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1. A set of TSA-approved locks so if you're staying in a hostel or any other type of shared accommodation, you can keep your belongings nice and safe.
Promising reviews: "Traveled by plane, train, bus, and ferry for three weeks. These worked perfectly and were easy to use on my carry-on luggage and my backpack. I like that the size didn't call attention. Would buy again." —LL
"So once your luggage leaves your sight at the airport, there is a pretty good chance some baggage handler will rifle through your bag. But with these nifty little locks, the only people that can rifle through your bag are TSA personnel." —Lorraine M.
Get it from Amazon for $7.95+ (available individually or in sets of two or four and in multiple colors).
2. An Anker 10000mAh power bank — a must-have if you would quite literally have NO idea where you were going without a phone that had enough juice to access Google Maps.
Promising review: "I bought this for a two week vacation to South Africa seeing as I was out most of the day taking lots of pictures and nowhere to readily plug in my phone. This thing is super small, fits in my small purse and I did not have to recharge it at all the whole time I was gone. Granted I did not use it every day, but the fact that it holds charge that long is amazing. After about 11 days it still had 75% of the charge and I had used it at least four times. It does charge pretty fast which is a big plus and because it is so small, I don't even have to take it out of my purse." —Nellie F.
Get it from Amazon for $25.98+ (available in two colors).
3. A wedge doorstop alarm with an *extremely* loud 120-decibel siren that'll sound should anyone try to force open your door. If you have trouble sleeping in unfamiliar hotel rooms or Airbnbs, this might just help.
No wiring is required, either, just pick up a 9V battery.
Promising review: "Travel must-have. I use this traveling, and it provides extra peace of mind in motel rooms considering I'm a cheapskate and stay in dives and my dog is getting so old he is likely to refer any criminal who breaks and enters to me for further processing. Works well, as a startled maid in a West Virginia motel can attest when she thought I had checked out and unlocked the door to clean. I gave the second one to my sister, who uses it at home." —QuintessentiallyYours
Get it from Amazon for $13.80.
4. And a portable no-install door lock that'll give you even more peace of mind. The durable steel mechanism slips into any doorjamb to keep it nice and secure.
Promising review: "I purchased two of these, one for my apartment door and one for travel. It was tested when the maintenance man at my building showed up earlier than expected. He knocked and before I could get to the door, he was already trying to open the door AND COULD NOT. This held, and he was really pushing. I know someone can get in if they really are determined, but the level of noise they'd cause would alert neighbors and give me time to react. Exactly what I bought it for. Nothing is 100% secure. But this device definitely makes my door more secure then the lock and chain do! I highly recommend for anyone in an apartment and travelers." —nancy w.
Get it from Amazon for $17.95.
5. A luggage-mounted cup caddy because if you're anything like me, coffee is HIGH on your list of airport priorities and you could likely use an extra hand to carry it.
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 $14.99+ (available in 26 colors/styles).
6. A 3-in-1 foldable magnetic wireless charger so you don't have to decide between juicing up your AirPods, Apple Watch, or phone because you only have one outlet to work with.
Check out a TikTok of the foldable charger in action.
Promising review: "I use this product to charge my iPhone 13, AirPods, and Apple Watch. I frequently travel between school and home with carry-on bags on airlines and all of the previous stand version chargers I tried didn't fit well in my bags or I was worried they would break. This is compact and folds so well that I can fit in my carry-on or in any zipper pockets without having to worry about breaking anything. Charger works really well and it is the best compact one you can find in market. Love it and been using it for two months now and no issues!!" —SBREDDY
Get it from Amazon for $33.99+ (available in six colors).
7. A 26-liter Calpak Duffel with soooo many pockets it's basically the bag equivalent of cargo pants. This is my personal secret to solo travel as you can zip through crowded airports, bus stations, and attractions SO much easier when you don't have to contend with a wheeled bag.
If you wanna talk about a ludicrously capacious bag, this right here is the winner!! I bought a basic economy ticket — with no baggage allowance other than a personal item — and managed to fit enough in here for an 8-day trip that included London, Oxford, and Edinburgh. I wore it as a backpack the whole time, but it does have adjustable straps that turn it into a duffel bag. It also has multiple carrying handles, a luggage trolley sleeve, a laptop pocket, an interior compression strap, a clamshell opening (so it opens just like a suitcase!), and, one of the best features — imo — a ripstop polyester shell (it's made from 27 recycled water bottles). I stuffed this sucker with not only my clothes and toiletries but a whole bunch of souvenirs on the way home and there was no ripping of seams or weird noises that made me think my bag might explode at any moment. Oh and the juniper color is just 😍
Promising review: "I recently used this bag for a trip to Florida and managed to pack so many outfits. It worked as a personal item so I didn’t have to pay for luggage. Not to mention, this bag had so many pockets. Definitely purchase if you’re on the fence." —Alyssa C.
Get it from Calpak for $175 (available in 10 colors).
8. A fashion-forward Cincha travel belt that can accommodate most any carry-on as it expands to 45 inches. This way, you can stack your bags instead of juggling them.
Cincha is a BIPOC–owned business run by a couple and based in Oakland, California who believe traveling in style should also be secure. They've been making the chic travel belt since 2019.
Promising review: "Such a simple yet brilliant solution for the ever falling bag when trying to juggle all your luggage. It definitely made traveling less stressful." —Samantha
Get it from Amazon or Cincha for $35.99+ (available in two sizes and 24 colors/prints).
9. A medication tracker you can stick to the side of any prescription you regularly forget to take — especially when you're not traveling with an accountability buddy. Depending on where your trip takes you, a possible time change + a missed Prozac dose ≠ an enjoyable vacay.
PS: Take-n-Slide is a small biz.
Promising review: "Where has this been all my life? I love it. This is a lifesaver! I’ve been looking for something like this for years. I always forget 10 minutes later if I actually took my medicine or just put it down. I’ve tried so many different ways, making marks on the bottle, making stickers, and other pill containers. None ever work. And pill containers are so bulky when I only need one pill." —Niki
Get a pack of five from Amazon for $19.99.
10. A mini white noise machine so you can get a good night's sleep on the road instead of being kept up by unfamiliar noises like creaky Airbnb floors or rowdy hotel neighbors.
The small device has 11 non-looping sleep sounds (including fan and ocean sounds) and it can connect to wireless devices via Bluetooth so you can use it as a portable speaker and play your own audio.
Promising review: "Bought one of these for my hubby for Christmas and he loved it. Then I bought one for my daughter days later. A few days later, I bought our third — I had to have one also for when I travel. Love all the options to select from with the various sounds, volume control is great, love the Bluetooth. Brought it with us to a hotel on vacation and used it at night to drown out the noise of other guests walking and talking in the halls, and during the day rocked our music on Bluetooth!!" —Romeo's Girl
Get it from Amazon for $34.99 (also available in black).
11. Or a Bluetooth-enabled mask if falling asleep on vacation is not your forte — especially when you're alone. Slip this baby on, turn on your favorite thunderstorm simulator, and it's like you never left home.
After a bout of pandemic-induced insomnia I picked up one of these USB-chargeable masks and can honestly say it was LIFE changing. If you're sensitive to light or sound, this mask is where it's at. The contoured, cool-to-the-touch eye pads are super cozy and extra padding on the bridge of the nose ensures no light seeps in. I was concerned about feeling the headphones through the mask and not being able to sleep in my usual position (mountain climber; hand's down comfiest position), but they really are unnoticeable. I can sleep through the night with it on and the Velcro straps have never once gotten stuck in my hair. The battery also lasts for a full 10 hours, so I don't have to worry about my audio going out right as I'm dozing off.
Promising review: "This is the best thing I have ordered in a long time! I work nights and recently took a travel position. Staying in hotels is fun until your neighbor is loud or the highway traffic is horrible. The speakers on this are quality! The only thing I heard was the rain and thunder from my app. The rain was so clear sounding I could easily visualize each drop hitting the ground. I was about to fall asleep when the thunder kicked in and seriously scared me to pieces! Highly recommend!" —Dana Harris
Get it from Amazon for $22.58+ (available in five colors).
12. A portable safe you can wrap around an umbrella, picnic table leg, or chair so you can stow away your phone, keys, wallet, and other small valuables without worrying about them being lost or stolen. Reviewers use this guy at water parks, the beach, all-inclusive resorts, and even in Airbnbs.
PS: SafeGo is a small biz.
Promising review: "Bought it for an overseas trip and it worked great. We used it both in a hotel room when the room safe was out of order and on the beach. I look forward to using it on outings this summer and I think it will be a very useful addition to my travel staples. I packed in my luggage full of toiletries and sunscreen so it didn't feel like it took up a ton of space and I could carry it in my purse/tote without it feeling too bulky. That said, you can fit a lot into it." —laurel
Get it from Amazon for $44.95 (available in four colors).
13. And the Ring Thing — a waterproof jewelry holder you can use when you're enjoying a day at the beach, zip lining, bungee jumping, or doing whatever other bucket list adventure you had in mind. Simply slip your ring in here and you won't have to worry about losing it at the bottom of a tote bag or denting/scratching it during any activities.
The Ring Thing comes from BringThings, Inc., a woman-owned company dedicated to making "stylish, functional products." They donate a portion of each sale to A portion of each sale to anti-human trafficking non-profits.
Promising review: "I take my wedding ring off at night when I go to bed. When I’m at home I put it in a ring dish. But, whenever I am traveling I’m always afraid that I might forget it or it might get knocked onto the floor and I won’t be able to find it. So this works perfectly for me. Since it has the clip on it, I attach it inside my bathroom bag and problem solved. My rings are safe and secure and won’t be forgotten." —CG
Get it from Amazon for $19.95 (available in five colors).
14. A small crossbody bag that's deceivingly spacious thanks to its accordion design which unfolds to reveal three main pockets, five smaller compartments, eight card slots, and two photo slots.
Promising review: "Bought this to use on a cruise. One of my best purchases for the trip honestly! I planned to use it mainly when getting off the ship to go for excursions, but I ended up wearing this everywhere on the ship also. Perfectly fit my iPhone, multiple cards, passport, sunglasses, lipstick and a lipgloss, a travel tube of ibuprofen. I even shoved a map of the island we visited and the instant photos we took in it! I has so many sleek zipper compartments that conveniently fit a ton of essentials, but not too bulky!" —acc
Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in 35 designs/colors).
15. An Apple AirTag so you know where your bag is at all times — especially if you have tight connections to make or are on a trip that involves planes, trains, and automobiles (aka Ubers, Lyfts, and taxis).
After all of the flight cancellations, tarmac delays, and general travel disruptions of 2022, I finally decided to invest in an AirTag for my checked luggage. In my 15 years of international travel, I've only ever had a bag lost once (due to a missed connecting flight), but I figured it was time to stop tempting fate. I'm generally a carry-on-only traveler, but even those have been getting gate-checked more frequently and as my recent trip involved SIX flights, I felt better having this slipped inside. Using the "Find My" app I can see exactly where my bag was last located so when I land, I'll know if it made the flight with me.
Get it from Amazon for $27.99.
16. A skyline mini wallet emergency kit with 20 individually packaged essentials that can help you with everything from a headache or broken nail to chapped lips or a red wine stain.
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 got one for myself and one for my daughter. I love how compact this emergency kit is. It fits in any purse. I would suggest and recommend for anyone. I’m sure it will lighten a purse for many by condensing it into this one small emergency kit." —Eileen M.
Get it from Anne Cate for $25 (available in 100+ skylines).
17. A pair of elasticized shoelaces that make getting through airport security as easy as possible because there's nothing more embarrassing than fumbling to get your shoes off, and then fumbling to get them back on, while also juggling all of your small electronics/passport/ticket/carry-on.
The shoelaces can be used on both adult and kid shoes! Reviewers also say these are great for making it easy to remove shoes while going through airport security.
Promising review: "At first I was skeptical that these laces wouldn't hold my shoes on tightly enough, but I decided to give them a try on my Converse. 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. 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 couldn't be happier with them." —lucidity
Get them from Amazon for $11.99 (available in 36 colors).
18. A waterproof cellphone case if you'll be stepping foot anywhere near a river/ocean/waterfall/infinity pool with a swim-up bar and you don't want your phone to fall victim to splashes and/or accidental submersion.
It fits any phone up to 100mm x 170mm (or about 3.9 inches x 6.7 inches). It's also a great fix for keeping out sand and dirt (and a great option for runners if you're caught in the rain but still want to be able to toggle through your music options).
Promising review: "This waterproof case is AMAZING!!! I purchased it in July 2016 as a cheaper alternative to an underwater digital camera. My family and I went on a seven-day cruise, and I gambled with this purchase and hit the jackpot. It not only amazingly and easily waterproofed my big iPhone, but it had some wiggle room to put my credit card, room key, and some cash, too. It ALSO took amazingly clear and crisp pictures and video through the plastic, AND not only that, but the videos had pretty clear sound too!!! I will forever praise this waterproof case!!!" —M. Lopez
Get it from Amazon for $7.99 (available in 14 colors).
19. A RFID-blocking travel wallet with slots, pouches, and pockets for every form of currency and identification one would need to keep on their person. This way, you don't freak out when it's time to board and you have to track down your ticket and passport.
This wallet has a passport pocket, a boarding pass compartment, three credit card slots, an ID slot, a SIM card pouch, a coupon ticket slot, a cellphone pouch (max 5.8 inches), a money and coins zippered pocket (fits US dollars), a key holder, a pen holder, and a slim pocket.
Promising review: "This holds everything I need all in one place, and it still closes nicely and stays flat! Boarding pass, passport, ID and credit cards, money, checked baggage tickets, receipts, etc.! Yet it doesn’t bulk up or look like an overstuffed mess. Just amazing. The description says it only holds US money, but I just used the boarding pass flap to hold all my Japanese Yen (¥), which are larger. I definitely recommend to anyone who travels a lot!" —Anthony Luu
Get it from Amazon for $14.99 (available in 34 colors).
20. Some Spot My UV SPF-detecting stickers which give you a heads up when it's time to reapply sunscreen if that's something you are ~famously~ bad at doing — especially when you don't have a friend nearby to say "hey, you're looking a little red..."
The waterproof patches last 12 hours or through six applications of sunscreen — whichever comes first. When purple, it's time to reapply and when clear, you're good to go!
Promising review: "I am very sensitive to UV rays and I burn very easily. Discovering these UV stickers was the best thing to ever happen to my vacations. They take the guesswork out of knowing when to reapply your sunblock, helping you stay burn free without watching the clock and doing math. These work with both lotion and spray on sunscreen. One sticker works all day long and doesn't come off while you are out having fun." —Rachel W.
Get them from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in packs of 16, 32, and 48).
21. A Birdie personal safety alarm with a LOUD 130-decibel siren and flashing strobe light that'll give you a little peace of mind whether you're out and about with friends, on a hike with your dog, or just running to Target. And if you're wondering how loud 130 decibels is — it's equivalent to a jet take-off and considered the threshold of pain when it comes to what our ears can handle.
Promising review: "I moved to the city a few months ago and have since had some uncomfortable encounters with men. I didn't want to carry any type of self protection that could potentially get me kicked out of somewhere (like if they did a bag search at a museum or something and found my pepper spray), so I now carry my Birdie on my key chain all the time. I feel so much safer and comfortable walking on my own. This thing is LOUD and would definitely draw tons of attention. It doesn't come out super easily (I was worried about it accidentally going off in my purse), but is easy enough to use. I 100% recommend!!!" —Heidi Wilson
Get it from Amazon for $26.34+ (available in seven colors).
22. And a roadside emergency kit if you're traveling alone by car. Even if your route sticks mainly to highways and populated areas, it's just a smart thing to have on hand. It includes essentials like jumper cables, a belt cutter, a window breaker, a hand-driven flashlight, and more.
What's included: Jumper cables, reflective triangle and vest, tow rope, hand-driven flashlight, tire pressure gauge, safety hammer, emergency blanket, survival whistle, and 47-piece first aid kit.
Promising reviews: "This is the second roadside assistance set I have purchased. I just recently drove from West Coast to East Coast and these emergency car safety kits are invaluable, especially when traveling long distances off a main highway and if you are traveling alone. The old Amex commercial saying —"Don’t leave home without it" — definitely applies to these emergency car kits 😀" —J Hines
"Amazing kit! I'm a 17-year old female and I figured it would be good to have an emergency kit. It makes me feel super safe when driving knowing that I'll be prepared if anything happens. I keep the window breaker/seat belt cutter in my door that way I can easily grab it, and the rest of the kit in the back of my car. Super easy to retrieve all the items from the pack. Anyone with a car needs this." —Isabella
Get it from Amazon for $39.99.
Reviews in this post have been edited for length and/or clarity.