easy pack and a no-brainer." — NolaForever Get nine packs from Amazon for $6.35 (available in two scents and four pack sizes). 34. A pack of mini perfume atomizers so you can still rock your signature scent of Dior J'adore while leaving the full-size bottle at home. These are super easy to fill, and reviewers love how the fine spray gives a nice, even application. To fill the atomizers, remove the spray cap from your perfume, then align the bottom of the atomizer with the bottle and repeatedly press it down until it's filled (but don't *overfill* it). Promising review: "I usually don't leave reviews but this was so worth the money. I'm traveling for the first time in 12 years and squeezing everything into one bag and a carry-on. This works for perfume, but I had the great idea of using it for things like my setting spray for when I travel. Game changer. Obviously only has about 15–30 sprays depending on how much you fill it, but this is great for a vacay or a weekend getaway other than perfumes!" — AnnCRosas Get them from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in packs of four or five in various colors). 35. A set of silicone "EarPlanes" to help with painful ear popping from all the altitude changes during a flight. It has a twist design so they stay PUT, and reviewers have even used them for driving in the mountains! Promising review:"If you have not tried these, you should. They are not like ear plugs. I fly a lot for business and I am never without these Earplanes. They totally keep your ears from hurting from the pressurization in the planes." — Judy S. Get a pack of one from Amazon for $7.89+ (also available in packs of three, five, or 10). 36. 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. Promising review: "Super easy to use and helpful during travel. You'll know when the lint roller is full as it will not pick up only more hair/lint. All you have to do is rinse the ball and rub off any excess, wait for it to dry, and then it will be good as new." — Zalayahg Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in four colors and in packs of two or four). 37. A set of cooling patches in case you fall asleep on the beach and wake up all sunburned and swollen. They're also great for other ailments such as fevers, bug bites, or even just offsetting the sluggishness from your flight! Promising reviews:"These saved us on our vacation with our little who is sensitive to sun!" — felicia faith "Used these on a sunburn on my back, and they were very soothing. Also provided padding when leaning back in my seat. I stuck one on my shoulder also to keep my seatbelt from rubbing the sunburn there. I bought them to use on the back of my kids' necks to help prevent heat exhaustion on a very hot day outside but ended up just using them for burn relief." — Joanna Get a pack of 20 from Amazon for $13.99. 38. A teensy, on-the-go Gillette Venus razor that comes with a small protective case to keep the blades fresh. The rubber grip makes the handle so easy to hold, despite its miniature size! It comes with one handle and one blade refill! And the mini handle will fit almost any Venus blade refill, which is a major plus. Promising review: "This was the perfect small travel razor for traveling abroad. I was in a location with mostly outdoor showers, and the case was super handy for keeping lizards and bugs away from my razor. The case also has drainage holes, which make it easy to pack and transport. Highly recommend!" — Asha L. Get it from Amazon for $9.99. 39. An 11-piece Kitsch travel container set with little pouches, bottles, and containers for all your lotions and potions. If you travel a lot, it's worth putting your products in something you'll enjoy looking at instead of plain plastic bottles. Amazon, Kitsch is an LA-based, self-financed, woman-owned business established in 2010 that specializes in hair accessories. This kit comes with three pouches, two pump bottles, one spray bottle, two small containers, a funnel, a little spatula, and a stopper. Promising review: "I travel quite frequently, often with only carry-on. I have tried so many different types of travel bottles. These are really great — the soft-sided nature and the shape make them easier to pack into your requisite quart-sized bag for TSA, they are sturdy, and attractive. The set comes with a funnel and a scoop, making filling them easier. Very pleased." — Lulabelle Get it from Amazon for $11.99. 40. And if you don't need a ton of organization, a clear TSA-approved toiletry bag to hold all your makeup, skincare, and other liquid products that need to come out during security. Thank you to those zip-up plastic bags for their service, but it's time you upgraded to something more durable and easier to hold. Promising review:"It has been years since I did international travel so I did my research for the fluids. I was traveling with just carry-on luggage and a handbag, so I needed to be well-packed. This came right away and I was able to pack my 2.5-ounce fluid containers. It is durable, and I just left the fluid containers in this toiletry bag for my next trip in a few months! Highly recommend this toiletry bag for its durability. Plan to buy for family members for their travels." — Jean Get it from Amazon for $13.99 (available in 11 colors). 41. 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! Promising review:"I bought this for a trip to Mexico, during which we moved from pool to beach to ocean a lot. This towel was the perfect travel companion to keep me somewhat dry and get me to the next stop. I especially appreciated taking it on our snorkeling trip because it could fit easily in a waterproof bag with my other things and not get wet. It was a great blanket when it was chilly as well. And it dries so quickly so you can be ready for your next adventure. I like the bag it comes in to keep it contained within your tote bag too." — dmw Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in 18 colors and six sizes). 42. A portable laundry bag that somehow fits way more than you'd expect while still folding down into a teeny tiny square. Plus, it has a built-in pouch with a carabiner, so when you're not using it, you can just clip it onto your carry-on — easy peasy! Just stuff them in and squeeze to release the extra air! Promising reviews:"Took this on a 10-day trip and was annoyed that I hadn't bought it years ago. Definitely helps keeps things sorted when traveling out of a backpack/carry-on." — smashford "As a frequent traveler, this bag has been great for packing dirty laundry on the return trip home. It will hold much more than I usually put in it and compresses nicely in the suitcase. I toss it in the washer along with the clothes, and it has held up for well over a year now." — C C. Get it from Amazon for $7.59+ (also available in a map set). 43. A makeup-removing cloth to 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, 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). 44. 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. 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). 45. A garment and travel bag set, a two-in-one wonder that's the *perfect* way to get around paying for a checked bag while still bringing everything you need. It transforms from a hanging garment bag into a roomy carry-on with an anti-theft lock to keep your belongings in your possession (where they BELONG). Beauty Goodies is a small business that specializes in chic storage and travel accessories. Promising review: "This garment bag is an exceptional value for the money. Well built, top quality materials, including 'beefy' zippers, should hold up well for airline travel. Minimal wrinkles if any in garments, and a cavernous bag for storing shoes and other items for a trip. Added bonus, it fits easily in the plane overhead storage, similar in size to a standard roller bag. I highly recommend this product." — Kindle Customer Get it from Amazon for $45.99 (available in three colors). 46. A hands-free (rotating!) phone mount designed to work on ~any~ airplane (and compatible with most phones) — just attach it to the tray table, and you'll be able to watch your downloaded episodes of The White Lotus with ease. You can also mount it on your car dashboard (helpful for navigation), a luggage handle, gym equipment, or pretty much any flat surface! Perilogics is a small business creating hyper-functional tool holsters and bags for carrying your stuff on the go. Promising review: "I gave these to two friends that travel a lot for their business, and they absolutely love them! The versatility is unmatched! It does latch on various surfaces not just the ones mentioned in the description!" — Rjgirl Get it from Amazon for $13.97 (available in six colors and packs of two). 47. A slim-profile phone power bank for when you have a super short layover with no time to sit and charge your battery. This one is small but mighty (it can fully charge an iPhone up to three times!) and perfect to have with you on long days. Promising review:"Originally bought this for a business conference I had. What a life saver. Not only did it get me through the conference, but it got me though a six-hour travel day while listening and participating in Zoom meetings. It is lightweight and fits in your jacket pocket." — Allison Graham Get it from Amazon for $25.99 (available in two colors and in a pack of two). 48. A 30-pack of waterproof zippered pouches reviewers have used to organize everything from makeup and toiletries to chargers and snacks. Since they're transparent, you'll be able to easily locate and throw the right one in the security bin without unpacking your whole bag. Parents in particular *love* these for keeping everything neat and safe from spills! Promising review: "I bought these for a trip for my family of five. I like to plan in advance to make sure no one forgets anything! These were a lifesaver packing for three kids! I was able to create a carry-on, toiletries, wires/chargers, and snacks pouch for everyone! I used clear sticker paper to create name labels, and it all worked perfectly! Would definitely recommend if you need to travel with family and need to set things out and pack." — mommyandbri Get them from Amazon for $14.99 (available in five different pack sizes). The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.
Buzz Feed
07-04-2025
- Buzz Feed
If You're Traveling With Just A Backpack, Here Are 25 Space Saving Products That'll Make Your Trip A Whole Lot Easier
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. Shopping · 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. 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... 🎶 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. 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. 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. 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! 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. 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. 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. 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, 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! 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. 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! 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.
Buzz Feed
05-04-2025
- Buzz Feed
24 Products That'll Help You Fit Everything You Need For A Spring Vacation In Just A Carry-On
1. 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. 🏀 Promising reviews:"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 "This is the second bag we ordered. It holds sooooo much. We use a carry-on and this bag for our trips to Florida. No more checking bags." — Georgette Get it from Amazon for $20.39+ (available in four sizes and 38 styles). 2. A neck pillow you can stuff with clothing so you can bring some emergency underwear and extra tops and bottoms in case one of those "what if" moments actually happens on your trip. Some reviewers have fit 4–5 outfits in this, making it really helpful for getting around strict carry-on requirements! 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 bought this for my son for his trip to Europe. He was only taking a carry-on for a three-week trip. This proved to be very good quality, sturdy and functional. He used it as a neck pillow. It was the perfect size and soft enough. Very easy to transport by attaching it to his luggage and then use on the plane. He stuffed it with clothes for extra space and loved how comfortable it was to use as a neck pillow. Best purchase I made for his trip." — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $29.95. 3. 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. 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 six colors). 4. *Plus* 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! 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). 5. 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. Emma Lord / BuzzFeed 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. 6. Or a pack of vacuum seal bags if manually squeezing out the air feels like too much work. These come with a travel-sized pump, so you won't need to worry about finding a vacuum in your hotel to pack for the trip home. Promising review: "Bought these bags for traveling and they work GREAT. They suck every last bit of air out of the bag, so I was able to fit more items and travel with just a carry-on, which is always a plus!" — ITSJUSTME Get them from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in four sizes and various packs). 7. A garment and travel bag set so you can maximize your carry-on capacity. It transforms from a hanging garment bag into a roomy duffel with an anti-theft lock to keep your belongings in your possession (where they BELONG). You'll free up so much space in your suitcase, you may be tempted to pack even more. Beauty Goodies is a small business that specializes in chic storage and travel accessories. Promising reviews: "This garment bag is an exceptional value for the money. Well built, top quality materials, including 'beefy' zippers, should hold up well for airline travel. Minimal wrinkles if any in garments, and a cavernous bag for storing shoes and other items for a trip. Added bonus, it fits easily in the plane overhead storage, similar in size to a standard roller bag. I highly recommend this product." — Kindle Customer "Used this bag as my carryon during recent trip to Panama. It fit in overhead bin just fine, it held approximately seven outfits in the garment section and then another four or five outfits and three pairs of sandals in this bag. Beautiful way to carry a week's worth of clothing without checking bag. Leather is nice and soft." — Paula Get it from Amazon for $42.99+ (available in two colors). 8. A fast-drying microfiber towel you can fold into a compact square and fit into the smallest of carry-ons. It's perfect for that upcoming spring break trip to Cancún! Promising review:"I bought this for a trip to Mexico, during which we moved from pool to beach to ocean a lot. This towel was the perfect travel companion to keep me somewhat dry and get me to the next stop. I especially appreciated taking it on our snorkeling trip because it could fit easily in a waterproof bag with my other things and not get wet. It was a great blanket when it was chilly as well. And it dries so quickly so you can be ready for your next adventure. I like the bag it comes in to keep it contained within your tote bag too." — dmw Get it from Amazon for $20.99+ (available in 18 colors and six sizes). 9. A pack of mini perfume atomizers so you can still rock your signature scent of Dior J'adore while leaving the full-size bottle at home. These are super easy to fill, and reviewers love how the fine spray gives a nice, even application. To fill the atomizers, remove the spray cap from your perfume, then align the bottom of the atomizer with the bottle and repeatedly press it down until it's filled (but don't *overfill* it). Promising review: "I usually don't leave reviews but this was so worth the money. I'm traveling for the first time in 12 years and squeezing everything into one bag and a carry-on. This works for perfume, but I had the great idea of using it for things like my setting spray for when I travel. Game changer. Obviously only has about 15–30 sprays depending on how much you fill it, but this is great for a vacay or a weekend getaway other than perfumes!" — AnnCRosas Get them from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in packs of four or five in various 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. If you're traveling to another country, just be sure to pack a plug adapter, and you'll be all set to use this styling tool while abroad! Promising review:" Traveled with just a carry-on and personal item from USA to Italy and this worked perfectly. Convenient size for luggage and worked perfectly as a curler or straightener! My hair looked cute the entire trip so I was happy!" — Jessica Get it from Amazon for $39.99 (available in two colors). 11. A Subtl Beauty Stak for condensing 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! 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. 12. A solid Neutrogena SPF 50 sunscreen that's carry-on friendly and works just as well as spray-on or lotion sunscreens. Now you can enjoy your sunny vacation without burning up or spending waaay too much on sunscreen while you're spring breaking in Hawaii! Amazon Promising review: "This was my go-to sunscreen stick for YEARS. I don't even know why I stopped using it… I recently repurchased and remembered why I loved it so much. As a dry skin girly, it really helps keep my skin protected from the sun but also hydrated. Love, love, love!" — Kateri Brianna Get it from Amazon for $9.88. 13. A roll-up straw sun visor to further help protect your beautiful face from sunburn while doubling as a cute accessory that elevates your outfit. It's very compact when folded up *and* retains its shape when un-rolled, so it won't look all droopy and wrinkly once you get to your destination. Promising review:" I get a lot of compliments when I wear this hat. I actually saw it on a friend, and it looked amazing, so I had to go and buy it. I also love how easily it rolls up for travel. In the past, I've had hats that were much more delicate. This hat seems to be resistant to bending out of shape, which is exactly what I needed." — Schiccatano Get it from Amazon for $15.29 (available in 13 colors). 14. A pair of reusable waterproof shoe covers so those white sneakers you wear every day can stay white instead of getting soaked and covered in mud from all the rain. (There are only so many pairs of shoes you can bring on a trip, so keeping them clean is high priority!) These have a handy elastic tie at the ankle so they stay securely on and don't let any water in. 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). 15. A compact eight-compartment pill organizer to avoid cramming a bunch of medication and supplement bottles into your bag, effectively taking up all the space you needed for socks. Psst — if you don't fill up all the compartments with pills, it's also great for stashing your earrings during travel! (Shoutout to this TikToker for the hack.) 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 $8.47 (available in two colored sets). They don't sell them in singles, but if you don't want three, here's a similar option. 16. A teensy, on-the-go Gillette Venus razor with a small protective case that keeps the blades fresh. The rubber grip makes the handle so easy to hold, despite its miniature size! It comes with one handle and one blade refill! And the mini handle will fit almost any Venus blade refill, which is a major plus. Promising review: "This was the perfect small travel razor for traveling abroad. I was in a location with mostly outdoor showers, and the case was super handy for keeping lizards and bugs away from my razor. The case also has drainage holes, which make it easy to pack and transport. Highly recommend!" — Asha L. Get it from Amazon for $9.99. 17. Or 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 — everything you need for smooth, on-the-go shaving in one compact, travel-ready kit. 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 $20 (available in pink and blue). 18. 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. 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). 19. 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, 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). 20. 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 Elizabeth 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: "I bought these just in case. I'm the overly prepared type. And then I was sitting there in Florence eating this incredible sandwich for lunch, and it all came pouring out the bottom on to my linen pants. Olive oil, liquid from sundried tomatoes.... FUUUUUUUUDGE. Luckily we were eating in our room, so I immediately stripped my pants off, put them in the tub and dumped in two of these Tide packets. We'd packed carry-on only, so I needed these pants frequently! The Tide saved the day. They also came in handy to refresh my husband's socks after walking around in the heat all day. GET THEM. It's an easy pack and a no-brainer." — NolaForever Get nine packs from Amazon for $6.99 (available in two scents and four pack sizes). 21. A TSA-friendly toiletries set that you can fill with your tried-and-true faves instead of spending more money on travel-size versions. These are reusable and leakproof, so your products (and other stuff in your bag!) will stay protected. BuzzFeed Shopping editor Elizabeth Lilly owns and loves this set: "It includes the zippered bag, four soft silicone bottles with leakproof caps, three compact jars, and two toothbrush caps. I've used this set on more than five trips and for trips when I don't require body wash or shampoo (like to visit my parents) I use the extra room in the bag to shove in all my beauty products and daily contacts. Plus! It comes with labels that stay on the containers really well despite my thoroughly washing these containers between trips." Promising review: "If it wasn't for me forgetting them in the hotels, I wouldn't have to buy more. This is my third set and I love these things! I'm a flight attendant and these are easy to fill, use, and pack!" — Raena Hill Get it from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in three variations). 22. Or just a clear TSA-approved toiletry bag to keep all your liquid products together. Plus, there's nothing worse than frantically trying to get all your products in and out of your luggage — and this is so much sturdier than a Ziploc bag. Amazon Promising review: "I am a flight attendant and it's perfect for my international flights going through security. I love the handle, easy to pull out of my suitcase." — Kristi Get it from Amazon for $13.99 (available in 11 colors). 23. 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 $16.99+ (available in two sizes and nine colors). 24. Or a splurge-worthy set of Cadence Capsules that stick together ~magnetically~ and can be used for much more than just pills. 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).
Buzz Feed
03-04-2025
- Buzz Feed
40 Travel Products That'll Make So Much Of Your Stress Disappear
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. Shopping · If needing to pack a whole bag of makeup stresses you out every time you travel, then you def need this 4-in-1 makeup pen. 1. A packing list pad perfect for making sure you don't forget the gifts for all your little niblings, the Insta-worthy outfits you've meticulously picked out, and the dozens of extra chargers you need for all your gadgets. Write out your list well in advance so you don't end up panic shopping at the last second in a foreign city when you realize you've forgotten your flip-flops. Amazon Promising review:"I hate packing — I mean, I really hate packing! I am always afraid I am going to forget something, and the entire ordeal is a stressful one for me. Since I have to travel a lot, this is a game changer. No more guessing if I forgot my underwear — everything I need is on this list. I am thinking of just keeping one bag totally packed, filled with the items on the list, and just add my suit in when I am ready to travel. :)" — Dr. Oceanfront Get it from Amazon for $7. 2. 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). 3. Or a wheeled carry-on bag so small that most airlines (yes, even the super strict local ones) will count it as a personal item since it can fit under an airplane seat. No need to carry the weight of all your important items on your shoulders; you can wheel it through airport security without having to pay those checked bag prices. Now you won't even have to pull your suitcase outta the overhead! Promising review: "I purchased this primarily for a better personal item carrier for flying. I was using a small gym bag but it didn't keep anything organized. This is perfect with it's many outside and inside compartments which allows me to get easy access to things I need to access during my flight and separate important items like phone chargers, medication, chewing gum, etc. As you can see, it fit under the seat perfectly with plenty of room for my feet on both Jet Blue and Southwest flights. Flight crew didn't hassle me about its use as a personal item (although now Southwest won't let my bring my pillow as an 'assistive device' along with my purple bag and a carryon, but that's a different story). I'm planning on using this in the Fall for a high school reunion where I may want to put some dress clothes for the event in a separate bag for transport. I plan to get a lot of use out of this bag and you will, also. I love the purple color as well." — Laura D Get it from Amazon for $49.99 (available in four colors). 4. Or, if you have little ones, a Beis Travel diaper bag that is sure to fit literally everything you need for those unexpected kiddo emergencies. It has a large built-in changing pad (big enough for toddlers!!!), insulated bottle pockets, AND a removable crossbody purse! Oh yeah, you're gonna wanna snag this bad boy ASAP. Having kids has, expectedly, changed how I have to travel. The idea of taking my 6-month-old daughter on a plane ride was daunting because, seriously, how on earth was I supposed to make sure I got everything I possibly needed for her? And then I got this baby. First off, it's HUGE (but somehow still manages to fit under the seat??). I was able to carry my laptop (it has a laptop pouch), wayyyy more diapers than I could have possibly needed, two full packs of wipes, her creams, a bunch of bottles, my wearable breast pumps, several outfits for her, my nursing cover, her blanket, a ridiculous amount of burp clothes, and a few teething toys. And this bag was able to fit them all easily! Secondly, I adore the built-in changing pad. It was super easy to just unzip this bag, unfold the pad, and change my daughter just about anywhere I needed to. My 6-month-old was able to fit on it easily, but frankly, so was my 2-year-old nephew. My favorite part, though, has to be the removable front pouch that turns into a crossbody purse. Seriously, whoever designed that is my new hero. Now on vacation, I don't need to lug around the full bag, I just detach the front, and use that for my excursions since it has a slot for wipes, and a large pouch big enough for several diapers, her cream, and my phone. Overall, I ADORE this bag. If you're traveling with kids, you absolutely NEED this. Get it from Beis Travel for $198 (available in four colors). 5. A digital luggage scale so you're not zipping open your bulky suitcase right there on the floor of the airport's check-in counter and trying to stuff three different coats into your son's backpack. Bring this puppy wherever the adventure takes you, and never have to worry about paying those exorbitant oversized baggage fees again! Promising review: "I was looking for a lightweight luggage scale to ensure that when returning from vacation, my luggage was not overweight. This works amazing. Super lightweight and extremely accurate." — Taziree Get it from Amazon for $11.98 (available in six colors). 6. An airplane seat back organizer because losing your earbuds in the endless void of the seat pouch in front of you is a really lousy way to start your vacation. This keeps your personal effects organized and on hand for that mid-flight boredom — no more having to stand up and reach for the overhead compartment to find your novel. Plus, this way, you won't accidentally leave behind your fave lip balm on the plane. Check out a TikTok of the Airplane Pockets tray table cover in action. Airplane Pockets is a small business that specializes in sanitary, portable travel organization products. My colleague Emma Lord owns and loves this: "I used this on a roundtrip from NYC to Tokyo, both with connecting flights in Canada, and cannot sing its praises enough. It fit all four of the different tray tables I used it on and was so ridiculously handy for keeping track of all my littler odds and ends like AirPods, the plane's headphones, earplugs, a sleep mask, a book, gum, a scrunchie, and little snacks. The hanging end of it easily tucked into the built-in sleeve of the seat in front of me for takeoff and when other passengers needed to scoot past me in my aisle seat. Usually, I feel like a hot mess and get frustrated rooting around in the grimy sleeve for my stuff, and this was such a refreshing solution! Several flight attendants even asked where I got it to buy one for themselves!" Promising review: "Very useful, especially when traveling with kids. Provided easy access and storage to things like water bottle, hand sanitizer, snacks, wipes, headphones. I didn't have to access my carry-on." — JJ Get it from Amazon for $24.99. 7. Plus, a drink holder for my window seat people who don't want to try balancing all their personal effects, as well as there beverages, on the teensy tiny tray table that somehow gets smaller and smaller with each passing year. It even holds some other essentials, like your headphones, glasses, or phone! Amazon Heads up — you can only use this if you're sitting in a seat that has access to a full window! Promising review: "I used this for the first time on a 737. It was fabulous! It didn't intrude into my sitting space nearly as much as I expected. Because the actual window is recessed from the side wall, this only sticks out from the side wall about an inch. If you're considering this, you likely fly enough to know that seats aren't always aligned with the windows. If your window happens to be right beside your seat or the seat in front of you, this won't be of much use. But because it doesn't jut out as much as I thought, you can use it in more situations than I expected. And when you can use it, it's great! I love not having to have my entire tray table down just to hold a 3-inch cup. My only suggestion would be to add a place to hold trash until the flight attendant picks it up. This is very small, very lightweight, and very useful. I'll be taking it on every flight from here on." — JBC Get it from Amazon for $19.99. 8. A kid's car seat lap organizer with a dry-erase board (that also doubles as a tray for snacks), a tablet holder, and so many pockets for their toys and markers. This will keep your little one entertained throughout the flight or long drive so that you're not having to hear, "Ughh, are we there yet??" every five minutes. Some color options come with dry-erase markers and an eraser included! Promising review: "Are you a parent who is sick of picking up everything your kid accidentally drops off their lap while on a car ride? If not, lucky you. If you are… this thing is great! We recently went on a beach vacation that involved a 9-hour drive each way with my 4-year-old. Usually, he drops stuff while playing with it. With this, everything stayed on the tray! It also helped him balance his tablet to watch, held his drink and foodstuff in place without anything spilling, and gave him a space to draw and play on. Easy to take on and off for potty breaks." — Dawn Michele Get it from Amazon for $28.95+ (available in 11 colors and a two pack). 9. A neck pillow you can stuff with clothing for sneaking in that extra outfit (or two) you just couldn't jam into your carry-on. It's the perfect way to utilize every single inch of space physically possible. Plus, you can make sure you have those spare clothes on hand if you need a quick outfit change once you land. 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, but it was a tad awkward to maneuver. For extra storage without extra fees, it's worth it!" — Sharon Get it from Amazon for $49.95. 10. A reviewer-beloved Béis suitcase with a weight limit indicator so you can always know if your baggage is too heavy. This suitcase is a spacious 29 inches with lots of pockets, and it can be expanded to give you the extra space you need. The quality is outstanding. You'll feel absolutely luxurious as you strut down the airport terminal — no matter how little sleep you've gotten the night before. Béis Reviewers also love this suitcase because it's easy to wheel around if you're walking through a terminal or hotel! Check it out on TikTok here. Promising review: "Flawless! I am obsessed with this luggage. I ordered the three-piece set and the weekender bag! The zipper slot to slip the bag over the luggage handle makes loading and trekking through the airport so much easier. The interior of all pieces is great quality, and I love the small touches (pockets, laundry bags, etc.) Zippers are all sturdy, and the locks are very easy to use. A++!" — Lisa B. Get it from Béis for $328 (available in 11 matte colors, five glossy colors, and also in three smaller sizes). 11. A set of packing cubes for smushing down any bulky articles of clothing into the perfect size to slide comfortably into your carry-on — no vacuum suctioning required. 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). 12. Or a pack of vacuum-free space-saving compression bags so you can pack three times the clothes without needing to spend that extra moolah on baggage fees. And there's no need for a vacuum since these bags come with a pump that will suck out all of the air and keep your clothes as compressed as possible. 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. 13. A travel-friendly, foldable "flossing toothbrush" designed with "floss" bristles to reach between your teeth to banish those lil' bits of food stuck in your grin. After all, you don't wanna be one of those people needing to buy floss at the Duty-Free store after getting some sesame seeds stuck between your teeth. Chip Skylark himself will burst into song at the sight of your smile. 🎶My shiny teeth and me... 🎶 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. 14. A splurge-worthy set of Cadence Capsules for holding all of your needed toiletries together without hogging all the room in your luggage. 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. 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). 15. 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 wheel your carry-on down the ramp. 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). 16. A Stow-N-Go travel organizer that comes with built-in shelves, so you don't have to completely unpack when you're only making a quick weekend trip. You can just pull it out of your suitcase and hang it in your closet. 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 $22.99+ (available in two sizes and 10 colors). 17. 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. 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). 18. 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! Amazon, 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 10 colors). 19. 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 luggage. 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). 20. A foldable water bottle because you don't want to spend the entire flight asking the stewardess for teensy tiny cups of water that you down in a single shot. Plus, it'll be incredibly helpful when you want to take a bottle of water onto the plane but don't have the time to buy one at the gate after spending hours waiting at the TSA line (which seemingly gets longer and longer every time you fly). 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). 21. An Airfly wireless transmitter that'll let you connect your AirPods (or any wireless headphones) to your airplane seat! Now, you won't have to use those uncomfy plastic earbuds the airline gives you — you can use the headphones of your choice while still enjoying the free inflight entertainment that is offered! Amazon It also comes with a USB-C charging cable, travel pouch, keychain holder, quick-start guide, and a manual. Twelve South is a small business that has been creating innovative tech accessories since 2009. My colleague Chelsea Stuart owns and loves this:"I splurged on some AirPod Maxes and for the amount of money I threw down on them, I was determined to get as much use out of them as possible and that included on plane rides. With the AirFly Pro, I can connect my headphones via Bluetooth and use the seat-back screen without having to fiddle with the free wired headphones they hand out that 1.) have horrible sound quality and 2.) don't fit my ears in the slightest (I swear my ear canals are tiny or something??)." Promising review:"I was a little reluctant purchasing Airfly after reading the reviews, but I'm so glad I did! It worked perfectly on the plane, and while on my trip, I also used it to listen to music in the car. It acted like a speaker because I had no aux cable. It was great!" — Yamile cardozo Get it from Amazon for $34.99+ (available in three styles and two colors). 22. A set of Sea Bands for those who get nauseous when they even think about stepping onto a moving vehicle. By applying pressure to the P6 acupressure point on each wrist, it can help almost instantly relieve motion sickness! Time to burrow into your plane seat, or board that boat confidently — comfortable in the fact that the pesky nausea won't be creeping up on you. Promising review:"So glad I bought these. Flying usually makes me terribly nauseous. These helped so much! You need to find the right pressure point, and they are really tight. Other than that, 5 stars." — T. Schneider Get a set of two from Amazon for $12.50+ (available in adult and children's sizes). 23. A pair of Mack's Earplugs that'll help block out the noise of the man snoring beside you, the baby crying three rows back, and the couple arguing in the row in front of you. Check them out on TikTok here. BuzzFeed writer Emma Lord swears by these and raves:"The moldable silicone of Mack's Earplugs contours easily to the shape of your ear to block out noise much more effectively than other foam or plastic varieties, and the noise reduction is so good that if I pair them with a white noise machine (or just like a white noise loop on Spotify) I genuinely don't hear noises from outside my room. I've also *loved* these for traveling — if you put these babies in on a plane not only does it help reduce some of the YIKES factor when the plane takes off (it's loud!!), but it cancels out the murmuring noises of passengers on the flight and makes it easier to get some shuteye." Promising review: "I've been purchasing Mack's earplugs for about eight years now as they help me sleep so much better at night (and are also super helpful on long plane trips). They're the best ones on the market and much larger with more comfort and coverage than ones in my local stores and pharmacies. Mack's are getting harder to find so I'm writing this in the hope that they stay in business." — Amazon Customer Get 12 pairs from Amazon for $12.99. 24. 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. Use it as either a blanket or fold it into a pillow. And with the strap on the back, it can be slid onto your luggage handlebars for easy access! 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). 25. A pair of compression socks that can help your circulation, foot swelling, and pain — and make it easier for your feet when the plane altitude starts to soar higher and higher. You can say goodbye to the days of leg swelling and hello to *sweet* relief as you march countless miles through the winding alleyways of Mexico. Read more about compression socks for travel at Johns Hopkins and The Huffington Post. Promising review:"These compression socks really helped me. No swelling of feet and legs on a flight from New York to Munich and onto Palermo. Amazing fit and not too thick. Really comfortable." — L. M. Morabito Get them from Amazon for $14.24+ (available in unisex sizes S–XXL and in 13 colors). 26. A 2-in-1 hair tool so you're not trying to stuff two separate tools into your luggage — but you're well aware of the fact that you can't possibly survive without both a curler and a straightener. Plus, it's dual voltage for international travel! 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). 27. 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. 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. 28. And an Anker charging port with six USB ports so you can charge all your devices without having to fight with your siblings over outlet space when you all gather in the same home for the holidays. Promising review:"This is my second, my first I gave to my mother-in-law during a visit to reduce clutter. The other huge advantage, and I've taken mine from the US, to Europe, to Kazakhstan, is that it automatically adjusts to voltage. Which means you just buy one of those small (i.e., inexpensive) plug adapters and just use the US cord." — Frank Mellott Get it from Amazon for $29.99 (available in black and white). 29. And a 3-in-1 foldable magnetic wireless charging station so that 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! 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). 30. 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. 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). 31. 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). 32. A luggage drink caddy because the most important item on your travel day checklist is the Starbucks drink you pick up as a reward after braving the tedious security line. This just attaches right onto your suitcase and has two large pockets — perfect for carrying that breakfast sandwich you couldn't resist ordering along with your favorite Refresher. Promising review: "This cup holder is perfect! It helps me a lot! Last time I took a plane with a suitcase and a cup of coffee, when it's my turn to check my passport and ticket, the coffee cup fell to the ground and coffee sprinkled. It was a nightmare! This time I bought this cup holder, it did do me a favor! I don't have to worry about where my cup and phone are! I can free my hands to do other things. I love it so much! Hope you love it too." — Philip Get it from Amazon for $11.99+ (available in 19 colors). 33. An adjustable universal travel harness seat perfect for any little ones six months or up, so you can 🪄bippity boppity boo🪄 any ol' chair into a highchair. Now you can secure your kiddo when you find yourself at your airport Chili's, even when there's not a single highchair in sight. Amazon Liuliuby is a New York-based small business that specializes in stroller and car seat accessories. Promising review: "This thing was amazing! I give it 10 stars — it fit every type of chair we encountered on our Kenyan vacation! Kept our toddler controlled and made feeding on the go so easy. Very lightweight and packable, a vacation must-have!" — Kireme1 Get it from Amazon for $27.99. 34. And a Munchkin Night Owl stroller so your stroller doesn't get damaged, or heaven forbid, lost when tossed around in the airport baggage claim. This is the perfect travel stroller to have once your little one is able to hold themselves up since it can easily be compacted, comes in a carrying case, can fit in the overhead compartment of a plane, AND has a little light built in so you can see where you're walking when you're sightseeing lasts well past sunset. Plus, if you're going on a road trip, this stroller won't take up the entire trunk space! Munchkin, Amazon As someone who takes over a dozen trips a year, this stroller is absolutely perfect for my family. After traveling with a baby and suffering through the pain of having to juggle a child and a suitcase while walking to baggage claim — this stroller, which fits in the overhead compartment, was perfect. I can carry it in its accompanied carrying case, and when it's time to use it, it can easily unfold! Plus, I love the lil' lights, which come in handy when I'm trying to take nightly walks and don't feel like carrying up my phone in flash mode to see the road ahead of me. Get it from Amazon for $254.13 or from Munchkin for $279.99. 35. 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 suitcase. 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). 36. 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 while onboard the plane. 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). 37. A makeup-removing cloth that 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, 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). 38. An in-flight foot hammock you can hang on the arms of your tray table so you can start your relaxing vacation while thousands of miles in the sky. Reduce your chance of swelling by sitting back and elevating those feet. Promising review:" I will never fly again without this. I've recommended it to everyone. East Coast USA to Southeast Asia, 24 hours in long haul flights each way with serious low back pain condition to start. But being able to hang my legs, even in a sideways position, saved me from hours of pain that I have endured previously flying with economy leg room. It is easy to loop over tray table brackets in both the stowed and open positions. This is a must-have for any flight." — DL Flin Get it from Amazon for $14.99 (also available in multipacks). 39. 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. Amazon, 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). 40. A garment and travel bag set you can use when you want to keep your fancy-schmancy outfit wrinkle-free. This bag is water-resistant and comes with a separate shoe compartment! You can use this as your carry-on so your all-important outfit stays safe from airport security! There are also four other leather garment bags available in lighter colors (I personally am a fan of this pretty pink one). Promising review: "I love this bag! I bought it as my 5-year-old's carry-on for our Disney vacation, and it was perfect — the perfect size for keeping her five princess dresses clean, relatively wrinkle-free, organized, and containing the glitter from the rest of her stuff! I tend to overpack, and I still had room left after packing five days' worth of her stuff!" — daisy Get it from Amazon for $45.99+ (available in seven colors/styles). Reviews in this post have been edited for length and/or clarity.
