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1. An expandable hard-shell carry-on suitcase with four spinner wheels and a built-in lock to bring your luggage firmly into adulthood with you. RIP, soccer camp duffel bag. You will not be forgotten.
2. Or a wheeled carry-on duffel bag if you're not quite willing to give up that duffel life but are looking for a more practical option that's easier on the arms.
3. *OR* a duffel-adjacent weekender bag with a trolly sleeve to make it easy to carry along with a roller bag. Best of all it's small enough to count as a "personal item" on most planes, ensuring you have the perfect carry-on-only setup with as much room as possible.
4. A small bottle of CeraVe Moisturizing Cream so you can leave the enormous tub it usually comes in at home while still enjoying it's cult-status effectiveness. That's gonna be especially key after a long, drying flight!
5. A luggage scale so you can confidently show up to the airport knowing you won't incur a fee for being over the airline's weight limit. Because yes, sometimes there are weight limits for carry-ons, too. How do I know? Because I was charged for having an overweight one on an AirFrance flight three days ago.
6. A travel-size lint roller because you may not be able to fit an iron or a mini steamer, but you can at least ensure that your pants are fuzz-free after arriving at your destination.
7. A seven-piece set of packing cubes to keep your items as compact and organized as possible. I used to be skeptical of packing cubes at first but can conform they help even the most disorganized of travelers (me) maintain some semblance of order.
8. A couple tiny bottles of SheaMoisture shampoo and conditioner, because your curls have been subjected to subpar hotel products way too many times. Let's fix that while still keeping your toiletry bag a manageable size.
9. A ruled hardcover Moleskine notebook to use as a travel journal. I love writing small daily entries whenever I'm on a trip but hate lugging around enormous journals. This one is slim, easy to carry, high-quality and is always in my carry-on.
10. A four-piece set of compressible bags that don't require a vacuum to squish down nice and small and maximize space. All you need to do is roll the air out, throw them in your bag, and be on your merry way with a whole wardrobe in tow.
11. An itty-bitty Venus razor with a carrying case so if you're planning on shaving on your trip you don't need to bring your big ol' razor and try to find a way to store it safely.
12. A laptop backpack with a trolly sleeve if you're in search of the most versatile personal item out there. It'll come in handy both as a piece of luggage and as a bag you can use in your everyday life, and is obviously extra fitting for anyone who's working while on the go.
13. A gloriously simple set of travel cosmetic jars because while their screw-top lids make them perfect for decanting and bringing along moisturizer, SPF, and lip balm, reviewers also love them for small items like medicine or jewelry.
14. Or an eight-piece toiletry bottle set so it's easy as can be to decant literally all of your favorite toiletries into small, manageable, TSA-approved bottles — yes, even sprays!
15. Or if you want the work to be done for you, a Tula travel-ready skincare set so you have an entire travel-sized skincare routine at your disposal, hassle-free. It comes with purifying cleanser, exfoliating scrub, hydrating cream, and brightening vitamin C serum. Who knows? Maybe your new favorite product is in here!
16. A flip-top Takeya water bottle whose small 17-ounce size is perfect for tossing in a carry-on. It's not gonna take up too much space or be too heavy, but you will have a nice serving of water to dip into whenever you need it. Balance, people!
17. A simple and useful zippered pouch that is meant for makeup but can really be used for almost any travel paraphernalia. Makeup, other toiletries, small electronics, cords, jewelry, travel tickets... You name it, it can tuck away nice and neatly in here!
18. A folding travel toothbrush to ensure that you don't have to size up your toiletry bag just to fit your regular toothbrush. Best of all, it folds into its own little carrying case, eliminating the need for a toothbrush cover or a plastic bag.
19. A compact pill organizer so you can bring the correct amount of medication and supplements that you need for your travels without lugging around full bottles.
20. A super slim RFID-blocking wallet to keep all of your travel documents and cards in one handy place, making airport navigation much easier.
The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.