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1. A water bottle cup holder adapter to enlarge your car's cup holder so your 40-ounce bottle can ride securely alongside you, 'cause nothing ruins a roadtrip (or any car ride, for that matter) faster than when your drink won't fit.
Its adjustable base extends to fit the size of your current cup holder, and then has another base on top for your drink to fit into. It fits 32-ounce and 40-ounce bottles.
I've been wanting one of these for awhile, and finally, after one too many times trying to balance my coffee on top of the cup holder...and then on top of my dashboard...only for it to fall pitifully to the ground, I bit the bullet. It's been worth every penny. My mug is secure, safe, and easily in arms reach, and it even has a little opening for my mug's handle. I love this thing, and I'm already budgeting for another one so my coffee and water can ride side-by-side.
Promising review: "I bought this for my boyfriend who has a 40-ounce HydroFlask that doesn’t fit his cup holder, so it just rolls around his floorboards and he usually forgets it in the car. This is such an intelligent design, well-crafted and thoughtful. The twist-to-adjust base is genius. It also has a notch for cups with handles. Amazingly well thought out. It fits perfectly, it’s sturdy, and I couldn’t be happier about my purchase. Definitely worth it and solves the issue with a perfect design." —Sharon
Swigzy is a small business that makes expandable cup holder adaptors for your car.
Get it from Amazon for $26.99 (available in two colors).
2. A tiny wireless portable charger so you don't touch down in a new country with a dead phone because you were playing too much Stardew Valley on the flight. And once you're home, it'll keep you from arriving anywhere with a blitzed-out phone because you were on TikTok the whole Lyft or subway trip.
Check out a TikTok of the portable charger in action.
Promising review: "iPhone users rejoice. This was the only portable charger I could find on the market that did not require a lightening adapter to charge an Apple product! I bought this for my fiancé since he spends long days on movie sets. This has been a life saver. It charges fast and you get more than one charge out of it. This would be great for travel, long work days, bad service areas (eats up battery faster), or older phones whose battery isn’t that great (this worked on his iPhone 7 and my iPhone XR). It may require you to remove your phone case, but that’s an easy accommodation. Highly recommend!" —Kelly Schuetz
Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in six colors).
3. A sturdy, lightweight eight-compartment pill organizer to consolidate your prescriptions and just-in-case medicines so when a killer headache strikes or you forgot to take your morning pills, you won't realize you accidentally left those meds at home.
Promising review: "Flight attendant–approved! These pill containers are simply amazing! The latch and seal on them is very secure due to its rubber gasket around the inside. I put my daily medications in each of the 6 smaller compartments on one side and then use the larger 2 containers for vitamins and supplements. I keep this in my tote bag for work and I am not concerned at all about it opening. I can’t tell you how many times some of the other pill boxes I used have opened up, tossing prescription medications into the smallest corners of my bag. Well-designed and well-executed!" —Christina S.
Get it from Amazon for $6.97 (available in three colors).
4. A set of travel compression cubes so you can pack as many outfits as you want and still fit everything into your carry-on — basically letting you have your cake and eat it too (because let's face it, I'm not a light packer and I never will be.)
Promising review: "Must-have traveling accessory. Best way to pack a suitcase! I’ll never go back to stuffing everything in on its own. These compartments held way more than I imagined and kept me organized. I will definitely add more to my collection. Makes a great gift for frequent travelers too!" —Lisa
Get them from Amazon for $18.95+ (available in 10 styles and in packs of two, three, or six).
5. A shoe bag to compactly store shoes in your carry-on with minimal space and without getting street dirt all over your clean clothes. It's designed to fit at least three pairs, but some reviewers say they fit up to five!
Promising review: "You can totally fit three pairs of shoes in this! (Size 6.5 female shoe, fit heels, wedges, and sandals.) I bought two and will absolutely be buying more for my husband. 10/10 would recommend! I travel frequently, and I always overpack; this helped cut down space and stress immensely!" —Taylor
Get it from Amazon for $22.99 (available in nine colors and patterns).
6. A comfy, ergonomic Trtl neck pillow that won't take up any extra space in your bag like those big, puffy travel pillows do. It's scientifically proven (!) to prevent stiff necks and sore shoulders, so you can actually rest comfortably while you're sleeping upright, and it also doubles as a scarf. (Because good GRIEF, planes are COLD!)
It also easily attaches to backpacks and luggage handles (see the photo on the right), weighs less than half a pound, and is machine-washable!
Promising review: "I can't stop recommending this pillow to all of my friends! It has let me comfortably sleep on flights that take place on the most uncomfortable airplane seats. On long flights, I always need to prop up my hand and I rest my head on it. But this method always ends with my arm falling asleep and I end up waking up every 30 minutes. Now this pillow provides that exact same support without needing my arms to prop me up! It's small enough to fit in your bag and doesn't take up much space." —Simona Krifman
Get it from Amazon for $59.99 (available in four colors).
7. A TSA-friendly toiletries set because discovering your conditioner leaked all over the clothes you brought might be the worst feeling ever. Plus, this set will make sure TSA doesn't break your heart by throwing away your favorite (and expensive!) moisturizer because it's over 3.4 ounces.
The set includes a zippered bag, four soft silicone bottles with leakproof caps, three compact jars, and two toothbrush caps.
BuzzFeed Shopping editor Elizabeth Lilly owns and loves this set. She writes: "I've used this set on more than five trips and and for trips when I don't require body wash or shampoo (like to visit my parents) I use the extra room in the bag to shove in all my beauty products and daily contacts. Plus! It comes with labels that stay on the containers really well despite my thoroughly washing these containers between trips. I bought this set in spring 2019 and have, admittedly, lost a container or two. But the ones that I've held onto over dozens of trips have all held up well!"
Promising review: "If it wasn’t for me forgetting them in the hotels, I wouldn’t have to buy more. This is my third set and I love these things! I’m a flight attendant and these are easy to fill, use, and pack!" —Raena Hill
Get it from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in 11 variations).
8. An AirFly Pro wireless transmitter that connects your wireless earbuds to the headphone jack on the flight so you can watch the free entertainment without having to bring two sets of headphones — or waste money buying the crappy ones they sell on the plane. Mark my words, you'll be using this on every flight you go on.
You can even pair two sets of headphones at once to the AirFly! They work on gym and gaming equipment, too.
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
Twelve South is a husband-and-wife-owned biz based in Charleston, South Carolina! They've been designing accessories inspired by and made for Apple products since 2009.
Get it from Amazon for $54.99 (available in two colors and in two other styles).
9. A Wallet Ninja with 18 different functions (!) that'll take up next to no room since it's small enough to fit in your pocket. Glasses break and need a screwdriver? Got it. Need to crack open a beer? Can do. Want to hold your phone up so you can watch TV at your gate? Done, done, and done.
The card includes an eyeglass screwdriver, letter opener, nail puller, ruler, bottle opener, can opener, box opener, cellphone stand, hex-head nut and bolts, screwdrivers, and a fruit peeler. Reviewers said it is TSA-approved, but some had to remove it from their bag and put it on the belt by itself just to be safe.
Promising reviews: "This is definitely helpful to have on hand! The Ninja is small and slim but punches above its weight class in terms of usefulness. The tools are all things you might find yourself searching through a drawer for and are useful in a pinch. It fits comfortably in your wallet and will help you open a beer or tighten a screw. The coolest feature that I couldn't find on most other similar products was the credit card phone stand. It is great for planes and other travel applications (I haven't had trouble bringing this on a plane anywhere I have traveled, FYI)."—Mary
"I bought this as a gift for my husband. I can't tell you how many times this little card has come in handy. We take it with us when we travel and we always end up using it." —Andy Aguirre
Get it from Amazon for $11.99 (also available in packs of two, three, and five).
10. An easy-to-use wedge doorstop alarm you can use for added security at hotels or Airbnbs in unfamiliar locations, and for extra peace of mind at home. It'll block any intruders from opening your door — and set off an ear-piercing, continuous alarm.
It requires no wiring, just an 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.
11. A pair of compression socks if your feet and legs often swell on long flights, because there's nothing quite like the discomfort of your feet swelling up so much that your shoes no longer fit (IYKYK). Plus, these are so soft and comfy that they're pretty much sure to become your favorite socks for day-to-day wear once you're home.
These socks are literally a joy to wear on my feet, like if wearing socks could feel like running your legs through freshly washed, cool sheets. They're so soft, and their compression is tight and cozy without feeling raw and uncomfortable. They're also the cutest compression socks I've ever seen, so you can wear them out and about with confidence. I dread wearing any of my other socks now, which I'd be sadder about if I weren't so obsessed with my Comrads, lol. They're a little pricy, in my opinion, but they're worth the money.
Promising review: "I bought a couple of pairs of these socks for a big trip where I’d be spending hours on a plane. Without a doubt, these are the most comfortable compression socks I’ve ever worn. They pull up nicely without me feeling like I need to squeeze my calves into them. I have athletic calves and some compression socks were too tight and just not enjoyable to wear. These are perfect! I’m ordering more to have on hand to just wear around the house." —Angie B.
Comrad is a small biz that makes cute, high-quality compression socks.
Get a pair from Amazon or direct from Comrad for $28 (available in sizes S-XL, many color/pattern combos, and 3-packs).
12. A huge, heavy-duty Baboon to the Moon 45 liter canvas tote that's THE bag for overnights and weekend trips when you know you'll need a ton of different stuff but don't have the energy (or desire lol) to carefully pack a regular-shmegular bag. Once you experience how sturdy, large, and awesome this is, you'll be using it any chance you get — it's perfect for holding groceries and taking along for errands. Can you tell I'm obsessed with this thing?
I was unsure whether I would actually like this thing because I'm not really a bag person, but it has quickly become one of my favorite possessions. The other day, I fit two laptops in it, two full-sized toiletry bags filled with makeup and skincare, two sweatshirts, two pairs of pants, three shorts, six pairs of socks, six pairs of underwear, four shirts, three notebooks, three boxed packages, a Kindle, a paperback book, a pair of shoes, my Renpho eye massager, a friend's TheraGun, a 40-ounce Nalgene, an apple, a bag of desk supplies, my phone and computer chargers, AND IT STILL HAD ROOM FOR MORE. Even just packing this thing is so much fun because I literally just THROW things into it and wait for it to NEVER FILL UP. The straps are also impressively heavy-duty and haven't seemed at all stressed by any of the weight I've had them hold. Pretty sure this is the best mega tote on the market and please quote me on that. Oh, and it's also water-repellant and made of 100% American cotton.
Promising review: "I am absolutely in love with this big tote bag, I throw the whole world in. Love the roominess of it and the color. The wide straps make it comfortable to wear back and forth." —Connie R.
Get it from Baboon To The Moon for $99 (available in eight colors).
13. A mini lightweight flat iron so if you feel most confident and like yourself with straight locks, you'll be able to straighten your hair the way you like it on your vacay. You can also use it for overnights or anytime you need a quick touch-up!
It also comes with a heat-resistant pouch for easy carrying!
Promising review: "Ordered for my overseas trip. It worked beautifully, and my hair looked great. The size was perfect for packing because it hardly took up any room. It heated up quickly and was easy to use. The case it comes in is nice to use for packing, too. I may even start to use it at home for my hair instead of the large flat iron I have. I am happy with my purchase and would highly recommend." —Rubyreds
Get it from Amazon for $14.97.
14. A 3-in-1 foldable magnetic wireless charger that powers your iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch all at the same time, saving space in your luggage and keeping your bag as light as possible. You'll also love it for easy charging at your bedside table at home.
Check out a TikTok of the foldable 3-in-1 charger in action.
Promising review: "I’m a flight attendant, so I’m constantly on the look out for items that will make my travel days easier, but most importantly, LIGHTER. This by far has been the best investment. My phone, watch, and earbuds are all Apple and all work seamlessly with this product. The magnets are a slower charge then a normal charger, but being able to carry ONE item to charge three pieces of technology at once, is PRICELESS. It's super easy to throw in my bag when I'm packing up and mindlessly easy to set up when I get to my layover. I would come back and buy this ten times over again if I could!" —Lissette Nunez
Get it from Amazon for $39.99+ (available in nine colors).
15. A crisis-averting Apple AirTag tracker tile set you can attach to your luggage so if the airport claims they lost your bag, you can just track its location in the encrypted Find Me app on your phone. Reviewers also swear by these for keeping track of their keys, wallets, and even pets and cars!
When an item's misplaced, the app will make the attached AirTag beep until it's found.
Promising review: "These are definitely worth the money. I put one in my flight attendant bag when ever I have to check it. I put one on my dog and the other on my keys. I was very impressed and surprised by how easy they were to set up. I would definitely invest in these if you have a child. There are keychains you can put them in and put them on their backpacks. 10/10 from me for these!" —Micky D
Get a pack of four from Amazon for $89.
16. A pack-punching Tide stain-removing pen so when you inevitably spill coffee, pasta sauce, ice cream, or what-have-you on your shirt, you'll be able to get rid of the stain fast. These are a no-brainer for travel and everyday life — I make sure I have one on me at all times!
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.
17. A waterproof Kindle for transporting all the books you've been dying to read anywhere you want, whether on a plane or to your backyard, without weighing more than half a pound. TBH, for readers, this is the game-changer of a lifetime. Did I mention you can even bring this in the pool or tub?!
I recently bought a Kindle and it has, no exaggeration, revolutionized my life. I love mine for so many reasons — it's truly helped me incorporate my love of reading into my often hectic life, and all my titles literally live inside of this half-pound wonder gadget, so I can switch between books super easily. For traveling, this is a literal dream. I don't have to pick between titles and then regret the entire trip that I didn't bring the one I left at home — and, as any book lover knows, traveling with books is heavy as hell, and the Kindle literally completely eliminates that weight. Traveling will never be the same for me. BTW, I am also obsessed with the Libby app, which allows you to check out e-books from your local library on your Kindle!! My inner child is *screaming* with joy.
Promising review: "I LOVE reading and being able to access a book anywhere with this thing. It is easy to navigate, very easy to read and adjust the brightness or how warm the light is. It doesn't auto adjust, but I don't need that feature. I've read in bright sunlight to dark rooms, and it's always been so clear. You can adjust the font and use the library to search whatever books you want. Makes packing books for traveling very easy. Battery life lasts me two weeks if I'm reading every day for a few hours." —R@L0
Get it from Amazon for $139.99+ (available in 8GB and 16GB sizes, three colors, with or without lockscreen ads, and with three free months of Kindle Unlimited).
18. A lightweight, water-resistant Neutrogena SPF 50 face and body stick sunscreen that's TSA- and carry-on friendly because it's *solid*! PS: That means it's also a great spill-free SPF option you can keep in your everyday tote or backpack.
BuzzFeed Shopping editor Elizabeth Lilly brought this on an international trip and loved it: "I first bought this for a weeklong Croatian vacation last year when I did carry-on, and as long as you are *thoroughly* reapplying, this stuff stays on pretty well. On a beach club afternoon, I did haphazardly reapply and missed a strip on one arm, but I tend to do that with spray-on or lotion sunscreen, too. Since then, I've packed this for any trip I've been on, including a two-day Disneyland trip where I toted this around in my bag and shared with friends. I sometimes carry it with me in my purse on my everyday adventures because I know it's so easy to apply. Also worth mentioning...I am about the palest lady you've ever seen and swear by daily application of sunscreen. But when on a beach trip, I'm constantly swimming in the water and sweating. So yeah, this stuff works. And if you're a bit hesitant about jumping on the solid sunscreen bandwagon, you can pack a stick of this, knowing you have enough sun protection to get you through to finding some spray-on or lotion SPF at your destination."
Get it from Amazon for $9.58.
19. A hands-free (rotating!) phone mount so you can stream Love Is Blind from your phone and leave the heavy laptop at home that you were only bringing along to watch Netflix anyway. It's designed for use on any airplane and can mount to the tray table, the arm of a chair, or even a suitcase handle.
Promising review: "I bought this nifty gadget about six months ago for a multi-leg, ultra-long-haul trip and it more than held up the entire duration. I was able to finagle it to fit the tray tables on different planes and like others, I find the height just nice when clamped onto a stowed tray table. It also works on my roller carry-on handle during layovers. However, I find myself using it a lot outside of travel, too! Work-wise, I've clamped it onto my office desk shelving to hold my phone at eye level beside my computer. At home, I simply clamped it to a deck of cards and it turns into a versatile stand that I can place on any flat surface. Heck, I've been using it to hold my phone comfortably at eye level while watching videos in bed. It's extremely well-built and I find myself fidgeting with it all the time. Thus far it still feels solid and I don't anticipate breaking it any time soon. Even if it does break, I'll be happy to buy another one or two of it!" —Earendil
Perilogics is a small biz that specializes in tech-oriented travel products and backpacks.
Get it from Amazon for $12.97 (available in two colors and in a pack of two).
20. A jewelry organizer that'll take up way less space than a jewelry box and keep your necklaces and bracelets from getting so inexplicably tangled that they are actually unwearable to boot.
21. A reusable collapsible coffee cup so you can bring along a cup for your coffee without having to pack your bulky, TBH unwieldy thermos that is just not going to fit in your carry-on *or* everyday backpack.
It's also microwave-safe! Note that the 12-ounce size does not include a straw, but both the 16-ounce and 24-ounce sizes do.
BuzzFeed Shopping editor Danielle Healy has this and loves it. She writes: "This is of the first zero-waste swaps I made and I've never looked back. If you buy to-go coffee – whether you're jet-setting or just grabbing a mid-day pick-me-up — this cup is a must-have. So long as you remember to bring it, it's all the convenience of to-go coffee with none of the waste. It's leakproof and, when you're all done, it collapses down teeny tiny and can be tossed back in your bag. Oh! And it comes with a straw, so all you iced coffee lovers can get in on the action, too."
Stojo is a small biz founded by three New York dads who wanted a better way to get their convenient coffee fix without all the waste. Now they make stylish collapsible essentials in a variety of sizes and colors, including bottles and food storage containers.
Get it from Amazon for $14.95+ (available in four sizes and in 24 colors).
22. A plush microfiber makeup-removing cloth that's a great alternative to the infamous Makeup Eraser, except almost three times cheaper. It gently takes off your makeup and lifts away dirt using only water, freeing you from packing liquid makeup removers that do half as good a job while tugging on your skin and leaking in your bag. It's not too good to be true — I only use makeup-removing cloths myself now.
Promising reviews: "Okay, so I know there’s a ton of reviews for how amazing this thing is, and I really thought it was going to be super overhyped. But seriously — THIS THING IS AMAZING! I literally did a quick wipe expecting it to be just an initial pass, then looked up into the mirror and was like, holy hell, I think it’s all off. I’m in total shock. I have literally never once had a cream, oil, cloth, or otherwise that so effortlessly wiped off my mascara before. There’s got to be some magic going on here...my face thanks you." —anonymous
"I was skeptical. But for less than $10 I tried it. I am traveling with a carry-on only and wanted limited the amount of liquids so this seemed like a good replacement. I thought about wipes but I would need so many and the package is a little bulky. I got this, used it for the first time, rubbing in circles like the directions stated. I even used micellar water after to see if any makeup was left...NOTHING!! My face felt super clean. This thing is amazing!!" —volvomom
Get it from Amazon for $6.99+ (available in eight colors and in packs of two and seven).
23. A dual voltage mini steam iron for keeping all your outfits crisp and smooth, because they'll probably be wrinkled from traveling inside your tightly packed carry-on.
Promising review: "Best travel iron available. I travel so much and hotel irons are just unreliable no matter what clothes you use them on. This one is a champ; it has a steamer option and fits in your weekender bag or business luggage. Security inspected my carry-on and they couldn’t get over how small it was. Make this your travel go-to!" —Yesenia
Get it from Amazon for $39.99.
24. A long-needed zipper puller that'll grab onto your back zipper so you can pull it up yourself, 'cause you shouldn't have to twist into a pretzel to get your zippered clothes on or limit what clothes you take on your solo vacay. If you live alone, this'll also be helpful on the reg!
Promising reviews: "This thing is great! If you have issues with the puller disconnecting, head to the directions, because you probably aren't hooking it up correctly (I know this from experience). Zipuller saves my life on a weekly basis." —MoniqueRamsey
"I am a flight attendant. Our uniform dresses are so hard to zip up in a hotel room when you are by yourself. This is the best. It works wonderfully and is great quality. I would recommend this to anyone who isn't a contortionist. Excellent product!!!!!" —L. ward
Get it from Amazon for $14.99 (available in three colors/patterns).
25. A facial moisturizing stone perfect for travel — it's solid so it's TSA-friendly and won't spill in your bag, and it's packed with nourishing ingredients like blue tansy and tamanu oil, nicknamed "green gold." It'll even help with facial redness and scarring.
When you apply it, the solid melts into a silky, lightweight oil.
Promising reviews: "Love this moisturizer. This leaves my face feeling silky and smooth without feeling greasy. Perfectly balanced. And I love that I can take it traveling without worrying it will leak all over the place." —Lynn A.
"I had no idea how thirsty my face was until I began using the face stone. I have used so many skin care regimes, packed full with chemicals to mimic the fountain of youth, when all my face was crying out for was moisture! Now I have found a product that feeds my skin the moisture it so desperately craved. The gentle scent is food for your senses, too. My skin is truly grateful." —Suzanne D.
Get it from Sephora or Kate McLeod for $60+ (also available in a refill size).
26. An Alleyoop 4-in-1 makeup pen that's an eyeliner, lip liner, brow pencil, *and* highlighter all in one, so you can keep your makeup bag as light as possible and free up some space for an extra lip balm or vacation-worthy lipstick.
BuzzFeed Shopping editor Jasmin Sandal has this and loves it: "I didn't realize I'd ever use a makeup product in my 20s that had the ability to transport me back to something I used in sixth grade, but here we are; and here I am using a multitool pen... for my face. I gotta say, I love the concept of the Pen Pal from Alleyoop! After using all of the functions (eyeliner, highlighter, lip liner, eyebrow pencil) and as someone who LOVES makeup but was applying as little as humanly possible during lockdown, I think it’s a great tool for anyone looking to streamline their routine. It's ideal to use for touch-ups come the end of the work day, or a subtle, minimalist way to apply makeup in the a.m. The brow pencil is particularly soft and pigmented, and filled in my eyebrows quickly. I just adore the ease of application of each product, and appreciate the universal, does-it-all-for-you concept. Plus, it saves me so much room in my already overflowing makeup bag!"
Promising review: "The only product you'll ever need. I absolutely LOVE the Pen Pal, especially for travel. It's so nice and convenient to have a tool for brows, highlighter, bronzing, eyeliner, and lip liner all in one. Sometimes you have to 'warm up' the liner a little bit on your skin but it's so smooth and pigmented." —theshirshow
Alleyoop is a woman-owned small biz that makes in easy-to-use, time- and space-saving products with multiple uses to simplify your beauty routine.
Get it from Amazon for $25 (available in two shades).
Note: Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.