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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.
Pack everything and STILL pass the dreaded ~size check~.
It has a removable waist strap for stability, adjustable backpack straps, and is waterproof! Plus, it can expand to fit 44L of capacity, but can compress to fit 38L.
Promising review: "I just got back from a nine day trip backpacking Europe and could not be happier about this backpack. When first ordering I was worried that the backpack would not have enough room and the overall quality of the bag would not be as good as others, turns out I had nothing to worry about. By rolling my clothes up I could fit everything, including two pairs of jeans, nine T-shirts, one long sleeve shirt, one down jacket, two basketball shorts, one belt, one beanie, six boxers, six pairs of socks, a hefty cable bag, a 12-inch laptop, sandals, and toiletries. There was actually still room for more! I had no issue bringing this as a carry-on and storing it in the upper bins of British Airways and Aer Lingus flights." —ast89
Get it from Amazon for $74.99 (available in six colors).
Promising review: "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 $12.86 (available in 11 colors).
And they come with a hand pump for travel!
Promising review: "This is a great product. I have a memory foam pillow that I try to take on trips, due to neck issues, so I purchased this product and put it to the test to see if it could flatten the pillow so I can also carry my clothes and the pillow in the same bag, carry-on size travel bag. The pillow's been sitting in the vacuum pack for the last three days now and hasn't let any air into the package at all. The pump removed so much air that the foam is as solid as a rock with less that an 1/8 of an inch of give when I press on it firmly with my thumb." —4-H Shooting Sports Instructor
Get a pack of five from Amazon for $24.99+ (available in four sizes).
Promising review: "Despite visiting 20+ different countries without a wallet, on my last trip with JetBlue I had approximately five layovers to get home and realized how desperately I needed a wallet. After much research I decided on this wallet! It holds all the essentials and then some. There's a place for a pen to fill out the custom forms, a money pouch, and a pocket for your phone and passport. Also, it is light and compact. I am someone who travels light — a three to four week trip needs to fit in a carry-on backpack. This wallets enables you to carry everything you need in one spot. I don't want something that takes up more space than it needs to or adds extra weight." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $14.99 (available in 35 colors).
I use these to bring my shampoos, hair masks, conditioners, face wash, body wash...you get it. For someone so cheap, I'm certainly high-maintenance huh.
Promising review: "I travel quite often and I don't always stay at the best hotels. I always like to use my own shampoo, condition, and body wash whenever possible and so the travel size bottles is pretty useful to me. A big plus is that there isn't any odor that you'd smell from the cheap plastic bottles, which I'm very sensitive to." —Chris Wang
Get a pack of six from Amazon for $12.99.
Promising review: "I was really surprised when the handbag arrived. This bag is the perfect size for travel or those times you don't need a large bag. It has a very classy look that makes it great for all occasions. You have easy access to the essentials being carried such as your wallet, phone, and keys. The cross body strap ensures that the bag is safe to carry. This bag is well constructed and I believe it will serve me for many, many years!" —Jim G.
Get it from Amazon for $29.99 (available in eight colors and two styles).
Their plush microfiber gently lifts away dirt, oil, and makeup! Use it wet with water or your fave liquid makeup remover.
Promising review: "This product...I have no clue how this works, but it does! Let me start by saying I was wearing a full face of makeup. I mean foundation, contour highlight, eyeliner, seriously the whole nine yards. All I did was wet it and wiped my face, my jaw literally dropped. This is hands-down my favorite makeup remover. The best part is that they are reusable so you don't have to keep buying those expensive disposables that leave your face feeling greasy." —Heather and Ryne Griffith
Get it from Amazon for $5.99+ (available in nine colors).
See what won best makeup removers on BuzzFeed Reviews!
Poo-Pouri: 1 Hostel bathrooms: 0
Promising review: "I think this is the most adorable thing ever. I bought it so I could keep it in my purse, but once I started working in an office, I decided to tuck it into my desk drawer. It's discreet, and when I need to go to the restroom, I can bring it along without anyone noticing. Now I don't need to use obnoxious chemicals to mask the smells. One of the women in my office has a sensitivity to chemical perfumes, so I'm sure she'd appreciate that I'm not contributing to her suffering." —brinnet
Get it from Amazon for $4.99+ (available in nine sizes).
To learn more, check out "Everyone Needs A Bottle Of Travel Poo-Pourri In Their Purse".
That's right, it's both a hair straightener *and* a curling iron! And it's only 1" long! ANDDD it has a carry-on bag.
Promising review: "I bought this in advance of a big trip to Asia, because I was worried about blowing out my other curling iron and straightener, and this was perfect. You obviously need to purchase an adapter in order to plug it into international outlets , but it doesn't require a converter which is awesome, since the converters are the ones that get super expensive. I also have super thick, straight hair, and have been through, almost literally, 20 separate curling irons in my life in an attempt to find one that actually works on my hair, so I was a little skeptical of this guy, but it works great! This guy will be a new staple. And it's reasonably priced, so it's a win-win!" —Not Tryna Be a Diva
Get it from Amazon for $28.99 (available in two colors).
Promising review: "I bought this for my husband, who now is a convert. The enclosed folding board with pictograph instructions makes it essentially foolproof. On the last trip, he put two shirts in, one on top of the other, and reported that this worked great. The shirts come out crisp and clean. For frame of reference, his sport shirt size is XL/XXL." —Kindle Customer
Get it from Amazon for $29.99.
No more doing that weird standing in the aisle thing, trying to somehow be the first to grab your bag from the overhead bin without angering anyone.
Promising review: "This is the greatest traveling combo! It is sitting under the seat in front of me on the plane as I type this! I love how both pieces have the strap to slip over pull handles. Even a TSA lady complimented me!" —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $59.99+ (available in six colors).
Promising review: "I purchased these water bottles for my hiking trip in Switzerland. They definitely did not disappoint! I love that I can tightly roll them up and throw it in my suitcase or clip it on my backpack. I use it every time I travel now, since TSA makes you throw out all liquids over a few ounces. I highly recommend for anyone who travels a lot!" —Gabby
Get a pack of two from Amazon for $15.97.
Promising review: "I travel frequently for work and am a serious over-packer. I typically pack business casual items, day wear, and pajamas. In other words, my suitcase is always a mess and usually I need to pack and check a much larger suitcase than I actually need. I am seriously in love with this. I seriously just packed at least 10 outfits and a weeks-worth of PJs in my CARRY-ON — with room for like four winter sweaters. I feel like a legit travel rockstar. The compression set itself is beautiful. I love the colors and images. The material feels amazing, the zippers are super sturdy, and the seams are holding rock solid. Well-worth the money. I'll be buying more to pack away my seasonal wardrobe." —shayla walsh
Get a pack of three from Amazon for $12.99.
Promisng review: "These are great! I travel around a lot for work, and also have Invisalign, so I like to keep one in my work bag as well as my travel bag. The best part is the convenience. I used to carry a toothbrush in a case that took up a lot of room in my work bag, as well as my travel bag. Now I just use these. They are small, durable, easy to use, and the brush is full covered when it is fully closed, which is what I was a little worried about at first. It was exactly what I was looking for in a travel toothbrush. I highly recommend, and I will be purchasing again." —Demetrios Louca
Get a pack of two from Amazon for $6.45+ (available in two colors).
Promising review: "I originally bought this for the unique color and thought for the price I would give it a try. When I tried them on they were so comfortable. I wore them all day without any issues. Needless, to say I ordered another pair in black since I wear flats all the time to work. If you want shoes that look nice and are super comfortable, I would recommend these shoes. " —Scuba one
Get them from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in sizes 5–12 and 22 colors).
It's waterproof!
Promising review: "This year, I am traveling to many different countries and have been reading more than I have ever been. I did not want to take physical books with me on trips for the obvious reason that it takes up space and weighs down my luggage. That’s when I decided to see about the kindle paper white. Man, am I pleasantly surprised by this device. It’s compact, portable, really minimizes glare, and the backlight is phenomenal for reading in different lighting. In fact, I can now read in the dark without keeping my husband awake with a reading light." —LinaRi
Get it from Amazon for $129.99.
To learn more, check out "The New Kindle Paperwhite Is Waterproof, And I'm Bringing It On Vacation".
promising review: "I got this a little bigger to go over my sweatshirt and it was perfect. It is super lightweight and kept me dry. It also helped lock in some extra warmth so that was a bonus. It's the perfect little rain jacket for the price." —Amie Linsday
Get it from Amazon for $22.99+ (available in sizes S–XL and five colors).
Promising review: "I've purchased these for my trip to Russia, which is total 24 hours of travel. It's a12 hour flight to Turkey and then a nine hours layover and then connecting flight to Russia. Let me tell you that when I did it last time, my feet were size of an elephant's. These socks worked great. I took them off when I arrived at my parents house in Russia and my feet looked semi normal! No painful swelling or cramps! I used to spend first night after the trip crying from aches and cramps, but this time it was NOTHING! No pain at all. I wore them again on my return flights to US and same great result." —Natalie
Get them from Amazon for $9.50+ (available in sizes S/M–L/XL and nine colors).
To learn more, check out "Nurses, Athletes, Pregnant People, And Travelers Swear By These $20 Socks".
Promising review: "This thing was amazing. I just went on a trip to Germany and I am paranoid about being separated from my wallet while traveling. I tend to be pretty forgetful and lose things easily. I got this as a backup, but I have worn it every day since I got here. It is very roomy and easy to work with, the material is comfortable, and the pouch is a lot bigger than I expected. It is definitely well-hidden, so much so that I had to add a little pin by the zipper so I could easily find it. I've been keeping all of my cash and bank cards in there, and it would easily fit a passport, as well. It is definitely warm but not too bulky. This was the best purchase I could have made for my trip." —Capri P.
Get it from Amazon for $16.99 (available in 31 colors and styles).
It has two large zipper compartments with necklace straps, ring and bracelet pouches, and makeup brush organizers.
Promising review: "This gorgeous pouch holds my makeup, hair drier, and even holds miscellaneous necessities. When I travel, I just grab the pouch knowing it has everything I need and throw it into an overnight bag. I love these and will most likely be buying more" —AlabamaBabe
Get it from Amazon for $19.95.
Get it from Forever 21 for $10 (available in two colors).
Promising review: "I was looking around and so many travel steamers are just soooo big. I like to pack just a single suitcase (preferably a carry-on) so I was looking for something pretty small. This is perfect and it does a great job! I used it on light sweaters, blouses, and even my jeans and thicker pants that had gotten quite wrinkled on a recent trip. This is a life-saver, because a lot of hotels do not have steamers you can borrow and I've had really bad incidents where the cheap hotel irons have ruined clothing. Definitely a must-buy!" —Jennifer Fugo
Get it from Amazon for $39.90.
Promising review: "I have always preferred inflatable travel pillows for my air travel, because of ease of packing and stowing them when not in use. I have never been attracted to the stuffed pillows because there is no reducing them —people need to either wear them around their neck or hang them from their carry-ons pre-boarding. I prefer to have my pillow in my carry-on bag/purse. I found it easy to put back in its bag and either stow it in a carry-on, or externally attached by its carabiner to carry-on or belt-loop. I definitely recommend!" —Phoenix K
Get it from Amazon for $21.95+ (available in four colors).
Promising review: "We travel frequently and have two children. As any parent knows, packing for yourself and your children can be overwhelming — especially for trip longer than a few days. I have found this list to be a lifesaver and I also give it as a gift for other traveling families. It is easy to plan, organize, and list out items that are easily forgotten. You can also list the quantity of each item needed. Overall, a wonderful purchase and has likely saved me many forgotten items!" —Mike D.
Get it from Amazon for $6.99.
The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.