1. A vacuum-free space-saving compression bag so easy to use that all you have to do is stick your clothes inside, zip up the bag, roll the bag, and watch all the excess air get squished out of them until your clothes magically shrink. Yes, maybe it's only a weekend trip, but some of us need OPTIONS!!
HELLO, I AM OBSESSED WITH THESE. Despite all the rave reviews I was definitely skeptical of space-saving bags that didn't require a vacuum, and even as they were actively squishing my clothes into oblivion I still couldn't quite believe it. I had easily two suitcases worth of clothes I wanted to pack for a three-week trip to London, and I managed to neatly pack the entirety of my wardrobe in one roller carry-on bag. Truly all I had to do was put my clothes in the bag, push them to the bottom, and then sit on it to get the air out before sealing it up. I had tons of extra bags and make a habit of taking them with me in case other people joining me on trips need them to be able to pack souvenirs on the way home. I'm never taking a long trip without these again — these are worth every damn penny.
Promising review: "I travel monthly for work, usually gone for 4–5 days. Before these, I would have to check a bag. Dress shirts and pants roll up nicely and stay wrinkle-free. It's tempting to want to over-stuff these, but if you're packing golf shirts or cloths with 'slippery' fabric, they slide out of the top of the bag as you get close to the end. The clips take a minute to get used to, but after a couple of times zipping up the bags, it's pretty easy." —BigSkinny
Get a set of eight from Amazon for $15.97.
2. A hands-free (rotating!) phone mount designed for use on all airlines — not only can you mount it to the tray table of an airplane seat, but to the arm of a chair or any flat surface, so you'll be able to stream content easy as pie wherever you roam. Reviewers have used it on everything from their car dashboards to carry-on handles to office desks to bedside tables.
Perilogics is a small business creating hyper-functional tool holsters and bags for carrying your stuff on the go.
Promising review: "I gave these to two friends that travel a lot for their business, and they absolutely love them! The versatility is unmatched! It does latch on various surfaces not just the ones mentioned in the description!" —Rjgirl
Get it from Amazon for $12.97.
3. A 3-in-1 foldable magnetic wireless charger you'll honestly be mad you didn't know about before now?? It folds out from a small square into a rectangular charging pad with a spot for your iPhone, AirPods, *and* Apple Watch to charge all at the same time. Travelers and busy humans swear by it alike, because it saves soooo much space in their bags.
Check out a TikTok of the foldable 3-in-1 charger in action.
Promising review: "I travel for business and pleasure frequently and this has become a life saver. One cord, three chargers! Works great for my iPhone, AppleWatch, AirPod Pros 2, and my Kindle Paperwhite." —Kiera
Get it from Amazon for $33.99 (available in nine colors).
4. Plus a slim profile phone power bank for an easy, highly portable way to get a quick charge on your phone — especially great for long days out and about, or on trips where you're have zero time to go back to the hotel and charge. This bb may be small, but can fully charge an iPhone up to *three* times.
Promising review: "Originally bought this for a business conference I had. What a life saver. Not only did it get me through the conference, but it got me though a six-hour travel day while listening and participating in Zoom meetings. It is lightweight and fits in your jacket pocket." —Allison Graham
Get it from Amazon for $10.79+ (clip the 30% off coupon on the product page for this price; available in two colors).
5. A fully waterproof tricked out travel backpack complete with *deep breath* two laptop sleeves, a shoe compartment, a secret anti-theft pocket, a USB charging port, and a "wet bag" to keep sweaty clothes or liquids away from your tech. Oh, and it's cute as a BUTTON to boot. Who gave this backpack the right to flex on other backpacks this hard???
Promising review: "Lots of space. I bought this for a business trip so I could carry my laptop and clothes for two nights and not check a bag at the airport. This worked perfectly and looks nice." —Angie Jones
Get it from Amazon for $36.99+ (available in three sizes and 33 styles).
6. *Plus* a roomy duffel bag that's practically *screaming* "take me on a weekend road trip — this durable, water-resistant duffel comes with long handles for easy maneuvering, a side panel to hook it to a roll-on suitcase, and even has compartments to separate dry clothes from wet/dirty clothes.
It's water-resistant and has an adjustable long strap.
Promising review: "I recently went on a business trip to Texas and didn't want to check a bag. I was able to put everything I needed in it. So much space, lots of compartments. Bag is durable and I love the color!" —Stacey
Get it from Amazon for $21.49+ (available in 95 colors).
7. An international power converter so you can use (and protect!!) all your various devices and appliances safely in over 150 countries, making you the savviest globe-trotter of them all. Reviewers swear by this for everything from hair straighteners to televisions to gaming consoles. Plus, with its four USB ports and two regular ports, you can power or charge up to six things at once.
Promising review: "My company sent me to Thailand for a business trip. I ordered this power converter right away. It was really easy to use. Very convenient — I plugged in my laptop, cellphone, and earbuds at same time, and they charged very fast." —Jason Wang
Get it from Amazon for $33.99.
8. A set of affordable, highly popular wireless Bluetooth earbuds reviewers compare to AirPods, but better — not only are they noise cancelling and waterproof, but but you can listen to music during your flight, car ride, or even while you're sleeping *without* your ears feeling like they've been beaten up. These come equipped with several sizes of earbuds so you can get your perfect, painless fit.
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 so you can use them during workouts or runs or even in the shower, and have a built-in mic so you can chat on the phone. Psst — these are also a great option for going outside in a mask, since they don't have wires that'll get tangled in the mask straps.
Promising review: "These earbuds are comfortable, great sound. I recently used them on a business trip. I bought a set for my son, we are really happy with them and they work just as well as the really expensive earbuds. Just buy them, they are great!" —twallingaz
Get it from Amazon for $18.99 (get price by clipping the $5 off coupon on the product page; available in five colors).
9. A compact travel cable organizer with two different pocketed compartments to keep your cords, earbuds, and chargers organized and safe — this is waterproof, so even if *you* get waterlogged on your way to the hotel, your gadgets and gizmos won't.
Promising review: "Excellent for travel! Nice to have a go-to individual pouch especially for the chords. Husband travels for business and this is a must, so if he's in an airport or hotel he can locate them easily and they don’t get mixed with others." —Brent Webb
Get it from Amazon for $9.85+ (available in 21 styles).
10. A digital luggage scale perfect for anyone who likes to play chicken with the weight limits on various airlines. This gizmo will quickly and accurately let you know in pounds *or* kilograms how much your suitcase weighs just by attaching it to the handle and lifting — no clunky floor scales required.
Check out BuzzFeeder Elizabeth Lilly's TikTok of the digital luggage scale in action.
Promising reviews: "Great money saver for travelers. Best gift I’ve ever gave myself. I travel a lot for business and pleasure. Buy it!" —Vacay-Jay
Get it from Amazon for $8.45+ (available in four colors and also a two-pack).
11. A handy RFID-blocking travel wallet complete with *deep breath* 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 a pen holder, all in one itty-bitty place so you're never scrambling to find anything when you're on the move.
Promising review: "I bought this wallet right before a business trip. I wanted something that was small, but still had room to carry necessities. This wallet did that and more. Besides my ID and credit cards, I carried my passport and organized my receipts. It held a lot but didn’t take up much room in my purse. It was also cute to carry alone as a small clutch. I’m actually planning to buy more as gifts." —Sherlethia
Get it from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in 36 colors).
12. An AirFly, a handy gadget you can use to connect your wireless headphones to the headphone jacks on flights so you can stream The Fault in Our Stars and bawl thousands of feet in the air again without dealing with the poor quality the airline's headphones or shelling out $$ for them. Bonus: you can use these to connect to audio jacks on gym equipment and gaming devices, too!
Promising review: "I bought this off of a BuzzFeed story about best travel products on the market. I was heading to Europe for a business trip and didn't want to take an extra set of ear buds for the plane. It was super easy to connect my airPods to the transmitter, and funny enough the transmitter charge held up longer than my AirPods." —Teresa C.
Get it from Amazon for $34.99+ (available in three styles).
13. A transparent TSA-approved toiletry bag for all your liquids and makeup so you can sail on through security without worrying about anything other than the fact that oops, turns out your socks don't match.
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
"Perfect for travel. This was perfect to use while traveling on my last business trip when I only brought a carry on." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $13.99 (available in 11 colors).
14. Plus an 11-piece TSA-approved Kitsch travel container set with such a ridiculously pleasing aesthetic that it will turn you into the TikTok travel influencer you were destined to be.
Kitsch is an LA-based, self-financed, woman-owned small business established in 2010 that specializes in hair accessories.
Promising review: "These are perfect!! Super compact but holds plenty!! Great quality and really well made so happy I found these. Thank you from a flight attendant!" —Moss Family
Get it from Amazon for $9.49.
15. A pack of LeakLocks Toiletry Skins to keep things from going "kaboom!!" in your carryon as soon as you reach altitude. These extend to fit both full-size and travel-size toiletries like shampoo, sunscreen, foundation, or any other liquids you'd rather not find spilled all over your socks and underwear post-flight.
Rinseroo is a small business specializing in problem-solving cleaning, pet, and travel products.
Promising review: "I’m a flight attendant and travel often on my off time. I carry larger toiletries and have to tape them so they don’t leak or bust with the pressure in the air. These are my new best friends!!!" —marcella sadler
Get a four-pack from Amazon for $11.99 (also available in an eight-pack).
16. A portable door lock you'll especially want to invest in if you're traveling alone. This gizmo doesn't just stop the door from opening but will sound a *very* loud alarm if someone tries opening it from the other end, and even has a built-in LED flashlight for emergencies.
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
"I love this product. It gave me beauty sleep at the hotel for a business trip! Recommend it!" —Ttran6754
Get it from Amazon for $12.99 (available in four colors).
17. A reusable, *delightfully* portable gel lint roller for quick lil' touch-ups both at-home and abroad, because you just plain never know when you're going to experience the full-body serotonin of a furry friend pouncing on you. Not only is this little sphere cute as a button, but all you have to do to restore its stickiness is wash the interior.
Promising review: "I travel frequently for work and keep this in my suitcase. Works great, I no longer carry a lint roller." —Liza Przekop
Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in four colors).
18. A trusty Tide To-Go stain removing pen, because nobody wants to get a stain on their One Nice Top the first day of traveling and have it be out of commission for the rest of the trip. Enter these tried-and-true bad boys, which will take care of the problem in a pinch.
Promising review: "A friend of mine told me about these. Brilliant, I can't believe I lived without them for so long! I've been wearing all black on business trips forever because I got tired of stained white top syndrome. The three-pack is perfect: one at home, one in the office, one in my travel bag." —Cathy
Get a pack of three from Amazon for $7.88.
19. A luggage drink caddy for anyone who considers the Starbucks mermaid a copilot — this sticks right into your wheeled luggage and has two roomy pockets for drinks, water bottles, your snacks, your phone, and whatever else was taking up room in your hands on the go.
Promising review: "Purchased this for a business trip from the US to Brazil which had several layovers. I always have a coffee and a water — this was perfect! The carrier freed up my hands. I didn't have to worry about spilling anything or where I put my coffee mug or water container — would definitely purchase again!" —JF
Get it from Amazon for $15.99 (available in 26 colors).
20. A pair of compression socks for anyone whose feet and legs are prone to swelling on long flights — these are a chic solution to keep you ready for action once you land.
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 $18.80+ (available in 13 colors and sizes S–XXL).
21. A set of silicone "EarPlanes" designed with a twist-on structure to help relieve pressure that hurts your ears during altitude changes during landing and takeoff. Reviewers also swear by these for driving through altitude changes in the mountains and for helping with sinus pressure pain!
22. A portable hanging luggage organizer for the ultimate lazy unpacker hack — all you have to do is pack your clothes in this, fold it into your suitcase, and then magically unfurl it in a hotel closet for access to all your stuff. Guess who's going to be the first one to the hotel pool after check in??? (You. It's you.)
Bonus: This works with your existing suitcase, unlike versions of this that come pre-built into more expensive versions!
Promising review: "I recently relocated for work so I’ve been in a hotel for a month and a half. I have had this thing hanging and I’ve seen no signs of wear so far. This will be awesome for my weekly business trips!" —Kristen
Get it from Amazon for $27.39+ (available in 15 colors and several sets).
23. A cult-favorite, adjustable infinity pillow designed with 360-degree support to best cushion your neck whether you're trying to fall asleep upright on a trip or need more personalized, specific support at home in bed. Either way, brace yourself for the coziest sleep of your life.
The pillow is made with a breathable, super soft bamboo fabric, and fully machine washable.
Promising review: "I bought this for a recent business trip, and liked it so much I've used it every day since! At home, it's just darn comfortable, and I sleep like a baby with it! It's got down substitute fiberfill which makes it cushy but also easily adjustable — it does get a little warm at times, but again that's not necessarily bad because it allows you to sleep in cooler temps comfortably without extra covers. LOVE IT!" —Phoebes
Get it from Amazon for $44.99 (available in 10 colors).
24. A refillable travel perfume atomizer so you can still rock your ~signature scent~ even when you're a bajillion miles from home. Each of these has a clear window so you can see exactly how much perfume is left and is delightfully TSA compliant, so you can bring your favorite smells overseas!
25. A hybrid hair tools travel bag/heat-resistant mat with *lots* of space for all your curling and straightening needs, plus a flap closure you can rest them on. Now your hair tools finally have their own lil' home away from home!
Promising review: "I travel for a living and this is wonderful for all my hair accessories and my flat iron. I like having it all together in one place." —Leanna Roark
Get it from Amazon for $32.99 (available in three colors).
26. A 2-in-1 contact and glasses case your eyeballs will be *very* grateful you thought to pack — this includes a compartment for glasses as well as a separate one with space for your contacts, a tweezer, and contact lens solution.
Promising review: "Because of my job, I live out of a suitcase, and I am always worried if I need an extra set of contacts or a spare pair of eyeglasses. This is perfect, because I just put it in the bottom of my suitcase, and I am confident I have them both in one place. I got the pink case, and it’s very cute. Very happy with this purchase." —N. Rivera
Get it from Amazon for $14.85 (available in 13 colors).
27. A set of TSA-friendly travel bottles with pumps, which are SUCH a boon for people traveling with shampoo, conditioner, or moisturizers.
Promising review: "It’s a little hard to fill but if you have a small funnel already it makes it a lot easier. They’re super easy to use and really convenient for packing. I use it for the gym, travel, and I also travel for work often and it comes in handy there." —Kelsey Jacobi
Get a set of two from Amazon for $7.99 (available in three colors).
28. A set of wax earplugs that mold to the shape of your inner ear like putty, fully blocking out snoring noises when you're sharing a hotel room with friends or plane and car noises when you're trying to sneak a cat nap in on the road.
You can check out my review of Macks Earplugs for more deets: "The moldable silicone of Mack's Earplugs contours easily to the shape of your ear to block out noise much more effectively than other foam or plastic varieties, and the noise reduction is so good that if I pair them with a white noise machine (or just like a white noise loop on Spotify) I genuinely don't hear noises from outside my room. Not only that, but once they're in place, they stay locked there until you decide to pull them out. I've also *loved* these for traveling — if you put these babies in on a plane not only does it help reduce some of the YIKES factor when the plane takes off (it's loud!!), but it cancels out the murmuring noises of passengers on the flight and makes it easier to get some shuteye."
Promising review: "I had to travel for work and stayed in hotels. Noise always was a problem. These were the best solution to lessen noise because they mold to your ear better than foam ear plugs." —Bizeec
Get 12 pairs from Amazon for $12.99.
29. A foldable jewelry organizer made with a soft quilted cotton to keep all your baubles safe and untangled while you're on the move — this has special spaces for earrings, bracelets, and necklaces, plus two zippered pockets for watches and other accessories.
Promising review: "My favorite traveling item! Before I was sticking jewelry in ziplock bags and in my suitcase and I’d lose them in there or they’d tangle and I was limited on what I could bring. I bring this with me every time we go out of town for business." —Mr. & Mrs. Lopez
Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in two sizes and nine colors).
30. A minimalist-style silicone makeup bag for a genuine travel investment, because this case is so easy to clean that you'll never have to replace it, not even when all of your liquid-based makeup is like "Hey, you know what would be fun? Exploding on the plane." This also features a double magnetic closure to keep everything secure, and designed with a flat style for easier packing.
Promising review: "This silicone travel bag is handy. I travel for work often and I need items that are durable and easy to clean when I’m on the go. This holds my larger bathroom accessories nicely and I can throw it in my suitcase. It’s easy to clean — just wipe it off." —ShopTillYouDrop
Get it from Amazon for $22.99 (available in eight colors).
31. A set of cable ties that come in three different sizes for all your tech, so you're not pulling out an entire JUNGLE of wires when you just need to juice up your phone for a few minutes.
Promising review: "A must for all business travelers. I travel a great deal so not only do I have to carry so many electronics and associated accessories, but I need them to be compact as possible. What's more, being 'on the go' means everything has to fit in their assigned place in my backpack and easily recoverable (fast!) when I need them." —JTN
Get a pack of 20 from Amazon for $7.99 (available in three styles).
32. A pack of Neutrogena makeup remover towelettes, which are a great solution for anyone who is a stickler for getting their makeup off at night and might not have access to their usual ~skincare routine~ on the road. These are also just super easy to pop into a carry-on without worrying about them exploding all over your underwear mid-flight.
33. A 50-count set of super-handy laundry soap sheets you can use to hand-wash your clothes right in the sink, whether you want to refresh your undies or you sweated out some workout clothes and want to go on round two with them after letting them air-dry. TBH, one of these tiny things might save you a whole BUNDLE of packing space for extra clothes you don't need!
Here's what BuzzFeeder Elizabeth Lilly has to say about them: "I travel just about any chance that I get and found a WHOLE lot of success with these little laundry sheets on an almost-three-weeks European vacation this summer where I carried on only and rewore outfits several times."
Promising review: "Very handy! Used these to wash clothes on a two week long business trip and it worked great. I love that it's so lightweight and compact." —Voyager
Get a set of 50 from Amazon for $11.08 (also available in a hand soap version).
34. An oh-so-chic adjustable mini belted pack (aka ~fanny pack~) you can wear around your waist or shoulder for a lightweight bag alternative when you're on the move. A lot of reviewers mention how genuinely *stunned* they are by how much this little bag can secretly carry.
Promising review: "I’m going to be traveling for work and will definitely take it with me. I’m a size 14/16 and it’s too small around my chest but fits my waist as a fanny pack very well. I got the same brand in a slightly different style and the strap is shorter. You can’t go wrong — it’s like Lululemon bag and it’s half the price. Get several!" —C. Jones
BuzzFeeder Elizabeth Lilly also owns this — she packed it as her only bag for a trip to busy trip to Iceland, and not only did it hold a ton and keep her hands free, it easily fit around her waist over her outerwear.
Get it from Amazon for $16.98 (available in 42 colors).
35. A fast-drying, super lightweight microfiber towel designed with fast-paced lifestyles in mind. Reviewers love this for traveling and camping, since it doesn't weigh them down or get the rest of their backpacks soggy, but also use it for the gym and the beach because it's so darn convenient!
Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.