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1. A pack of vacuum storage bags to suck the excess air out of the clothes you simply *cannot* leave behind, so they can be stowed without the usual bulk.
BuzzFeed editor Jasmin Sandal is a fan:
"I swear by these bad boys not only for general storage purposes, but also if I know I'm going to be traveling for an extended period of time. As someone who tends to pack for every eventuality (who doesn't like to be prepared?!), I have learned that it's better to travel with them than without — especially since it's more or less a guarantee that my clothes are gonna take up a ~substantial~ amount of room in my suitcase. And if I can use something that's gonna shrink the size of my bulky hoodies and/or big tees in order for me to create more space, I'm sure as heck gonna do it. Plus, the satisfaction is indeed guaranteed because when you see those chunky layers flatten into a pancake...it's just *chef's kiss*."
Promising review: "I've used these bags before and they are so helpful. Even used the medium one for travel and I have tons of extra suitcase room. The clothes don't come out wrinkled at all as long as you fold them nicely before placing in the bag, then the air sucks out keeping them safe and sound and very compact. Arrived on time, would use this seller again." —Susie Kochsmeier
Get a six-pack from Amazon for $27.99+ (available in four sizes, as well as other multipacks).
2. A super popular (over 41,000 5-star ratings) and inexpensive pair of flexible ballet flats you can literally fold up and toss into your bag without taking up much room at all! They're super comfy (making them great to bring on trips), easy to slip on and off (a game changer at TSA), and come in a variety of cute colors and styles so you can find the perfect ones to match your aesthetic.
Prime members: You can try before you buy!
Promising review: "I normally cannot wear flats because they give me terrible blisters on the back of my feet. These didn't! Bought these in nude for a city vacation with a lot of walking, but where sandals aren't necessarily worn, and these were perfect! They obviously don't have the support of sneakers, but I am so happy to finally have a cheap pair of flats that don't give me blisters. I did break them in with thin socks on around my house before wearing them out and when possible, I wear them with little sock liners. Also — I was able to fold these in half and fit them in a semi-small purse to change into to dance at a wedding! Score!" —Kate
Get them from Amazon for $19.92+ (available in women's sizes 5–15, including wide sizes, and a variety of styles).
3. An ultra-compact portable charger that plugs directly into your phone — no cable required! Now you can freely use the GPS and take all the photos and videos you want while traveling *without* the constant anxiety of being in an unfamiliar place with a dead phone.
4. A mini lightweight flat iron — it'll barely take up any space in your toiletries bag and will actually do an impressive job so you can keep up your hair routine while globetrotting!
5. A pocket-sized, refillable travel perfume atomizer you simply press against the nozzle of your favorite perfume to pump it full of a travel-size portion of your signature scent! Now you won't have to find space to pack your larger perfume bottle and worry about it leaking the entire time.
Here's why BuzzFeed shopping editor Elizabeth Lilly loves this:
"^ That's me pumping my signature perfume into one of these travel atomizers I've been using for about a year. As the reviewer down below mentions, it's great to just throw in your purse on the reg for a fragrance re-up throughout the day. As you can see, it's about the size of my thumb and therefore takes up very little room. Plus! It's smaller than most rollerball travel fragrances you can pick up. This first one is working so well, that I just have the other three in storage. But if this one bites the dust this summer during travels, I'll be OK about digging into my stores to use one of the remaining three...especially at this price point."
Promising review: "I bought these due to traveling a lot for work and needing to cut down on the size of things in my carry-on bag for flying. I can bring four different perfumes now instead of one big one. They’re super easy to fill, haven’t leaked so far but I keep them in a sandwich baggie while traveling just in case. I would 100% buy them again." —Emily
Get a four-pack from Amazon for $8.99.
6. A set of packing cubes that'll help you fit a LOT more stuff in your suitcase than you thought was possible.
The set comes with four packing cubes of various sizes, as well as a laundry bag.
Promising review: "I was skeptical about packing cubes, but finally decided to give them a try and I won't travel without them now! It helps with organizing and to prevent wrinkles. Especially helpful when I’m going to multiple destinations so I don’t have to completely unpack or dig through my suitcase at each stop. My son has used them when packing a duffle bag, and I can’t imagine using a duffle bag without them. The quality of the brand is very good, and I love that each cube has their own handles. I ended up buying a second set since one wasn’t quite enough for extended travel." —April
Get a set of five from Amazon for $21.99 (available in 10 colors).
7. Or a set of compression packing cubes — these work similarly to a vacuum sealer to save you a *shocking* amount of space... even if you always pack more clothes than you actually end up wearing. They come in different sizes ideal for everything from jackets and sweaters to socks and underwear, and there's even a spot to put a little card on the front so you can label what's in what!
Just be sure to look up any weight restrictions on carry-on luggage!
Promising reviews: "I'm a flight attendant. Great for my four to five days trips when I need to pack extra!" —Amazon Customer
"These bags are amazing! Everything fits, and the compression keeps everything in order and leaves space for last minute additions. No more emptying the suitcase looking for an item. So easy and organized. My travel life just became 100% easier! Highly recommend them." —LYNN vT
Get a pack of six from Amazon for $39.99 (available in a variety of colors and as a pack of two or four).
8. A compact and reusable TSA-friendly toiletries set so you can easily travel with your everyday products *without* having to pack a bunch of big containers! They're easy to fill and clean, *and* the bag is super sturdy so you can rest assured that nothing's going to escape and turn your entire carry on into a gross soup of skin cream, body wash, and other sticky liquids.
Check out what BuzzFeed shopping editor Elizabeth Lilly has to say about this:
"I own and love this set! It includes the zippered bag, four soft silicone bottles with leakproof caps, three compact jars, an two toothbrush caps. I've used this set on more than five trips 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: "This set is perfect for traveling. Was looking for a set to use for work (flight attendant). I use the bottles for lotion, body wash, hair oil, and shampoo. None of them have leaked yet and I love that it comes with a bag just in case. The only negative is that sometimes you need to unscrew the cap to puff the bottles back out after you squeeze them, but doesn’t really bother me. It’s a quick fix. Easy to fill/refill." —Kandice222
Get it from Amazon for $14.79+ (available in a variety of colors and multipacks).
9. An impressively effective Hairbrella — it allows you to keep your hands free while protecting your flawless vacay hairdo from sudden downpours. It folds up super small, making it a great thing to toss into your bag if you don't have room for an actual umbrella. Plus, it's satin-lined to help avoid dryness and frizz when the time comes to free your locks!
Hairbrella is a Black-owned small business that specializes in hats that protect hair from all kinds of weather.
Promising review: "Works like a charm! So...of course, the day I get my hair done, an unexpected torrential downpour occurs, and I have NO umbrella. But...I DID have my Hairbrella in my bag! This was the first time I would get to try it out since I purchased it, so I was REALLY hoping it would live up to its hype. I loosely pinned my hair up with a few bobby pins, secured that sucka in place, and took off! While I looked like I just exited a dunk tank after my valiant sprint to my car, my hair was BONE DRY!!! 🙌🏾 Not a drop of moisture hit my hair. Hairbrella is the TRUTH!!!" —Lina
Get it from Amazon for $39.99 (available in five colors).
10. A pair of reusable waterproof shoe covers if you have ZERO space left in your bag for rainboots, but wanna be prepared for unpredictable weather. These fold down easily and don't take up much space at all! Plus, when you see how dry these 100% waterproof covers keep your feet, you might have the urge to shout "OH MY ~GALOSH~" with joy.
There's a handy sizing chart provided on the product listing page so you can find your ideal fit!
Promising reviews: "Truly amazing for a rainy day at Disneyland! I got asked about them by at least 100 people that day, when everyone’s shoes were wet and uncomfortable and mine were super dry!! Highly recommend them. Very easy to use, and also the bottoms were non-slippery! Must-have for a rainy activity day!" —Juhi
Another promising review: "Exactly as described. The size was exactly right for my shoe size. Perfect for a trip, as they take up very little space in a suitcase and work quite well to keep the rain out and puddles away from shoes." —Caroljean
Get a pair from Amazon for $10.89 (available in unisex sizes S–4XL and five styles).
11. A leakproof, refillable collapsible water bottle you can roll right up so it's easy to store when it's empty! Now you won't have to spend money on disposable water bottles at the airport or on the go.
Promising review: "Well this is the coolest thing ever! I travel quite a bit, and I usually don't take a bottle with me because they are big and bulky, and I usually lose it! This collapsible water bottle is a perfect traveling accessory. It stays collapsed until after security, and then I fill it up for the trip. It's a good size and fits in my side compartment in my travel backpack, and the cap screws in securely so I don't have to worry about it opening accidentally and spilling all over the place. I follow the instructions on how to clean it, and it works just fine." —M. Lyons
Get it from Amazon for $31.95 (available in eight colors).
12. A charger organizer because nothing is more stressful than digging through your bag to track down your various cables, adapters, and headphones that you SWEAR you packed. This'll help you fit them all in a compact and organized fashion!
Mister Crafter is a small business that creates handmade, personalizable travel products, wallets, and accessories made from 100% top-quality genuine cowhide leather.
Promising review: "I bought this for my husband before a trip and he loved it! The quality and durability were obvious the moment I took it out of the box. Definitely recommend this company and product." —Maureen Murphy-Weiss
Get it from Mister Crafter on Etsy for $39.80+ (available in two sizes and two colors; personalization also available).
13. A portable, cordless electric razor — it's the perfect compact option to travel with. You can use it on both wet *and* dry skin, and the blades are specially designed to capture hair at all angles while preventing cuts and avoiding skin irritation.
Promising review: "I love this thing so much! If you are in a rush or if you don’t want to shave your armpits or the hair on your armpits is too short to shave, this thing is perfect. I wear tank tops to work every day so I always make sure that my underarms are shaved and this has saved me so much razor burn. You can also use it on your bikini line, legs, and your arms! It’s super easy to clean, too, and I have taken it on multiple airplanes. Extremely happy with this purchase, I actually just got my coworker the same one!" —Kasey Mogavero
Get it from Amazon for $9.99.
14. Some laundry soap sheets you can use to hand wash your clothes in the hotel sink, so you can clean and re-wear the same outfits instead of trying to squeeze your entire wardrobe into your carry on.
Promising review: "This came SO in handy during my vacation to Europe! I was making lots of different stops to places with different types of weather. With these laundry soap sheets, I was able to wash my clothes in the sink — letting me pack just the right amount of clothes for all the different places I went." —Katie Fujarski
Get it from Amazon for $11.49.
15. A tiny portable Bluetooth speaker that has no business sounding as incredible as it somehow does. If you can't imagine hanging on the beach without some tunes, but don't have the space for a bigger speaker, try out this little guy who has over 28,000 5-star ratings!
It also comes with a travel case!
Promising review: "I really thought the reviews were over-hyping this little speaker. I was totally wrong. The sound and bass that come out of this tiny thing is awesome. The battery lasts for several hours, even at full blast. The travel case is sturdy, and even when closed the sound is still good thanks to the speaker holes in the case. That said, with those holes I would say the travel case is more to protect it when it gets tossed in your bag. Really cannot recommend this enough. Well made, sturdy, easy to charge, great battery life, and really great sound." — KJ
Get it from Amazon for $21.99+ (available in three colors).
16. An easy-to-use, portable makeup-correcting stick for anyone who would rather not have to pack a liquid makeup remover. With this compact option, you can do little touch ups and fixes without having to wipe everything off and start over!
Promising reviews: "I was looking for something non-liquid to take when I travel, and this is PERFECT! It's very small and slim, and works great. It easily removes makeup and works well on my sensitive skin." —sandy
"This is the BEST makeup remover EVER! Makeup melts off! It leaves the skin feeling soft and moisturized! I will never use regular makeup remover again!" —Tammy Gilbert
Get it from Amazon for $7.97.
17. A small wheeled carry-on bag that qualifies as a personal item even on the strictest and budget-friendly airlines. Now you can stop trying to squeeze everything into a backpack and hobbling under its weight through the entire airport just to avoid having to check your bag (and wonder if it'll *actually* make it to your final destination or not). With this, you can glide through the terminal with ease, and it'll even fit right underneath your seat so you can skip the stress of wondering if there'll be any overhead compartment space by the time you board.
It'll also make getting off the plan faster since you won't even have to pull your suitcase out of the overhead when you land!
Promising review: "This works out so well for me. I’m a flight attendant, and I’ve had an infinite amount of day trips over the summer. I got tired of carrying around my regular TravelPro spinner, so I finally ordered this. SOOOOO MUCH BETTER FOR ME. It’s light, has enough pockets, and can easily fit under a seat if needed.
The ONLY picky thing I can think of is how loud it sounds going across rough concrete. The wheels aren’t as silent as others, but that won’t stop me from buying another." —Kayla T
Get it from Amazon for $57.08+ (available in three colors).
18. A genius Wallet Ninja — it manages to squeeze *18* different functions into a pocket-sized, credit card-shaped object so you're ready for anything your trip throws at you! It's a bottle opener, can opener, eyeglass screwdriver, regular screwdriver, phone stand, ruler, hex wrench, fruit peeler, box opener, nail puller, and so much more!
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 review: "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.
You obviously aren't going to be able to construct a deck with anything on this credit card-sized device, but 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
Get it from Amazon for $11.49+ (also available in packs of two, three, and five).
19. A set of storage scrunchies perfect for whenever you need an extra little pouch to hold your keys, cash, lip balm, and other necessities on the go.
See them in action on TikTok here!
Promising review: "I bought this because of someone on TikTok who had purchased this. Extremely convenient and cute! They’re very soft and I’ve been using mine to hold cash and lip balm. I wish there were more colors!" —Michaela
Get a pack of three from Amazon for $12.99 (available in three colors).
20. Or a stash scrunchie if you want more color options to fit the rest of your vay-cay wardrobe.
Hustle and Sew is a small Etsy shop based in Saint Helens, Oregon.
Promising review: "I bought this as a Christmas gift for my sister. She is loving using this to stash a key and cash in a safe place while she walks her dog." —Tamara H.
Get it from Hustle and Sew on Etsy for $8 (available in 13 fabric and zipper color options).
21. A waterproof outdoor Pocket Blanket that folds up small enough to easily fit in your pocket or bag — making it a breeze to travel with! And speaking of breeze, it has tethered corner stakes just in case you're trying to chill on a particularly windy beach.
Matador is a small business that creates innovative, durable, and long-lasting travel and outdoor products, and in fact, the Pocket Blanket was the first product they ever created.
BuzzFeed editor Ciera Velarde loves this too! Here's why:
"I have this blanket and it really, truly fits in your pocket! When folded completely out, it fits two people lying down and would probably fit up to four people sitting. It's super thin without being flimsy, and any water, dirt, or sand just rolls right off of it. I did get some sunscreen on my blanket the last time I used it, but I threw it in the washing machine when I got home and hung it to dry, and it was as good as new. I took this to the beach this summer, and the stakes in the corner and the sand pockets were super helpful at keeping it from flying away in the wind. It also has a very subtle stitched guide on the blanket that you follow to fold it back up to pocket-sized. This blanket is so great and is a must for spontaneous hiking trips, beach days, or even a date in the park."
Get it from Matador or REI for $34 (available in four colors).
22. A travel-friendly retractable lint roller because even if your beloved pets can't join you on your trip, they'll be sure to send a bunch of their fur along with you via *all* of the clothes you packed. This roller was designed to fit in small places, and measures 5.5 inches closed and nine inches extended!
Promising review: "Fits perfectly in my purse or desk drawer. I have three dogs and wear black slacks almost every day, so this lint roller is a lifesaver for me! No more showing up to work covered in dog hair!" —Texas Mommy of 2
Get it from Amazon for $17.24+ (available in three colors).
23. A set of six Cadence containers with leakproof lids and labels so can bring small amounts of all your essential beauty products instead of the *entire* container!
Cadence is an AAPI woman-owned small business that was founded by Steph Hon as a way to eliminate single-use travel-sized plastics. The containers are made from recycled ocean-bound plastic.
My co-worker Abby Kass has these and loves them! Here's what she has to say about them: "I recently got a set of four of these, and, wow, I love them so much. I used them 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 along. They do hold a surprising amount. According to the brand, they hold approximately one to two weeks of skincare products, more than two weeks' worth of serum, two to three days' worth of haircare, and more than 15 tablets (for medicine and such). And while two to three days worth of haircare might not seem like enough, I found it held more than that for me, but I also don't wash my hair every single day. They 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 will want in their luggage."
Get a set of six from Cadence for $76 (originally $84; available in eight colors).
24. A waterproof, lightweight Columbia travel jacket that collapses down super small so it takes up *barely* any space in your carry-on! Even if the weather's supposed to be dreamy wherever you're headed, you'll be glad you brought this in case of a sudden downpour or chilly temperatures in the evenings.
FYI, if you have Amazon Prime Wardrobe, you can give this a spin before you buy it!
Promising review: "The jacket is waterproof and very comfortable. I like the bill on the jacket hood that keeps water from dripping into my eyes. A surprise was discovering that there are 'secret' inside mesh pockets perfect for securing things you don't want to fall out of your pockets or get snatched." —Paula Renfro
Get it from Amazon for $48.72+ (available in women's sizes XS–3X and a variety of colors).
25. A breathable and comfy detachable shirt collar so you can bring your fave layered looks on your trip *without* having to pack full-sized, bulky shirts. It's also great for warmer weather when you don't really need those extra layers, but just like how they look.
Promising review: "This is such a great product!! I always get too hot when I wear button ups below my sweatshirts and this is the perfect way to look stylish and put together while also being super comfy. The straps on the side are adjustable to make it fit just right and it looks like a real shirt! 10/10 would recommend." —Jada Commodore
Get it from Amazon for $8.99 (available in two colors, in round and pointed collars, and multipacks).
26. A Dagne Dover duffle bag that's surprisingly spacious while still being compact enough to fit under your seat, so you can avoid having to deal with the overhead compartment song and dance we've all come to know and dread.
BuzzFeed's Emma McAnaw says: "My Dagne Dover duffle fits soooooo much more than it seems (especially when you fight to the death to fit everything like I do), and it's a super easy carry-on! I just put it under the seat so I don't have to fight people to get the overhead bin space. Also, I've gotten away with bringing it for free on airlines that try to charge for carry-ons because it looks so small."
Get it from Dagne Dover for $120+ (available in five sizes and six colors) or from Nordstrom for $110+.
27. A skyline mini wallet emergency kit small enough to toss into your purse or backpack so you'll always have helpful essentials like lip balm, a floss pick, an extra hair tie, a bandage, earring backs, and more available on the go. You even get to choose the location of the skyline you want on this cute and helpful vegan leather wallet!
Anne Cate is a woman-owned small business based in Cleveland, Ohio that hand-makes minimalist keepsakes with a skyline from more than 100 cities and colleges around the world! These kits are made to order so they should ship in 7-10 days.
The kit includes a hair tie, lip balm, two floss pics, a sewing kit, bandages, emery board, two safety pins, two earring backs, a makeup wipe, two bobby pins, two mints, a deodorant wipe, a Shout wipe, a tampon, hand sanitizer, and Tylenol.
Promising review: "I got one for myself and one for my daughter. I love how compact this emergency kit is. It fits in any purse. I would suggest and recommend for anyone. I’m sure it will lighten a purse for many by condensing it into this one small emergency kit." —Eileen M.
Get it from Anne Cate for $25 (available in a wide variety of skylines).
28. A roll-top dry bag in case your bathing suit or other items are still wet when the time comes to pack up and head to the airport. Since you probably don't want everything else in your suitcase to wind up damp, stick the wet items in this compact bag made from waterproof and water tight nylon so they don't drip all over your laptop or dry clothes. Now you won't have to add another *separate* bag to your list of things to carry through the terminal.
Promising review: "I bought this bag for a summer trip, and it exceeded my expectations. I had this with me when I was poolside, in the pool, on a catamaran, during water-based excursions, and all items inside remained dry! This bag also works well for non water-based activities." —Deja C.
Get it from Dagne Dover for $15 (available in two colors).
29. A lightweight, adjustable Trtl neck pillow that's much less bulky than your average travel pillow. Plus, it's designed to hold your head in a comfortable position when sleeping upright so you can stop waking up every time your head starts to nod on long trips.
Promising review: "As a flight attendant for a major airline I have heard from passengers how much they like this pillow. So I ordered it...I LOVE IT. I lost my U-shaped memory foam pillow recently so I thought I would give this a try. It's smaller than a U-shape pillow and easy to pack up. Lots of fun colors to match your outfits. But most of all it works. It's cheap enough to give it a try...so just do it." —Franny
Ciera Velarde, an editor here at BuzzFeed, also loves this! She says: "I've used this for the past few years and swear by it! Before this, I always found traditional neck pillows uncomfortable and would end up ditching them halfway through the flight and getting frustrated. The Trtl pillow is adjustable — you wrap the pillow around your neck and secure it with Velcro, and if you find it's too loose, just make it a bit tighter! I've truly never slept better on a plane than with this pillow."
Get it from Amazon for $59.99 (available in four colors).
Some reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.