Are you staring at an empty suitcase and wondering what to pack?
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We’ve all been there—looking at our belongings and wondering about the best travel products to pack. It’s a deceptively important part of a good trip.
Packing mindfully prevents you from paying overweight fees at the airport. Beyond saving you a few dollars, having a perfect packing list also empowers you to get more out of your trip. With all the right pieces in place, all you need to do is show up and start having fun.
But what pieces, exactly, should you have in place?
Aside from packing the right clothes, shoes, and toiletries for your latest adventure, I also recommend having all those must-have products that avid travelers rely on.
Ready to take a fine-tooth comb to the best travel products that will have an immediate and positive influence on your trip? Let’s dive in. No fluffer, no mainstream recs—only items that travelers rave about.
*Tis the season for Black Friday sales! I’ve listed all discounted products with an asterisk. That being said, I work hard to keep this list affordable and accessible—even without hefty Black Friday discounts.
Quick look at the best travel products on the market
Remember, all items marked with an asterisk* are on sale for Black Friday. Get ’em while they’re hot!
- The ultimate sleep solution for long flights: *SARISUN Wrap-Around Head Pillow or *Turtl Travel Pillow
- A Bluetooth connector for in-flight entertainment: Twelve South Bluetooth Connector
- The perfect travel headphones: *Bose QuietComfort Headphones
- Top-rated geo-locators for luggage: *Tile by Life360 Pro or Galaxy SmartTag2
- Small-and-light charging banks: *INIU Portable Charger or *Anker Power Bank
- A global adapter for all your adventures: *VYLEE Universal Travel Adapter
- Luggage-shrinking packing cubes: *BAGAIL Compression Packing Cubes
- Barely-there bags for easy carrying: *BAGGU Standard Set of 3 Totes
- Portable sweat-prevention: *GaiaTop Mini Portable Fan
- The ultimate toiletry bag solution: *BAGSMART Toiletry Back with Hooks
- For your favorite medication… and jewelry: *TecQach Small Pill Box
- The ultimate phone mount for any car: Qifutan Car Phone Mount
What we looked at
- Reviews, reviews, reviews—if real-life travelers don’t love it, we don’t list it
- Quality of materials
- Long-term durability
- Packability—our products are light, small, and easy to ferret away in your suitcase
- Affordability
11 must-have travel products
*SARISUN Wrap-Around Head Pillow
Is it pretty? No. Will other passengers wonder how it works? Probably.
But I don’t care about my image on a long-haul flight… and especially not on a red-eye.
For years, travel pillows have tried and failed to support the neck and prevent poor posture while snoozing. Worst of all, taking a red-eye and not getting any sleep is one of the worst ways to start off a vacation.
Get the rest you need when you need it most with the SARISUN Wrap-Around Head Pillow.
*Unfortunately, these types of wrap-around head pillows won’t work on every flight. They only work when airlines offer those adjustable headrests. That being said, most longer flights include these types of headrests, meaning you’ll get to use the SARISUN when you need it most.
*Turtl Travel Pillow
Equally odd as the SARISUN, this scientifically studied sleep support has a cult-like following. This pillow wraps around your neck like a cozy little anaconda, letting you rest your head on its rigid insert.
Less neck strain = deeper sleep = more restful flights. While I’d prefer the SARISUN because it lets you avoid bending your neck, it won’t work for any flight. The Turtle Travel Pillow, on the other hand, is highly versatile.
You can use it to sleep on planes… or buses, trains, car rides, boat rides, hay rides, and more.
Twelve South Bluetooth Connector
Like the SARISUN wrap-around head pillow, this is a game-changer that I can believe wasn’t on the market before. The Twelve South Bluetooth Connector is a tiny device that you plug into a plane’s entertainment center.
Toggle a few buttons to pair your listening device, then forget about the passengers around you. Given how important headphones are for calmer trips, this is a fantastic solution for anyone who flies and is sick of those disposable airplane earbuds.
*Tile by Life360 Pro or Galaxy SmartTag2
If we’re putting chips in our dogs then why not use geo-locators for our luggage, too? While there’s a growing list of tech-forward luggage out there, just about any suitcase will do the trick so long as you can find it when your plane lands.
If you’re already using a Galaxy, the Galaxy SmartTag 2 will easily sync with your device. The Tile by Life360 Pro can be used for either Apple or Android products.
*INIU Portable Charger or *Anker Power Bank
Here’s the thing about portable charging banks—they’re useful but they tend to be heavy. I suggest bringing one of these along only if you think you’ll really need one.
The Anker Power Bank is great because of its compact size—seriously, it’ll fit in your pocket and you might forget it’s there. The INIU Portable Charger is also slim, but it’s a bit heavier, meaning you need to keep it in a bag.
*VYLEE Universal Travel Adapter
Worldwide, there are 15 different types of electrical sockets in use—and six of those you’ll find in European countries, along with another 11 in Asia.
My suggestion? Keep the VYLEE Universal Travel Adapter with you anytime your trip includes more than one country. That’s doubly true if you’re going on an extended, multi-month journey.
*BAGAIL Compression Packing Cubes
Packing cubes, at best, make it easier for you to find your panties when you’re in a jam. At their least effective, they’re aesthetic. But if you’re packing something in your suitcase, it should be immediately useful.
Forget the regular fodder of packing cubes and focus on options that actually compress your clothes, giving you more space to pack. The BAGAIL Compression Packing Cubes aren’t particularly cute (boo!), but they suck in a suitcase’s gut like a Victorian corset.
Did I mention they’re also water-resistant?
*BAGGU Standard Set of 3 Totes
Tiny bags have a big impact when you need them most. You probably won’t need all the totes sold in this BAGGU Standard Set of 3 Totes, but if you decide to toss them in at the last minute, they’ll take up hardly any space and not bog down your suitcase with added weight.
I’ve used them as last-minute carry-ons when I had to check my bag, grocery bags for snack shopping, and even as a blanket to sit on in filthy places.
*GaiaTop Mini Portable Fan
Do you need a portable fan? I would say no but my partner, and most other Americans, would probably say yes. If you’re prone to overheating and you’re vacationing in a warm climate (especially those with limited AC), having the GaiaTop Mini Portable Fan around can make a world of difference.
Nobody is happy when they’re sweating buckets and gasping for breath—especially not in a coffee shop in Rome on a European extravaganza.
Gaiatop is a great choice because it has a little lanyard that lets you strap it to any type of bag for easy carrying. It’s also lightweight and high-power, meaning you’ll get a lot of breeze for your buck—without weighing down your luggage.
*BAGSMART Toiletry Pack with Hooks
Each year, my toiletry bag grows. I’ve been shamed at multiple airports for the amount of liquids I have and I couldn’t care less. I need my toiletries—and I want them organized once I arrive at my rental or hotel.
Simply put, toiletry bags with hooks make it easy for you to wash your face in small bathrooms, put on makeup, do your skincare routine, and do whatever else you need to do.
I like the BAGSMART Toiletry Pack with Hooks for a few reasons. First, you can choose which size you need. Second, its modular packs are protected with a clear lining, letting you find what you need. Third, the large version is big enough for couples to pack their toiletries together.
*TecQach Small Pill Box
There are two reasons I like pill boxes—and one of them is slightly controversial. The main appeal of a pill box is to let you conveniently pack your favorite medications.
I won’t leave home without my trusted ibuprofen or fast-acting melatonin. Little pill boxes like the TecQach Small Pill Box make it easy to bring what I need without packing pill bottle after pill bottle.
Now onto my controversial take: pill boxes are also great for storing jewelry. I rarely bring along enough necklaces, earrings, or rings to warrant packing a separate jewelry box, which makes the TecQach pill boxes a two-for-one deal.
Plus, it has little removable separators so you can segment your pills (and gold hoops) more easily.
Qifutan Car Phone Mount
If you’re renting a car during your trip, you absolutely need a car phone mount. It’s really that easy. The Qifutan Car Phone Mount should be your first choice thanks to its adjustable arm. That means you can rig this bad boy in just about any type of car, from massive SUVs to cramped Fiats.
You can even mount them on the windshield if needed. With a solid suction cup base and a lock switch, you also don’t need to worry about the mount dislodging during bumpy rides.
