These 34 Travel Products That May Cost A Little Extra But Will Be *Totally* Worth It On Your Next Trip
1. A Trtl neck pillow that's 10 times more comfortable than those cheap, flimsy pillows you buy at the airport minutes before your flight. It's designed to keep your head in a comfortable position the entire time you snooze, which means no painful bobble-heading.
I've used this for the past few years and swear by it! Before this, I always found traditional neck pillows uncomfortable and would end up ditching them halfway through the flight and getting frustrated. The Trtl pillow is adjustable — you wrap the pillow around your neck and secure it with Velcro, and if you find it's too loose, just make it a bit tighter! I've truly never slept better on a plane than with this pillow.
Get it from Amazon for $39.99 (available in three colors).
2. Or a twistable memory foam pillow you can contour to fit any sleeping situation you find yourself in during traveling. It's especially great for long road trips!
Promising review: "Most travel neck pillows make me feel completely overwhelmed, and this is especially great for those with shorter necks. It gives you control and once you get the positioning that you prefer, it is really comfortable and provides the right support in the right places. Also, (and this was a selling point in the beginning,) having used this on several long-haul flights, I loved that after each trip, I could easily unzip the cover and throw it in the wash." —ltny
Get it from Amazon for $21.24+ (available in three colors).
3. An AirFly Pro wireless transmitter that you can plug into the TV screen on the airplane so you can actually use your wireless earbuds and not have to shell out extra cash to buy those wired headphones they sell on the plane.
You can even pair two sets of headphones at once to the AirFly!
Promising review: "Ever since I purchased my wireless Bose earbuds, I always hated having to use another set when I was on an airplane with the seat-back entertainment system. I tried many different models to connect the system to my Bluetooth headsets until I came across this one, and it is amazing! It seamlessly connects to my headset, very clear and reliable audio, and it takes the stress away from having to carry multiple headsets! Thank you!!!" —Ryan Malloy
Get it from Amazon for $32.99.
4. A Dagne Dover duffle bag roomy enough to carry all of your necessities but small enough to fit under the seat in front of you. Anything that can help you avoid fighting over overhead bin space is a win in my book!
BuzzFeed's Emma McAnaw says: "My Dagne Dover duffle fits soooooo much more than it seems (especially when you fight to the death to fit everything like I do), and it's a super easy carry-on! I just put it under the seat so I don't have to fight people to get the overhead bin space. Also, I've gotten away with bringing it for free on airlines that try to charge for carry-ons because it looks so small."
Get it from Dagne Dover for $110+ (available in five sizes and seven colors) or from Nordstrom for $110+ (available in multiple varieties here).
5. Or this leather duffle bag to match the refined, worldly traveler that you are. With a huge main compartment plus extra pockets on the side and front, this durable bag has enough room to comfortably fit a week's worth of clothes!
Promising review: "So worth the money!! I have been searching for a nice leather duffel bag. I have found a few that I wanted to buy but couldn't bring myself to pay $300–$400 for one right now. I figured I'd check Amazon and came across this bag. I read all the great reviews and figured why not? I was skeptical though because the bag was under $100. Let me tell you every review is spot on. Such a nice bag. Big too. I'm in love with it. This company does a great job. Quality stitching, leather, zippers, etc. Don't hesitate; it's well worth the money!!!" —john
Get it from Amazon for $69.99+ (available in four sizes).
6. A travel belt for attaching your heavy purse or backpack to the top of your rolling suitcase so you can give your body some relief as you rush through the airport.
The travel belt is adjustable to 38 inches to fit most bags. The belt itself is vegan leather with elastic accents and a quick-release buckle.
Cincha Travel is a small business in California that develops adjustable travel belts made out of vegan leather. The brand donates 100 airline miles for each purchase, which are used to reconnect separated migrant families.
Promising review: "Love this! I am constantly struggling between holding my jacket and two carry-ons. This is the perfect solution! I can’t wait to start using it when I’m back to regular business travel." —Allison
Get it from Cincha Travel for $40 (available in 12 colors; can be monogrammed for an additional $17).
7. An airplane footrest — it's one of those travel products that might seem silly at first, but once you realize how comfortable you are while using it, you'll wish you'd bought it years ago.
Promising review: "My feet never touch the floor when I sit on airplane seats. For short flights, this is bearable, but I have been in misery on longer rides. I used this sling during a trip to Thailand from east coast USA and it made the trip so much better. Between this sling and a pair of compression stockings, I survived 26 hours of consecutive flight with no swelling or pain. It's easy to use with any tray table or back-of-seat pocket. It folds up small enough into its pouch that I could carry it in my hand luggage, and it takes up about the same space as a set of over-the-ear headphones." —Holbytla
Get it from Amazon for $21.99 (available in three colors).
8. A waterproof Kindle Paperwhite — now you can keep as many books as you want at your fingertips instead of having to lug around heavy hardcovers when you travel. Plus: the glare-free screen makes it great for beach reading.
Promising review: "I will start by saying this is my fifth Kindle, so I’ve been using Kindles for many years. I can honestly say this is now my favorite ever. Loving the larger screen. I never noticed much difference from my previous Kindle editions before until this one. More text fitting into the larger screen is great for larger fonts. Also love the faster page turns. This was something I noticed immediately after turning it on. The Kindle just works faster on page turns and this makes a big difference for me. The screen color is great. As you can see the color of the new Kindle 11th generation seems less white. At first I thought I would not like this, but I find this color is easier on my eyes. You can also adjust the automatic warmth color. I love this so much especially when I’m reading at night. USB-C charging is fast. I can’t tell on the battery life yet but it charges a lot faster than my previous Kindles." —Lorena Frith
Get it from Amazon for $139.99+ (available with or without ads).
Check out our full review of the Kindle Paperwhite here.
9. A bar (or five) of natural, plastic-free solid shampoo that is small enough to fit into any toiletry bag and will last you multiple trips. And you don't have to worry about your shampoo leaking in your bag!
Promising review: "I was definitely skeptical about a bar shampoo and conditioner, but I travel a lot and really wanted to cut down the use of plastic products as much as possible. I honestly am in love! I got the Heali Kiwi shampoo bar and the Wonderbar conditioner, as well as one of their eco-friendly bamboo and sugar cane storage containers, and my very long, fine oily hair, which I do have to wash daily looks and feels great. I recommend anyone on the fence to definitely give it a try! It works! So wonderful for travel too!" —M.A.
Get it from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in 12 scents).
10. A lock that uses fingerprint recognition so you can be extra sure no one can break into your luggage. Plus: you'll feel like a cool secret agent every time you use it.
You can also use this on your backpack or even at a gym locker.
Promising review: "This lock comes with excellent directions and it's very easy to use. At times, I need to wipe the fingerprint sensor for it to read my fingerprint, but not so much where it's a hassle. My wife and I share this lock between us and we love it. It's so much easier than remembering a combination or having to have an extra key." —Ron Andres
Get it from Amazon for $33.99 (also available with Bluetooth).
11. A Canon PowerShot digital camera if you're looking to step up your photography game but don't want to get a big, bulky professional camera that takes up too much space in your luggage. Reviewers say they're super impressed with how high-quality their travel photos turned out when using this.
Promising review: "Took a lot of amazing photos on my trips to Poland, Jordan, and Idaho. Great zoom, lowlight, and bright pics, and action shots. The tilting screen is an AMAZING feature and helped me get some interesting angles. The NFC transfer is great for getting the photos off my camera onto my phone for sharing. This is the best point and shoot I have ever used and I think 3 people on my last trip went home and sold their DLSRs and got this camera for its high-quality photos and portability." —Joy Hardt
Get it from Amazon for $629.
12. A collapsible water bottle that can be rolled up to a super small size so it won't take up precious cargo space when it's not full.
Promising review: "Well this is the coolest thing ever! I travel quite a bit, and I usually don't take a bottle with me because they are big and bulky, and I usually lose it! This collapsible water bottle is a perfect traveling accessory. It stays collapsed until after security, and then I fill it up for the trip. It's a good size and fits in my side compartment in my travel backpack and the cap screws in securely so I don't have to worry about it opening accidentally and spilling all over the place. I follow the instructions on how to clean it and it works just fine." —M. Lyons
Get it from Amazon for $34.95 (available in seven colors).
13. A six-port wall charger in case you're stuck in a hotel room with only one easily accessible outlet but you and your travel buddies need to charge all your electronic devices. Also great to use at a crowded airport when your phone, headphones, and computer all happen to be dying at the same time.
Seriously though — why aren't there more outlets in hotel rooms?! Something I'll never understand.
Promising review: "This is a great product! I travel frequently, and I am always challenged with the number of USB ports I can get with the number of outlets available (and where) in hotel rooms. With this product, the number of ports problem goes away, and what's great is that it extends the charger interface out from behind a bed or nightstand, or other inconvenient receptacle location, up onto a work surface for easy access. As far as power, I have had an ASUS transformer, two iPads, HTC one M8, and two iPhones connected to it at the same time, charging for hours with no heat on the device whatsoever. It works great at home too. I have always had good luck with Anker products, good quality." —bishop
Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in black or white).
14. A set of three hard-shell spinner suitcases that can be maneuvered through a busy airport just by pushing them instead of dragging them behind you. Also: they're sturdy enough that you can be confident while checking your bags that they'll come out without any damage.
Promising review: "We took the 24" and 28" suitcases on our vacation to Portugal and they survived wonderfully. Cobblestone streets and sidewalks, three-story stairs in a historic guest house, three-level stairs from one street to another below, two different airport transfers round trip, Lisbon subways, and regional trains. A few scrapes and scuffs but intact and waiting for the next adventure!" —Bob C.
Get the set from Amazon for $199.99 (available in five colors).
15. A portable espresso maker so you never have to go without your morning caffeine as you hit the road. Also: you'll be saving so much money in the long run by skipping a trip to the coffee shop.
Promising review: "This works so well for camping for a quick coffee craving! Took this camping over the weekend and used it a few times at the office. Depending on the grinds you use, it's good for a light single espresso shot or if you reuse the same grinds and purge three capfuls of water through the filter, you'll get a full cup of coffee. Works great without lugging a glass press around in your backpacking or camp gear! Easy to clean and store away with the retractable priming handle." —WallyMonkey
Get it from Amazon for $54.90.
16. A clear travel case that lets you see all of your toiletries at once, which comes in handy when you're headed straight to dinner after a long flight and are frantically trying to find your dry shampoo and mascara.
It's TSA-approved!
Truffle is a women-owned small business specializing in bags and accessories that are perfect for travel and prevent the utilization of single-use plastic bags.
Promising review: "I love the items I purchased in Dove Grey! I will be buying the rest of the collection and more! Not only am I using them for travel, but for everyday use. Very stylish and great for organization!" —Cassandra S.
Get it from Truffle for $58+ (available in three sizes and five colors).
17. Or a hanging toiletry bag so roomy, you'll be amazed at how you can fit your entire skincare routine, makeup, and hair products in it and still have room to spare.
Promising review: "Seriously?! Do you see how much this holds?! Full shampoo bottles, face washes, hair brush...everything I could need or want to bring, FITS IN THIS ONE BAG! And it’s so cute! Feels like great quality too — all the hardware came with protective wraps to keep from scratching and the zippers feel very hardy. The hook at the top is also VERY WELL SECURED to the bag, it’s double stitched to the top panel and almost feels like seatbelt material. And I love the extra pockets and netting inside. I would absolutely recommend this!" —mahea_c
Get it from Amazon for $25.99+ (available in six colors).
18. A travel adapter and voltage converter because nothing's worse than traveling overseas and realizing every electronic and hair appliance won't fit into the plugs. Thankfully, this can convert American plug-ins in more than 150 countries.
There are also four USB ports. It converts 220/240V to 110/120V.
Promising review: "Worked perfectly on a recent trip to England and France. I used it to power a Macbook Air, a Windows laptop, 2 iPhones, and 2 portable chargers. I like the design of the case. The form factor is so much sleeker than most of the other travel transformers available. One thing I didn't realize when I ordered it (because I was in a hurry and didn't read the specs thoroughly) is that this device has a fan to dissipate heat from stepping down the voltage. While the fan is not extremely loud, neither is it silent. I found it a pleasant source of white noise that actually helped me sleep at night, but you might not." —Lake Mist
Get it from Amazon for $39.98.
19. An airline-approved travel bag to safely transport your pup through the airport and on your flight. It's lined with a sherpa fabric that will keep your dog so safe and comfortable, they might just snooze inside it the entire time you're traveling.
Promising review: "After extensive research on flying dogs in a carrier, I found the perfect carrier. I was nervous that this would be too big to take my dog on as a carry-on. I flew from Kansas City, Missouri to New York, New York (a three-hour flight) with my corgi who had never flown before. The bag made it through security just fine (Southwest Airlines). When testing different dog carriers at the pet store, my little guy would cry every time we put him in one. He actually did well on this flight and didn't whine too much. Had to train him beforehand of course. We knew he would be using this carrier for more than just flights since we moved to NYC. He does well with it now and rides on the train in it all the time. The carrier is sturdy and built with quality. Highly recommend it." –Emily Ngo
Get it from Amazon for $32.23+ (available in three sizes and three colors).
20. A PhoneSoap Smartphone Sanitizer & Universal Charger because I don't even want to THINK about all the microscopic grossness our phones pick up while we're traveling. The UV light in the gadget kills 99.99% of all bacteria on your phone's surface.
Promising review: "What a perfect gadget for getting your phone clean. After touching who knows what while commuting to work and it being that time of year everyone around you gets sick, this comes in handy. After the first use, it looked great and then I wiped it down with the sponge that came with it. I feel so much better about using my phone now." —Crystal Gardner
Get it from Amazon for $69.99+ (available in six colors).
21. A portable safe if you're worried about your valuables and you know your accommodations won't have a safe for you to access. It's also great when you're going to the beach and want to take a dip in the ocean without worrying that your stuff will get stolen.
Promising review: "This safe has become a MUST have on all our vacations. We no longer travel without it. We put two iPhones, cash, and car keys in this little safe, locked it to a beach cabana, threw a towel over it and took off for a hour of snorkeling. Never once worried about our belongings. We now use several of these as room safes AND as 'hide a key' lockboxes outside our vacation condo for teens who come and go throughout the day. They are invaluable!" —KeepIT Reel
Get it from Amazon for $21.88+ (available in two colors).
22. A Pocket Blanket capable of folding up so small, it can literally fit in the palm of your hand. It's perfect to take on flights, but you'll also want to take it along this waterproof blanket on any outdoorsy trip — it has tethered corner stakes, so it'll stay put no matter how windy it gets.
Matador is a small business that creates innovative, durable, and long-lasting travel and outdoor products, and in fact, the Pocket Blanket was the first product they ever created.
I have this blanket and it really, truly fits in your pocket! When folded completely out, it fits two people lying down and would probably fit up to four people sitting. It's super thin without being flimsy, and any water, dirt, or sand just rolls right off of it. I did get some sunscreen on my blanket the last time I used it, but I threw it in the washing machine when I got home and hung it to dry and it was as good as new. I took this to the beach this summer, and the stakes in the corner and the sand pockets were super helpful at keeping it from flying away in the wind. It also has a very subtle stitched guide on the blanket that you follow to fold it back up to pocket-sized. This blanket is so great and is a must for spontaneous hiking trips, beach days, or even a date in the park.
Get it from Amazon for $35.99 (available in two colors).
23. A pair of AirPods Pro any traveler will fall in love with instantly, whether it's because of the charging case that holds 24 hours worth of charge, the impressive noise-cancelling technology, or the in-ear fit that will stay put even if you fall asleep while wearing them on a plane (speaking from experience here!).
Promising review: "I wish I could give more than five stars. I’m a very picky person when it comes to what sounds are flooding my ears and I tell you, I’ve owned Bose and thought those were the game changers. I was more than pleasantly surprised at how these sound and fit. I’ve never used any Apple products in my ears, especially with the price of Apple nowadays. These are hands down the best ear buds I’ve ever owned! They stay perfectly in place through some rigorous working out as well!" —Renee N. Fregy
Get it from Amazon for $197.
24. A sleep mask perfect for the times when your seat neighbor refuses to pull down the window blind when you're trying to snooze. The smart design features contoured cups that don't put any pressure on your eyes, making your slumber so much more pleasant.
Promising review: "I’ve been using this mask for over a week now, and I must say that it’s the best mask I’ve ever used yet. I have used a sleep mask every night for... probably the last nine years, and it’s the most comfortable one I’ve ever used. I love the strap. No Velcro to get caught in your hair! It’s got adjustable wide elastic that is soft and comfortable. Not the stiff stuff! The mask has nice memory foam in it which cushions your face when sleeping on your side. It has nice deep eye pockets so there is never any pressure on your eyes or eyelashes, which I love. Overall, this is the best mask I’ve ever had. It’s made so well; I feel pampered in it." —DePlume
Get it from Amazon for $16.99 (available in five colors).
25. Color-coordinated packing cubes that make the dreaded act of packing for a trip so much easier. You'll be so amazed at how much you can put in your suitcase when you use these!
Promising review: "These little things are the bomb! I would highly recommend using packing cubes. I always thought they might be just an extra thing to deal with, but let me tell you they helped me so much on my recent trip to Scotland. We were gone for 14 days and had a limited amount of luggage that we could take. In addition we were staying at different places and traveling throughout the country. Separating your items into these little cubes really made me feel like I got more packed into my bag. Who knew something so simple could make such a difference!" —Tammy L. Kilgore
Get a set of six from Amazon for $17.99+ (available in 11 colors).
26. A pair of compression socks that give sweet relief to anyone who suffers from plantar fasciitis thanks to the great arch support. If you're planning a vacation that includes a lot of walking, you'll definitely want to throw these socks in your suitcase!
Promising review: "I'm dealing with falling arches and one foot attempting to develop a heel spur. I had some travel coming up that was likely to involve a good bit of walking, so in addition to trying to make sure I had decent shoes, I thought some compression socks might be a nice addition to my travel bag. I was pleased to find this toe-less variety, as I'd heard of compression socks causing toe problems. I'm really happy to say the fit and comfort on these is perfect — in addition to being large, my feet also have pretty sensitive skin on top and these socks don't bother me even after several hours of wear. I've even slept wearing them with no irritation! They also definitely make my feet feel better; soon after I put them on, my aches and pains will fade off (not always completely but always noticeably!) and my feet are much happier. I was glad to have them on my trip, and I really enjoy wearing them around the house after a tiring day." —A. Phillips
Get them from Amazon for $10.95+ (available in four sizes and nine colors).
27. A curling iron/straightener so you don't have to schlep around two separate hair appliances every time you travel. Anything that can help you cut down on your packing list is a serious win!
Promising review: "I really like this curler and flat iron. Heats up fast, cools fast, and the travel bag is perfect with the inside protected from the heat. Size is great and the end of the iron has a place for fingers not to burn. Very much worth the price to have flat iron and curling in one." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $41.37+ (available in two colors).
28. A charger organizer big enough to keep every single cable, adapter, and pair of headphones in one place. It won't solve the problem of why we need a different charger for EVERY device we own, but it WILL make you a more organized traveler.
Mister Crafter is a small business that creates handmade, personalizable travel products, wallets, and accessories made from 100% top-quality genuine cowhide leather.
Promising review: "I bought this for my husband before a trip and he loved it! The quality and durability were obvious the moment I took it out of the box. Definitely recommend this company and product." —Maureen Murphy-Weiss
Get it from Mister Crafter on Etsy for $39.80+ (available in two sizes and two colors; personalization also available).
29. A seat cushion to keep your bum and back feeling great all day long, even after a cross-country red-eye or a 12-hour road trip.
Promising review: "This cushion is wonderful! I ordered two of these, one for me and one for my husband, before taking a long trip in our motorhome. I've been using mine almost daily for a month now and it truly takes away my low back pain while sitting on it. My main purpose was to use it while traveling, now I take it any place that I'll be sitting on hard surfaces or for extended periods. Some said it didn't fit them properly or raised them up too high, I have no complaints, only praise! My husband likes his as well. Says it gives him more support and comfort while driving." —Pat F
Get it from Amazon for $34.95 (available in three colors).
30. A sun visor as stylish as it is effective at getting the sun out of your face. Plus: it's packable and retains its shape, even after being shoved into your luggage. Make sure to snag it before your next beach vacation!
The wide brim provides much more UV protection than regular caps!
Promising review: "I have long hair and always avoided hats because I hate having my hair sweating against my neck in a low bun or ponytail. With this sun visor-summer hat combo, I can keep my hair in a top knot and still keep my face and neck protected from the sun while catching a nice breeze. This is perfect (although a little large in circumference and I have a big head 7 3/4 hat size) and it’s adjustable and can fit any head size. It rolls up well and has an elastic to keep it rolled. I’ll be recommending this item to all my friends!" —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in 14 colors).
31. A portable charger that can hold around five full charges for your cellphone. It has two USB ports, so you could even charge two devices at once. Never be with a dead electronic device again!
Promising review: "This is honestly the nicest power bank I’ve ever owned. It’s design is stunning, the tiny texture provides a nice feeling holding it, and it’s one of the quicker 20,000 mAh chargers (receiving and delivering power). I love that it accepts usb-c charging and that it has two out ports. I bought it because I love attending music festivals and needed the extra battery life, which this is perfect for!" –Andrew
Get it from Amazon for $59.99+ (available in two colors).
32. A set of decibel-reducing noise-canceling earplugs for drowning out the sound of crying babies, the flight's loud jet engine noise, and even your seat neighbor snoring like a freight train.
Promising review: "These are genius little ear plugs. After a transcontinental flight across the US and various shorter flights of two to four hours over the last six months, I can say that these little plugs are the most comfortable I have ever found. They're even more comfortable than foamies. These plugs dull necessary sound less than foamies, so I hear better without all the noise. My ears are comfortable the entire flight. I've never seen anything better, and I’ve been flying for 50 years." –Oldma
Get them from Amazon for $26.95.
33. A passport cover with a special slot that'll perfectly fit your vaccination card, because these are two items you definitely don't want to lose while traveling.
This Australia-based small business creates personalized leather goods that are handmade by designer and owner Igor.
Promising review: "Perfect for holding our passport and vaccination card! Heading to Europe this summer and it’s perfect to keep everything together....great quality!!" —Samantha Jewett
Get it from EvtodiCom on Etsy for $19.90+ (available in personalized or non-personalized options, and four colors).
34. A travel-size steamer for the times you pull out a shirt from your suitcase and find it covered in wrinkles. This powerful tool heats super fast so you'll have wrinkle-free clothes in less than five minutes!
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Promising review: "I’ve had it for a few months now and I couldn’t be more happy with it. I travel a lot for work and it is the perfect size for my carry-on suit case, and it works great. It’s easier and faster to steam my shirts than having to iron them like I was doing before I got the steamer." —David Trejo
Get it from Amazon for $29.97.
Now you can rest assured knowing you'll be the most prepared, organized traveler on your next flight:
Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.
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