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    38 Things That Frequent Travelers Use While Traveling (So Maybe You Should, Too)

    These products come highly recommended by people who use them all the time.

    1. A collapsible water bottle that'll take up wayyy less space in your bag pre-security, but also help you avoid paying approximately $20 for one water bottle *and* help you stay hydrated = all very important things.

    (left) hands holding the water bottle in white, showing what it looks like at full size (right) the same hands now showing the water bottle all rolled up, taking up about a 1/3 of the size

    2. A clear toiletries case made to be the same size as a quart-sized plastic bag so you have a much chicer (and nicer) way to store your liquids in your carry-on bag. Plus, you can quickly check and make sure you packed your mascara. 

    makeup inside grey case
    Truffle

    Truffle is a woman-owned small business that specializes in bags and accessories that are TSA-approved or stadium-approved. 

    Promising review: "I travel for work quite a bit and love to add this to my travel uniform. It’s hard being away from the comforts of home, but when the things you travel with are of the best quality and offer practicality, it can feel special. If you like quality, don’t hesitate! No more plastic bags for me! ;)" —SOFÍA J.

    Get it from Truffle for $88+ (available in three sizes and four colors). 

    3. Or a similar TSA-approved version capable of holding all your liquids so you'll be ready when you go through security (and not hold up the line because everyone hates that).

    hand holding the clear square bag with blue trim filled with toiletries

    4. And a hanging toiletry bag to store the rest of the products you don't need to carry on the plane with you. Reviewers say this amazingly fits alll the skincare, makeup, *and* haircare products they need in one compact bag. 

    reviewer image with all the contents spread out on the bed that they were able to fit in the bag
    the bag closed up and propped up on bed

    Promising review: "I travel a lot for work and personal reasons. I like to have my makeup/shower/hair case ready to go, rather than packing each time. This case is wonderful. It is big enough to store all of my goods. I had something similar in size before, but it did not have the hanger, so it was difficult to use in small hotel bathrooms. Problem solved! I also love the color. If you don't travel much or if you travel lightly with a small suitcase/bag, this may not be for you because of its size. If you want to carry all your stuff in one place, this is the way to go." —MarMor

    Get it from Amazon for $25.99+ (available in five colors).

    5. AirFly, a wireless transmitter that'll connect your AirPods (or any other wireless headphones) to the headphone jack on the flight so you can enjoy all the free entertainment without being forced to bring two sets of headphones or use the crappy ones they have the AUDACITY to charge for on some flights.

    It also comes with a USB-C charging cable, travel pouch, keychain holder, quick-start guide, and a manual.

    Promising review: "I love this gadget ... I fly a lot and this works on the majority of wide-body planes I’ve taken over the past six months. Just plugs into one of the three-prong outlets (or single outlet in economy) and you can connect any Bluetooth device. Doesn’t always connect on the first try as I have multiple devices that my headphones are searching for, but if you turn off all other devices it seems to connect right away. Once connected, it works for many hours. A few planes I’ve taken recently (Qatar Airways) have USB charge points so close to the headphone jack that you can even plug it in while its working and never lose the charge. Highly recommend for travelers." —Joseph Britto

    Get it from Amazon for $54.99+ (available in three styles).

    6. A pair of compression socks to stop your feet and legs from swelling up as much as Violet Beauregarde did in Willy Wonka's factory.

    (left) hand holding the packaging (right) two feet with the black and yellow compression socks on

    7. An Ethique shampoo bar so you can avoid using whatever they have at the hotel and also not worry about adding more liquids to your TSA-approved bag.

    8. A packing cube with built-in shelves you can pack every single outfit in. When you arrive at your hotel you simply take it out of your suitcase, hang it in the closet, and you'll be G2G for the whole trip.

    reviewer image of packing cube with clothes in it
    packing cube hanging up in closet

    Plus, it has a zipper compartment at the bottom you can put all your dirty clothes in, so they don't get mixed together and you end up just washing everything when you get home (bc that's usually what happens to me).

    Promising review: "I just love it. I travel a lot. Now I don’t have to hang anything up but my organizer. I can see what I pack and where everything is. Just love it. I can fit easy seven days' worth of outfits and three pairs of shoes in a carry-on suitcase. Just great." —Amazon Customer

    Get it from Amazon for $34.99 (also available in a smaller size).

    9. Some melatonin sleep gummies made with L-Theanine, chamomile, and lemon balm to boost natural sleep hormones and help you fall asleep at a respectable time and be rested to take on the next day.

    the tub of gummy vitamins in a some purple sheets

    10. An anti-theft backpack with the main body zipper on the inside (against your back while in use) so you can feel safer knowing that nobody will be able to unzip it when you're in a crowded, unfamiliar space.

    reviewer sitting on a bench with the grey backpack with lighter grey stripe down the middle

    11. A portable door lock, a must-have for anyone who travels alone or just wants some extra comfort (while traveling or at home). It's super easy to install and remove, fits in almost all doors, and is small enough to stash in a bag.

    lock on door
    how to guide for door lock

    Note: This can get flagged with going through security, so you may want to put it in an easily accessible place in your checked bag to be safe. 

    Promising review: "I travel a lot for work and usually take a lot of measures for extra security, such as keeping the luggage roller in my room all week and rolling it in front of the door. It was large and cumbersome, but with this gadget, it's great! You can use it on almost any door and works better than the makeshift 'fork' one. Frequent traveler or not, this item offers peace of mind which can prove invaluable while away from home. (I can even use it on my door at my house!)" —JizzerJittery

    Get it from Amazon for $14.99.

    12. A super-cool duffel bag that actually starts out as a garment bag, so you only have to pack one bag with everything you need *and* not worry about your suits or other clothes getting wrinkled during the trip.

    Reviewer image of gray duffle bag on top of bed
    Product unzipped with compartments shown

    Plus, the bag is water-resistant and has two exterior zip pockets, two interior shoe pockets, and a padded handle wrap. Yes, this one bag really can do it all.

    Promising review: "I travel a lot for work and needed something lightweight and convenient. This fit the bill nicely and allows me to completely jettison a second carry-on. It’s great! Lots of storage. I love that it has room for shoes. No issues with wrinkles. Highly recommend it." —CB

    Get it from Amazon for $47.99+ (available in five colors). 

    13. An Anker charging port with six USB ports so all your devices can get to 100% at the same time. Now that's luxury.

    rectangle-shaped charging port with spaces for six usbs to be plugged into the front

    14. A stroller so lightweight and compact, it can fit in the overhead bin on a plane. This means you don't have to wait around for it to be retrieved from storage after you deplane. You can just open the stroller and go.

    reviewer image of the black and teal stroller
    reviewer image showing how the stroller folds up small enough to fit in a reusable bag

    It folds up so small that it was awarded a Guinness World Record in 2014 for the most compact stroller. It can hold kids who weigh up to 55 lbs. and only weighs 9.5 lbs.

    Promising review: "We are frequent travelers. I've been on 15 flights with my 17-month-old toddler. I wish I would have bought this a long time ago. It's the best purchase we have ever made. It is sturdy, folds very easy, has a great design, and can literally fit in a reusable grocery bag. Highly recommend!" —Kateryna

    Get it from Amazon for $279.95 (available in two colors and three styles).

    15. A 3D-contoured sleeping mask designed with a 3D-contoured shape, which just means there's more space where your eyes go, so there's no pressure on them (you can also even open them), but it still provides total darkness so you can try and catch some Zzzs when you have a 6 a.m. flight you had to get up at 3 a.m. to catch.

    reviewer wears black 3D-contoured sleeping mask
    the same sleeping mask with ear plugs

    Plus, it comes with a set of earplugs to block out all the noise around you!

    Promising review: "These are among the best sleep masks I've tried. I travel a lot so it's important that the mask be room darkening. These are made of high-quality material and excel at this. Additionally, I love the contours for the eyes. Unlike other masks, these don't press against my eyelids at night. One final benefit specific to my needs and those who have dry eyes and too much oil production; I have to place leave-on moistened scrubs over my eyelids at night. Unlike other masks that absorb much of the solution, these hold them firmly in place without too much pressure on my eyes and don't dry them out." —ginsing

    Get the set from Amazon for $19.99 (available in five colors).

    16. A travel wallet with an RFID-blocking shield material to not only keep all your many important travel documents organized but also safe and ready for you to grab when you need your ID quickly in the TSA line.

    reviewer photo of the wallet open, showing all the different pockets for passport, cards, money, phone, and more

    17. A Trtl pillow made with fleece so you can sleep cozily in whatever position is the most comfortable for you. Plus, it only weighs half a pound and can easily be thrown in your carry-on without taking up a ton of space.

    model wearing a black trtl pillow while sleeping on a plane

    18. Or an inflatable wedge pillow because when it comes to getting sleep on planes, you should not be worried about how you look. This comfy pillow will make it so you can fully conk out and catch some ZZZs. Plus, if you aren't ready to sleep yet, you can put your phone inside it and use it as a comfy way to watch your favorite comfort show (that will hopefully help you fall asleep).

    Promising review: "I am a very frequent traveler and had lived through many 13+ hour flights prior to purchasing this pillow. After using it for the first time on my 13 hour flight to Tokyo, I will never fly without it again! It was comfortable not only for sleeping leaning forward, but also for leaning against the window on the larger international plane. If you're traveling with a companion, it was also very comfortable being used between two people. I especially love how there are holes for your arms and can be used at different angles/positions. It made for a very restful flight overall." —Elizabeth B

    Get it from Amazon for $24.99. 

    19. An anti-blister balm for when you're in a ~pinch~ and want to make sure that you don't get blisters from walking all day.

    reviewer holding the small purple balm in their hand

    20. An eight-compartment pill organizer with just enough space to keep any medication together during your trip so you don't have to pack multiple bottles. One reviewer also says this is a great way to keep jewelry from getting tangled while traveling. 

    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 $7.99.

    21. An external battery so powerful that it can charge your phone up to three times before it needs to be charged itself (now that's convenient).

    the rectangle power bank in black with cord and mesh pouch sitting next to it

    22. Some laundry soap sheets to have on hand when you realize you've run out of clothes because you've decided to extend your trip even longer because there was no way you were going home without visiting the Eiffel Tower.

    Promising review: "This stuff is awesome. I take it everywhere! We travel a lot, and it's perfect for all sorts of reasons! It was very useful on our trip to Israel where I ended up doing laundry in our hotel sink almost every night because of the dust. The packaging is very small and for as much as I have used this traveling, I haven't run out yet!" —Mia Bauer

    Get it from Amazon for $7.19 (available in two styles).

    23. A 16-piece travel toiletries set filled with everything you need to bring your hair, skin, and makeup products with you. No need to go waste any money on the expensive travel-sized version of your go-to products. This set will make it super easy to transfer the right amount to comply with those pesky TSA rules. 

    The set comes with four bottles, two jars, two spray bottles, two scoopers (to help transfer creams), one funnel (to help transfer liquids), one cleaning brush, a page of labels, and a bag that everything fits in.  

    Promising review: "I travel A LOT. This kit makes taking the products I want/need with me easy. There's never any leakage, spillage or surprise explosions. Everything stays in the vessel you put it in. They are easy to clean. There are labels includes if you are one who loves organization. It is approved by all airlines. Perfection." —Corrine

    Get it from Amazon for $12.31

    24. A portable white-noise machine that'll work hard while you sleep at night to block all the noises that come with staying in a hotel room. (Looking at you, elevator and ice machine!!!!!)

    the small circular noise machine attached to the handle of a suitcase

    25. A shoe bag capable of storing at least three pairs of shoes (though some reviewers said they fit up to five) so you can keep your dirty, dirty shoes separate from the clean clothes in your luggage.

    reviewer image of the shoe bag in pink, filled with shoes
    reviewer image showing the show bag open with a pair of sneakers and two pairs of flip flops in it

    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 $19.54 (available in nine colors and patterns). 

    26. An electronics organizer with spots for all your cords, chargers, devices, and stress.*

    *Okay, there are not actual spots for your stress, but it will make you feel organized and put-together and hopefully ease your stress knowing exactly where all your important electronics should be!

    Promising review: "I travel a fair amount and am an admitted tech gadget junkie and became tired of dragging around a jumbled bag of cables, connectors, adapters, earbuds, thumb drives, card readers, MP3 players, and other necessities that resembled an episode of Hoarders. This little pouch tamed the beast — a place for everything and everything in its place. The other side of the double-sided pouch holds a power pack, multi-port USB charger, and even a short extension cord. This is a great setup if you're frequently on the road, and you don't have to worry about forgetting that 'critical' connector..." —Snowbound

    Get it from Amazon for $17.99+ (available in two sizes and two colors).

    27. Some biodegradable hypoallergenic wipes because flying can make you feel gross, and these give you the chance to freshen up when there's not a shower in sight.

    model using one of the wipes on their arm
    Amazon

    These are made with natural tea tree oil, peppermint oil, ginseng oil, and aloe and come individually wrapped, so they're super easy to stash in your carry on. 

    Promising review: "I travel a lot, and these are perfect to keep in my purse and carry-on when I need a quick refresh. These were also PERFECT for a recent trip I had with 24 hours of travel. I will definitely buy again." —SimplyC

    Get a pack of 10 from Amazon for $11.33.

    28. A jewelry organizer with ample space to store all the necklaces, earrings, rings, and more you want to bring with you. With specific places for everything, you'll never arrive at your destination only to find your necklaces have tangled themselves up so badly you can't wear them during the trip.

    Reviewer photo of the jewelry case with various pieces inside
    Same reviewer showing the other side of the organizer that holds necklaces

    Promising review: "I got this for a friend after buying one for myself! I travel frequently and always struggled trying to organize my jewelry so it wouldn't be in a tangled mess once reaching my destination. This organizer accomplishes that as well as helps me to easily see what I brought with me!" —Lauren

    Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in two sizes and nine colors and patterns).

    29. Or a small compact version that still has just the right amount of space to hold the jewelry you want to bring with. Plus, it can easily fit in your carryon without taking over the whole thing. Big success! 

    Reviewer image of green velvet jewelry box filled with rings and earrings
    Model sliding pink product into cream purse

    Promising review: "I travel a lot for work, and this jewelry box has everything I was looking for! It’s a nice small size and has plenty of storage for necklaces, rings, earrings, bracelets, and even a watch! Very good quality, and I love the color. Highly recommend!!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️" —Morgan

    Get it from Amazon for $17.99+ (available in four colors).

    30. A set of packing cubes — once you use them, you'll wonder how you've lived this long without them in your life. They help keep your clothes organized and allow you to pack more in your suitcase. I call that a win-win.

    reviewer image showing a before and after using the packing cubs and how much less space the clothes take up

    31. An international power converter here to make it a breeze to plug in your electronics in 150 countries. The converter has a 5-foot detachable power cable and four different sockets, plus voltage converters so you don't short your curling iron...again.

    Not talking from experience...not at all. 😬

    Promising review: "I travel frequently both for work and pleasure and always find myself laughing around a bag full of power cords and converter depending on the country I am visiting. This useful tool has saved me at least 5 lbs worth of excess luggage (a multitude of extension cords, power connectors and external plugs) by consolidating the my connection needs into one tool. This power bank comes with 2 plugs (you can choose configuration based on the country specific outlets) and 4 usb plugs. The travel bag makes it convenient and keeps it organized. This is a great investment and value for the price." —LocalistGal

    Get it from Amazon for $41.99

    32. A Béis seatback organizer that keeps all your in-flight essentials (e.g., phone, e-reader, magazines, etc.) in the pocket so you don't have to dig around in your bag on the floor throughout the flight.

    beige pocket with spaces for different spots for phone, iPad, passport, sunglasses, and more
    Béis

    The seat-back pocket on a plane is great and all, but with all the random magazines and other items, your stuff can get lost. This little thing has a hidden magnetic closure, an interior zip pocket, and four slip pockets to keep your essentials, such as your beloved lip balm, close to you and ready for whenever you need them.

    Promising review: "I travel a lot and have been looking for a product to help with the seat-back pocket. I love all the different compartments and spaces to hold everything. The color is a great, and the material is surprisingly soft!" —CJ 

    Get it from Béis for $24.

    33. bubble makeup brush holder providing you a way to protect your makeup brushes when you stash them in your toiletry bag. You never really think about how many germs get on them when they're just rolling around with all your other makeup products, do you? Not to mention the powder stains left in the inside of your bag. These holders are made of silicone and slide right over your brush (or multiple brushes, if they're smaller) and completely protect the bristles. 

    reviewer image of a pink and white case protecting two makeup brushes
    reviewer image showing closeup of the silicone makeup brush cover

    Promising review: "Excited to find these! I travel a lot & didn’t want a bulky brush holder. These will be perfect!" —Lana P.

    Get a two-pack from Amazon for $12.49

    34. A slim RFID-blocking wallet to hold the essentials close to you and protect you from anybody trying to take advantage of tourists.

    35. A luggage-mounted cup caddy so you have a place to hold your coffee (and water or snacks!) while you make your way through the never-ending terminal to find your gate. You'll never spill your coffee while trying to answer a text again!

    Promising review: "We travel by air a lot, and this is great for your carry-on luggage when you have no hands. We always get a drink in the airport. So this helps a lot." —Rhonda Bolash

    Get it from Amazon for $14.99 (available in 23 colors and patterns). 

    36. Some reusable bottle bags to help protect any breakable purchases (i.e., wine or alcohol) you make so you can enjoy the deliciousness back home without worrying about it spilling in your checked bag.

    the white plastic bottle bag with a bottle of wine, wine glass, bottle opener, and passport next to it

    37. Individually wrapped makeup removing wipes you can easily stash in your purse or carry-on for when you just can't take another minute in your makeup while flying. Fresh face = best face.

    a cardboard box filled with the wipes with an opening at the bottom so you can pull them out

    38. A HappyLuxe travel wrap designed to be used as both a chic scarf and then as a blanket when it gets super cold on the plane and you want to sleep comfortably.

    Making my way through the airport like...

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