16 Insanely Useful Products For People Who Have To Commute

Commuting doesn't have to be all bad.

1. This cute and affordable backpack that has tons of useful compartments and comes in a variety of colours.

Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

Finding a backpack for your work journey is tough, but this one has loads of inside storage for all your different valuables, padded straps for comfort on those long train journeys, and despite the description saying it can fit a 13" laptop, reviewers have managed to accommodate 14" and even 15" laptops with it! Price: £32.99 - £39.99 depending on colour.

2. A leakproof travel mug that will keep your tea or coffee hot for up to five hours.

Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

This even has a "push here to clean" button so that you can get into nooks and crannies you'd otherwise miss when you wash it. There's also a lock on the lid so that you can't accidentally open it, and reviewers appreciate that it is cool to touch even when hot so your hands won't burn holding it on the journey to work. Price: £22.99.

3. This compact power bank that will save you on those occasions you forget to charge your phone overnight.

Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

It has enough juice to do one full charge for your smartphone (although some reviewers claim it has done more for theirs) which is pretty impressive for the size and cost! Price: £12.99.

4. This sturdy umbrella designed to not turn inside-out on gusty days.

Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

Buying a cheap umbrella feels like a great idea until it ends up totally wrecked by a bout of bad weather. This has aluminum and fiberglass ribs to help it handle the wind, can be opened and closed with the push of a button, and dries quickly so that you don't end up soaking the train floor once you've closed it. Price: £17.99.

5. Avoid nosy people looking over your shoulder on the train with this two-pack of anti-spy privacy screen protectors.

Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

You should be able to look at memes on Twitter in peace on your 8am commute! These are flexible, scratch-resistant and mean that your phone screen can only be viewed by the person directly in front of the screen (i.e. you). Price: £6.98 for a two-pack compatible with iPhone X and iPhone XS (ones for other iPhone models are available but may vary in price).

6. Relive the youthful joy of playing your Game Boy on long journeys with a Nintendo Switch.

Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

Okay this isn't just for commutes as you can use it at home too, but this is ideal if you find yourself on a train or bus for hours every day, plus you get £30 to spend on the Nintendo eShop when you purchase this. Price: £279.99.

7. Make your car smell of sweet, sweet nothing and help prevent moisture buildup with this car freshener and dehumidifier.

Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

Listen, driving to work means you can spend a lot of time in your car and it can get a little, y'know, musty. This works to prevent fungus, mold, and unpleasant smells and on top of that its dehumidifying properties help to stop your car windows from fogging up! It's got an impressive 4.5 star average rating on Amazon and people seem to love them for helping to keep cars smelling clean. Price: £16.99 for two 500g bags.

8. This heated seat cover will make those long cold journeys more bearable.

Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

Ever sat in a car with heated seats and thought "wow, I could get used to this"? Well now you can! The seats are suitable for most cars and have a function where they can power off after you've set a time of between 30 and 90 minutes. Customers like how snug and secure the covers are, and the various temperature settings available. Price: £39.99.

9. These stackable lunch boxes have a watertight seal so that even your soups should be safe and secure on your journey to work.

Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

These are very compact, and come with two lunchboxes you can stack on top of one another as well as stainless steel cutlery that can be stored in the lid. There's also free compartment separators included in case you want to assemble your lunch once you get to work, and an extra clip if you're packing light and only want to take one box! They're also microwave safe for up to three minutes and have an air vent you can open to avoid removing the lid during heating. There's no reason to eat out for every lunch break now. Price: £18.95.

10. If your hair is a mess by the time you get to work, consider this wooden anti-static comb.

Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

Whether you drive, cycle, or get public transport, most of us fall victim to having our hair look significantly crappier than it was when we left the house. Reviewers like how this comb detangles without snagging and that it really does reduce static! Price: £7.55.

11. This headphone organiser will mean you no longer have to to untangle them when on a packed carriage.

Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

With a singe pull you can easily release your earbuds, meaning less time spent faffing about with knots in your wires and more time to listen to podcasts! Reviewers who were fed up of their headphones always tangling credit this as helping to solve the problem. Price: £3.99.

12. This stick-on card holder for your phone will allow you to easily access your tickets and travel cards.

Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

It has a useful flap to avoid your cards slipping out and can hold up to five cards. It doesn't leave residue when you remove it so you can use it even if you change phone cases! As a heads up, if your phone has a glass back such as an iPhone X you will need to use a phone case under the pouch as it doesn't adhere well to glass-back phones. Reviewers also say you can use your contactless card without having to remove it from the pouch which is great if you have an Oyster card or pay for your travel via contactless. Price: £8.99.

13. If you're not into wired headphones, try these wireless noise-cancelling ones for next time the person next to you is having a very loud argument on the train.

Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

These are actually designed for workouts so should definitely be pretty secure when you're just sitting down. Although some people struggle to find in-ear headphones that fit properly, customers praise these for being comfortable and they also come with extra ear covers so you can experiment with those and see what feels best for you. Price: £29.99.

14. When you want to travel light, try this laptop sleeve that doubles up as a briefcase.

Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

If you generally don't need to carry much, this is a great alternative to a messenger bag or backpack as it has just enough space for your laptop and accessories. It's made from a water-repellant material to protect your tech and a soft inner lining to prevent your laptop from scratches. There's even corner protectors to stop your laptop getting scratched when you open and close the zips! Price: £12.99 - 18.99 depending on size.

15. If you cycle to work and are in need of an action cam, this 5-star rated camera comes with a multifunctional mounting kit so you an attach it to your bike, helmet, or wrist.

Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

Several reviewers have called this a great alternative to anyone considering a GoPro, which is high praise when you consider this one is just a fraction of the cost! Price: £32.99.

16. And obviously we had to mention the Kindle, because you might be tired of carrying around that hardback (which you have been "planning to read" for weeks now)!

Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

Even if you're a fan of physical copies, when it comes to travel this frees up more space in your bag and means you don't have to flick through pages or worry about losing your place while being squished in the standing area of the tube, plus its designed to emulate reading from paper rather then from say, a phone screen. The commute is the perfect time to get some reading done, and if you get bored of your book at least you have a library to hand depending on how much you've downloaded! If you have Amazon Prime, you will also get to take advantage of the fact Prime gives you access to over 1,000 Kindle titles. Price: £69.99.