PROTECT YOUR VALUABLES ON THE GO WITH THESE 33 USEFUL TRAVEL PRODUCTS
1. Some anti-pickpocketing clips that'll easily attach two zippers and keep them unable to quickly zip open. This'll be a great way to make the bags and luggage you already own a little safer.
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 four color combos).
2. An Apple AirTag for each bag to give you peace of mind even if you're driving to your destination and are just leaving your luggage at the hotel before check-in time!
Storytime: After traveling summer 2022 carry-on only, and being a person who tries to carry on whenever possible, I finally bought a couple of Apple AirTags during 2022 Black Friday sales. And I am SO grateful I did. My normal carry-on bag was too big to fit the Lufthansa luggage requirements (and BOY, do they check that!), so I had to check my bags for a December 2022 trip to Vienna and back from Prague (with a layover in Frankfurt). My bag didn't make it onto the plane in Frankfurt, and once I landed in Newark, New Jersey, I pulled up the app on my phone and saw that yes, my backpack AirTag was indeed with me, but my suitcase AirTag was still in Germany. (The screen grab is from an Amazon review, but you get the gist.) The AirTag also helped me track FedEx's delivery of the suitcase to my parents' house, where I was spending the holidays immediately after my Europe trip ended. I was even able to see it on a highway less than an hour's drive from my parents' house. TL;DR: I think AirTags are very much a worthwhile investment if you travel a few times a year. And I'm not the only one who thinks so.
Promising review: "I bought a pair of these AirTags for a trip to France, and I’m so glad I did! First of all, the setup is super easy. I had zero problems, and both were done in, like, five minutes. I put one in my purse and one in my suitcase. On the way back home, the airline lost my luggage. Checked the Find My Friends app where the AirTag is tracked, and I could see that it never left the Charles de Gaulle airport. I felt more assurance being able to track my bag through the app as it made its way across the world back to me. 10/10 would recommend!" —Lindsay Kirby
Get it from Amazon for $24.
3. A pack of LeakLocks Toiletry Skins you can slip onto the tops of your full-size toiletries because even though you're flying and it pains you to pay to check a bag, you don't wanna deal with decanting your toiletries or seeking out travel size versions. But most importantly, they'll keep stuff from leaking out onto all the other stuff 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).
4. A flat RFID-blocking fanny pack that'll work underneath your clothes or as just a regular waist bag.
5. A trifold travel wallet so all your important documents are in one place and you're not wearily holding up the line when it comes time to show the TSA agent your passport and boarding pass.
The wallet has a passport pocket, boarding pass compartment, three credit card slots, an ID slot, a slim card pouch, slim pocket, a ticket slot, a cellphone pouch, a coin zippered pocket, key holder, and pen holder.
Promising review: "I went out of the country for the first time and am so glad I bought this wallet. It holds all my documents and IDs, and makes going through airports easy with everything right at hand. It's a good size and fit nicely in my cross-body travel bag. So, if you need a nice travel wallet, give this one a go. It's a good quality and price." —khaleesi
Get it from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in 29 colors).
6. A hard-shell roller suitcase with a pocket on the front for your laptop to make getting through the TSA line much more effortless and then resting assured that it's safe in the overhead. Plus! It's equipped with TSA-approved locks!
Promising review: "This is my first time buying a 'fancier' suitcase, and I love it so far! I took it with me on a trip to NYC for work and used it as a carry-on. I was easily able to lift it up, and it fit very well in the overhead bins. A lot of people were asked to gate check, but as this bag met the requirements, I was able to bring it on all my American Airlines flights. I love the inside design with the different pockets and that my packing cubes easily fit. I had enough clothes and work items for four days and could easily have fit more, at least for a week! Also, it comes with a laundry bag, as I had forgotten mine. I highly recommend it. I think it will last me for a long time!" —Marie C.
Get it from Amazon for $199.95 (available in three colors and more sizes).
7. A roomy beach bag with a waterproof section where you can stick your phone, Kindle, and other items that ABSOLUTELY cannot get wet.
Promising review: "When you go to the pool or beach nowadays you see a lot of people with these $100+ rubber carry-alls. Sure they look nice but they are not as practical as this bag or have the features of this bag. I came to appreciate this bag when I loaded up the grandkids to take to the pool and realized too late that I did not remove my hearing aids or empty my pockets. This bag comes with a nice waterproof pouch and I was able to keep all those belongings, I should have left at home, safe and dry all day!" —David Petraitis
Get it from Amazon for $23.99 (available in 11 colors/prints).
8. A simple luggage strap will hold your essentials like a travel pillow, jacket, personal item, and more as you scoot along through the airport and once you land. Here's to quickly gathering all your stuff post-screen and freeing up those hands without dropping all your stuff on the airport floor!
Promising review: "I love this little gadget. I used it to attach my jacket and computer bag to my luggage on an extended business trip. It made my airport walks so much easier. Now that I'm back home, I've been using it daily to attach my jacket or cardigan to my work bag or purse." —Michele
Get it from Amazon for $8.49+ (available in six colors).
9. A portable door lock to attach to any regular old door for your budget-friendly hotel, vacation rental, room in a guest house, or, well, just any door. It's super easy to install and won't damage the door. It'll be a comfort for solo travelers, especially.
If you're flying with this in your carry-on just make sure that you put it in an easy-to-access pocket because I've had security look for it in my bag after going through the X-ray.
Promising review: "I’m a flight attendant and swear I live in hotel rooms and needed extra security, and these seem to be the talk in the airline world so I order myself two. It took me a YouTube video to figure out how to install them and yes very easy and very secure. Safe sleeping is important and I’m glad I have these." —Elizabeth C. Breton
Get it from Amazon for $11.99.
10. A waterproof pouch that I buy for every water-adjacent vacation (so mostly warm-weather trips like Croatia and Greece). But! As soon as I booked my flight for Iceland, I bought one of these to take along to The Blue Lagoon. It survived rain, hail, and all kinds of steam rising off the water. It packs SUPER flat so you'll always have room for it in your bag.
It fits any phone up to 100 mm x 170 mm (or about 3.9 inches x 6.7 inches). It also keeps out sand, dirt, and rain.
With these, I find that they're good for about a day due to condensation. So, for a trip I'll buy two to three, except for this one where I just knew I'd be in the water at the Blue Lagoon. And while I'm on the subject, check out a TikTok I made using the phone case! On the day I went, we had to duck and run inside because of rain. And it was hailing on us when I was in the water, so I had to face a certain way to keep from getting pelted in the face. But, when in Rome! Then we went inside and ate lunch at the Lava Restaurant, and it was GORGEOUS and clear outside post-lunch. So, this case worked well taking pics in both bad and good conditions (as you can see from the two pics for comparison). 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: "Vacation must-have. I was skeptical about purchasing a waterproof case, but I’m so glad I did because I was able to capture fun water excursions worry free!" —Lisa D
Get it from Amazon for $7.99 (available in 14 colors).
11. A portable safe you can secure to a pool or beach chair to keep your valuables safe or to keep your passport in your hotel room in case there's no safe or the safe isn't working.
After putting this in MANY travel stories, I bought one for myself for a summer European vacation where I found myself at several beach clubs. It was perfect for keeping mine and my friend's belongings safe while we dozed in our beach chairs or swam in the sea. Plus, it's the perfect size to hold phones or wallets, and easily carry in your beach or tote bag. It's come in clutch in a few hotels and Airbnbs that didn't have working safes.
Promising review: "Loveeeee this safe! Took it on a cruise, and it was such a great feeling of security. I put all my cash and docs in it while around and off the ship in the larger room safe. In my case, I had a roommate I did not know prior to sailing. With this, I didn’t have to worry about a thing. Easy to lock and unlock. Easy to secure around things. I just love it! I will be using it with other things at home/work as well." —Cara Sievers
Get it from Amazon for $26.99+ (available in two colors).
12. A luggage-mounted cup caddy with a pocket for your bagel or croissant (look at you being fancy so early in the morning!) so you can steer your way to your airport gate with your caffeine in tow.
Promising review: "Bought it for several planned trips and glad I did. Most of the airports I stopped at did not have cup holders. In the past, I'd place my drinks on vacant chairs, my lap, balancing on my carry-on, in my purse, etc....and hope it didn't spill. This product is easy to place on my hand-carry and easy to stow away when needed. I can also leave my drinks in the travel cup holder when moving from one gate to another. Great purchase!" —Betty C
Get it from Amazon for $15.99 (available in various and patterns).
13. A travel scarf with hidden storage in it to keep your hands free for toting back ALL the gas station snacks to the car without having to stick your phone, wallet, and keys in your back pocket. Or just get even more stuff onto the plane without checking a bag.
Waypoint Goods is a small biz that specializes in travel accessories.
Promising review: "I absolutely LOVE my travel scarf. This piece is perfect for every occasion. Whether I am traveling on a plane or a road trip, at work, or trying to dress up an outfit to go out, it is perfect and functional. My phone, credit cards and keys fit seamlessly in the pocket without changing the look or fit of my scarf. At times I have put all of that plus a boarding pass and passport in the pocket!!" —Caroline
Get it from Amazon for $14.95+ (available in eight styles).
14. A handmade leather cord organizer that'll keep your wired listening BFFs from getting tangled up in your pocket, making it so much easier to empty said pockets for the security line and then track them down for your flight later.
Promising review: "No more tangled headphone cables! I bought a pair for my desk at home, and I'm purchasing another pair for my office. I love how neat and untangled my earbud cords are when using this organizer. It's leather, which I'm sure will last many, many years for such a great price." —Jane M
Get it from Amazon for $6.99 (available in four colors).
15. A 30-pack of waterproof zippered pouches can help you organize a variety of things. Parents in the reviews rave about using these to get their family organized for travel.
Promising review: "I bought these for a trip for my family of five. I like to plan in advance to make sure no one forgets anything! These were a life saver packing for three kids! I was able to create a carry-on, toiletries, wires/chargers, and snacks pouch for everyone! I used clear sticker paper to create name labels, and it all worked perfectly! Would definitely recommend if you need to travel with family and need to set things out and pack." —mommyandbri
Get them from Amazon for $15.99.
16. A set of towel clips you'll be grateful you packed once the wind kicks up as you're 20 feet away tossing a football with your pals. (And you can use it to hang up your wet swimsuit after.)
Check out a TikTok of the towel clips in action.
Promising review: "I purchased these for a family of eight going on a cruise and they loved them! So easy to use, just put your towel on the beach chair and clip down with these. They said they were especially awesome on windy days when others towels were blowing away if they were not sitting on the chair. The family was able to go to lunch or take a walk and not worry that their towels had been blown away and someone had then snagged their seats. Very inexpensive and functional clips." —TypeA
Get a set of 16 from Amazon for $9.99.
17. A four-pack of towel bands can take up next to no room in your bag but still help you stake out your deck chair without your towel whipping around in the wind. They'll also come in handy at the beach, pool, resort, or wherever!
And as one reviewer points out, they'll make your chairs stand out in a sea of towel lookalikes.
Promising review: "Took these bands on a cruise. They kept the towel secured to the lounge chair even with gusts of wind. Others had clips, and the clips kept popping off. People asked where I got these and were impressed how sturdy they are." —KT
Get them from Amazon for $10.97+ (available in five colors).
18. A set of storage scrunchies for helping you stash your lip balm, cash, keys, and more while you're out and about. After all, you don't want to spend precious vacation time on making your hair look like you got a $$$ blowout.
See them in action on TikTok here!
Promising review: "BUY IT! You won't regret it. Honestly, this is the coolest thing I’ve bought on Amazon. I hate purses, so being able to stash my money, lip gloss and my car key in my scrunchie is a GAME CHANGER! 10/10 would recommend. Also, the elastic is super strong, so no droopy ponytails, even with all my little items inside!" —Aubree T
"These are brilliant. Very nice quality!! I will buy them again and again!!" —Rebekah
Get a pack of three from Amazon for $12.99 (available in six color combinations).
19. A TSA-approved lock that'll give you a whole lot of peace of mind for something so tiny.
Note that this listing sends you a random color. So if you're not into that, def go with another lock.
Promising review: "Works at all hostels, and for tying bag straps to a pole or something. Great for travelers." —E. Meyer
"Easy to use. Would buy again." —Sarah McIntosh
Get it from Amazon for $14.99.
20. Some reusable bottle bags to take up basically no space on your way to your destination because did you even go to the Champagne region if you didn't bring back some goodies? If your bottle breaks in this while in transit, the bag catches the spill!
JetBag is a small business specializing in creating bags to protect your wine and your stuff. It's designed with absorbent padding on the inside, so in the event that the bottle breaks, it won't get everywhere in your luggage.
Promising review: "Bought to bring wine from France home from vacation. We bought three bottles (one of which was champagne). All three made it on the Eurostar and two flights in perfect condition." —Katie
Get a set of three from Amazon for $13.99 (available in four colors).
21. A travel pouch that attaches to your bra so you can safe guard your cards and money — even when you're on the metro in Paris that everyone in your life warned you about before you set out on your trip. ATTENZIONE PICKPOCKET!
22. A Bandolier phone case with a wallet and a strap that'll keep your phone RIGHT where you want it and know it is. Also, it just looks cool.
My colleague Abby Kass used these on a trip: "My mom and I both used these when we went to Paris in January 2020 and loved them. They're super convenient to use and since we visited in the winter, we actually kept them under our coats, so nobody (especially pickpockets) could see them. I like how nice the case and strap looked and that I could hold my phone out over the ledge of the Eiffel Tower ledge for an epic sunset shot, and not worry about it falling to its death. Plus, the attached wallet is perfect to stash a credit card, ID, and even a subway ticket. Can you see it chilling at my side in the right photo? Yep, that's where it was the entire trip and will be every other trip I take."
Promising review: "I’m obsessed with my Bandolier. It’s so useful having my phone and Metro Card so accessible so I don’t have to dig through my bags. I feel comfortable wearing it, and I love the hands-free aspect. I never worry about someone stealing it, and I don’t go anywhere without it!!!" —M.F.
Get it from Amazon for $98+ (available in five iPhone sizes and three color combinations).
23. An anti-theft backpack because yes you should always be aware of possible pickpockets, but the main compartment's zipper facing your back will help you focus a bit more on La Sagrada Familia instead of if your wallet is still in your bag.
Not only does the backpack open from the inside, but it also has a phone pocket, document pocket, front zippered pocket, and an exterior side pocket. It's also made of nylon, so it's waterproof and has a strap to change it into a shoulder bag.
Promising review: "This backpack lasted an entire trip through several airports and layovers, and all across our trip through Europe. It was amazing. Because the main zipper sat against my back, I never worried about getting my items stolen. But I also had the luxury of having the two front zippers that were also surprisingly spacious to hold nonprecious items such as water bottles or cheap sunglasses, etc. This backpack also is extremely durable. It was the perfect day pack to gather knick-knacks and souvenirs for friends and family and hold whatever I shoved in it!" —H Bradshaw
Get it from Amazon for $26.99+ (available in two sizes and 14 colors/styles).
24. An anti-theft messenger bag (that even comes with a spot for your water bottle) so you'll have plenty of room to tote around all the stuff you could possibly need while you're out and about sightseeing — think SPF, a light rain jacket, an extra pair of socks, all kinds of stuff!
The bag has hidden, slash-proof, Chain Link construction and an adjustable, cable-reinforced, cut-proof shoulder strap. Plus, a locking zipper.
Promising review: "Bought this bag last minute before my 1-month trip to Spain. It was such a lifesaver! There is so much pickpocketing in the cities, and there was no way anyone could do this. I held both of my teenagers' wallets, and I could even go to Hydro Flasks on the expandable sides. Love this, and we’ll take it with me every time I travel now." —JLar
Get it from Amazon for $35.99+ (available in three colors).
25. A Baggallini anti-theft crossbody bag with enough room for the essentials without weighing you down. More room for souvenirs!
Promising review: "Excellent travel bag! This crossbody bag is secure and provides RFID protection. Comfortable to wear/carry and easy to wipe down for cleaning. Purchased bag for travel and it may become a daily usage bag too! Highly recommend!" —Teresa G.
Get it from Amazon for $39.25+ (available in 10 colors and a smaller size).
26. A slim profile travel security belt can let you get away without using a bag but still sorta use a bag? This is the kind of travel scam we want. It can hold emergency cash, copies of documents, and even small maps.
Zero Grid is a small biz that specializes in RFID-blocking travel and adventure products.
Promising review: "I just got back from an overseas trip using this belt. I went through TSA three times wearing this and had no issues. It's able to hold several bills if you fold them carefully. I would buy this again. It's definitely worth the money." —Neutron
Get it from Amazon for $9.99.
27. Similarly, a PocketCor belt will *instantly* add five pockets to your ensemble without advertising it to pickpockets or whomever else is lurking on your travel IGs four years from now. It has one zippered compartment and four elastic compartments. AND is moisture-wicking and quick dry, meaning it'll be there for ya' when you insist upon climbing up to an acropolis in mid-July.
Alina Sol is a woman-owned small biz established in 2021 that specializes in storage accessories for travel and running.
Promising review: "I purchased for travel. It was easy to put my money, phone, and passport in the pockets at the airport! I wore it over a dress while shopping/doing lunch in Italy and put my money, phone, and hotel key in the pockets. I felt secure and comfortable with it the whole day! I'd like more colors!" —Kristina
Get it from Alina Sol for $48 (available in women's sizes XXS–4XL and men's sizes XS–2XL).
28. A pair of cruise lanyard ID holders with waterproof, detachable pouches so you can easily pay for stuff onboard or slip your badge into your pocket in case the nautical look doesn't jibe with your formal dinner attire.
Promising review: "Does the job you would want it to do. It also detaches if you need to hand your card to a waiter/waitress which is very convenient. The lanyard is a very comfortable material too." —Amazon Customer
Get them from Amazon for $10.99 (available in 15 designs).
29. Some Royal Caribbean–specific luggage tag holders to help protect and keep your luggage tags dry as your suitcases travel with you.
Promising review: "I bought these for our recent cruise after seeing a recommendation. I’m glad we did. I felt much more comfortable about our bags making it to our cabin using these protectors (a co-worker recently had her bags not show up, possibly because her paper tags got ripped off in transit). I like that they come with metal cables to attach to my bags and the plastic covers are very solid with metal rings that won’t rip." —Richard Woolf
Get four from Amazon for $12.99.
30. An electronics organizer with a place for just about every one of *your* and every member of your family's devices and corresponding cables so you don't get everything tangled up while searching for that ONE cord.
Promising review: "I've had this cord/charger organizer for three years. Been on several vacations, and it's going on another cruise (#3) next month. Not paying attention to anything negative, since I have nothing bad to say." —VB54
Get it from Amazon for $17.99+ (available in four colors and two sizes).
31. A set of compression bags that'll, yes, help you pack more stuff into your suitcase but also keep your clothes airtight against any spills. OR keep your dirty clothes away from your clean clothes and vice-versa.
And they come with a hand pump for travel! Psst, get even more efficient and pack an empty one of these in your suitcase just in case.
Promising review: "This is a great product. I have a memory foam pillow that I try to take on trips, due to neck issues, so I purchased this product and put it to the test to see if it could flatten the pillow so I can also carry my clothes and the pillow in the same bag, carry-on size travel bag. The pillow's been sitting in the vacuum pack for the last three days now and hasn't let any air into the package at all. The pump removed so much air that the foam is as solid as a rock with less that an 1/8 of an inch of give when I press on it firmly with my thumb." —4-H Shooting Sports Instructor
Get a pack of five from Amazon for $22.99+ (available in six bag sizes).
32. A Keyper lanyard keychain can attach smaller bags to your personal item, or even secure your (of course, anti-theft) bag to whatever chair you're sitting in at an outdoor cafe or in a crowded restaurant so ppl can't quickly slip off with your whole bag.
Keyper is a woman-founded and -owned company.
I have one of these (in the snow leopard) and have used it just for keys but also to attach bags as I'm traveling. (I also ONLY carry on so I try to stay organized as possible.) My pal, also named Elizabeth, uses hers to attach her bag to her chair when she's out and about traveling. Yes, you still want an anti-theft bag. But this can make for an extra level of security!
Get it from Amazon for $27.90+ (available in three colors/designs and more materials, styles). You can also grab a bag that works with the keychain. A clear bag, like the one seen on the left, is a great option for toiletries when flying. But! It's also super useful as a purse for a stadium concert or sporting event with security bag restrictions.
33. A CarryAround foldable cup holder you'll think you're a dang genius for buying (and you'd be right) after you easily carry back four beers from the snack bar in one hand. It'd also be smart to pack this for your next all-inclusive vacation. OK so those snack-bar beers are still technically your belongings, at least for a little bit.
Check out a TikTok of the drink holder in action.
Promising review: "I bought this to use on a cruise. I had such an easy time carrying my drinks around. So many people asked where I purchased it from." —Jasmine
Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in multipacks).
Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.