27 TRAVEL PRODUCTS THAT WON'T MAKE MUCH OF A DENT IN YOUR CARRY-ON SPACE
1. A set of travel compression cubes so you can pack as many pairs of underwear as your heart desires. Who says you can't have three 'fit options for every day?
Promising review: "Must-have traveling accessory. Best way to pack a suitcase! I’ll never go back to stuffing everything in on its own. These compartments held way more than I imagined and kept me organized. I will definitely add more to my collection. Makes a great gift for frequent travelers too!" —Lisa
Get them from Amazon for $18.95+ (available in 11 styles and in packs of two, three, or six).
2.An adorable toiletry pouch that you can carry in your bag so that your most-used products are protected and easy to access. It's also easy to clean in case your foundation decides to get messy.
3. A shoe bag because, like underwear, you can never pack too many. Keep them compacted, together, and mess-free with this adorable case.
Promising review: "You can totally fit three pairs of shoes in this! (Size 6.5 female shoe, fit heels, wedges, and sandals.) I bought two and will absolutely be buying more for my husband. 10/10 would recommend! I travel frequently, and I always overpack; this helped cut down space and stress immensely!" —Taylor
Get it from Amazon for $22.99 (available in nine colors and patterns).
4. A 50-count set of laundry soap sheets that is *way* smaller than a jug of Gain and won't get you looked at suspiciously by the TSA agent.
These work best with hand-washing!
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 pack of 50 from Amazon for $12.95.
5. A sturdy, lightweight eight-compartment pill organizer so you can bring a little bit of everything without all the bottles — Pepto Bismol, Ibuprofen, Dramamine...just grab a bit of it all.
Promising review: "My husband and I travel a lot and take a number of prescription drugs. It was always a hassle accessing our medication when needed, so I purchased this organizer to make things easier. I used a label maker and labeled each little compartment and it has performed wonderfully. I highly recommend this organizer to anyone who travels and needs medications throughout the day." —Jacqueline
Get a three-pack from Amazon for $9.97 (available in two colors).
6. A jewelry organizer that'll take up way less space than a jewelry box while in your suitcase and won't leave them a tangled mess when you take them out.
7. A hands-free (rotating!) phone mount so you don't get a sore neck from looking down to watch a movie. It's designed for use on any airplane and can be mounted to the tray table. And you've been wasting room in your bag to carry a laptop. Psh.
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. However, I find myself using it a lot outside of travel too! Work-wise, I've clamped it onto my office desk shelving to hold my phone at eye level beside my computer. At home, I simply clamped it to a deck of cards and it turns into a versatile stand that I can place on any flat surface. Heck, I've been using it to hold my phone comfortably at eye level while watching videos in bed. It's extremely well-built and I find myself fidgeting with it all the time. Thus far it still feels solid and I don't anticipate breaking it any time soon. Even if it does break, I'll be happy to buy another one or two of it!" —Earendil
Perilogics is a small biz that specializes in tech-oriented travel products and backpacks.
Get it from Amazon for $12.97 (available in four colors and packs of two).
8.A pair of Beats noise-canceling earbuds that take up way less carry-on space (but looks just as good) as the on-ear headphones. Reviewers love how long these babies hold a charge (and when you do need to power up, just pop them in the included case to do so).
9. Silicone travel bottles — in the war against excess things you need to pack, full-sized bottles should be the first to go. Also, have you ever attempted to get product out of a rigid travel bottle? Impossible.
*Plus,* decanting your creams and liquids into these babies will free up space in your carry-on and spare you weight.
PS: It also comes with pre-printed labels and a handy, clear zipper pouch!
Promising review: "Just took a trip to the Dominican Republic and used carry-on luggage only throughout the entire trip, never once was questioned about the size. The bag they are in seems thin but it worked great to put bottles back in as well as some smaller items fit in the bag too, like lip gloss, mascara, and such. The holes are big enough to get your product in to the bottles without any complications. My fiancé and myself had plenty of shampoo, conditioner, sunblock and lotion for seven days. Highly recommend these bottles, they are perfect for carry-ons!!" —Stephanie Miller
Get a set of four bottles from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in a variety of sizes and colors).
10. A packing checklist that'll help you bring what you need and *only* what you need. Packing a week's worth of outfits and accessories in my carry-on? Try me.
Promising review: "We travel frequently and have two children. As any parent knows, packing for yourself and your children can be overwhelming (especially for a trip longer than a few days). I have found this list to be a lifesaver and I also give it as a gift for other traveling families. It is easy to plan, organize, and list out items that are easily forgotten. You can also list the quantity of each item needed. It has a variety of clothing options and space to add more. Overall, wonderful purchase and has likely saved me many forgotten items!" —I-really-bought-this
Get it from Amazon for $7+ (available in two colors and varieties).
11. A travel Gillette razor so you can plan to (or pretend to plan to) shave on your trip. It will take up a tiny amount of space in a toiletry bag and is *probably* a better plan than packing a razor blade in your carry-on.
It comes with one handle and five blade refills!
Promising review: "I got this for a vacation and it was great! The little carrying container is awesome, and keeps you from having a weird, loose razor floating around in your suitcase. Plus the heads are the same as a regular-sized razor, so you can keep using it when that one is worn out!" —Tegan H
Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (also available in a pack of two).
12. An ergonomic Trtl neck pillow that is much more compact in your bag than traditional neck pillows. It's scientifically proven to prevent stiff necks, so you don't need to ice when you land.
It also easily attaches to backpacks and luggage handles (see the photo on the right), weighs less than half a pound, and is machine washable!
Promising review: "I can't stop recommending this pillow to all of my friends! It has let me comfortably sleep on flights that take place on the most uncomfortable airplane seats. On long flights, I always need to prop up my hand and I rest my head on it. But this method always ends with my arm falling asleep and I end up waking up every 30 minutes. Now this pillow provides that exact same support without needing my arms to prop me up! It's small enough to fit in your bag and doesn't take up much space." —Simona Krifman
Get it from Amazon for $64.99+ (available in five colors).
13. A compact portable espresso maker because having your coffee is too important to leave to chance. Like a teeny tiny coffee maker, it lets you be a coffee snob without the bulk.
Promising review: "The best thing for traveling ever!! I have to have espresso every morning and most small hotels and gas stations don't have espresso coffee so this is perfect! Easy to use. The cleaning takes 30 seconds; just rinse with water and let it dry." —Joanna Verdeja
Get it from Amazon for $54.90 (and here are some Nespresso pods to go with it).
14. A reusable, collapsible coffee cup so you can bring along a cup for your 6 a.m. flight *without* having to store a bulky thermos in your bag afterward.
It's also microwave-safe! Note that the 12-ounce size does not include a straw, but both the 16-ounce and 24-ounce sizes do.
BuzzFeed Shopping editor Danielle Healy has this and loves it. She writes: "This is of the first zero-waste swaps I made and I've never looked back. If you buy to-go coffee – whether you're jet-setting or just grabbing a mid-day pick-me-up — this cup is a must-have. So long as you remember to bring it, it's all the convenience of to-go coffee with none of the waste. It's leakproof and, when you're all done, it collapses down teeny tiny and can be tossed back in your bag. Oh! And it comes with a straw, so all you iced coffee lovers can get in on the action, too."
Stojo is a small biz founded by three New York dads who wanted a better way to get their convenient coffee fix without all the waste. Now they make stylish collapsible essentials in a variety of sizes and colors, including bottles and food storage containers.
Get it from Amazon for $14.95+ (available in four sizes and 24 colors).
15. A Hairbrella to protect your hair and face from stormy weather. It's satin-lined, so it won't dry out your hair or cause frizz. It's like an umbrella, but better — and it actually fits in your bag.
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
Hairbrella is a Black-owned small business that specializes in hats that protect hair from all kinds of weather.
Get it from Amazon for $29+ (available in 10 colors).
16. A plush microfiber makeup-removing cloth that gently takes off your makeup and lifts away dirt using only water. Leave the bottles of mascara remover and micellar water at home — this baby is all👏🏻you👏🏻need👏🏻.
Promising review: "This is incredible! I can't believe how well this works! I travel a lot for work and usually take makeup remover wipes because of the liquid restrictions for travel, but they are expensive and heavy. I have been using this cloth all week and LOVE IT! A bit of warm water and everything comes off in a few easy swipes. I am super excited to travel with this. It weighs nothing and rolls up to take very little space. I am ordering another for my mom who also travels. Highly recommend!" —KT
Get it from Amazon for $6.99+ (available in four colors).
17. A lightweight, water-resistant Neutrogena SPF 50 face and body stick sunscreen so you don't need to pack five different lotions for all the family members (all in their own travel-sized bottles, ugh).
BuzzFeed Shopping editor Elizabeth Lilly brought this on an international trip and loved it: "I first bought this for a weeklong Croatian vacation last year when I did carry-on, and as long as you are *thoroughly* reapplying, this stuff stays on pretty well. On a beach club afternoon, I did haphazardly reapply and missed a strip on one arm, but I tend to do that with spray-on or lotion sunscreen, too. Since then, I've packed this for any trip I've been on, including a two-day Disneyland trip where I toted this around in my bag and shared with friends. I sometimes carry it with me in my purse on my everyday adventures because I know it's so easy to apply. Also worth mentioning...I am about the palest lady you've ever seen and swear by daily application of sunscreen. But when on a beach trip, I'm constantly swimming in the water and sweating. So yeah, this stuff works. And if you're a bit hesitant about jumping on the solid sunscreen bandwagon, you can pack a stick of this, knowing you have enough sun protection to get you through to finding some spray-on or lotion SPF at your destination."
Get it from Amazon for $9.88.
18. A lightweight money belt that keeps you from having to pack a wallet and a belt (hey — every little bit helps you fit everything in your carry-on).
Promising review: "Wore this belt on a recent 10-day trip, with several hundred dollars neatly folded in its full-length zippered pocket. The bills (USD) had to be folded lengthwise, in thirds, and for practical reasons, in stacks of 4–5 (or less). My belt had room for four such stacks, so theoretically $2,000 could be comfortably carried in complete concealment. The nylon buckle was perfectly adequate for its purpose, and nothing about the belt would indicate its hidden purpose. Well worth it." —Tony B.
Get it from Amazon for $17.99+ (available for pant sizes 20"–50" and in six styles).
19.A pair of toothbrush covers to protect from germy items in your toiletry bag. The cover uses thymol to deter bacterial growth for an immaculate clean every time and is so much less bulky than that travel tube.
20. A mini bottle of Tower 28 Daily Rescue Facial Spray made without alcohol, oil, or fragrance to help minimize irritation and redness. One product that does the work of half your skincare routine *and* is small enough to fit in a cosmetics bag — what's not to love?
Tower 28 is a LA-based woman-owned small business that creates nontoxic, vegan, and cruelty-free beauty products for all skin types.
Promising review: "I was afraid to use this product because I have sensitive skin but I absolutely love it! It has helped clear up my skin so much, especially my forehead area. I also discovered that this product helped with my sunburn! It alleviated my itchy and burning skin overnight!" —Mia0921
Get it from Sephora for $12.
21. A heatless curling rod so you can leave the bulky hot tools at home *without* giving up the coils you love. It's pretty foolproof, too — simply wrap your hair around the headband before you go to bed, and you'll wake up to big curls.
The set includes a curling rod, two hair scrunchies, a claw hair clip, and two duckbill hair clips to set it in place. You can use this on all hair types, but reviewers say it works best when used with damp hair!
Promising review: "Before purchasing, I’d seen a lot of reviews and tutorials on TikTok showing the results. My hair is thick, coarse, and naturally wavy, so I figured this might be a good alternative to rollers that are time-consuming to put in, difficult to sleep in, and ultimately not worth it. And MAN was I right to be hopeful. Wrap pieces of damp hair around it before bed, the tighter the wrap, the tighter the curl. Easy to sleep in since there’s nothing on the back of your head, and my curls are BOUNCY the next morning. My only complaint is that it doesn’t help give any top-volume, but nothing some teasing can’t fix. 10/10. I’ll never go back to a curling iron." —Mariah
Get it from Amazon for $7.99 (available in four colors).
22.A pack of antibacterial wipes for cleaning up after gas station bathrooms or during long plane rides. Reviewers love that these don't dry out your hands like other products (I'm looking at you, Purell).
23. Maybelline's Instant Age Rewind Concealer that can take the place of most of the makeup crowding your toiletry bag. Reviewers love that just a little bit of this product goes a long way and gives skin a healthy, radiant glow.
Promising review: "I personally like this product. Throughout high school (I recently graduated in June), I never knew how to do makeup. But then I heard this product was the absolute best on TikTok. And trust me, they were not lying. It has really good coverage and hides my 'raccoon eyes.' And the beat part is that a little bit goes a long way. So if you’re starting out or want to try something new I definitely recommend to try this out .<3" —Liela Lee
Get it from Amazon for $8.80+ (available in 23 shades).
24.A packable hat in case of a hair emergency. The mid-weight material can be smashed into a bag, worn in the ocean, and thrown in the washing machine.
25.A tech accessory organizer that will keep all your cords, chargers, converters, and what-have-yous corralled in your bag. It has a ton of pockets for all of your gadgets, so you never have to choose between bringing a charger for your iPad or your headphones.
26. A flying USB port to juice up all your devices when there's only one outlet available and your AirPods, phone, and tablet are all on the verge of dying before your flight. Well, there's no need to fear because Multitasky is here! This has four USB outlets so all your tech will be powered up for hours.
Multitasky is a small business founded by Julia Xu in 2020. They're known for their adorable and functional tech products, including power banks, laptop accessories, and more!
Promising review: "It does as it says it does, allowing my Dell XPS15 to operate a pair of USB devices from my lightning port! The laptop has two USB ports, one of which is always occupied by my USB mouse dongle and the other by my protected USB drive. If I wanted to plug in my phone to switch data or add another thumb drive to transfer a device, everything might have to be disconnected, but not anymore. It was really worth it." —Liberty
Get it from Multitasky for $25 (available in three colors).
27. And a set of pocket scrunchies because you need to carry your little necessities with you and don't have pockets. The hidden zipper in these will allow you to tuck your lip balm, cash, and keys inside and keep them secured.
Promising reviews: "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
"I bought these since I was going on a long vacation by myself. I rolled my money and was able to fit it inside the scrunchie. It’s soft, very stretchy and fits my wrist! I didn’t have any issues with the zipper. I wore it on my wrist all the time and put money/lip balm inside it. It worked great during my vacation. This would be perfect to stash some things inside!" —Jessica Sandoval
Get a pack of three from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in six color combinations).
Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.