IF YOU REFUSE TO CHECK ANY BAGS WHILE TRAVELING, YOU NEED THESE 27 CARRY-ON ESSENTIALS

1. set of packing cubes  if you want an organized suitcase for once. Instead of just throwing everything in there, use these to group certain clothes together. (There's even a cube for dirty laundry!) You'll probably even find these magically free up some space in your bag, too!

This set comes with an extra large cube, large cube, medium cube, small cube, roomy shoe bag, and a laundry bag for dirty clothes!

Promising review: "I found out about the packing cubes on TikTok from a woman that travels all over and she mentioned these travel cubes and knew I had to get them. I travel and usually stay in one spot for more than a month so packing gets tricky. I can now pack more neatly and have more room for all the clothes I travel with." —Magen Vaughn

Get a six-piece set from Amazon for $16.98+ (available in 13 colors).

2. Or a collection of compression packing cubes that'll maximize space in your luggage. No vacuum or pump needed — just squeeze out the air and zip 'em up!

Promising review: "My daughter challenged me to travel her way with just a backpack on our recent five-day trip to Portugal. When I found these on Amazon, I thought they were just what I needed. I have cubes, but they don’t compress. I was so impressed that I bought a set for my daughter and son-in-law. The large one contains a swimsuit, cover-up, sun shirt, windbreaker, shrug, dress, cardigan, T-shirt, capris, and underwear. My husband’s medium bag contains, swim trunks, shorts, two shirts, one long sleeved T-shirt, and two pairs of underwear. The small contains misc. items." —Trish

Get a pack of four from Amazon for $21.99 (available in six colors and in an eight-piece pack).

3. A Dagne Dover duffel bag for a spacious carry-on bag that doesn't compromise on style. This will easily fit under the seat in front of you, so you won't have to bother with fighting for overhead space.

See how much this TikToker fit in her Dagne Dover duffel bag here

BuzzFeed's Emma McAnaw says: "My Dagne Dover duffel 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 $125+ (available in five sizes and10 colors).

4. A pocket-sized, refillable travel perfume atomizer — basically, a mini perfume bottle —  so you can smell ~Gucci~ (or Chanel, etc.) wherever your travels bring you. After all, it's not really your signature scent if you don't wear it everywhere, right?

Elizabeth Lilly / BuzzFeed

BuzzFeed Shopping editor Elizabeth Lilly loves this! Here's her review: "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: "These work so great. Love it!!! I put my favorite perfumes in each one. When I wear a perfume I put the matching one to the perfume I’m wearing for the day in my purse. So I can freshen up my scent later! I like to smell pretty all day!!! They are small and compact but hold enough before you have to refill as well." —Nikki

Get a four-pack from Amazon for $6.99.

5. A set of seven Cadence containers because these cuties offer the perfect solution for bringing all your beauty products on the go. Each leakproof container can fit just the right travel-sized amount of your soap, face wash, serum, etc. — and even comes with a label so you don't get confused! 

Cadence

Check them out in action on TikTok here!

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 seven from Cadence for $161 (available in six colors and with label customization). 

6. A jewelry organizer with special pockets and storage spots for rings, necklaces, earrings, and any other small accessories you need for your travel 'fits. Not only does this keep everything organized (and untangled!!), but it also eliminates the possibility that you accidentally misplace something along the way. 

Promising review: "I never knew a jewelry organizer would be so useful! I absolutely love this organizer and think everyone should have one!!" —Savana Bishop

Get it from Amazon for $12.79+ (available in two sizes and 11 colors and patterns).

7. A travel-friendly blanket-slash-pillow if you're someone who's constantly chilly on airplanes. This soft (and super cute, might I add) creation will let you stay warm and cozy without having to take up extra space — it turns into a portable pouch that you can clip to your backpack or carry-on!

Amazon

The carrying case for the blanket acts as a pillow!

Promising review: "This blanket was the best for traveling to Europe this summer! It kept me warm in the airport and on airplanes. The blanket and case are easy to throw in the wash and they are very soft! It comes with a clip to clip onto your backpack or purse." —Ashton Moore

Get it from Amazon for $25.95 (available in six colors).

8. A sun visor too stylish not to bring along. All style aside, though, it's super effective at keeping the sun off your face and rolls up super nicely for easy packing.

Amazon

The wide brim provides much more UV protection than regular caps!

Promising review: "I have long hair and always avoided hats because I hate having my hair sweating against my neck in a low bun or ponytail. With this sun visor-summer hat combo, I can keep my hair in a top knot and still keep my face and neck protected from the sun while catching a nice breeze. This is perfect (although a little large in circumference and I have a big head 7-3/4 hat size) and it’s adjustable and can fit any head size. It rolls up well and has an elastic to keep it rolled. I’ll be recommending this item to all my friends!" —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in 13 colors).

9. hanging toiletry bag for a super efficient way to pack, organize, and access everything beauty and health-related on your trip. It folds up nice and compact for easy transport, too! Just look at how much this one reviewer fit inside!

Promising review: "Seriously?! Do you see how much this holds?! Full shampoo bottles, face washes, hair brush...everything I could need or want to bring, FITS IN THIS ONE BAG! And it’s so cute! Feels like great quality too — all the hardware came with protective wraps to keep from scratching and the zippers feel very hardy. The hook at the top is also VERY WELL-SECURED to the bag, it’s double stitched to the top panel and almost feels like seatbelt material. And I love the extra pockets and netting inside. I would absolutely recommend this!" —mahea_c

Get it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in two sizes and seven colors).

10. Some laundry soap sheets so you don't necessarily have to pack clean clothes for every single day of the trip. (Who has the luggage space for that?!) Just drop one of these sheets in a sink or tub full of water, and you can handwash your clothes back to their former, clean-smelling glory. 

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 $12.95.

11. A bar of natural, plastic-free solid shampoo that makes an excellent replacement for your tiny 3-ounce bottle of liquid shampoo. Reviewers say this suds up just as nicely, only you won't have to pull it out of your bag at security. 

Promising review: "I was definitely skeptical about a bar shampoo and conditioner, but I travel a lot and really wanted to cut down the use of plastic products as much as possible. I honestly am in love! I got the Heali Kiwi shampoo bar and the Wonderbar conditioner, and my very long, fine oily hair, which I do have to wash daily, looks and feels great. I recommend anyone on the fence to definitely give it a try! It works! So wonderful for travel too!" —M.A.

Get it from Amazon for $13.50+ (available in 11 scents).

12. A stylish and durable travel belt to keep your (honestly quite heavy) carry-on bag or purse tightly secured to your suitcase luggage handle. Give your arm a break as you zip through the airport. You deserve it.

Cincha Travel

Check out this TikToker raving about the Cincha travel belt here!

The travel belt is adjustable to 38 inches to fit most bags. The belt itself is vegan leather with elastic accents and a quick-release buckle.

Cincha Travel is a small business in California that develops adjustable travel belts made out of vegan leather. The brand donates 100 airline miles for each purchase, which are used to reconnect separated migrant families.

Promising review: "Love this! I am constantly struggling between holding my jacket and two carry-ons. This is the perfect solution! I can’t wait to start using it when I’m back to regular business travel." —Allison

Get it from Cincha Travel for $29.99+ (available in two sizes and 24 colors).

13. An in-flight phone mount because you will not survive the flight without some quality entertainment — and now, even if your seatback doesn't have a working TV, you can transform your phone into a 'lil movie screen instead.

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

Get it from Amazon for $12.97 (available in seven colors and two-packs).

14. A Beis backpack that will absolutely shock you with how much it can fit. With tons of compartments and a zippered design that opens all the way up like a suitcase, you can easily pack enough clothes for a long weekend getaway. Overhead carry-on, whomst?

Elizabeth Lilly / BuzzFeed

Here's what BuzzFeed's Ciara Velarde has to say:

"I bought this backpack after hearing my BuzzFeed colleague Elizabeth Lilly singing its praises (her pictures of this backpack are featured above!), and I'm so happy I decided to purchase it! I really put this to the test during a quick trip to Disney World a few months ago. I was only going for three days, and I was traveling on a budget airline that only allowed me to bring one personal item. As a chronic overpacker, I was worried if the Beis backpack would be big enough to fit everything I need, but I was so pleasantly surprised that I was able to fit three shirts, a pair of leggings, a pair of shorts, a dress, my underwear and bras, a pair of pajamas, and an extra pair of shoes in here, not to mention all of my toiletries and electronics!! I even had room to spare to bring back a few souvenirs. I loved how you could zip it open like a suitcase to easily access whatever you need while on the go. The clear zipper compartments allow you to see what's inside without having to rummage around, and the laptop sleeve in the back will keep your electronics protected. Needlessly to say, I will be taking this backpack on many trips to come!"

Get it from Beis Travel for $88 (available in eight colors). 

15. An Alleyoop Pen Pal here to replace your entire makeup bag. Seriously! It has an eyeliner, lip liner, brow pencil, and highlighter, which is pretty much all you need for everyday looks. At the very least, this will significantly cut down on the amount of makeup you need to bring.

Jasmin Sandal / BuzzFeed, Alleyoop

My BuzzFeed shopping colleague Jasmin Sandal has this and loves it. She says:

"I didn't realize I'd ever use a makeup product in my 20s that had the ability to transport me back to something I used in sixth grade, but here we are; and here I am using a multitool pen...for my face. 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 touch-ups come the end of the work day, 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!"

Promising review: "Such a time saver to have this 4-in-1 tool! I use it daily and love that it is so compact." —Lauren F.

Get it from Alleyoop for $15 (originally $20, available in three shades).

16. Or this set of customizable makeup products that come in compact, stackable tins — just choose your shade and preferences and be on your way, bulky makeup bag-free!

Subtl Beauty

Each stack comes with a lid and an applicator, and you can add as many products you'd like to achieve your desired makeup look. If you don't know where to start, you can take their quiz to help you build your dream stack.

Subtl Beauty is a small business that creates travel-friendly, customizable makeup stacks perfect for beauty enthusiasts on the go. They also have a wide and inclusive shade range.

Get a customizable starter stack from Subtl Beauty for $60 (originaly $70 or build your own stack from scratch here).

17. A TSA-approved transparent organizer to use in place of a quart-sized Ziplock — this is more durable, way more leakproof (just in case that shampoo bottle explodes), and, crucially, is an actual toiletry bag, meaning you can use it as such in the hotel room bathroom.

Promising review: "I am a flight attendant, and this case is perfect for all my international flights that require going through security. Plus, love the handle. It makes it easy to pull out of my suitcase!" —Krissti

Get it from Amazon for $13.99 (available in 11 colors).

18. A lightweight, waterproof raincoat because you never know when it might rain, and this way, you won't be caught unprepared. Unlike traditional raincoats, this one folds up nicely and small into a little travel pouch.

Amazon

Promising review: "I got this a little bigger to go over my sweatshirt and it was perfect. It is super lightweight and kept me dry. It also helped lock in some extra warmth so that was a bonus. It's the perfect little rain jacket for the price." —Amie Linsday

Get it from Amazon for $26.99+ (available in women's sizes S–XXL and 26 colors).

19. An itty bitty travel Gillette razor, which you can just throw directly into your carry-on since it comes in a convenient little carrying case. While the handle's obviously much smaller, the razor heads are exactly the same as the ones on your regular-sized Gillette, in case you were wondering!

Amazon

It comes with one handle and one blade refill!

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.

20. A compact travel adapter for anyone traveling across seas. This accepts plugs from more than 150 countries but is small enough to fit in the front pocket of a backpack or maybe even in a purse!

Amazon

It has a side for American-type, British-type, European-type, and Australia-type inputs.

Promising review: "This unit is not too large so it fits in carry-on or backpack very easily. I like how I can use this for other traveling abroad, as well. You just push out the correct plug part that is needed in the other country. I also really liked the options of USB ports on there to plug in our phones the same time as the computers. It did everything we needed it to do." —DKMese

Get it from Amazon for $13.99 (available in three colors).

21. A teensy eye contact lens kit which comes with a contacts case, tube for solution, and even a little mirror — because anyone who's tried to take contacts out (or put them in) knows how useful it is to be able to see what you're doing! This is super handy for red-eye flights.

Promising review: "I love this product a lot. Super cute!! It’s very minimalistic and fits in my purse just fine. I have no worries about it opening in my bag because it snaps tightly, but isn’t hard to open at all. I would recommend this product to any contact wearer!!" —Krystal

Get it from Amazon for $4.59+ (available in three colors).

22. Hairbrella since it's basically like a raincoat for your head and hair. Yep, just slip this satin-lined cap on when you feel the first few drops of rain, and it will keep your beautiful blowout perfectly dry and untouched!

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 1st 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 $44+ (available in 15 colors).

23. A shoe bag to keep your shoes from touching all your clothes in your suitcase or duffel. Even though it technically only fits three pairs of shoes, reviewers have fit up to five!

Promising review: "You can totally fit three pairs of shoes in this! (Size 6.5 woman's 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 $16.99+ (available in eight colors and patterns). 

24. A sturdy, moisture-proof eight-compartment pill organizer that even comes with little labels so you don't get confused as to which pill is which (very helpful when you're running on about two hours of red-eye sleep). Believe me, this is wayyyyy more efficient than using a bunch of Ziploc baggies.

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 $7.97+ (available in two color sets).

25. A lightweight, water-resistant Neutrogena SPF 50 face and body stick sunscreen so you can avoid painful sunburns on your getaway. Plus, it won't count toward your liquids limit!

Amazon

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 $8.63.

26. A Hackwith Design House shirt designed to be worn six different ways, which means you can drastically cut down on the amount of clothes you pack (but not necessarily have to worry about repeating outfits). A carry-on packer's dream! 😍

Hackwith Design House

Hackwith Design House is a woman-owned small business. Their sustainable designs are made to order and sewn in their Minnesota studio. Their sizes run from XS–4X. On Mondays, they also release limited-edition designs so you can be one of only 25 people to own a piece! 

My colleague Chelsea Stuart owns this and loves it. Here's what she has to say: 

"All credit for its discovery goes to TikToker @jennifer.bianca who I happened to stumble across on my FYP. It checks all my boxes: black, comfortable, versatile, and durable. My initial worry was that I wouldn't feel secure in it (I have a 38DDD chest and most wrap tops/dresses I've tried haven't stayed where they're supposed to), but I haven't had an issue with this! I've worn it tied in the front giving me a square neck (like the middle picture) and tied in the back giving me a V-neck up front (just like the photo on the right) — both were super comfortable and I didn't have to adjust myself at all. As someone whose weight fluctuates, I also appreciate that this piece can handle pounds gained and lost. The fabric is medium weight so I'll be wearing it season to season and there's just enough elasticity in the arms that if you roll up your sleeves, they won't fall back down. All that is to say trust that I will be buying additional colors!"

Get it from Hackwith Design House for $145 (available in women's sizes XS–4X and in three colors). 

27. mesh bag with one huge compartment that makes for the perfect beach bag (if you're headed to the tropics, of course) — and since it folds up super thin, you'll hardly even notice it's in your suitcase.

Promising review: "OK. I never leave reviews but I HAD TO on this!!! BUY! BUY! BUY! We have six kids ranging from 2 months–13 and our annual beach trip was coming up this past June. I wanted a beach tote that sand wouldn't collect in. I saw this and thought I would try it. I figured it wouldn't be as big as I needed. Fast forward to the day it came in...OMG it is was HUGE in person. Guys, I fit four sand buckets, four sets of beach toys, four small boogie boards in this thing and still had a TON of room to fit more! My only regret was that I didn't buy more than one! This would also be great for laundry, or anything!!!!!" —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $7.19.

Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.

2024-10-12T11:04:07Z