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.
1. A set of feather-light, super durable compression packing cubes you can use to significantly decrease the bulk of your clothing to save space on trips. This particular set is a cut above the others because it comes with a mesh outside that allows you to see what's in each bag without popping them all open to find something.
Pro-tip: When you use compression packing cubes, it's more effective to lay them flat than to roll them! It helps with the compression (and keeps your clothes from getting too wrinkled).
Promising review: "These packing cubes helped to keep my clothing organized in my suitcase. They compressed my items and gave me a little more room in suitcase. They are mesh construction so you can see what is inside. Easy zippers. Expandable. Sturdy." —Mary
Get a set of six from Amazon for $29.99 (available in four colors).
2. And a vacuum-free space-saving compression bag so easy to use that all you have to do is stick your clothes inside, zip up the bag, roll the bag, and watch all the excess air get squished out of them until your clothes magically shrink to fit into your carry-on. Yes, maybe it's only a weekend trip, but some of us need OPTIONS!!
HELLO, I AM OBSESSED WITH THESE. Despite all the rave reviews I was definitely skeptical of space-saving bags that didn't require a vacuum, and even as they were actively squishing my clothes into oblivion I still couldn't quite believe it. I had easily two suitcases worth of clothes I wanted to pack for a three-week trip to London, and I managed to neatly pack the entirety of my wardrobe in one roller carry-on bag. Truly all I had to do was put my clothes in the bag, push them to the bottom, and then sit on it to get the air out before sealing it up. I had tons of extra bags and make a habit of taking them with me in case other people joining me on trips need them to be able to pack souvenirs on the way home. I'm never taking a long trip without these again — these are worth every damn penny.
Psst — just note that airlines will still enforce weight limits, so don't fly TOO close to the sun packing these up!!
Get a set of eight from Amazon for $15.76.
3. A beautifully packaged, travel-friendly Touchland Power Mist hydrating hand sanitizer for anyone who's like "mindfully practicing health and safety, but make it fashion." Unlike other sanitizer sprays, it's infused with aloe vera to keep your skin hydrated and has the most luxurious floral scents.
Touchland is a small business that specializes in hand sanitizers.
Promising review: "Touchland's hand sanitizers are absolutely beautiful! Not only is the packaging functional for travel, but it’s pretty! Absolutely no issues with the product or the design of the packaging leaking, and it’s extremely easy to use! No sticky residue, and your hands feel completely hydrated and soft after each use. I’m especially impressed with this perk, considering most hand sanitizers leave your skin feel tight and dry. No leaks, great hydration, phenomenal fragrance…. what’s not to LOVE!!!? 🤍 SPOIL YOURSELF, NO EXCUSES NECESSARY!" —Briana R.
Get it from Amazon for $16 (available in Lily of the Valley and Rose scents; check out Touchland's Amazon storefront for more options).
4. A weighted eye mask that's basically like a weighted blanket for your human eyes, designed to decrease stress and encourage ~deep sleep~. They also feature a 3D contour, so they're hollowed out in the middle and won't rest right on top of your eyes.
5. Self-heating soothing foot masks made with Epsom salts, lavender, and peppermint perfect for anyone whose step count on vacation is "too many." Now instead of dealing with aching feet all night, you can get ahead of the situation with some ~self care~.
Check out a TikTok of the foot masks in action.
I'm a long-ish distance runner and these were certainly an interesting experience for my feet! You slide them on and, after a few minutes, feel a tingling, mildly burning (in a good way) sensation. It doesn't quite numb your feet, but it relaxes them. I kept them on for 30 minutes and then toweled my feet off, and the tingling sensation slowly faded over the next 30 minutes. After that, my feet felt very refreshed and relaxed at a time of day when they're usually aching from all the miles I put in. The whole thing was a mess-free, easy process, and I will definitely keep them on hand for longer run days!
Promising review: "Very soothing. My husband and l used these on our European vacation, and they definitely felt good on our feet!" —KS2018
Get a set of three pairs from Amazon for $12.53.
6. A hands-free portable phone charger that sticks right onto your phone plug and chills there so easily that you might forget it's there in the first place. This mini charger is designed to give you one full iPhone battery per charge, making it a lifesaver for busy humans, particularly ones who love traveling.
Check out a TikTok of the charger in action.
Promising review: "I used these several times for the past year, traveling for business and leisure. It is always a challenge to find an outlet at the airport since some airports do not offer a charging station. Using those types can also be a security risk. That's why I love using these portable chargers. They are lightweight and fit in my travel handbag/or small backpack pocket. The portable chargers take about 30–35 minutes to fully charge if dead. Once charged, they charge fast and hold a charge for many hours." —J
Get it from Amazon for $18.99+ (available in six colors).
7. Plus a tiny 3-in-1 portable charger you can fold down to the size of a little macaron, but expand to charge your iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch all at the same time. If you have trips on the horizon or you're a busy human in general, you need to get yourself one of these adorable UFOs, fast.
Promising review: "These are fabulous for travel — they charge three devices from just one USB port, especially [helpful] when frequenting hotel rooms. The first one is now permanently stationed bedside to help clean up the clutter, and this will go into my briefcase for future excursions. Compact, and effective!" —see2xu
Get it from Amazon for $76.49 (clip the 15% off coupon on the product page for this price; available in four colors).
8. *And* an always handy international travel adaptor with a universal input that lets you charge four devices at once, so you don't have to triage charging all your electronics whenever you get back to the hotel.
Ceptics is a small business that specializes in tech products for international travel.
Promising review: "LOVE this adapter! I travel from time to time internationally and have always used just the 'standard' adapters found in airports. Exceeded my expectations of what it was capable of. Used on a recent trip to Germany, and it handled everything needed — laptop, cell phone (USB ports are so very welcome), alarm clock, dryer, etc. Did not miss a beat on the power provided. Thank you for making such a great, dependable product!" —Monkey
Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in dozens of other styles depending on the countries you're heading for!).
9. A set of 2-in-1 magnetic rechargeable hand warmers that are a genuine must-have for cold weather traveling — you can keep these in your pockets to keep your hands the kind of roasty toasty warm that radiates through your whole body, and makes it a heck of a lot easier to stay outside and explore. Bonus: both hand warmers double as device chargers, so they'll come in handy in warm weather, too!
Promising review: "These are amazing! I use them when I volunteer at the outdoor food bank and they keep my hands nice and toasty. I keep them in my coat pocket and they warm me right up! They are easy to charge and easy to use!" —Karen
Get it from Amazon for $23.09+ (clip the 30% off coupon on the product page for this price; available in eight colors).
10. A hands-free (rotating!) phone mount designed for use on all airlines — not only can you mount it to the tray table of an airplane seat, but to the arm of a chair or any flat surface, so you'll be able to stream content easy as pie wherever you roam. Reviewers have used it on everything from their car dashboards to carry-on handles to office desks to bedside tables.
Perilogics is a small business creating hyper-functional tool holsters and bags for carrying your stuff on the go.
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." —Earendil
Get it from Amazon for $12.97.
11. A travel "flossing" toothbrush with two layers of bristles — regular firm bristles, and longer ones that are ten times thinner to clean deep in between your teeth and gums to mimic flossing. Reviewers love how deep the clean feels, and also how soft it is on sensitive teeth!
Mouthwatchers is a small business established by Ronald Plotka, DDS, that specializes in antimicrobial toothbrushes designed to get deeper cleans even patients with "great" dental hygiene might miss with traditional brush and floss routines.
I've been using the regular-size version of this for over a year now, and I LOVE it! I used to use an electric toothbrush, but I feel like I'm getting a much more satisfying clean from these — especially because I tend to get yellow stains between my teeth no matter *how* much I floss, and these bristles seem to actually target that a lot more effectively. My teeth feel genuinely ~squeaky clean~ after I use this, too.
Promising review: "This toothbrush is a new staple item for my on-the-go Invisalign bag. When I need to brush my teeth and don't have time to floss before putting my aligners back in, this brush makes sure my teeth and mouth feel clean and removes debris in between my teeth. The bristles are soft, this toothbrush is sturdy, and the different lengths of bristles help remove debris or help floss your teeth on the go. This brush also dries very fast in-between uses as well." —V. Brown
Get it from Amazon for $6.12.
12. A set of affordable, highly popular wireless Bluetooth earbuds reviewers compare to AirPods, but better — not only are they noise cancelling and waterproof, but but you can listen to music during your flight, car ride, or even while you're sleeping *without* your ears feeling like they've been beaten up. These come equipped with several sizes of earbuds so you can get your perfect, painless fit.
These come with a wireless charging case that provides up to 14 hours of charge (with the earbuds able to play for four-plus hours with each full charge). The earbuds are also sweatproof and waterproof, so you can use them during workouts or runs or even in the shower, and they have a built-in mic so you can chat on the phone. Psst — these are also a great option for going outside in a mask, since they don't have wires that'll get tangled in the mask straps.
Promising review: "So many things to rave about with these! Quality of the design and feel of these is amazing. I could literally wear these all night while on vacation with a roommate who snored, they were that comfortable and good at noise cancelling. I use these most often to listen to music, and the sound quality is superb. I have a pair of AirPods that I was *thankfully* gifted, and I hardly ever use them because they just aren't as good as my Tozos!" —Alexis Arnold
Get it from Amazon for $18.99 (available in five colors).
13. A benzene-free, travel-friendly applicator of I Dew Care's dry shampoo powder so easy to use that you can just dab it on your hairline and rub it in for an instant, oil-absorbing refresh. Now you don't have to waste nearly as much of your precious vacation time re-styling your hair!
Check out a TikTok of the dry shampoo in action.
Promising review: "I've had the best results from this dry shampoo than any other. It's a small container, but it lasts a very long time because a little really does go a long way! I also do this the night before so the powder-y look goes away by morning and it's more absorbed, you can also add a light oil to your ends and work it up if it feels too dry. There's no scent either and it is very convenient for travel! This is the only thing that still makes my hair look 'clean' on the no-hair-wash days!" —Alice
Get it from Amazon for $18 (available in five styles, including brunette options).
14. A set of silicone "EarPlanes" designed with a twist-on structure to help relieve pressure that hurts your ears during altitude changes during landing and takeoff. Reviewers also swear by these for driving through altitude changes in the mountains and for helping with sinus pressure pain!
Promising review: "This product has changed my life. I travel fairly frequently and always have issues with ear pressure on the plane. My ears will be clogged up, and it is painful to swallow for a day or two after short-distance flights. But now, I use these and fly incident-free. You are supposed to insert them before the plane takes off and then before landing. I have found that it works best if I leave them in the entire flight from before takeoff until landing, but they work almost as well if you take them out once you reach cruising altitude." —Thomasina
Get a pair from Amazon for $7.29.
15. Plus a pair of investment-worthy Loop Quiet 2 "hidden" earplugs perfect for traveling — this newly updated version is lightweight and flexible for a barely there fit that still manages to effectively muffle noise, whether you're trying to get some shut-eye on a flight, focus during a work trip, or relax in a noisy city hotel.
Psst — Loop makes a variety of "hidden" earplugs for concerts, focus, and even for kids. Check them all out on Loop's Amazon storefront!
Promising review: "These are my third pair of Loop earplugs. I like using them in the car, on planes, at concerts, in class, and while sleeping. This is my first pair of the silicone ones which were much more comfortable to sleep in which I appreciated. If you are more sensitive to noises, I definitely recommend keeping these on you." —Cash Tieman
Get it from Amazon for $27.95 (available in ten colors).
16. A magnetic folding pill organizer with conveniently visible pill windows for easy access. Each has six small compartments for little pills, plus a large compartment for capsules and vitamins, making it ideal for trips where you might need a lil' emergency pharmacy in your backpack but don't want to take up space.
Promising review: "I purchased this because I saw them all over TikTok. As someone with chronic illness, I honestly carry around like 10 different pill bottles for 'just in case' situations. This little pill box is a great size. I love that it’s magnetic, and each little compartment fits a good amount of pills. It won’t fit a ton of Tums if that’s what you’re looking for, but the amount of space this has saved in my bag is amazing!" —Jasmin Salas
Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in 13 colors, two sizes, and in two packs).
17. An Airplane Pocket tray cover that slides seamlessly over an airplane tray to create an instant, deeply convenient hub — this comes with a number of pockets so you can keep track of all your devices, snacks, and other odds and ends without rooting around for them in the gross back pocket or your carry-on the whole flight. Bonus: This bb is an excellent way to prevent touching a germ-y tray, and it's fully machine washable.
Check out a TikTok of the Airplane Pockets tray table cover in action.
Airplane Pockets is a small business that specializes in sanitary, portable travel organization products.
I used this on a roundtrip from NYC to Tokyo, both with connecting flights in Canada, and cannot sing its praises enough. It fit all four of the different tray tables I used it on and was so ridiculously handy for keeping track of all my littler odds and ends like AirPods, the plane's headphones, earplugs, a sleep mask, a book, gum, a scrunchie, and little snacks. The hanging end of it easily tucked into the built-in sleeve of the seat in front of me for takeoff and when other passengers needed to scoot past me in my aisle seat. Usually, I feel like a hot mess and get frustrated rooting around in the grimy sleeve for my stuff, and this was such a refreshing solution! Several flight attendants even asked where I got it to buy one for themselves!
Get it from Amazon for $26.99.
18. A compressible memory foam pillow so you can feel like you're sleeping on a cloud in a 5-star resort even when you've booked a motel with a "pillow" that's older than you are. This even comes in a small camping version to keep the wilderness cozy! Suck it, cold hard ground.
Promising review: "I bought this pillow for a very long airplane ride and wound up using it during the entire three-week trip. Seriously, it goes in and out of the little cover easily, and it made a real difference in my ability to rest on the trip. My husband is getting one now for our next trip. Get it! You won’t be disappointed." —Hattybrd
Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (available in a camping size as well as Standard, Queen, and King sizes).
19. A luggage drink caddy for anyone who considers the Starbucks mermaid a copilot — this sticks right into your wheeled luggage and has two roomy pockets for drinks, water bottles, your snacks, your phone, and whatever else was taking up room in your hands on the go.
Promising review: "This cup holder is perfect! It helps me a lot! Last time I took a plane with a suitcase and a cup of coffee, when it’s my turn to check my passport and ticket, the coffee cup fell to the ground and coffee sprinkled. It was a nightmare! This time I bought this cup holder, it did do me a favor! I don't have to worry about where my cup and phone are! I can free my hands to do other things. I love it so much! Hope you love it too." —Philip
Get it from Amazon for $11.99 (available in 31 colors).
20. And an attachable luggage table to make an *instant* desk or meal tray in the airport without having to Hunger Games it out for the last sad table at the one open McDonald's in your terminal.
Promising review: "Ingenious. How many times I have been in an airport with nothing to balance anything on, whether it be a computer or coffee? So, I have to hand it to the inventor that they have accomplished something truly useful. I really appreciate the ingenuity." —Anahata
Get it from Amazon for $39.95.
21. A fully adjustable Stanley bottle crossbody bag, because hydration is never not the hottest accessory. This sleek, leakproof, double-insulated bottle will keep liquid ice cold or toasty warm for hours, and thanks to this comfy crossbody strap, you can take a sip whenever you want. (No backpack wrangling required!)
Promising review: "It's smaller than I anticipated, but I love that even MORE! It's super slim, lightweight, compact, with all your favorite Stanley cup features. Doesn't leak, easy to drink from. Love the color! Going to be my travel buddy from here on out! Saw it on TikTok — had to get it before it's gone." —ralliereviews
Get it from Amazon for $75 (available in six styles).
22. A set of Sea Bands, which target an acupressure point on your wrists meant to help reduce nausea — a must-have for anyone who gets motion sick on long car rides, cruises, buses, and trains.
Read more about acupressure and nausea at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Promising review: "These were awesome! My entire family suffers from motion sickness, especially carsickness. My little one gets sick in the car on a regular car ride through the city. So, I knew that a long road trip was going to be a disaster. I was amazed at how well these bands worked for everyone! Not one single person complained about being sick for 12 hours in the car. I have suffered for decades, and now I know better. I will never travel without mine again!" —1SmartCookie
Get a set of two from Amazon for $8.53.
23. A ridiculously beloved, Shark Tank-featured Click & Carry grocery bag carrier to help you lift bulky, heavy bags while you're traveling so easily you'll put Superman out of business. With this gizmo you can hook your bags to it and lift up to 80 pounds while comfortably resting the carrier on your shoulder instead of letting all the straps cut into your palms.
Click & Carry is a Shark Tank and QVC-featured small business that specializes in easy carry accessories.
Promising review: "TikTok made me buy it. This is great when you have a few bags and a box — for example, if you balance the bags, you can throw it over your shoulder and walk inside and have two free hands to carry the box, which is great. Product seems well built, and is comfortable on your shoulder or hand because of the padding." —Hung
Get it from Amazon for $13.99 (available in seven colors).
24. And a durable bag strap gripper that not only keeps you hands-free when you've got extra shopping bags, jackets, and other accessories to cart around, but prevents you from forgetfully LEAVING said items in places where you will simply never see them again. (RIP to that one lost water bottle we're all still mourning.)
Promising review: "I bought two straps to use for my trip. It was so worth it! It held my family's light jackets and kids travel neck pillow. We also used it to hold our water bottles on our hikes. I wish I knew about these sooner!" —Lisa H
Get it from Amazon for $7.49+ (available in six colors and two-packs).
25. A roll-on migraine stick made with peppermint, spearmint, and lavender oils to help you soothe away headaches, which frankly have a lot of audacity interrupting your travel plans.
Basic Vigor is a US-based small business specializing in all-natural migraine relief products.
Promising review: "I’ve had migraines all my life — I’m 31 now. I’ve been on all kinds of prescriptions that work, but make me so sleepy... I’ve been using this stick for one week now, and it’s amazing! I rubbed it on at the first hint of a headache/migraine and it takes care of it fast. I haven’t taken a prescription migraine since I started using it." —Amanda Braswell
Read BuzzFeed's review of the migraine stick for more deets!
Get it from Amazon for $12.95.
26. A digital luggage scale perfect for anyone who likes to play chicken with the weight limits on various airlines. This gizmo will quickly and accurately let you know in pounds *or* kilograms how much your suitcase weighs just by attaching it to the handle and lifting — no clunky floor scales required.
27. A waterproof pouch to keep your phone and other "doesn't play well with water" type gadgets safe. Not only does this keep it safe but also you can still use the touchscreen with it, meaning you can take underwater travel photos galore. 🐠🐟🐡
It fits any phone up to 100 mm x 170 mm (or about 3.9 inches x 6.7 inches). It's also a great fix for keeping out sand and dirt (and a great option for runners, if you're caught in the rain but still want to be able to toggle through your music options).
Here's what BuzzFeeder Elizabeth Lilly has to say about it: "With these, I find that they're good for about a day due to condensation. I've used this case to take underwater pics, on boat rides, and have worn it with the lanyard jumping off a boat into water. So I really trust these!"
Promising review: "I purchased this case in July for an upcoming canoe trip with a friend and as luck would have it, we flipped our canoe. Being the rebel that I am, I chose not to wear my phone around my neck. And so it, my ID, and my debit card ended up at the bottom of the river. Fast-forward to this week. I was contacted via FB by an Alachua County Sheriff’s Office diver and guess what he found? Yup, my phone case with all of the contents intact and dry as a bone! He had to cut the case open but there was not one single drop of water in it and he ended up purchasing a case for himself because he was just that impressed!" —Julie McDonald
Get it from Amazon for $6.99 (available in 14 colors).
28. The iconic Alleyoop Pen Pal, which features four quick, easy-to-use products in one tiny package. Each of the three pens comes with a curated color palette of four retractable colors to touch up brows, eyeliner, lips, and highlights, so you've got an entire quick makeup arsenal in the palm of your hand.
Alleyoop is a woman-owned small business that specializes in functional makeup products.
Here's what former BuzzFeeder Jasmin Sandal has to say about it: "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 touchups come the end of the workday 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!"
Get it from Amazon for $20 (available in three shades).
29. A waterproof family travel document holder for anyone who is traveling in a group — this keeps all your passports, boarding passes, and IDs in one easy place so you don't have to do a whole backpack opening circus every time you get in line at the airport.
Promising review: "I took my kids on their first international trip, and this thing was a total lifesaver. It fits easily in a fanny pack or small purse for easy access, and it fits my whole family's passports, vaccine cards, boarding passes, and a pen with plenty of room for cash and cards if you decide to use it as a wallet for your trip. It made getting checked in a breeze and helped my family keep everything organized." —Kevin Garcia
Get it from Amazon for $8.48+ (available in five colors).
30. A TSA-friendly "Wallet Ninja" with so many functions that just reading the product description will give you impostor syndrome. This gizmo may slide easily into a pocket or wallet, but it can be used as a cell phone holder, a bottle and can opener, an eyeglass screwdriver, a ruler, and SO much more.
Wallet Ninja is a small business that specializes in card-sized, slim-profile tools and accessories.
Each card includes (DEEP BREATH): several screwdrivers, a letter opener, nail puller, ruler, bottle opener, can opener, box opener, cellphone stand, hex-head nut and bolts, and a fruit peeler.
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. 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 $14.98+ (also available in packs of two, three, and five).
31. A reusable, *delightfully* portable gel lint roller for quick lil' touch-ups both at home and abroad, because you just plain never know when you're going to experience the full-body serotonin of a furry friend pouncing on you. Not only is this little sphere cute as a button, but all you have to do to restore its stickiness is wash the interior.
Promising review: "I saw this on TikTok a bunch of times and finally decided to get it. I hate the paper lint rollers, they never seem to work that well and I hate that I have to throw them away. This is awesome because it fits right in my bag, and I’m able to reuse it over and over. It’s super sticky and works great!" —Ella
Get it from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in four colors and in two packs).
32. A fast-drying, super lightweight microfiber towel designed with fast-paced lifestyles in mind. Reviewers love this for traveling and camping, since it doesn't weigh them down or get the rest of their backpacks soggy, but also use it for the gym and the beach because it's so darn convenient!
Promising review: "Perfect towel for the gym, travel, and more! I have two of these towels, a large one and a small one. I live on a boat, where space is limited and the fact that these towels fold up incredibly small is my favorite thing! My second favorite thing is how fast they dry when hung up, so that I can store them away without having to wait hours and hours for them to dry in my compartment. I use the small towel at the gym, and it is super absorbent and super lightweight. I usually forget it is on me. Fantastic towel, definitely recommend." —Sam the Man
Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in 16 colors and six sizes).
33. A set of coin-sized Portawipes, which are compressed towelettes you can expand in an instant to use as a face towel, toilet paper, or sturdy napkin while you're on the go. (Psst — this is a must-have that a lot of parents SWEAR by.)
Check out a TikTok of the Portawipes in action.
Portawipes is a small business that specializes in personal care products for travel.
Promising review: "I kept some of these in my fanny pack and backpack while traveling. I used them when bathrooms didn't have any toilet paper and also for cleaning spills or washing my hands when out and about. Really nice peace of mind to have them around. Easy to use with just a few drops of water to make them expand, or add more for cleaning." —Camille
Get a 100-pack (!!) from Amazon for $13.77.
Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.