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1. A Hairbrella small enough to fold up and keep in your bag because you never know what the weather is going to do when you're on vacation. One minute it's sunny and the next it's down pouring. The satin-lined hat will protect your hair against snow, humidity, wind, and anything else Mother Nature decides to send your way.
Hairbrella is a Black-owned small business that has been creating fashionable hats that protect hair from all kinds of weather since 2016.
Promising review: "I traveled to London last month with a raincoat that did not have a hood, and I wanted something that would protect my head/hair/blowout without lugging an umbrella. This definitely did the trick. Two of the three days were rainy (some quite heavy) and my hair stayed totally dry. It stows nicely, too. I'm still learning how to adjust it while it's on my head (easier to adjust first and then put it on). Also, when I do have it tightened/pulled to the right place, the loop/slack from where I adjusted it sort of sticks out and gets in my peripheral vision. I wish the adjustment/clasp was on less prominent. But, all in all, this is perfect for anyone who wants to keep their blowout fresh in the rain." —Miss Information
Get it from Amazon for $39.99 (available in nine colors).
2. An anti-blister balm for when you're in a ~pinch~ and want to make sure that you don't get blisters from walking all day.
Promising review: "I purchased two of these for our one-week Disney World trip. I knew I’d be walking around A LOT, and my feet aren’t used to the many miles of walking a day in the hot and humid environment, so I didn’t want to be uncomfortable. I'm happy to say I put it on once in the morning, slipped on some socks and comfy shoes, and I didn’t get one blister or issue with my feet! I wish I knew about this a long time ago!" —Michelle
Get it from Amazon for $8.99.
3. And some anti-chafe balm to protect your inner thighs (or any other part of your body, really) from excessive rubbing while you're out on your adventure.
Promising review: "I was in Arizona during a continuing 100+ heat wave on a vacay tour. I didn’t use it the first day and ended up with rubbed thighs due to rough seams on shorts and excessive heat. I then used this everyday without additional rubbing rash. This stuff is awesome!!!! I will not leave home again on travel without it. It was not wet or tacky, just glides very nicely. It held up in 113-degree heat. Without it, it would have been a very different vacation. Thank you for making this product!!!!" —Jennifer
Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in five sizes).
4. A waterproof pouch here to protect your phone and keep it safe whenever you're near water. Plus, you can still use the touchscreen with it, which means you can take as many underwater pictures as your heart desires.
It's designed to fit any phone up to 100mm x 170mm (or about 3.9 inches x 6.7 inches). And not only will it keep your phone protected from water, but it will also keep sand and dirt out.
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 $7.69 (available in 14 colors).
5. Silicone earplugs designed to reduce the pressure in your ears because sometimes you can't avoid getting an ~earful~ when the plane is taking off (and from the woman sitting next to you).
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 $6.99.
6. AirFly, a wireless transmitter that'll connect your AirPods (or any other wireless headphones) to the headphone jack on the flight so you can enjoy all the free entertainment without being forced to bring two sets of headphones or use the crappy ones they have the AUDACITY to charge for on some flights.
It also comes with a USB-C charging cable, travel pouch, keychain holder, quick-start guide, and a manual.
Promising review: "I love this gadget ... I fly a lot and this works on the majority of wide-body planes I’ve taken over the past six months. Just plug into one of the three-prong outlets (or single outlet in economy), and you can connect any Bluetooth device. Doesn’t always connect on the first try as I have multiple devices that my headphones are searching for, but if you turn off all other devices, it seems to connect right away. Once connected, it works for many hours. A few planes I’ve taken recently (Qatar Airways) have USB charge points so close to the headphone jack that you can even plug it in while it's working and never lose the charge. Highly recommend for travelers." —Joseph Sikorsky
Get it from Amazon for $44.99+ (available in four other styles).
7. A digital luggage scale so you don't have to spend any time worrying that your bag is overweight at the airport and then trying to rearrange while your suitcase is open on the floor, for the whole airport to see. 😳 Maybe this is a very specific fear that I personally have, but owning this scale will ensure that you never have to pay an overweight baggage fee if you buy too many souvenirs on the trip.
Promising review: "This luggage scale is so handy and is great for weighing your luggage. I was a little concerned before I got it because I wasn't sure how accurate it would be. When I used it when I went on vacation, it was dead-on to what the airport said, so I highly recommend this. Plus, it’s easy to pack in your bags." —Teresa Daniels
Get it from Amazon for $10.99+ (available in four colors).
8. An external battery so powerful that it can charge your phone up to three times before it needs to be charged itself. Now that's convenient when you're out and about all day using your phone as a camera to capture all the memories.
Promising review: "This is an amazing rapid power charger! It charges an iPad faster than plugging it into AC, even while using it! The size is very manageable — about the size of a deck of cards. I travel frequently, and I'm not always near a power source. I just make sure to charge the Anker each evening and then none of my devices will be without power during the day. I was so happy with it, I purchased two more — one for my husband and one for my sister who can't seem to remember to keep her devices charged." —Cathy K
Get it from Amazon for $25 (available in four colors).
9. Some odor eliminators you can stash in your luggage or carry-on. Now you don't have to worry about throwing stinky or sweaty clothes in your suitcase after your hike to get the perfect sunset photo for Instagram ends up being a little harder than you originally thought.
The charcoal bag has no smell and absorbs excess moisture to prevent mold, mildew, and bacteria from forming on your clothes and in your bag. You can use them for up to two years, but you should put them outside in the sun for an hour once a month so they can ~rejuvenate~.
Promising review: "These are the best travel buddies! I always pack one of these in my luggage and one in my boyfriend's. While traveling, we sometimes don't get to wash all our clothes, but these bags are brilliant at absorbing the smell of sweat on our clothes and shoes!" —J.L.
Get a set of two from Amazon for $10.95.
10. A zipper puller so you don't have to limit what clothes you take with you on your trip for fear that you won't be able to twist yourself in a way to get the back zipper all the way up. No need to fret (and sweat) anymore because this handy gadget will grab the zipper, and you can be on your way.
Promising review: "This product is fabulous and saves me. I have a lot of back zip dresses for work, and my daughter helps me zip. I had to travel recently and bought this product. I read a lot of negative reviews. Do not believe them. This product works every time if you CLIP IT ON ACCORDING TO THE DIRECTIONS. If you do not clip it on the zipper properly it does not work. I have used this on little zippers, hidden zippers, and tight dresses with zero problems. This works both ways to zip and unzip. I don’t know how I have worn back zip dresses all this time without this product. I can buy back zip clothes now with no worry about how to get them on and off without help." —Foxyang
Get it from Amazon for $14.99 (available in three colors).
11. A hands-free (rotating!) phone mount you can use on more than just the airplane — it can mount on basically any surface from the tray table, arm of a chair, or even a suitcase handle for easy viewing wherever you are.
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. 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 $12.97.
12. A set of six Cadence containers here to revolutionize the way you bring your travel-sized products with you. These lil' cuties are SO useful — they hold a surprising amount of product, are magnetic, and have a removable label you can customize so you don't accidentally put body wash in your hair because you can't remember which container has your shampoo in it.
Cadence is an AAPI woman-owned small business that was founded by Steph Hon as a way to eliminate single-use travel-sized plastics. The containers are made from recycled ocean-bound plastic.
I recently got a set of four of these, and, wow, I love them so much. I used them on a six-day trip recently, and they were perfect. I customized the label so I knew which one was my shampoo vs. conditioner and did a general label for any other things I wanted to bring along. They do hold a surprising amount. According to the brand, they hold approximately one to two weeks of skincare products, more than two weeks' worth of serum, two to three days' worth of haircare, and more than 15 tablets (for medicine and such). And while two to three days worth of haircare might not seem like enough, I found it held more than that for me, but I also don't wash my hair every single day. They were small enough to slip right into my toiletries bag and go through TSA with no problem. The container was easy to open in the shower (even with wet hands), and I had no leakage from them (like I did from my face wash bottle that will not be making the trip with me next time. SMH). These are an incredibly useful tool anyone who travels will want in their luggage.
Get a set of six from Cadence for $74 (originally $84).
13. A USB-chargeable fan you'll be SO grateful you have on your next trip to Disney or any amusement park in the warmer months, really.
BuzzFeed Shopping Editor Heather Braga says: "I picked up one of these bad boys for a recent trip to Walt Disney World and BOY was it worth every penny. It really does make a difference when you're walking around in the scalding hot sun. It also folds up so it isn't super bulky when not in use."
Get it from Amazon for $18.59+ (available in five colors).
14. A bottle of Drop It made to remove the sulfates and tannins from your glass of wine because vacation is all fun and games until you enjoy a little too much wine in Italy and have to wake up early the next day for that excursion. This won't mess with the flavor of the wine but will ensure you won't wake up with a wicked headache the next morning.
It's more cost-effective and environmentally friendly than other competitors because one bottle can be used up to 55 times. To use, add one to two drops in each glass of white one, two to three for each glass of red, or seven to nine to a whole bottle. Swirl it for 20 seconds after you put it in, and the glass is ready to drink.
Promising review: "This ish works! I was kinda scared to try it. If you struggle with getting headaches from drinking wine, try this. I use it every time I drink wine. I travel with it, it's easy to store, and it works. I don’t get headaches while drinking wine if I use this." —Capri Enjoli
Get it from Amazon for $14.99.
15. A heat-resistant silicone mat so you can wrap up your hot curling iron and straightener and throw 'em in your bag as you run out the door to catch a cab to the airport because you're late...again.
Promising review: "This is great for travel! I love that I no longer have to wait for my straightener to cool down all the way when we are traveling. Now, I can let it cool a little then wrap it up and pack it away, saving me tons of time. I love that it has the slit to keep the cover on the iron. I also like to rest the straightener on it any time I use it to protect our marble countertops. Definitely recommend it!" —IDesign
Get it from Amazon for $10.95.
16. A portable door lock to help you feel extra secure in your room. If triggered, this lets out a loud alarm sound that will wake you (and maybe everyone else around you) up.
Promising review: "I have two of these, and they are amazing. The loop goes around the door handle and two thin metal prongs go in the crack of the door. If the door opens even a little, the prongs are separated, and it lets out the loudest, most obnoxious wailing sound in the history of the world. It's great for a single girl traveling on her own!" —Kelly
Get it from Amazon for $11.99+ (available in nine colors).
17. An iPhone dongle case you can attach to your keys (or carry-on bag) because I'm pretty sure Apple designed this dongle so small just so we would lose them easily and have to keep buying more. Well, the joke's on them, because this genius invention will make sure that you have the dongle so you can use your headphones properly during your flight/travel.
Ceebees Cases LLC is a Black-owned small biz!
Promising review: "I love it. I’m always losing my cord or leaving it in my other jacket or pants pocket. Now, all I have to do is put it back on my keyring. Brilliant!!!" —Mel
Get it from Ceebees Cases LLC on Etsy for $14.40 (originally $16).
18. A Road Trip Box featuring 60 different activities and discussion questions to keep your kids entertained and occupied during your journey so they don't spend the whole time on the iPad.
The Idea Box Kids is a Wilsonville, Oregon-based small business that has been creating these activity sets for kids since 2011. It is recommended for ages 3+.
Get it from The Idea Box Kids on Etsy for $24.99 (also available in an airplane set).
19. Some laundry soap sheets to have on hand when you realize you've run out of clothes because you've decided to extend your trip even longer because there was no way you were going home without visiting the Eiffel Tower.
Promising review: "This came SO in handy during my vacation to Europe! I was making lots of different stops to places with different types of weather. With these laundry soap sheets I was able to wash my clothes in the sink — letting me pack just the right amount of clothes for all the different places I went." —Katie Fujarski
Get it from Amazon for $6.95+ (available in two styles).
20. A portable white-noise machine that'll work hard while you sleep at night to block all the noises that come with staying in a hotel room. (Looking at you, elevator and ice machine!!!!!)
Promising review: "I was skeptical at first about how well this little noise machine would work in my hotel room (I am a frequent business traveler). However, skepticism gave way to satisfaction. This little sound machine blocked out hotel noises very well and helped me sleep through the night. For a little machine, it provides very good volume and different noise options. I highly recommend this product!" —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $29.95+ (available in four styles).
21. A flying USB port with four places to plug in all your cords so you only need one plug in your bedroom to keep all your electronics (phone, watch, tablet, etc.) at 100% during your whole trip.
Multitasky is a female-founded and -run small biz that began in 2020 as a way for founder Julia Xu to create products that were both functional and cute.
Promising review: "It does as it says it does, allowing my Dell XPS15 to operate a pair of USB devices from my lightning port! The laptop has two USB ports, one of which is always occupied by my USB mouse dongle and the other by my protected USB drive. If I wanted to plug in my phone to switch data or add another thumb drive to transfer a device, everything might have to be disconnected, but not anymore. It was really worth it." —Liberty
Get it from Multitasky for $20 (originally $25; available in three colors).
22. Allyeyoop 4-in-1 pen you may think is one of those super-cool multicolored pens you used in grade school, but is actually a super-cool 4-in-1 makeup tool. Throw this in your bag, and you'll have eyeliner, brow liner, lip liner, and a highlighter right at your fingertips. No need for so many makeup products to weigh down your bag.
23. A mini steam iron ideal for throwing in your checked bag to have ready when you arrive at your destination and realize that the shirt you wanted to wear is wrinkled beyond belief. You'll look more put together and feel great with this.
Promising review: "I took this iron on a 5-week trip to a desert climate, and I used it to iron linen, cotton, and silk. It did a better job than many full-sized irons. Never again will I wear those hot, ugly, "wrinkle-free" travel clothes. It is also lightweight, tiny, easy-to-use, and cute. One of the best travel purchases I have ever made" —Eliyahu
Get it from Amazon for $27.99.
24. A pair of anti-chafing bands that will do an amazing job of protecting your thighs when you're wearing that beautiful dress you knew the moment you saw had to be worn on your trip. The fear of painful rubbing of your thighs shouldn't stop you from living your best (vacation) life.
Promising review: "I took a trip to Paris and decided to buy these after being on the fence because I knew we'd be walking around the city a ton. I've struggled with red thighs when I walk long distances, and the various powders/lotions I've tried hadn't been doing it for me. I bought these and WOW do they work! My thighs were comfy and secure, and I walked MILES in these. Ladies, if you experience painful thigh chafing then these are for you!" —Shelby Smith
Get them from Amazon for $18.95 (available in women's sizes S-3X and in 17 colors).
25. A BenjiLock fingerprint travel lock — not only is this lock TSA-approved, but it will make unlocking your bag so much easier. Who can ever remember the four-digit code they picked years ago?
BenjiLock by Hampton is a small biz that uses biometric technology to use your fingerprint as the key to the lock. The lock is pick- and water-resistant.
Promising review: "I consider myself a bit of a 'nomad' and needed a lock for my latest travels. I have to say that after a month of going all over Europe, the BenjiLock is amazing! What a neat little lock! Yes, it took a beating, but it worked all around. The fingerprint was very easy to set, and I only charged it once before I left. It still works!" —Cadyn
26. A travel perfume atomizer you can place directly on your favorite perfume to pump up to 60 sprays into — this means you can take your favorite scent with you without having to buy a pricey travel size. 🙌
27. An acupressure anti-nausea wristband to make nausea and motion/morning sickness disappear so you can go on with your day without feeling awful and fighting the urge to throw up after riding that super-awesome roller coaster everyone recommended.
The band applies pressure on the P6 acupressure point that is said to help relieve nausea and vomiting.
Promising review: "I wished I tried this a long time ago. I used it on a 13 hour drive. Once at Disney World, I wore them for every ride, and it was the first time I did not get nausea or sick. I was amazed. This is a must-have if you get car sick or can’t ride rides at an amusement park." —E. Kendra
Get a pack of two from Amazon for $8.59.
28. A Wallet Ninja with 18 different functions designed specifically to fit in your pocket and save the day when your glasses break and you need a screwdriver to put them back together. Or to help your phone stand up so you can watch TV on the flight. (Both are pretty important TBH.)
The card includes an eyeglass screwdriver, letter opener, nail puller, ruler, bottle opener, can opener, box opener, cellphone stand, hex-head nut and bolts, screwdrivers, and a fruit peeler. Reviewers said it is TSA approved, but some had to remove it from their bag and put it on the belt by itself just to be safe.
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. You obviously aren't going to be able to construct a deck with anything on this credit-card-size device, but 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 $12.98.
29. A magnetic luggage tag you can clip to your tote bag for a super-easy (and convenient) spot to keep your hat while you travel. It uses a magnet to keep your hat in place so it will easily get to your destination. Say goodbye to ever having to pull out a crushed and wrinkled hat from your luggage again!
Lindsay Albanese is an LA-based woman-owned small business that creates fashionable and functional accessories to make your life easier.
Promising review: "Love! Love! Love it! It has a very sturdy grip, and fashionable! I have had skin cancer numerous times, including melanoma. This is a must-have to keep me safe and fashionable — vacation or otherwise. I have thrown it in the overhead on a plane or shuffled through crowded venues, prior to COVID-19, and never lost my hat. This is a great gift, first to myself, and now to others! Thank you for keeping me safe and on point at an affordable price!" —Emily K.
Get it from Lindsay Albanese for $59.
30. A Tide To-Go stain removing pen small enough to keep with you at all times because you never know when you're going to spill on your favorite shirt that you planned to wear three more times on the trip. The pen will work like magic to remove the stain so you can continue on your trip like nothing happened.
Promising review: "These were a lifesaver. I was walking to the bus and decided it was a great decision to drink coffee while walking. Like a scene from an infomercial, I spilled coffee all over my white shirt. Yes, the classic coffee on the white shirt. Luckily I had one of these in my bag (I put one in each of my most-used purses in anticipation of my clumsiness). I went into a store bathroom and quickly scrubbed the Tide To-Go on my shirt. All of the coffee blobs went away and once the awkward wet splotches dried up, my shirt was perfectly white again. You've got yourself a big fan, Tide." —NAD
Get a pack of from Amazon three for $7.74.
31. An insulated phone case designed specifically to keep your phone at a comfortable temperature in both hot and cold climates so you never have to worry that it will stop working because it's overheated or frozen.
Promising review: "I bought two of these for friends who ski and snowmobile together and with family. The phone cases are really well insulated. When they are able to get reception in the mountains their mobiles work perfectly because they have been protected. The colors are bright and easily seen in the snow. And there's room for ID." —Helen
Get it from Amazon for $29 (available in three patterns) or from The Grommet for $34.99.
32. A luggage-mounted cup caddy so you have a place to hold your coffee (and water or snacks!) while you make your way through the never-ending terminal to find your gate. You'll never spill your coffee while trying to answer a text again!
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 $15.99 (available in nine colors and patterns).
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