We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed collects a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
1. 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 $29.99 (available in four colors).
2. 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.
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 (also available in a set of two).
3. Or the compact Airhook to avoid holding bulkier tablets when the fold-down tray needs to be stowed, so you can distract yourself from flight jitters immediately. Plus, this multitasker can adjust to hold phones and drinks, too!
PS: This also works just as great in cars for road trips!
Promising review: "Nicely holds phone or tablet and drink, sturdily. It is especially handy during takeoffs and landings while tray table is stowed, or if you just don't want to have the table down in front of you. Comes with nice travel pouch. Fits into my backpack, and I bring it on every business trip. Very convenient." —Tpal
Get it from Amazon for $26.95.
4. A digital travel 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.
Say goodbye to overweight fees since this scale can hold up to 110 pounds. It also features a blue LED backlight for those early morning travels.
Promising review: "For years we used a regular scale. We would weigh ourselves then attempt to lift the bag and step on the scale. Not easy sometimes. But with this scale you just attach to the handle and lift. Weight is easy to read on this scale. Don’t know how we lived without it." —Karen
Get it from Amazon for $12.99.
5. An AirFly Pro wireless transmitter so you (and a buddy) can actually use your 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 four other models).
6. A set of TSA-approved squeeze bottles 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.
Promising review: "These are awesome, they have the no-mess tops and they won't easily explode in your bag under pressure since they are so flexible. I used mine for shampoo, conditioner, lotion, and face wash. Took them to Puerto Rico and back to the states and they managed great. Will probably buy some more to put more stuff in for next time we travel." —Courtney F
Get a pack of four from Amazon for $10.99+ (available in five color schemes).
7. 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 a 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 $74 (originally $84).
8. 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).
9. 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. The all-in-one holder could also arguably be considered a cult-favorite travel product.
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 33 colors).
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. A genius car cupholder adapter because you're not going to let your precious water bottle tumble around on the floor for the duration of this eight-hour car ride. It'll also work well for any jumbo sodas at the drive-thru!
Wine and Whiskey Co. is a Texas-based Etsy shop selling a wide range of adorable phone cases and T-shirts, plus genius car accessories (obvi).
Promising review: "Love it. Perfectly holds my 40-ounce Hydro Flask. No more rolling around the truck cab. Arrived quickly and works as described." —Jason J. Mease
Get it from Wine and Whiskey Co. on Etsy for $12.99.
13. 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 are you 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 $14.99+ (available in eight colors).
14. Plus, a leakproof dog water bottle to easily keep your pup hydrated during long layovers. The one-button locking mechanism allows you to release water into the trough and let un-drunk water flow back in so nothing goes to waste!
The water bottle also includes a sling rope and carabiner for clipping onto a bag or belt loop.
Promising review: "I travel the airlines quite a bit with my small dog. It’s perfect!!! It’s different from other systems I’ve tried because it effectively takes the unconsumed water back into the bottle 100% — I’m no longer looking for a place to dump the water she doesn’t drink, nor am I putting a wet bowl back into my backpack. It’s one system with a locking mechanism to avoid accidental pressing of the water release button" —AnnaBelle
Get it from Amazon for $11.99+ (available in two sizes and in three colors).
15. A wedge doorstop alarm if you want a bit of added security (and peace of mind) at unfamiliar Airbnbs and hotels. Not only does it block unwanted intruders from opening the door, but it sets off a (very) loud continuous alarm.
No wiring required, 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 $13.25.
16. A transparent toiletry bag so can avoid getting stopped by TSA when you inevitably forget to put your skincare routine 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.
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 eight colors).