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.
1. An in-flight phone mount for a hands-free way to watch all those episodes of Queer Eye you downloaded for the flight. It can also mount on your luggage for long (aka boring) layovers, too.
Perilogics is a small business creating hyper-functional tool holsters and bags for carrying your stuff on-the-go.
Promising review: "I travel for a living and fly often. I regret not buying this in the beginning when I started traveling. I can clip it to the back of the seat in front of me and also on the windows. It is small enough to fold up and fit in my pocket. This is random but related — if you are sitting in an exit row on an airplane you cannot clip this to the window until the plane is in the air — other than that they do not care it is clipped to the window during the flight. Highly recommended." —Chrissie Jo
Get it from Amazon for $12.97 (available in three colors).
2. A Trtl neck pillow that'll actually support your neck while you try to catch some mid-flight z's. It's way less bulky than traditional travel pillows and will keep you from head bobbing onto your neighbor's shoulder.
Promising review: "I am a terrible flyer who recently took the red-eye from Dubai to Chicago (15 hours). The Trtl Pillow was a mini lifesaver! I was able to comfortably rest my head on the support and felt warm enough to actually doze off....a rare accomplishment for this skittish flyer. The Velcro works wonderfully with regards to adjustment, and I liked wrapping the fabric around my mouth and nose. Sort of felt cozy...even if I did look like a ninja in a neck brace! Overall, this product has changed the way that I fly, and I am so thankful for this invention and the opportunity to support a small company with big ideas." —S.Viruly
Get it from Amazon for $59.99 (available in three colors).
3. A digital luggage scale if you're tired of sweating at the bag check scale, hoping you can avoid paying pesky overage fees. This scale is super accurate so you can be confident in your under 50 pound pack-job.
You can also switch between pound and kilogram measurements.
Promising review: "Works great, a must-have when flying. Very accurate scale. Easy to read with the light on it. It's a must if you have a wife like mine who loves to shop for clothes and fill up her suitcase along with mine, or if you want to stay under that 40 pounds and avoid paying the extra for overweight baggage fees. Easy to use, very accurate, well made, and a nice design. Very pleased. Saved me money." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $11.19 (available in four colors).
4. A pair of affordable wireless Bluetooth earbuds because who wants to spend the entire flight tethered to seat back in front of you with a cord. These come with a handy travel/charging case and connect to your devices in one easy step.
Promising review: "These are the first pair of wireless buds I have purchased, previously using only the single over ear type pieces. I expected to have difficulty pairing, but these paired first time super easy. The volume and sound is significantly better than my old style. Nice little charging and travel case, and a variety of sizes of silicone buds to fit your size/preference. Update — after using these a few weeks I am still very pleased with this earbuds. Good value for the price!" —J. L. Hoover
Get it from Amazon for $23.99+ (available in five colors).
5. Plus, an AirFly Pro wireless transmitter so you (and a buddy) can actually use those Bluetooth earbuds to watch those free in-flight movies.
Promising review: "Worked beautifully on a recent eight-hour flight from New York City to Frankfurt! Really easy to pair with my Bose noise-canceling earbuds and charges quickly. The sound quality was excellent. I'm so excited about this product that I'm going to buy one for each of my family members!" —emily p murray
Get it from Amazon for $54.99 (also available in two other models).
6. A compact external battery for keeping all of your many essential devices charged during long travel days. One charge of this battery can charge your phone roughly three times. No more huddling by the single terminal outlet for you!
Promising review: "So far so good. I've used it a couple of times and I've been able to charge my iPhone 6S at least three times with one charge. I really like the light that tells you how much power is still left. It's also pretty small so it doesn't take up a lot of space. Update: I’ve had this for like two years now. Still works great! I’ve taken it on so many trips. I’ve been able to charge my iPhone, and GoPro batteries all with one charge. This thing has been a great purchase." —Sway
Get it from Amazon for $25.99+ (available in four colors).
7. A tri-fold travel wallet to keep everything (and I mean everything) on hand and organized as you run to catch your flight. Money, cards, boarding passes, passport — you name it — all protected with RFID-blocking tech.
The wallet has a passport pocket, boarding pass compartment, three credit card slots, an ID slot, a slim card pouch, slim pocket, a ticket slot, a cellphone pouch, a coin zippered pocket, key holder, and pen holder.
Promising review: "Guys, I'm beyond happy with this. I've been looking for a passport and ticket holder for a while but had never found the right size until I decided to try out this one. Besides, the material feels high quality and long-lasting, the red color is even better in person and it's wildly pretty." —BazantSol
Get it from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in 36 colors).
8. A hands-free luggage drink caddy that'll finally make it possible to handle your luggage, pull up your boarding pass, *and* carry your iced coffee at the same time.
Promising review: "This is an amazing travel accessory! When you are trying to juggle your hot beverage with a water bottle, your phone, and a boarding pass, this is a handy, easily stash-able uni-tasker to have. Fits perfectly on my carry on bag and larger rolling bags as well." —Pirate
Get it from Amazon for $10.99+ (available in 23 styles).
9. A pair of breathable slip-on sneakers with memory foam soles if you're in desperate need of a comfy shoe you can easily slip on and off at airport security.
Some reviewers say these shoes run big, and recommend ordering a size down.
Promising review: "I love these slip-ons! They are extremely comfortable and stretchy. No need to 'break them in' and they didn't irritate my heels after long-time wear like Vans slip-ons do — no need for bandages :). I will definitely be buying these again and again!" —MichelleAColgan
Get them from Amazon for $8.95+ (available in women's sizes 5–11 and in 20 colors).
10. A pack of silicone travel bottles with a built-in labeling system because it's time to stop spending a small fortune on name-brand travel-sized products and just make your own. These are totally leak-proof and can be washed and reused again, and again, and again.
11. Plus, a set of six magnetic travel containers with custom removable labels and wide openings that make traveling with TSA-compliant versions of your entire self-care routine a breeze. And, yes, they're totally leakproof and water- and airtight.
Cadence is an Asian woman-owned small biz creating the most stylish reusable travel containers you've ever seen. They're gentle on the planet and feature an intuitive, leak-proof design.
Check the products description for a in-depth summary of how much f every type of product these containers hold.
BuzzFeed editor Abby Kass is upping her travel-game with these containers:
"I used these 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 a long. They do hold a surprising amount, and 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 wants in their luggage."
Get a set of six from Cadence for $76 (originally $84).
12. A transparent toiletry bag so you can avoid getting stopped by TSA when you inevitably forget to put your skincare in a see-through bag. Plus this bag is super durable and will give you "Gosh, I hope my serum doesn't leak all over my clothes" relief.
EzPacking is a small business that was founded in 2015 by a mother of three after she thought of an idea for a clean packing cube. Now, her son and his wife run the business, helping travelers get organized.
Promising review: "I travel very frequently and had never heard of a liquid travel bag like this before. I was a little worried because the back is not see-through, so I brought a 1-quart plastic baggie as backup just in case. But everything I needed fit perfectly and I had no issues in TSA/China security. So far I have been through MSP, IAD, NKG, and PEK airports using this pack already and it's a life-changer! I will never again have to worry about having to scramble to buy baggies just for liquids, and it is much more durable." —Courtney Swanson
Get it from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in 11 colors).
13. Or a waterproof toiletry bag to make packing your entire 12-step Korean skincare routine a breeze. Plus, it's equipped with a rotating hook so you can hang it on the back of a door or in the shower for convenient access.
Promising review: "We are a family of seven and this held all of our bathroom supplies for a weekend trip. This is a must-have for traveling. The best feature is it being able to hang up on a robe hook or the back of a door. It frees up hotel sinks and keeps you well organized." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $22.99+ (available in two sizes and in nine colors).
14. A trusty stain-removing pen for tackling stains the minute they occur instead of arriving at your destination still wearing your morning coffee.
Promising review: "This product works great and the three-pack is a good deal, whether you want to label each one for a specific use or share with members of the family. It is easy to use and doesn't take long to dry. I keep one in my purse and of course it is a must-have when traveling." —DeeNicole
Get a pack of three from Amazon for $7.74.
15. A mini white noise machine if sleeping on vacation is not your forté. It's teeny-tiny but will drown out big city noises and even doubles as a Bluetooth speaker for playing your favorite tunes on the go.
Promising review: "I travel a lot for work and need some kind of noise to cover up sounds from the hallway in hotels. This little device is the best one I've found. I've found one of the sound options that sounds just like an AC unit that puts me to sleep in an instant. The sounds on this little guy are the best ones I've heard. Buy this for travel and you won't be sorry!" —KJ
Get it from Amazon for $34.95+ (available in black or white).
16. A contoured sleep mask because the bright light of this random kid's iPad is making it *very* difficult to sleep through the flight. The concave shape effectively blocks out light, and the adjustable strap helps you get a comfy, customized fit.
Promising review: "This eye mask is perfect if you like to have total darkness when you sleep. It is so comfortable around my face and the mask even comes with adjustable straps so you don’t wake up with sleep lines. Included are cute ear plugs enclosed in their own case and a silk drawstring bag to carry your things in. To add, I was also impressed with how aesthetically pleasing the packaging was. I totally recommend." —Bill Curtis
Get it from Amazon for $21.99 (available in five colors).
17. An all-in-one universal wall adapter so you don't show up in a new country with no way to charge your phone — no matter where you go!
Promising review: "Probably one of the best $13 I spent on anything. If you travel a lot, especially internationally, this is a must have because you have every kind of adapter on one plug and don’t have to worry about constantly buying a certain adapter every time you travel to a different country. This has it all." —Abby Santiago
Get it from Amazon for $11.99 (available in four colors).
18. An in-flight foot hammock to make kicking back in the flight cabin a whole lot easier. It easily mounts onto the seat tray, and not only ups that economy seat comfort, but can also reduce in-flight foot swelling.
Promising review: "This was a lifesaver on a recent nonstop flight from LA to Paris and back. Not only was the footrest super comfy and easy to use, it really made the long flight bearable. At the end of the flight, my feet and legs were not swollen at all, like they usually are after a long flight. I like to kick off my shoes during long flights and when I put my shoes back on, they fit like they normally do, no swollen feet, ankles, or legs. I will never fly again without this footrest." —Dawn Sullivan
Get it from Amazon for $21.99 (available in three colors).
19. A lightweight water-resistant backpack that makes the perfect airline personal item with plenty of space for a laptop, chargers, a change of clothes, and more, plus cushy airflow back panels to fight against the dreaded back sweat as you run to catch your flight (we've all been there).
The bag has a separate compartment to hold up to a 15.6" laptop, a hidden anti-theft pocket on the back for valuables, a luggage strap, hanging clasps, and an external USB port to hook up to your own power bank.
Promising review: "I just returned from a trip abroad and I used this backpack as my personal carry-on. It's roomy, fashionable, durable, and functional. The best feature in the backpack is the hidden zipper pocket where I was able to keep my passport and wallet and not worry that someone might pull it out. Everything was safe, had a place, and was easily accessible. It was a little bulky looking when I had it filled before my trip but that was to be expected. Overall, I was very happy with this backpack and would recommend it highly." —rachel
Get it from Amazon for $23.99+ (available in two sizes and in nine colors).
20. A roll-on blister-preventing balm if your upcoming travel plans include a lot of walking and do not include limping around because of painful blisters.
21. A set of travel compression cubes because you've committed to packing light, and that means packing a week's worth of clothing into a carry-on. Plus, it keeps everything super organized, so you don't have to ruin your gorgeous pack job looking for a sleep shirt.
Promising review: "This is a must-have item for anyone who is committed to travelling lightly and taking small bags whenever/wherever possible. If you are an urban back-packer or even an outdoors backpacker, these are amazing bags that make the rest of your bag so much easier to pack!" —Lisa
Get them from Amazon for $18.95+ (available in packs of two, three, or six, and in 10 styles).
22. Some all-natural toothpaste tablets so you can skip packing goopy tubes that can leak, and instead opt for a mess- and plastic-free alternative. Just pop a pre-portioned tablet in your mouth, wet your toothbrush, and scrub your way to a clean mouth.
Huppy is an Asian-owned small biz creating plastic-free toothpaste tablets out of sustainably and ethically sourced ingredients. Everything is vegan, GMO- and cruelty-free. Best of all? Huppy donates 2% of revenue to fund sustainability initiatives!
I love how zero-waste the process is with Huppy. You get a forever tin (pick from blue or blush) and then buy refills that come in compostable pouches. The whole chewing thing can be weird at first (my boyfriend found it aggressively minty, I just think they taste like Altoids) but both of us got used to it pretty quickly. With water, the tabs foam up pretty instantly, and after that, it's just a normal teeth-brushing experience. In fact, I'm actually finding that not dealing with drippy toothpaste and tiny screw-on caps is actually pretty delightful. And I'm absolutely not traveling with regular toothpaste ever again — this is a travel must-have regardless of what you use at home. A cleaner process both in and out of my mouth.
Get 62 peppermint-flavored tablets from Huppy for $32.
23. A compact travel-themed card game for entertaining you and your travel partner with an on-theme activity that's compact enough for your carry-on and doesn't have any tiny pieces to keep track of.
Promising review: "Gameplay involves visiting countries and collecting photos — something akin to Mille Bornes. My kids (10 and 13) both love it and we always take it on trips. The game can be made as long as you like. Play is quick, competitive, and interesting. Highly recommended." —M. D. Zink
Get it from Amazon for $18.65.
24. A leak-proof collapsible water bottle if you love proper hydration, but hate having a clunky empty bottle eat up valuable bag space.
Promising review: "I bought three of these for a trip to Europe. They are very light to carry, easy to fill, and convenient for travel. I am very pleased with this purchase! It saved a lot of money to have the water bottle with us all day long and just fill up rather than having to buy new bottles of water." —M. Jennings
Get it from Amazon for $34.95 (available in eight colors).
25. A lay-flat drawstring makeup organizer so you can stop dumping the full contents of your makeup bag out on the hotel room floor whenever you need to find that one shade of lipstick you just know for certain you packed.
Lay-n-Go is a woman-owned small business that's been in business for over 10 years! What started as a solution for quickly cleaning up Legos has evolved into a full line of products to solve a wide range of organizational needs.
Promising review: "I've been in the travel industry for 16 years and up til now I haven't found a durable and easy-to-access makeup bag. They are always too small or so big your makeup rolls around and gets on everything. This is the perfect size to fit a full face worth of makeup products without being bulgy or bulky. The brush holders inside work perfectly, and any small items like bobby pins or hair ties go great in the zipper compartment to keep them easily accessible. Highly recommended if you do make-up on the go." —ASilver105
Get it from Amazon for $29.95+ (available in three sizes and 33 colors).
26. A mini wallet emergency kit printed with the city skyline of your choice that's stocked with those easy-to-forget provisions that'll save you in a pinch! A bandage for those new-shoe blisters, a sewing kit for lost buttons, or a deodorant wipe because — don't lie — we've all been there.
Anne Cate is a Cleveland-based, woman-owned small business creating minimalist keepsakes to commemorate your favorite locations, with over 100 hand-designed skylines depicting cities and colleges from around the world!
What you'll get: Inside your mini wallet, you'll find a hair tie, lip balm, floss pic, sewing kit, bandage, emery board, safety pin, earring backs, makeup wipe, two bobby pins, two mints, deodorant wipe, Shout wipe, tampon, hand sanitizer, and pain reliever.
I, your resident forgetful person, bought the NYC skyline version of this to toss in my purse or work tote whenever I go out. It's filled with a bunch of easy-to-forget bits and bobs that will (and have) saved the day in a pinch, all pre-packaged in a stylish and high-quality wallet. It's my perfect little SOS kit.
Get it from Anne Cate for $25 (available in a variety of styles and in a mini dopp kit version).
You knowing you've got everything necessary for a great trip:
