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.
38 Travel Products You Should Stop Putting Off Buying
You’ve definitely seen these items before, and this is your sign to *finally* get them.
1. A vacuum-free space-saving compression bag that’ll fit your big puffy jacket, oversized sweaters, and long-sleeve shirts that take up so much room in your bag. Just place your stuffy clothes into these bags, zip the bag shut, roll it into a log, and let all of the air *woosh* out of them!
Promising review: “Pleasantly surprised! I’m team carry-on, so this will give me a huge leg up. Fairly easy to push all the air out and compress everything. For reference, I packed two items in here: Rain jacket [and] puffer. This thing weighed 1.5 lbs and fit in the smallest bag with room to spare.” —Netvoyodelo
Get a 12-pack from Amazon for $11.99 (also available in a 16-, 20-, and 24-pack).
2. Plus, 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 $16.99+ (available in 27 colors and two sets).
3. A hanging toiletry bag so you can easily bring all the beauty must-haves you can’t imagine fitting into just *one* zip-up pouch. This has plenty of compartments *and* has transparent windows, so you’ll find everything quickly. Plus (!) it won’t take up precious hotel bathroom counter space since the built-in hook can hang off a door.
Promising review: “Seriously?! Do you see how much this holds?! Full shampoo bottles, face washes, hair brush…everything I could need or want to bring FITS IN THIS ONE BAG! And it’s so cute! Feels like great quality, too — all the hardware came with protective wraps to keep from scratching, and the zippers feel very hardy. The hook at the top is also VERY WELL-SECURED to the bag; it’s double stitched to the top panel and almost feels like seatbelt material. And I love the extra pockets and netting inside. I would absolutely recommend this!” —mahea_c
Get it from Amazon for $14.32+ (available in seven colors and three sizes).
4. A sturdy folding pill organizer with seven different compartments so you can compactly fit your over-the-counter meds *and* your prescription ones. Once you’re done taking your daily pills, just flip the two sides back in and the magnet closing will keep everything secure (aka your pills won’t end up at the bottom of your bag). Now you won’t have to waste time (and money) at a pharmacy when you have other fun things to do.
Promising review: “If you travel, I suggest buying several of these! They organize pills very well and always stay shut and are easy to pack. I also use one for my jewelry when I travel. They stay closed with a strong magnet and fit into a corner of your luggage very easily. I also used a label maker and labeled the individual spaces with the name of the supplement to help organize my partner!” —Anna Zucker
Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in 13 colors, two sizes, and sets of two).
5. A hands-free phone mount if your plane is ~old-school~ and you assumed all planes in 2024 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)!
Perilogics is a small business creating hyper-functional tool holsters and bags for carrying your stuff on the go.
Promising review: “I bought this nifty gadget about six months ago for a multi-leg, 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.” —Earendil
Get it from Amazon for $13.97+ (available in seven colors and two-packs).
6. An affordabke 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.
It’s even available as a compression style that’ll help you get rid of excess air!
Promising review: “I recently took a cross-country flight with my three kids. I really didn’t want to worry about checked bags getting lost, so maximizing our carry-ons was a priority. This backpack fit an unfathomable amount of stuff! Lots of zippers and compartments for everything from shoes to laptops/iPads, easy access compartments for cell phones and boarding passes, and I fit tons of neatly folded clothes. The best part was that fully loaded, it easily slid under the seat.” —Kindle Customer
Get it from Amazon for $23.99+ (available in four sizes and 45 styles).
7. Plus, a waterproof anti-theft backpack designed to make a pickpocket’s job impossible; it opens from the back, so the zipper is not accessible when worn. It’s way cuter and less bulky than other backpacks but can still securely hold a lot of your things. You can either wear it normally or sling it over your shoulder thanks to its adjustable straps!
Promising review: “I tucked this bag into my luggage for a trip to London. I was a bit nervous about pickpockets and I liked the security features. I ended up using it every day and it was fantastic. It’s very attractive, light, durable, affordable and safe — the opening is in the back. I kept putting more and more stuff in it as the day went on (a light jacket, a hat, a few purchases, etc. etc.). I’m not sure I would use it every day at home, as there aren’t many pockets on the inside, (although there are two pockets on the outside I didn’t even notice until well into the trip) but I will always take it for travel. Highly recommend.” —Martha Bush
Get it from Amazon for $26.99+ (available in two sizes and eight styles).
8. A slim profile phone power bank because name a worse feeling than your phone slowly dying and you have nothing to charge it with — and you still have a full season of Tell Me Lies to watch on your road trip or flight. This can charge your phone up to three times, so you can avoid staring out the window as your only form of entertainment!
Promising review: “I like the solid and sleek construction. Fits easily in my pocket. Most importantly, it works! Fast charging, enough capacity to charge my phone many times over several days, and withstands plenty of me dropping it and yanking the cord out awkwardly and accidentally.” —Joe Hull
Get it from Amazon for $25.99 (available in two colors and a two-pack).
9. A set of Sea Bands for the easily nauseous or occasional barfer on planes, trains, and automobiles who needs a helping hand. This is designed to hit an acupressure point that can help reduce nausea and even motion sickness the next time your journey gets a little ~bumpy~.
Read more about acupressure and nausea at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Promising review: “Purchased these for a trip to DisneyWorld for an 11-year-old who gets extremely motion sick. Every single day she wore them, she was fantastic, whether in the car, on rides, monorail, etc. Coming back on our final park day, she barely made it out of the car to our resort before she started getting sick. Asked about her band, and she had taken it off at dinner when she knew she wasn’t going on any more rides. Not only did it work for her, it also avoids the need for ingesting medications like dramamine which can make kids sleepy or even taking Tums to quiet their stomach AFTER they already feel sick. It may be the power of suggestion, but it absolutely saved our trip!” —Karen M. Johnson
Get a set of two from Amazon for $7.95+ (available in six colors).
10. A Lululemon fanny pack that’ll literally go with you EVERYWHERE. It’s the perfect size to hold everything you need for a stroll around the city without lugging around a heavy bag. You’ll question if Mary Poppins did a collab with Lululemon because of how roomy it is, but there’s no magic involved! It can just fit your AirPods, wallet, keys, portable charger, and sunscreen suspiciously well.
Curtis Teegardin / BuzzFeed
This product was the MVP of my time studying abroad. I feel like everyone has this now, but it’s for good reason. It can hold the perfect amount of things without overly weighing you down *and* it actually looks pretty fashionable, in my opinion. Even though a French bouncer told me to take this off when I was trying to enter a club (he thought it looked bad), I *still* wore this as I wanted to. You can wear it as a crossbody (my personal go-to look) or you can wear it as a traditional fanny pack by tightening the adjustable belt — the world is your oyster!! And don’t let the French tell you otherwise.
It keeps all of your valuables and most handy essentials right next to you, and with it being pretty small, it’s easy to find everything. It also has a secret pocket in the back and little organizing side pockets, too. I used the hidden one for things like my Passport (because I could NOT risk losing that), and I used the side pockets for things like gum, loose change, or my emotional support lip balm. If you were to only get one thing from this list, it would have to be this. It may not seem monumental, but it is a game-changer!!!
Promising review: “Not sure how I lived without this before. Absolutely love it, moving abroad next week and this will really be a great bag for that to avoid pick pockets.” —Macie
Get it from Lululemon for $38 (available in 21 colors).
11. 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!
Promising review: “I recently went camping and was able to pack a lot into this bag. It zipped up easily. I love the color; it’s almost a ‘neutral pink’ and not too ‘look at me, I’m Barbie in the woods!’ The shoulder strap was comfortable, and the handles were comfortable, too. It was snowing while unloading from the truck to the cabin, and despite this bag getting wet (and VERY cold), everything inside was very dry.” —Smile Saurus
Get it from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in two sizes and various colors).
12. A cute adhesive phone card holder so you don’t even have to think about finding your wallet while on the go. If you always know where your phone is, now you’ll *also* know where your cards and cash are.
Wallaroo Wallets is a small business that specializes in uniquely-designed minimalist wallets.
Check out why Senior BuzzFeed Writer Emma Lord *loves* this: “I’ve used these wallets for four years now, and they are worth every penny! Mine last about six months at a time before they get dingy enough to replace, and easily hold three cards and a five dollar bill. I’ve never had any issues with them un-sticking off the phone case, and they’re super easy to pull off. It makes my life so much easier not to carry a wallet around, plus I never lose my ID!”
Promising review: “The Wallaroo phone wallet is a must have for any cell phone owner. The quality of the leather and design of the wallet is superb. I recently went on vacation and purchased my Walleroo before my trip. It was so convenient to carry my ID, credit card and hotel key and not have to carry my actual wallet. This is a great product that I highly recommend.” —Todd Smithson
Get it from Amazon $14.99 (available in 16 colors).
13. Or a travel wallet, aka the ultra-organized best friend your travel bag didn’t know it needed. It’s slim, lightweight, and folds out like a magic trick to reveal dedicated slots for your passport, boarding pass, credit cards, SIM cards, and even a pen (because custom forms still exist). And yes, it blocks RFID signals, so no one’s scanning your info while you’re trying to buy airport snacks in peace.
Promising review: “I absolutely love this wallet. I needed a new travel wallet, and this holds everything I need all in one place, and it still closes nicely and stays flat! I can fit my boarding pass, passport, ID, credit cards, money, checked baggage tickets, receipts, and more in it, yet it doesn’t bulk up or look like an overstuffed mess. It’s just amazing. The description says it only holds US money, but I just used the boarding pass flap to hold all my Japanese yen (Â¥), which are larger. I didn’t use the zippered pocket for coins as I much prefer a separate coin purse for that sort of thing. I definitely recommend to anyone who travels a lot!” —Anthony Luu
Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in 27 colors).
14. A set of affordable wireless Bluetooth earbuds with squishy ear tips so you can enjoy your movies, shows, and songs (that make you feel like you’re in a music video) in total comfort. Because *nothing’s* worse than having to massage your ears from using hard plastic earbuds a couple of hours into the flight.
These come with a wireless charging case that provides up to 14 hours of charge (with the earbuds able to play for four-plus hours with each full charge). The earbuds are also sweatproof and waterproof!
Promising review: “So many things to rave about with these! Quality of the design and feel of these is amazing. I could literally wear these all night while on vacation with a roommate who snored; they were that comfortable and good at noise canceling. I use these most often to listen to music, and the sound quality is superb. I have a pair of AirPods that I was *thankfully* gifte,d and I hardly ever use them because they just aren’t as good as my Tozos!” —Alexis Arnold
Get it from Amazon for $24.99+ (available in five colors).
15. Plus an AirFly if you’re worried that your Bluetooth headphones won’t connect to the airplane TV when you’re sky-high. Well, fear no more, this can easily connect your comfy, noise-canceling headphones (and those Bluetooth earbuds right above!) so you can make the most of the free movies and TV shows.
AirFly SE: Pairs with one set of headphones and has 20+ hours of battery life.
AirFly Pro: Paris with two headphones, has 25+ hours of battery life, and receives audio so you can connect non-Bluetooth devices to it.
AirFly Pro V2: Has the same features as AirFly Pro but has a sleeker design.
AirFly Pro Deluxe: Has the same features as AirFly Pro but also has an adapter for certain international airline headphone plug-ins.
Here’s what BuzzFeed Shoppging editor Chelsea Stuart has to say about them: “Last year 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??)”
Get it from Amazon for $34.97+ (available in three colors and four styles).
16. A refillable travel perfume atomizer so your fave scents can come on the trip with you without lugging around a huge bottle of it. Just pour your perfume into this secure (and non-leaking) spritzer with the included funnel, and you’re set!
Promising review: “This reminded me so much of the Scentbird packaging, so I got this set for my husband and me for our upcoming trip. It comes with attachable spray pieces and funnels to easily put your cologne/perfume into the travel-size bottles. Sleek packaging. Good quality. Love the different colors. I will DEFINITELY be buying more of these!! TSA and carry-on friendly!!!” —Rohanie B
Get a three-pack from Amazon for $9.99 (available in 11 color schemes and a 7-piece set).
17. A collapsible silicone water bottle that’ll help you 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!
Elizabeth Lilly / BuzzFeed
Elizabeth Lilly on our BuzzFeed Shopping team says: “I bought this water bottle before a 2.5-week trip to Vietnam (where you don’t drink tap water) and Malaysia (where you do). I didn’t want to bring one of my ride-or-die S’well bottles because it would take up extra room in my bag when I wouldn’t be able to use it during the majority of the trip. This handy silicone bottle did just the trick! It’s very easy to roll up and *stays* rolled up thanks to the just-stretchy-enough loop. Said loop was also very handy while walking through airports and just around sightseeing. The bottle is easy to clean and doesn’t make my water taste weird. I’m now using it as my daily water bottle and feel confident it’ll serve me well for a long time. Plus! With a collapsible water bottle, it’s easier to remember if you left water in it before you go through security.”
Get it from Amazon for $10.99+ (available in 13 colors/styles).
18. A digital luggage scale to 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!
Check out BuzzFeed Shopping editor Elizabeth Lilly’s TikTok of the digital luggage scale in action.
Promising reviews: “This scale works and was accurate on four flights. First flight was a test at 46 pounds and Delta scales said it was 46 pounds. The next two flights were at 49 pounds and both United and Delta found it to be 49 pounds. The bag on the fourth flight weighed 49 but the United scale found it to be 48 pounds. Four different airports and scales proved that this scale is a good, low-cost, must-have item for air travel.” —Robert
Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in four colors and also a two-pack).
19. A waterproof 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 fits any phone up to 100 mm x 170 mm (or about 3.9 inches x 6.7 inches). It’s also great for keeping out sand and dirt.
Here’s what BuzzFeed Shopping editor Elizabeth Lilly has to say about it: “With these, I find that they’re good for about a day due to condensation. I’ve used this case to take underwater pics, on boat rides, and have worn it with the lanyard jumping off a boat into water. So I really trust these!”
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 $5.58+ (available in 14 colors and two-packs).
20. A durable 10-pound stroller that folds down super compactly and even fits in overhead bins in just two simple steps! It has a little sun canopy with UPF50+ protection and a reclining back, so your little one can nap the day away without the sun getting in their face. Now you can board *and* deboard with your little one’s stroller, meaning they can travel in total comfort.
Check out a TikTok of the compact stroller in action.
Promising review: “The best stroller for traveling! We bought this on a whim for our last-minute trip to Houston. Our toddler is 2 years old, and what a breeze it was to stroll through the airport and fold up so it could stow away under our seats on the plane. It is so compact and so easy, and my husband enjoys entertaining everyone and showing them how small it gets. If you have a little jet setter and fly frequently with a little one, I highly recommend!!” —Kimmie Paulo
Get it from Amazon for $132.97+ (available in two colors and three styles).
21. A luggage drink caddy so you can free up your hands as you move through the terminal. Now if you have to grab your phone or wallet from your pocket, you can do so easily!
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 $12.99 (available in 27 colors).
22. A memory foam seat cushion if you’re tired of your butt going numb after sitting in the car or plane for too long. It can help relieve pressure on your back and tailbone so you can actually enjoy a long commute. This has even given reviewers with sciatica some relief!
Promising review: “We enjoy traveling and spend several weeks on the road each year. I have lower back problems that require my getting cortisone shots for pain relief. For the last few weeks, I have also been having trouble sitting for more than a few minutes because of a pain in the area of my tailbone. I ordered this item for our last trip. I could not believe the difference it made! I was able to sit comfortably both driving and riding without any pain, and that made a huge difference in my enjoyment of the trip. When we got home, I ordered a second one so I could leave one in the car and have one inside. I am recommending it to all my friends who need some relief.” —Susan S.
Get it from Amazon for $45.99 (available in seven colors).
23. 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.
Promising review: “This product has changed my life. I travel fairly frequently and always have issues with ear pressure on the plane. My ears will be clogged up, and it is painful to swallow for a day or two after short-distance flights. But now, I use these and fly incident-free. You are supposed to insert them before the plane takes off and then before landing. I have found that it works best if I leave them in the entire flight from before takeoff until landing, but they work almost as well if you take them out once you reach cruising altitude.” —Thomasina
Get a pack of one from Amazon for $7.89+ (available in one-, three-, five-, and 10-packs).
24. A blister-preventing balm you can apply to the back of your heel before wearing around your new cute shoes as you sightsee for the day. It leaves a non-greasy barrier between your skin and your shoe, so you can avoid whipping out (and packing) the Neosporin and Band-Aid combo.
Amazon
BodyGlide is a small business that specializes in chafe-preventing personal care products.
Promising review: “Wow. I took this on vacation, during which we walked about 20,000 steps daily. And, of course, my shoes begin to rub against parts of my feet terribly. But I smeared this on, and it was amazing. I did have to reapply a few times a day in public, but I highly recommend this!! I used it on my toes, ankle area, etc., and my feet felt great (normal).” —Y.
Get one from Amazon for $8.99 (also available in a bundle and gift set).
25. A TSA-friendly dry shampoo powder because aerosol dry shampoo is 1) not allowed on the plane with you and 2) easily clogs up after traveling at high altitudes. Reviewers say it’s effective, smells great, and lasts a long time, meaning you can keep oily hair at bay as you travel. Just apply the powder to your roots and shake it out with your fingers to get more volumized hair!
Reviewers with thick, fine, curly, and straight hair types love it!
Hair Dance is a US-based cruelty-free, vegan small business that specializes in haircare products.
Promising review: “I was a little unsure about this product but wanted it for vacation to limit aerosols or liquids. I am mind-blown! It smells great, doesn’t leave a residue, and both volumizes and keeps my hair looking fresh. It also lasts for much longer than an aerosol if you’re someone who uses this daily or every other day. The bottle is small enough not to take up space, but I’ve had my first bottle for months and am barely through half. This will be my go-to from now on.” —E
Get it from Amazon for $16.99 (available in two scents).
26. A set of portable blackout curtain shades if the room you’re staying in is super bright in the mornings and you need total darkness for quality shut-eye. It folds up compactly right into its carrying case, so packing it is a breeze. *And* once you get to your bedroom, just stick the suction cups onto windows and say goodbye to annoying sunlight ruining your sleep.
Promising review: “I got this set to black out rooms when we travel with our baby. They work well, stay up the whole trip, it’s easy to customize to the size of the window. Glad we got them, baby slept better while away because we had them.” —Bri
Get it from Amazon for $21.24+ (available in five colors and one- or two-packs).
27. An oh-so-comfy infinity pillow so you can have total neck support thanks to its wrap-around design. It’ll feel like a hug from a comforter as you doze off on the plane, car, or hotel room with not-so-great pillows.
The pillow is made with a breathable, super soft bamboo fabric, and fully machine washable.
Promising review: “We got a few different types of travel pillows for a red-eye to Europe and this was overall our favorite due to its versatility. The loop actually allows you to have various self supporting positions, and this will contort all sorts of ways to be a pillow, neck rest, arm rest… anything. It’s actually just good for any type of travel in general and got a lot of use on the whole trip. The material is soft and comfortable.” —Tom Shaw
Get it from Amazon for $54.50 (available in 10 colors).
28. A set of storage scrunchies reviewers use to hold their key, lip balm, and cash — and to hold their hair in a pony, too, obviously. They’re super convenient and give you an extra pocket when your bag is already filled to the brim with stuff.
LokiStashed is a California-based small business that specializes in unique and practical hair accessories.
Promising review: “I got these scrunchies so I could stash away money, lip balm, and car/house keys while enjoying a hike, at the beach, or going to festivals … basically places where you don’t want to be worried about carrying a lot or you don’t want people to know where your stuff is. I have very long thick hair and the scrunchie will go around my hair twice while in a ponytail or bun and it is comfortable.” —Amazon Customer
Get a pack of three from Amazon for $13.99 (available in four color combinations).
29. A waterproof travel cable organizer with seven different pockets so your cords, chargers, earbuds, and other small tech gadgets stay super neat and easily accessible. Because nothing is more annoying than needing a charging cord and realizing it’s intertwined with everything else at the bottom of your bag.
Promising review: “This case has been amazing for storing my earbuds, various loose cable connectors, chargers, etc. I am using it right now on a trip and it has been fantastic for keeping these items in one convenient, organized place. It is lightweight and fits easily into my one carry on item when boarding the many flights I am taking. I’m pretty sure I will still be using it to keep all these items together and more easy to locate when I return home! I am so glad I bought this!” —V. Elia
Get it from Amazon for $9.85+ (available in 27 styles and three sizes).
30. A brilliant “Wallet Ninja,” aka a handy tool that’s the size of a credit card and can literally be used 18 different ways. 🤯 It’s made out of steel (so it’s super strong) and can prop up phones, open bottles, tighten eyeglasses that feel a little wonky, and *so* much more.
Amazon, Amazon
Wallet Ninja is a small business that specializes in card-sized, slim-profile tools and accessories.
Each card includes several screwdrivers, a package opener, nail puller, ruler, bottle opener, can opener, box opener, cellphone stand, hex-head nut and bolts, and a fruit peeler.
Promising review: “This is definitely helpful to have on hand! The Ninja is small and slim but punches above its weight class in terms of usefulness. The tools are all things you might find yourself searching through a drawer for and are useful in a pinch. It fits comfortably in your wallet and will help you open a beer or tighten a screw. The coolest feature that I couldn’t find on most other similar products was the credit card phone stand. It is great for planes and other travel applications (I haven’t had trouble bringing this on a plane anywhere I have traveled, FYI).”—Mary
Get it from Amazon for $14.98+ (also available in packs of two, three, and five).
31. 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!
Here’s what BuzzFeed Shopping editor Elizabeth Lilly has to say about it: “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 mine 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. Just make sure that you keep it unlocked when going through airport security, as I’ve been pulled aside a few times for TSA to take a look inside.”
Get it from Amazon for $16.96+ (available in two colors and a two-pack).
32. A chilled snack box so you can keep your perishable snacks in perfect condition for the entirety of your travel day. Its built-in cooling technology is so effective that reviewers trust it to keep everything from your child’s snacks to insulin nice and cool.
Promising review: “This is a must-have for travel! As someone with food allergies, I often travel with food. This was the perfect solution for how to keep items cold while traveling. The bag is quick to freeze and has plenty of space for snacks and food. It seems to keep cold for a full day flight and no issue taking through TSA.” —Sunshine_AW
Get it from Amazon for $17.27+ (available in 18 colors and prints).
33. Natural, plastic-free solid shampoo bars that’ll easily replace your clunky bottles of soap because the different bars are designed for your specific hair needs. They’re affordable, small, and will last you the entire trip. And unlike liquid, they won’t spill all over your clothes in your carry-on.
Amazon
Each shampoo option has a different benefit, so you can get the one that fits your hair needs! Some of those options include: curl-defining, scalp health, hydrating, and volumizing (just to name a few).
Promising review: “First time I bought this soap it was for traveling. Lugging around large bottles of shampoo for six people for a four-to-six-week vacation is just not an option, and buying shampoo is sketchy since a couple of us have soap allergies. The little bar packs up perfectly in a little baggie and takes the smallest amount of luggage space. One bar washed six heads of hair for five weeks!! Every day!! Suds well and cleans well.” —Dominique B.
Get it from Amazon for $11.90+ (available in 13 scents).
34. A super-soft MakeUp Eraser to pack instead of your disposable makeup remover wipes — *this* is more compact, cheaper, gentler on your skin, more eco-friendly, and only requires water to work its magic.
It has two sides — one that can wipe off all your makeup with water and a light scrubbing, and another that exfoliates your skin. Plus, all you have to do when you’re done using it is wet it and hang it up to dry!
Promising review: “Good quality and sewing/finishing. Gets every trace of makeup off without any stress. Love these! Love taking them on trips so I don’t ruin other people’s towels and such with removing my makeup. These wash up fresh and beautiful all the time. Got the black ones, so they look as fresh as the day I bought them.” —HeartofAvalon
Get it from Amazon for $15+ (available in 16 colors).
35. A microfiber towel that’s fast-drying and lightweight so you can avoid a normal once-used towel that’s wet and cold still. Reviewers love this for traveling since it’s super compact, folds up neatly, and even doubles as a blanket. It’s perfect for camping, cruises, and beach vacays!
Promising review: “Perfect towel for the gym, travel, and more! I have two of these towels, a large one and a small one. I live on a boat, where space is limited and the fact that these towels fold up incredibly small is my favorite thing! My second favorite thing is how fast they dry when hung up, so that I can store them away without having to wait hours and hours for them to dry in my compartment. I use the small towel at the gym and it is super absorbent and super lightweight, I usually forget it is on me. Fantastic towel, definitely recommend.” —Sam the Man
Get it from Amazon for $12.99 (available in 16 colors and six sizes).
36. A transparent TSA-approved toiletry bag so your travel-sized liquids don’t spill all over your clothes and shoes. Reviewers say it’s leak-proof *and* easier to pack than your standard quart-sized plastic bags!
Amazon
Promising review: “This bag held surprisingly more than expected. I put tiny travel jars for my skincare creams and other small toiletries in it with room to spare. I definitely feel like it was easier to pack and was also easy to grab out of my bag for security. It feels sturdy with nice, thick vinyl. The double zipper moved easily, and I was pleased that it opened completely for ease of getting the items I needed out of it.” —Mrs M Tate
Get it from Amazon for $13.99 (available in 10 colors).
37. A Saucemoto dip clip because we all know you’re stopping at a drive-thru while on a road trip. Just clip this onto your air vent so you can enjoy your favorite dipping sauce as you’re refueling your gas tank (and stomach).
Saucemoto is a small business established in 2018 that specializes in unique car accessories.
Promising review: “I don’t like to admit it, but sometimes I eat fast food in my car, particularly on long road trips. This holder is exactly what I would have designed if I had thought of it. There really is nothing I would change. It’s sturdy and I haven’t found a sauce yet that doesn’t fit; but if I do, there is a cup it comes with to hold ‘loose’ sauce.” —Jr High Teacher
Get set of two from Amazon for $9.99 (available in three colors and as a four-pack).
38. 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 help legs feel more energized — which is *just* what you want when you step off that plane!
Read more about compression socks for travel at Johns Hopkins and HuffPost.
Physix Gear Sport is a family-owned small business that specializes in gear for sports, travel, comfort, and business.
Promising review: “I have been traveling almost every week for business for the past six years and about five years in, I realized my legs would often hurt after some longer flights. I was told by my physician to try to wear compression socks while flying. After using this product for many months and wearing them on a few international flights, I have to say this is definitely worth the money! They are very comfortable and do not feel too suffocating while on longer flights.” —Lopa Desai
Get it from Amazon for$9.19+ (available in 13 colors and sizes S–XXL).
You, after finally purchasing these products: