2 days Ago
1. A "Pack This!" pad you can reference when it's almost time to run out the door because no matter how many times you tell yourself you have enough pairs of underwear (10 for a three-day trip!), it doesn't feel quite right until you check it off a list. Promising review: "I hate making lists trying to figure out what I need, and this is PERFECT for trying to figure that out.
It has a lot more on the checklist than I would ever take on a trip, but it does accommodate for every kind a trip, from a simple vacation across state lines to a business trip to a wedding halfway around the world. I'm pretty pleased!" — Alyssa Kauffman Get it from Amazon for $7 . 2.
A wedge doorstop alarm with an *extremely* loud 120-decibel siren that'll sound should anyone try to force open your door. If you have trouble sleeping in unfamiliar hotel rooms or Airbnbs, this might just help. No wiring is required, either, just pick up a 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 $13.99 .
3. And a portable no-install door lock that'll give you even more peace of mind. The durable steel mechanism slips into any doorjamb to keep it nice and secure.
Just FYI: If you're keeping this in your carry-on, put it in an accessible place! TSA may want to inspect it, so that just makes things easier for everyone. Promising review: "I purchased two of these, one for my apartment door and one for travel. It was tested when the maintenance man at my building showed up earlier than expected.
He knocked and before I could get to the door, he was already trying to open the door AND COULD NOT. This held, and he was really pushing. I know someone can get in if they really are determined, but the level of noise they'd cause would alert neighbors and give me time to react.
Exactly what I bought it for. Nothing is 100% secure. But this device definitely makes my door more secure then the lock and chain do! I highly recommend for anyone in an apartment and travelers.
" — nancy w. Get it from Amazon for $17.95 .
4. A digital luggage scale so you don't have to frantically move items from your checked luggage to your carry-on in a desperate bid to stay under 50 pounds and thus avoid an overweight fee. BuzzFeed editor Elizabeth Lilly tested this out when packing for a trip to Iceland — check out her demo of how it works on TikTok! Promising review: "This luggage scale is so handy and is great for weighing your luggage.
I was a little concerned before I got it because I wasn't sure how accurate it would be. When I used it when I went on vacation, it was dead on to what the airport said, so I highly recommend this. Plus, it’s easy to pack in your bags.
" — Teresa Daniels Get it from Amazon for $10.99+ (available in one or a two-pack and six colors). 5.
A roadside emergency kit if you're traveling by car. Even if your route sticks mainly to highways and populated areas, it's just a smart thing to have on hand. It includes essentials like jumper cables, a belt cutter, a window breaker, a hand-driven flashlight, and more.
What's included: Jumper cables, reflective triangle and vest, tow rope, hand-driven flashlight, tire pressure gauge, safety hammer, emergency blanket, survival whistle, and 47-piece first aid kit. Promising reviews : "This is the second roadside assistance set I have purchased. I just recently drove from West Coast to East Coast and these emergency car safety kits are invaluable, especially when traveling long distances off a main highway and if you are traveling alone .
The old Amex commercial saying —"Don’t leave home without it" — definitely applies to these emergency car kits 😀" — J Hines "Amazing kit! I'm a 17-year old female and I figured it would be good to have an emergency kit. It makes me feel super safe when driving knowing that I'll be prepared if anything happens. I keep the window breaker/seat belt cutter in my door that way I can easily grab it, and the rest of the kit in the back of my car.
Super easy to retrieve all the items from the pack. Anyone with a car needs this." — Isabella Get it from Amazon for $39.
99 . 6. A portable safe you can wrap around an umbrella, picnic table leg, or chair so you can stow away your phone, keys, wallet, and other small valuables without worrying about them being lost or stolen.
Reviewers use this guy at water parks, the beach, all-inclusive resorts, and even in Airbnbs. PS : SafeGo is a small biz. Promising review : "Bought it for an overseas trip and it worked great.
We used it both in a hotel room when the room safe was out of order and on the beach. I look forward to using it on outings this summer and I think it will be a very useful addition to my travel staples. I packed in my luggage full of toiletries and sunscreen so it didn't feel like it took up a ton of space and I could carry it in my purse/tote without it feeling too bulky.
That said, you can fit a lot into it." — laurel Get it from Amazon for $39.95+ (available in six colors).
7. And the Ring Thing — a waterproof jewelry holder you can use when you're enjoying a day at the beach, zip lining, bungee jumping, or doing whatever other bucket list adventure you had in mind. Simply slip your ring in here and you won't have to worry about losing it at the bottom of a tote bag or denting/scratching it during any activities.
The Ring Thing comes from BringThings, Inc., a woman-owned company dedicated to making "stylish, functional products." They donate a portion of each sale to A portion of each sale to anti-human trafficking non-profits.
Promising review : "I take my wedding ring off at night when I go to bed. When I’m at home, I put it in a ring dish. But, whenever I am traveling, I’m always afraid that I might forget it or it might get knocked onto the floor, and I won’t be able to find it.
So this works perfectly for me. Since it has a clip on it, I attach it inside my bathroom bag, and the problem is solved. My rings are safe and secure and won’t be forgotten.
" — CG Get it from Amazon for $19.95 (available in 14 colors). 8.
A thermal phone case to help protect your tech from the elements if you'll be out in the sun or next to a body of water. It can not only prevent your phone from overheating, but it extends the life of your battery, too! The pouch comes in two different sizes. The medium fits iPhone minis 10–15, 11–15 Pro, and the Galaxy22, while the large fits iPhone Plus/+/Max/11 and Galaxy Plus/Ultra.
Promising review : "Works like a charm. Put your phone in the case and leave it in your car on a hot day, and it works great. Large size fits my phone, and it’s charging case.
A little pricey but a good product." — AllyBe Get it from Amazon for $39.99+ (available in two sizes and seven styles).
9. A waterproof cellphone case if you'll be stepping foot anywhere near a river/ocean/waterfall/infinity pool with a swim-up bar and you don't want your phone to fall victim to splashes and/or accidental submersion. It fits any phone up to 100mm x 170mm (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).
See why BuzzFeeder Elizabeth Lilly loves it here ! Promising review: " I took this on a cruise with me to Honduras, Mexico, and Belize, and it held up perfectly! I was so scared to put this in the water for the first time (after testing it, of course), but it proved to work very well! In fact, I ended up just using it as a carrying case for my room key and phone throughout the cruise! I took it with me snorkeling along the barrier reef in Belize, and I got so many wonderful pictures and videos underwater!" — GWinSD Get it from Amazon for $6.99 (available in 14 colors). 10.
A transparent TSA-approved toiletry bag so you go through security as a calm, pulled-together person and not someone with their arms flailing about like a wacky inflatable tube man because you KNOW you packed shampoo somewhere but you can't remember where and they *will* find it. Promising review: "This bag held surprisingly more than expected. I put tiny travel jars for my skincare creams and other small toiletries in it with room to spare.
I definitely feel like it was easier to pack and was also easy to grab out of my bag for security. It feels sturdy with nice, thick vinyl. The double zipper moved easily, and I was pleased that it opened completely for ease of getting the items I needed out of it.
" — Mrs M Tate Get it from Amazon for $13.99 (available in 11 colors). 11.
A 10,000mAh power bank — a must-have if you would quite literally have NO idea where you were going without a phone that had enough juice to access Google Maps. Promising review : "I love this external battery pack! It's portable and convenient to carry. No more worrying about my cell phone battery dying while traveling!" — James Get it from Amazon for $26.
33+ (available in 16 colors and packs of two). 12. Or an ultra-compact option you can quite literally keep in your pocket if you're one to take a MILLION photos and having your camera open kills your phone battery in the blink of an eye.
Promising review: "This was a great little charger to keep in my purse while traveling. It charged my phone quickly and only used a fraction of the battery charger." — Kristin Peters Get it from Amazon for $14.
99 (available in five colors). 13. A Birdie personal safety alarm with a LOUD 130-decibel siren and flashing strobe light that'll give you a little peace of mind whether you're on a hike with your dog or catching the subway in a foreign country.
And if you're wondering how loud 130 decibels is — it's equivalent to a jet take-off and considered the threshold of pain when it comes to what our ears can handle. Promising review : "I moved to the city a few months ago and have since had some uncomfortable encounters with men. I didn't want to carry any type of self protection that could potentially get me kicked out of somewhere (like if they did a bag search at a museum or something and found my pepper spray), so I now carry my Birdie on my key chain all the time.
I feel so much safer and comfortable walking on my own. This thing is LOUD and would definitely draw tons of attention. It doesn't come out super easily (I was worried about it accidentally going off in my purse), but is easy enough to use.
I 100% recommend!!!" — Heidi Wilson Get it from Amazon for $23.96+ (available in 14 colors). 14.
A JetKids ride-on suitcase so you can zip your way through security's snaking lines with (hopefully) less tantrums. It's also a great option for fast walkers who love their toddler more than anything in the world but can't bear walking through the airport at 0.25 MPH.
It's recommended for kids ages 3–7 and fits most standard economy seats. Plus, it has an adjustable strap so you can carry it over your shoulder, a top handle, and a mattress inside that can be removed and used while in the flight. Parents have even used this product while in the airport waiting for the flight to keep their kids comfy and happy.
Promising review: "Traveling with a toddler is always a challenge but comfort is key and this little magic package makes the airport trip that much smoother. We can store small toys, pillow, and one throw blanket for our family of three. Great idea and great buy.
We will be using this until it breaks." — TifferTheTrend Get it from Amazon for $183.20 (available in six colors).
15. A pair of elasticized shoelaces that make getting through airport security as easy as possible because there's nothing more embarrassing than fumbling to get your shoes off, and then fumbling to get them back on, while also juggling all of your small electronics/passport/ticket/carry-on. The shoelaces can be used on both adult and kid shoes! Reviewers also say these are great for making it easy to remove shoes while going through airport security.
Promising review: "At first I was skeptical that these laces wouldn't hold my shoes on tightly enough, but I decided to give them a try on my Converse. They're fantastic! I like the way the 'hidden' fasteners sit inside the shoes below the eyelets, but on top of the tongue, and I can't feel the fastener at all. I've had them in for around eight months, and they're still just as elastic as ever.
They haven't stretched at all and show no signs of wearing out. I loved them so much that I bought five more sets to put in all of my shoes! No more triple knotting my shoes so they don't become untied. I couldn't be happier with them.
" — lucidity Get them from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in 36 colors). 16.
A portable SlumberPod if your anxious kiddo has trouble sleeping anywhere that isn't their own bed. The canopy is quick to assemble, features four ventilation flaps (and a fan pocket), and provides much-needed privacy and darkness so you can convince them to take their daily nap! SlumberPod is a woman-owned, mother/daughter–run small business that appeared on Shark Tank. Promising review: "I am so pleased with the SlumberPod.
On previous vacations my daughter would be up all night from not being in her completely dark bedroom. This has saved the day! I can't believe how well it works! I never write reviews, but this product is worth it! The best investment we have made for baby sleep! " — Marissa Biglow Get it from Amazon for $179.99+ (available in three styles).
17. A medication tracker you can stick to the side of any prescription you regularly forget to take. Depending on where your travels take you, a possible time change + a missed Prozac dose ≠ an enjoyable vacay.
Promising review: "Where has this been all my life? I love it. This is a lifesaver! I’ve been looking for something like this for years. I always forget 10 minutes later if I actually took my medicine or just put it down.
I’ve tried so many different ways, making marks on the bottle, making stickers, and other pill containers. None ever work. And pill containers are so bulky when I only need one pill.
" — Niki Get a pack of two from Amazon for $12.99 (available in three colors and also as a pack of five). 18.
A set of TSA-approved locks so if you're staying in a hostel or any other type of shared accommodation, you can keep your belongings nice and safe. Promising reviews : "Traveled by plane, train, bus, and ferry for three weeks. These worked perfectly and were easy to use on my carry-on luggage and my backpack.
I like that the size didn't call attention. Would buy again." — LL "So once your luggage leaves your sight at the airport, there is a pretty good chance some baggage handler will rifle through your bag.
But with these nifty little locks, the only people that can rifle through your bag are TSA personnel." — Lorraine M. Get it from Amazon for $8.
95+ (available individually or in sets of two or four and in multiple colors). 19. An acupressure wristband if you're looking for an all-natural way to alleviate nausea, motion sickness, or morning sickness because feeling like you have to hurl 24/7 — especially while on vacation — is a major downer.
It's also been known to work for postoperative and chemotherapy-induced nausea. It applies pressure on your wrist to help ~restore balance~. Read more about acupressure and nausea at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center .
Promising review : " I will not travel anywhere without these! They make it to where my severe motion sickness will only happen if there is heavy traffic. I can now look at my phone if its smooth traffic while someone else is driving which I haven't been able to do without feeling nauseous for years." — Taylor Get it from Amazon for $8.
51+ (available in six colors). 20. Some anti-pickpocketing clips that secure your zippers so no one can undo them without catching your attention first.
Promising review: "Prefect for international travel! Easy to use and protected against theft/pickpockets. Used it on my recent trip to Europe!" — Rachel Bristol Get a four-pack from Amazon for $12.99 (available in three color combos).
21. Some Apple AirTags so you know where your bag is at all times — especially if you have tight connections to make or are on a trip that involves planes, trains, and automobiles (aka Ubers, Lyfts, and taxis). After all of the flight cancellations, tarmac delays, and general travel disruptions of the last few years, I finally decided to invest in an AirTag for my checked luggage .
In my 15 years of international travel, I've only ever had a bag lost once (due to a missed connecting flight), but I figured it was time to stop tempting fate. I'm generally a carry-on-only traveler, but even those have been getting gate-checked more frequently and as my recent trip involved SIX flights, I felt better having this slipped inside. Using the "Find My" app I can see exactly where my bag was last located so when I land, I'll know if it made the flight with me.
Get a pack of four from Amazon for $72.99 . 22.
A slim wallet that can hold cash and up to 12 cards so you don't have to deal with a bulky wallet or fumble with a money belt. Promising review: " I am super impressed with this wallet!! The fact that it's RFID blocking is a huge bonus feature!! Perfect for travel. The design is sleek, modern, and timeless.
Fits many credit cards in a secure fitting slot. You can feel confident that all your stuff is secure. And you can't beat the price.
Seriously, there are wallets selling for over three times as much that are clones of this wallet. It's a phenomenal deal for an impeccable design. I would recommend this wallet!!" — Jazzma Get it from Amazon for $18.
97+ (available in seven colors). 23. A skyline mini wallet emergency kit with 20 individually packaged essentials that can help you with everything from a headache or broken nail to chapped lips or a red wine stain.
Anne Cate is a woman-owned small business based in Cleveland, Ohio that handmakes minimalist keepsakes with a skyline from more than 100 cities and colleges around the world! The kit includes a hair tie, ChapStick, 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 100+ skylines). 24.
A seat back organizer that slides over the tray table so you don't have to touch any icky surfaces or dig around that communal pocket of crumbs looking for your misplaced passport. It's machine washable, so after your flight, you can toss it in the wash and then use it again! PS: The genius Airplane Pocket is a small biz! Check out a TikTok of the Airplane Pockets tray table cover in action. Here's what BuzzFeeder Emma Lord has to say: "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!" Promising review: "Every time I whip this thing out, someone leans across the aisle, asks what it is, and then makes a note to buy one when they get home.
On a long-haul flight, it's simply a must for organizing your reading materials, headphones, sanitizing wipes, etc. My favorite use for this thing is when I've fallen deep asleep along the way only to wake up in a fog and in a rush to deplane. Instead of having to hastily dig things out of the seat back pocket, I just slip the entire thing off of the tray table, pop it in my bag and worry about sorting things out when I get to where I'm going — safe in the knowledge that I didn't leave anything behind.
Love it!" — justinglen Get it from Amazon for $19.99 . 25.
A pack of LeakLocks Toiletry Skins you can slip on the top of your toiletries so you don't have to triple ziplock them and cross your fingers and toes hoping they don't explode all over everything else in your suitcase. Rinseroo is a small business specializing in problem-solving cleaning, pet, and travel products. Promising review : "I used these on my travel toiletries on a month-long road trip.
On several occasions, the toiletry lids opened, but none of the product leaked out of the toiletry skins. I was even able to pour the leaked shampoo back into the bottle. I rinsed out the skin and placed it back on for the next leg of my journey.
These are my new travel must-haves." — Tyson Mohr Get a four-pack from Amazon for $11.99 (also available in an eight-pack).
26. A RFID-blocking travel wallet with slots, pouches, and pockets for every form of currency and identification one would need to keep on their person. This way, you don't freak out when it's time to board and you have to track down your ticket and passport.
This wallet has a passport pocket, a boarding pass compartment, three credit card slots, an ID slot, a SIM card pouch, a coupon ticket slot, a cellphone pouch (max 5.8 inches), a money and coins zippered pocket (fits US dollars), a key holder, a pen holder, and a slim pocket. Promising review: " This holds everything I need all in one place, and it still closes nicely and stays flat! Boarding pass, passport, ID and credit cards, money, checked baggage tickets, receipts, etc.
! Yet it doesn’t bulk up or look like an overstuffed mess. Just amazing. The description says it only holds US money, but I just used the boarding pass flap to hold all my Japanese Yen (¥), which are larger.
I definitely recommend to anyone who travels a lot!" — Anthony Luu Get it from Amazon for $13.99 (available in 34 colors). 27.
A 3-in-1 foldable magnetic wireless charger so you don't have to decide between juicing up your AirPods, Apple Watch, or phone because your hotel room only has one outlet to work with. Promising review: "I finally gave up and bought a charging station for multiple devices. I travel a lot, and taking turns charging my iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch was annoying, especially if the room had a limited number of outlets and I was not the only one who needed to charge all of them ASAP—plus, hauling all of the cords.
Ugh. Hooray, I'm hustle-free now. It comes with 1 fold-up station, 1 cord, and 1 nob for 3 devices that charge simultaneously.
It works with my iPhone 12 Pro Max from 2020, Apple Watch Series 6 from 2020, and AirPods Pro (2nd generation) from 2022 without issues. I am more than satisfied with the purchase." — Sneaky Pete Get it from Amazon for $33.
99+ (available in seven colors). 28. A teensy tiny pack of dissolvable laundry sheets if you'll be away from home for a while and might need to hand wash some items while you're away.
Yes, lots of hotels have washers and dryers, but that requires a whole lotta quarters, and you gotta watch your stuff like a hawk. Here's what BuzzFeeder Elizabeth Lilly has to say: "I travel just about any chance that I get and found a WHOLE lot of success with these little laundry sheets on an almost-three-weeks European vacation in summer 2021 where I carried on only and rewore outfits several times." 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 a 50-count pack from Amazon for $12.95 .
29. A set of TikTok-famous storage scrunchies so you can keep your cash money, lip balm, keys, and other small accessories nice and accessible. Ofc, you can also use it to pull your hair up when you're sweating bullets.
See them in action on TikTok here . Promising review: "LIFE-CHANGER. I don't have to bring my whole purse with me anymore.
This fits so much more than expected and the colors are perfect. The blue especially is beautiful. Good quality.
" — Tia Get a pack of three from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in six color combinations). 30.
An anti-theft sock if you want to keep your cash close, but traditional money belts give you the ick. Reviews say the pocket is just big enough to hold your ID, a credit card, key, and some bills! Flippysox is a small biz! Promising review : "I had to travel across country to attend a convention. These were a lightweight well-fitting sock, and the pocket was big enough for my driver's license, a bank card, and folded cash.
Much more comfy than sliding money in the top of my sock. I kept showing it off to my buddies. Definitely recommend.
" — Momma T Get it from Amazon for $18.99 (available in dozens of colors/designs). 31.
A nonslip purse hook to ensure your bag never touches the ground or any other icky surfaces. It's small, but it's capable of holding a good amount, so even if you're a travels-with-everything-you-can-think-of type of person, it'll deliver. Promising review: "Love this when I don’t have a clean surface to set her on.
I get lots of compliments! I haven’t had any issues with it so far but it’s nice that it comes with two." — Amber Jean Get a pair from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in 33 colors).
32. And some wine bottle travel sleeves if local spirits are your absolute favorite souvenir to pick up but you don't really want to stain your entire suitcase a dark shade of Cabernet. Promising review: "Terrific product.
I ordered these travel pouches after one of our sons had a wrapped bottle of wine break in his suitcase during travel. Obviously the packing was not sufficient, and I wanted to find a simple, packable, quality product to protect wine when shipping and traveling. It's fine when you purchase a case of wine and ship in a wine box, but single or double bottles are often purchased without a suitable packing solution available.
The double layer provides confident protection for arrival and in case of leakage. The empty item easy to pack and doesn't take up space in a suitcase. The Velcro seal is very secure.
The item is reusable. I'm very happy with this product, and we gave them to each of our kids." — mark s.
Get them from Amazon for $17.99+ (available in sets of four and eight). Reviews in this post have been edited for length and/or clarity.
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