Entertainment

33 Travel Products Under $20 That Are Worth Every Damn Penny

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.

This blister-preventing foot balm is mandatory for any trips where you’ll be getting a lot of steps in.

1. A vacuum-free space-saving compression bag so easy to use that all you have to do is stick your clothes inside, zip up the bag, roll the bag, and watch all the excess air get squished out of them until your clothes magically shrink. Yes, maybe it’s only a weekend trip, but some of us need OPTIONS!! 

A suitcase spilling over with clothes

The clothes packed neatly in compression bags to fit in the suitcase

Emma Lord/BuzzFeed

HELLO, I AM OBSESSED WITH THESE. Despite all the rave reviews I was definitely skeptical of space-saving bags that didn’t require a vacuum, and even as they were actively squishing my clothes into oblivion I still couldn’t quite believe it. I had easily two suitcases worth of clothes I wanted to pack for a three-week trip to London, and I managed to neatly pack the entirety of my wardrobe in one roller carry-on bag. Truly all I had to do was put my clothes in the bag, push them to the bottom, and then sit on it to get the air out before sealing it up. I had tons of extra bags and make a habit of taking them with me in case other people joining me on trips need them to be able to pack souvenirs on the way home. I’m never taking a long trip without these again — these are worth every damn penny. 

Psst — just note that airlines will still enforce weight limits, so don’t fly TOO close to the sun packing these up!! 

Get a set of eight from Amazon for $15.97

2. Self-heating soothing foot masks made with Epsom salts, lavender, and peppermint perfect for anyone whose step count on vacation is “too many.” Now instead of dealing with aching feet all night, you can get ahead of the situation with some ~self care~. 

Small pouch with two foot masks in it

Feet propped up with two metallic foot masks on them

Emma Lord/BuzzFeed

Check out a TikTok of the foot masks in action. 

I’m a long-ish distance runner and these were certainly an interesting experience for my feet! You slide them on and after a few minutes feel a tingling, mildly burning (in a good way) sensation. It doesn’t quite numb your feet, but it relaxes them. I kept them on for 30 minutes and then toweled my feet off, and the tingling sensation slowly faded over the next 30 minutes. After that my feet felt very refreshed and relaxed at a time of day when they’re usually aching from all the miles I put in. The whole thing was a mess-free, easy process, and I will definitely keep them on hand for longer run days! 

Promising review: “Very soothing. My husband and l used these on our European vacation and they definitely felt good on our feet!” —KS2018

Get a set of three pairs from Amazon for $11.97

3. A hands-free (rotating!) phone mount designed for use on all airlines — not only can you mount it to the tray table of an airplane seat, but to the arm of a chair or any flat surface, so you’ll be able to stream content easy as pie wherever you roam. Reviewers have used it on everything from their car dashboards to carry-on handles to office desks to bedside tables. 

A phone mounted to the back of an airplane tray table using a black clip device

Same device used to prop a phone up on a flat table surface

Perilogics is a small business creating hyper-functional tool holsters and bags for carrying your stuff on the go. 

Promising review: “I bought this nifty gadget about six months ago for a multi-leg, ultra-long-haul trip, and it more than held up the entire duration. I was able to finagle it to fit the tray tables on different planes, and like others, I find the height just nice when clamped onto a stowed tray table. It also works on my roller carry-on handle during layovers.” —Earendil

Get it from Amazon for $9.97.

4. A travel-friendly “flossing toothbrush” with two layers of bristles — regular firm bristles, and longer ones that are ten times thinner to clean deep in between your teeth and gums to mimic flossing. Reviewers love how deep the clean feels, and also how soft it is on sensitive teeth! 

U.S. passport beside a travel-size toothbrush package

close up of the flossing bristles on the brush

Mouthwatchers is a small business established by Ronald Plotka, DDS, that specializes in antimicrobial toothbrushes designed to get deeper cleans even patients with “great” dental hygiene might miss with traditional brush and floss routines. 

I’ve been using the regular-sized version of this for over a year now and I LOVE it! I used to use an electric toothbrush, but I feel like I’m getting a much more satisfying clean from these — especially because I tend to get yellow stains between my teeth no matter *how* much I floss, and these bristles seem to actually target that a lot more effectively. My teeth feel genuinely ~squeaky clean~ after I use this, too. 

Promising review: “This toothbrush is a new staple item for my on the go Invisalign bag. When I need to brush my teeth and don’t have time to floss before putting my aligners back in, this brush makes sure my teeth and mouth feel clean and removes debris in-between my teeth. The bristles are soft, this toothbrush is sturdy and the different lengths of bristles help remove debris or help floss your teeth on the go. This brush also dries very fast in-between uses as well.” —V. Brown

Get a set of two from Amazon for $9.99. 

5. A hands-free portable phone charger that sticks right onto your phone plug and chills there so easily that you might forget it’s there in the first place. This mini charger is designed to give you one full iPhone battery per charge, making it a lifesaver for busy humans, particularly ones who love traveling. 

Person holding a smartphone with a red small portable charger attached to the bottom of it

Promising review: “I used these several times for the past year, traveling for business and leisure. It is always a challenge to find an outlet at the airport since some airports do not offer a charging station. Using those types can also be a security risk. That’s why I love using these portable chargers. They are lightweight and fit in my travel handbag/or small backpack pocket. The portable chargers take about 30–35 minutes to fully charge if dead. Once charged, they charge fast and hold a charge for many hours.” —J

Get it from Amazon for $14.99 (available in seven colors and in two-packs). 

6. *And* an always handy international travel adaptor with a universal input that lets you charge four devices at once, so you don’t have to triage charging all your electronics whenever you get back to the hotel.

A black, dual USB port wall charger next to a small white USB adapter on a wooden surface

Universal travel adapter with multiple plug options for EU, UK, and USA/AUS

Ceptics is a small business that specializes in tech products for international travel. 

Promising review: “LOVE this adapter! I travel from time to time internationally and have always used just the ‘standard’ adapters found in airports. Exceeded my expectations of what it was capable of. Used on a recent trip to Germany and it handled everything needed — laptop, cell phone (USB ports are so very welcome), alarm clock, dryer, etc. Did not miss a beat on the power provided. Thank you for making such a great, dependable product!” —Monkey 

Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in dozens of other styles depending on the countries you’re heading for!). 

7. A set of affordable, highly popular wireless Bluetooth earbuds reviewers compare to AirPods, but better — not only are they noise cancelling and waterproof, but but you can listen to music during your flight, car ride, or even while you’re sleeping *without* your ears feeling like they’ve been beaten up. These come equipped with several sizes of earbuds so you can get your perfect, painless fit.

Reviewer image of two black earbuds next to their charging case

These come with a wireless charging case that provides up to 14 hours of charge (with the earbuds able to play for four-plus hours with each full charge). The earbuds are also sweatproof and waterproof so you can use them during workouts or runs or even in the shower, and have a built-in mic so you can chat on the phone. Psst — these are also a great option for going outside in a mask, since they don’t have wires that’ll get tangled in the mask straps.

Promising review: “So many things to rave about with these! Quality of the design and feel of these is amazing. I could literally wear these all night while on vacation with a roommate who snored, they were that comfortable and good at noise cancelling. I use these most often to listen to music and the sound quality is superb. I have a pair of AirPods that I was *thankfully* gifted and I hardly ever use them because they just aren’t as good as my Tozos!”  —Alexis Arnold

Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (get price by clipping the $5 off coupon on the product page; available in five colors).

8. A digital luggage scale perfect for anyone who likes to play chicken with the weight limits on various airlines. This gizmo will quickly and accurately let you know in pounds *or* kilograms how much your suitcase weighs just by attaching it to the handle and lifting — no clunky floor scales required. 

Hand holding a luggage scale with a small, black, wheeled suitcase attached for weighing

Hand holding a luggage scale with a red suitcase; the scale's digital screen displays 2.15

Promising review: “I was looking for a lightweight luggage scale to ensure that when returning from vacation, my luggage was not overweight. This works amazing. Super lightweight and extremely accurate.” —Taziree

Get it from Amazon for $11.98 (available in eight styles).

9. A Benzene-free, travel-friendly applicator of I Dew Care’s dry shampoo powder so easy to use that you can just dab it on your hairline and rub it in for an instant, oil-absorbing refresh. Now you don’t have to waste nearly as much of your precious vacation time re-styling your hair! 

A model tapping the puff applicator on their curly hair

before image of reviewer's oily hair and after image of it refreshed

Check out a TikTok of the dry shampoo in action. 

Promising review: “I’ve had the best results from this dry shampoo than any other. It’s a small container, but it lasts a very long time because a little really does go a long way! I also do this the night before so the powder-y look goes away by morning and it’s more absorbed, you can also add a light oil to your ends and work it up if it feels too dry. There’s no scent either and it is very convenient for travel! This is the only thing that still makes my hair look ‘clean’ on the no-hair-wash days!” —Alice

Get it from Amazon for $18.

10. A magnetic folding pill organizer with conveniently visible pill windows for easy access. Each has six small compartments for little pills, plus a large compartment for capsules and vitamins, making it ideal for trips where you might need a lil’ emergency pharmacy in your backpack but don’t want to take up space. 

A pink folding organizer open to show capsules inside of the clear-paneled compartments

Reviewer holding a white version of the organizer and snapping it closed with one hand

Promising review: “I purchased this because I saw them all over TikTok. As someone with chronic illness I honestly carry around like 10 different pill bottles for ‘just in case’ situations. This little pill box is a great size, I love that it’s magnetic and each little compartment fits a good amount of pills. It won’t fit a ton of Tums if that’s what you’re looking for, but the amount of space this has saved in my bag is amazing!” —Jasmin Salas

Get it from Amazon for $9.99

11. blister-preventing balm that basically magics an extra layer between your skin and your shoe, so you can trek through the airport or go on all your hikes or long walks around new cities without worrying about getting big ole blisters on your feet without a bandage in sight. 

A model rubbing balm on their heel

Amazon

BodyGlide is a small business that specializes in chafe-preventing personal care products. 

Promising review: “Wow. I took this on vacation, during which we walked about 20,000 steps daily. And of course my shoes begin to rub against parts of my feet, terribly. But I smeared this on and it was amazing. I did have to reapply a few times a day, in public, but I highly recommend this!! I used it on my toes, ankle area, etc., and my feet felt great (normal).” —Y.

Get it from Amazon for $8.99.

12. A collapsible leakproof water bottle because yes, traveling is fun, but traveling while looking like a magician every time you whip this gizmo out of the tiniest pocket in your purse?? So much better. 

Reviewer holding gray water bottle with geometric indents

The bottle collapsed next to a small tin of tuna to show the size

Promising review: “I just bought this bottle and I’m already obsessed. I even ordered four more to bring with me on vacation and share with my family. I love how easily it folds back up and it doesn’t leak at all. I just wish it came in more colors and can’t wait to show everyone my cool new bottle!” —Brittany

Get it from Amazon for $6.99 (available in several styles, colors, and sets). 

13. waterproof pouch to keep your phone and other “doesn’t play well with water” type gadgets safe. Not only does this keep it safe but also you can still use the touchscreen with it, meaning you can take underwater travel photos galore. 🐠🐟🐡

phone inside of a pink case with a lanyard

It fits any phone up to 100 mm x 170 mm (or about 3.9 inches x 6.7 inches). It’s also a great fix for keeping out sand and dirt (and a great option for runners, if you’re caught in the rain but still want to be able to toggle through your music options).

Here’s what BuzzFeeder Elizabeth Lilly has to say about it: “With these, I find that they’re good for about a day due to condensation. I’ve used this case to take underwater pics, on boat rides, and have worn it with the lanyard jumping off a boat into water. So I really trust these!” 

Promising review: “I purchased this case in July for an upcoming canoe trip with a friend and as luck would have it, we flipped our canoe. Being the rebel that I am, I chose not to wear my phone around my neck. And so it, my ID, and my debit card ended up at the bottom of the river. Fast-forward to this week. I was contacted via FB by an Alachua County Sheriff’s Office diver and guess what he found? Yup, my phone case with all of the contents intact and dry as a bone! He had to cut the case open but there was not one single drop of water in it and he ended up purchasing a case for himself because he was just that impressed!” —Julie McDonald

Get it from Amazon for $5.59 (available in 14 colors).

14. A set of silicone “EarPlanes” designed with a twist-on structure to help relieve pressure that hurts your ears during altitude changes during landing and takeoff. Reviewers also swear by these for driving through altitude changes in the mountains and for helping with sinus pressure pain! 

reviewer pic on an airplane with the earplugs in

Reviewer holding case with small blue spiraling earplugs

Promising review: “This product has changed my life. I travel fairly frequently and always have issues with ear pressure on the plane. My ears will be clogged up, and it is painful to swallow for a day or two after short-distance flights. But now, I use these and fly incident-free. You are supposed to insert them before the plane takes off and then before landing. I have found that it works best if I leave them in the entire flight from before takeoff until landing, but they work almost as well if you take them out once you reach cruising altitude.” —Thomasina

Get a pair from Amazon for $7.29.

15. A flat RFID-blocking fanny pack you can either wear traditionally or sneakily wear under your clothes, keeping your valuables safe both from pickpockets and from your habit of getting distracted and leaving them everywhere you go (guilty as charged). 

Flat black fanny pack

Promising review: “Discreet yet spacious. I purchased this for a recent trip. I was able to fit my phone, passport, credit cards, and cash in it easily and it wasn’t bulky or obvious under my clothing. It was comfortable to wear for extended periods of time.” —KailensMom

Get it from Amazon for $15.95 (available in 18 styles and two sizes). 

16. Plus a handy RFID-blocking travel wallet complete with *deep breath* 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 a pen holder, all in one itty-bitty place so you’re never scrambling to find anything when you’re on the move.

A pink wallet with lots of pockets for cards, IDs, paperwork, and money

The pink wallet next to a bag

Promising review: “I bought this wallet right before a business trip. I wanted something that was small, but still had room to carry necessities. This wallet did that and more. Besides my ID and credit cards, I carried my passport and organized my receipts. It held a lot but didn’t take up much room in my purse. It was also cute to carry alone as a small clutch. I’m actually planning to buy more as gifts.” —Sherlethia

Get it from Amazon for $12.99 (available in 40 colors).

17. And a waterproof family travel document holder for anyone who is traveling in a group — this keeps all your passports, boarding passes, and IDs in one easy place so you don’t have to do a whole backpack opening circus every time you get in line at the airport. 

a reviewer holding the document holder in gray

a reviewer photo of the interior of the document holder with several passports inside

Promising review:I took my kids on their first international trip, and this thing was a total lifesaver. It fits easily in a fanny pack or small purse for easy access, and it fit my whole family’s passports, vaccine cards, boarding passes, and a pen with plenty of room for cash and cards if you decide to use it as a wallet for your trip. It made getting checked in a breeze and helped my family keep everything organized.” —Kevin Garcia

Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in six colors). 

18. A ridiculously beloved, Shark Tank-featured Click & Carry Grocery Bag Carrier to help you lift bulky, heavy bags while you’re traveling so easily you’ll put Superman out of business. With this gizmo you can hook your bags to it and lift up to 80 pounds while comfortably resting the carrier on your shoulder instead of letting all the straps cut into your palms. 

A model with a purple handle clinging to two heavy bags

Reviewer using a pink handle to lift a bunch of grocery bags of a car

Click & Carry is a Shark Tank and QVC-featured small business that specializes in easy carry accessories. 

Promising review: “TikTok made me buy it. This is great when you have a few bags and a box — for example, if you balance the bags, you can throw it over your shoulder and walk inside and have two free hands to carry the box, which is great. Product seems well built, and is comfortable on your shoulder or hand because of the padding.” —Hung

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

19. Alleyoop’s portable travel razor, a travel GODSEND that comes equipped with two triple-blade razors, a moisturizing balm, and a water spray bottle all tucked into one ergonomic, compact case. Forget the whole shower routine — the world is now your quick shaving oyster! 

A pink round handled portable razor

Reviewer twisting the handled part to turn the razor into balm into a spray bottle

Alleyoop is a woman-owned small business that specializes in functional makeup products. 

Promising review: “I saw this on TikTok and just HAD to get it. It arrived the next day and it was so easy for me to use! I put it in my gym bag for when I need a quick shave and I am so glad I did. It is so travel-friendly and it’s also super cute! People had NO idea it was a razor because of the cute shape. The moisturizing bar was really conditioning and it has two razors which is perfect because I would never pack an extra razor in my bag.. This is staying in my gym bag forever and I’m going to get another one for my car … and for my purse and for all my friends!!” —Grace Song

Get it from Amazon for $15

Psst — check out all of Alleyoop’s other travel-friendly products for more clever options! 

20. A pack of LeakLocks Toiletry Skins to keep things from going “kaboom!!” in your carryon as soon as you reach altitude. These extend to fit both full-size and travel-size toiletries like shampoo, sunscreen, foundation, or any other liquids you’d rather not find spilled all over your socks and underwear post-flight. 

Blue stretchy silicone leak protectors over the lids of shampoo and conditioners

Rinseroo is a small business specializing in problem-solving cleaning, pet, and travel products. 

Promising review: “These covered various sizes of products — hair care, body wash, etc. Nothing leaked out of these whatsoever, even after a lid popped open during a flight. These prevented it from leaking out on the other contents of my luggage. Easy to use. Not flimsy. Very flexible. LOVE THESE!” —TAG

Get a four-pack from Amazon for $11.99 (available in three styles and also in packs of eight). 

21. An expandable jacket and bag gripper for your suitcase or backpack that lets you hang your jacket for easy access instead of stuffing it all the way back into your bags or carrying it around by hand. This is especially handy for rain jackets that need to dry off! 

blue strap with a buckle and two hooks for hanging things

The buckle holding a shopping bag onto a suitcase

Promising review: “I had this travel strap attached to my backpack as a just in case. It’s small and hardly noticeable so it wasn’t in the way. When I finally needed it while on a trip, it was a lifesaver. I was able to attach some shopping bags, thankfully being able to keep my hands free.” —Jonesy96

(Psst — if you’re looking for an attachable cup holder similar to the one in the reviewer image above, you can find one for $19.99 on Amazon!) 

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

22. A compact travel cable organizer with two different pocketed compartments to keep your cords, earbuds, and chargers organized and safe — this is waterproof, so even if *you* get waterlogged on a trip or on your way to work, your gadgets and gizmos won’t. 

Reviewer opening a gray zippered cord organizer to show the two different compartments holding electronics

 the organizer open to show a charger and cords inside of it

Promising review: “This case has been amazing for storing my earbuds, various loose cable connectors, chargers, etc. I am using it right now on a trip and it has been fantastic for keeping these items in one convenient, organized place. It is lightweight and fits easily into my one carry on item when boarding the many flights I am taking. I’m pretty sure I will still be using it to keep all these items together and more easy to locate when I return home! I am so glad I bought this!” —V. Elia

Get it from Amazon for $9.84+ (available in 11 styles). 

23. A luggage drink caddy for anyone who considers the Starbucks mermaid a copilot — this sticks right into your wheeled luggage and has two roomy pockets for drinks, water bottles, your snacks, your phone, and whatever else was taking up room in your hands on the go. 

A drink caddy attached to a suitcase handle holding a starbucks cup and sandwich

Promising review: “This cup holder is perfect! It helps me a lot! Last time I took a plane with a suitcase and a cup of coffee, when it’s my turn to check my passport and ticket, the coffee cup fell to the ground and coffee sprinkled. It was a nightmare! This time I bought this cup holder, it did do me a favor! I don’t have to worry about where my cup and phone are! I can free my hands to do other things. I love it so much! Hope you love it too.” —Philip

Get it from Amazon for $13.99 (available in 31 colors).

24. An easy adhesive phone card holder to keep all your credit cards and cash on your person, because if there’s ONE thing you know you’ll never lose, it’s your phone. (Listen, it’s your sworn civic duty to the public to Instagram story every hour on vacation!!) 

a bright blue wallet sleeve attached to the back of an iPhone holding credit cards

Wallaroo Wallets is a small business that specializes in uniquely-designed minimalist wallets. 

I’ve used these wallets for four years now, and they are worth every penny! Mine last about six months at a time before they get dingy enough to replace, and easily hold three cards and a five dollar bill. I’ve never had any issues with them un-sticking off the phone case, and they’re super easy to pull off. It makes my life so much easier not to carry a wallet around, plus I never lose my ID! 

Promising review: “The Wallaroo phone wallet is a must have for any cell phone owner. The quality of the leather and design of the wallet is superb. I recently went on vacation and purchased my Walleroo before my trip. It was so convenient to carry my ID, credit card and hotel key and not have to carry my actual wallet. This is a great product that I highly recommend.” —Todd Smithson

Get it from Amazon $14.95 (available in 12 colors). 

25. A reusable, *delightfully* portable gel lint roller for quick lil’ touch-ups both at-home and abroad, because you just plain never know when you’re going to experience the full-body serotonin of a furry friend pouncing on you. Not only is this little sphere cute as a button, but all you have to do to restore its stickiness is wash the interior. 

reviewer using small green rolling orb shaped device to clear white fur off a black shirt

reviewer holding small green ball in their hand

Promising review: “I saw this on TikTok a bunch of times and finally decided to get it. I hate the paper lint rollers, they never seem to work that well and I hate that I have to throw them away. This is awesome because it fits right in my bag, and I’m able to reuse it over and over. It’s super sticky and works great!” —Ella

Get it from Amazon for $7.99 (available in four colors). 

26. A TSA-friendly “Wallet Ninja” with so many functions that just reading the product description will give you impostor syndrome. This gizmo may slide easily into a pocket or wallet, but it can be used as a cell phone holder, a bottle and can opener, an eyeglass screwdriver, a ruler, and SO much more. 

the credit-card shaped tool being used as a bottle opener

the same card being used as a phone stand

Amazon

Wallet Ninja is a small business that specializes in card-sized, slim-profile tools and accessories. 

Each card includes (DEEP BREATH): several screwdrivers, a letter opener, nail puller, ruler, bottle opener, can opener, box opener, cellphone stand, hex-head nut and bolts, and a fruit peeler. 

Promising review: “This is definitely helpful to have on hand! The Ninja is small and slim but punches above its weight class in terms of usefulness. The tools are all things you might find yourself searching through a drawer for and are useful in a pinch. It fits comfortably in your wallet and will help you open a beer or tighten a screw. The coolest feature that I couldn’t find on most other similar products was the credit card phone stand. It is great for planes and other travel applications (I haven’t had trouble bringing this on a plane anywhere I have traveled, FYI).”—Mary

Get it from Amazon for $14.95 (also available in packs of two, three, and five).

27. A set of Sea Bands, which target an acupressure point on your wrists meant to help reduce nausea — a must-have for anyone who gets motion sick on long car rides, cruises, buses, and trains. 

Reviewer with two thick gray bands on their wrists with a white pressure point in the middle

Read more about acupressure and nausea at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

Promising review: “These were awesome! My entire family suffers from motion sickness, especially carsickness. My little one gets sick in the car on a regular car ride through the city. So I knew that a long road trip was going to be a disaster. I was amazed at how well these bands worked for everyone! Not one single person complained about being sick for 12 hours in the car. I have suffered for decades and now I know better. I will never travel without mine again!” —1SmartCookie

Get a set of two from Amazon for $7.99

28. A rechargeable itty bitty mini white noise maker with 15 nonlooping sounds that is an absolute space-saving *godsend* for parents or anyone traveling somewhere noisy. Pop this baby on in the hotel room and get the good night’s sleep you deserve. 

Reviewer holding small white rounded edged speaker in the palm of their hand

Promising review: “I am a flight attendant and sometimes have a hard time falling asleep while away in my hotels without my home white noise maker. This is compact and rechargeable so it is super easy to keep with me on my trips! It also has great volume range from very low to quite loud! I would recommend even for home use if you don’t have a ton of space but want to use a white noise machine.” —Faith Morris

Get it from Amazon for $18.99+ (available in nine colors and in packs of two). 

29. A fast-drying, super lightweight microfiber towel designed with fast-paced lifestyles in mind. Reviewers love this for traveling and camping, since it doesn’t weigh them down or get the rest of their backpacks soggy, but also use it for the gym and the beach because it’s so darn convenient! 

A small folded up towel in its case in a suitcase

A bright green and bright blue towel hung up in a hotel bathroom

Promising review: “Perfect towel for the gym, travel, and more! I have two of these towels, a large one and a small one. I live on a boat, where space is limited and the fact that these towels fold up incredibly small is my favorite thing! My second favorite thing is how fast they dry when hung up, so that I can store them away without having to wait hours and hours for them to dry in my compartment. I use the small towel at the gym and it is super absorbent and super lightweight, I usually forget it is on me. Fantastic towel, definitely recommend.” —Sam the Man

Get it from Amazon for $7.19+ (available in 11 colors and seven sizes). 

30. A refillable travel perfume atomizer so you can still rock your ~signature scent~ even when you’re a bajillion miles from home. Each of these has a clear window so you can see exactly how much perfume is left and is delightfully TSA compliant, so you can bring your favorite smells overseas! 

atomizer pumping on a perfume bottle

Elizabeth Lilly / BuzzFeed

Promising review: “I bought these due to traveling a lot for work and needing to cut down on the size of things in my carry-on bag for flying. I can bring four different perfumes now instead of one big one. They’re super easy to fill, haven’t leaked so far but I keep them in a sandwich baggie while traveling just in case. I would 100% buy them again.” —Emily

Get a four-pack from Amazon for $7.99.

31. A sunglasses strap that is a travel must-have for anyone who is prone to misplacing them — we cannot lose the squint-y battle against our vacation arch nemesis: the sun. Bonus: these straps float, so if you lose your glasses in the water, these will make them pop up to the surface!  

reviewer wearing sunglasses around their neck with an orange strap

sunglasses with a rainbow striped strap attached tot them

Promising review: “Family and friends did a three-day rafting trip this summer. I bought these Uke straps as a safety measure. Day three, raft flipped over on Class 4 rapids, my prescription Maui Jim sunglasses were gone! They were my only pair and I was so upset about it. Ten minutes after as we all got back into raft and headed back down river, someone in our party found my sunglasses floating in river, all because of these awesome straps!!!! Everyone in our party was so impressed that they all wanted to purchase Ukes when we got home. Thank you so much for making these!” —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $12.99 (available in 27 styles). 

32. A bar of natural, plastic-free solid shampoo you can easily slide into your carry-on without worrying about it getting flagged at TSA *or* exploding mid-flight and drowning your laptop in Garnier Fructis.

eight different ethique shampoo bars going into a toiletry bag

Promising review: “First time I bought this soap it was for traveling. Lugging around large bottles of shampoo for six people for a 4–6-week vacation is just not an option, and buying shampoo is sketchy since a couple of us have soap allergies. The little bar packs up perfectly in a little baggie and takes the smallest amount of luggage space. One bar washed six heads of hair for five weeks!! Every day!! Suds well and cleans well.” —Dominique B. 

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

33. A 50-count set of super-handy laundry soap sheets you can use to hand-wash your clothes right in the sink, whether you want to refresh your undies or you sweated out some workout clothes and want to go on round two with them after letting them air-dry. TBH, one of these tiny things might save you a whole BUNDLE of packing space for extra clothes you don’t need! 

collection of shaving sheets, body wash sheets, and shampoo sheets

Amazon

Here’s what BuzzFeeder Elizabeth Lilly has to say about them: “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 this summer 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 set of 50 from Amazon for $7.16+ (also available in a hand soap version). 

Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.

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