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.
1. A hanging toiletries bag capable of fitting all of your skin products, hair care, and makeup while taking up minimum room in your luggage. You can even hang it in your bathroom when there isn't enough counter space in those tiny cruise ship bathrooms.
Promising review: "This is a terrific cosmetic travel bag. It’s very compact but holds a lot. I’ve loved the hanging stying and my old one was falling apart. This is an even better — more sections and I like how the hanger tucks in and flaps that cover the compartments. Good design. The medium size is substantial for packing enough for a two or three-week trip." —Beverly Houwing
Get it from Amazon for $22.99+ (available in two sizes and 12 colors).
2. An Alleyoop makeup brush that's a foundation sponge, blush brush, eyeshadow brush, and eyeliner brush ALL IN ONE! Yes, you read that correctly — this SINGLE brush functions as FOUR different brushes. Simply unscrew the blush brush and sponge to reveal the eyeshadow and eyeliner brush underneath.
Alleyoop has many other multifunctional beauty products that cut out clutter and simplify routines, which will help make packing light a breeze.
Promising review: "I absolutely love this travel makeup brush and sponge combo! It's so convenient for when I'm on the go and need to touch up my makeup. The bristles are soft and the sponge is great for blending. Plus, it's compact and fits perfectly in my purse. I highly recommend it!" —Mary G. Murphy
Get it from Amazon for $27.98.
3. Chewable toothpaste tabs made to eliminate the need for a bulky toothpaste tube. Just pop the tab in your mouth and chew — the tab will then begin to foam just like normal toothpaste. These are compact and great to pack for carry-on only travelers since they're not liquid!
Promising review: "I left my fluoride toothpaste tube at home and used these tablets instead. No more worries about TSA looking in my bags! Clean, fresh taste. Works well with my electric toothbrush. Most of the time I used one tablet, but if I wanted to brush longer (after a spicy or smelly meal), I'd use two tablets. I like that these tablets dissolve well and have no aftertaste. Will buy again!" —javamama
Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in two flavors).
4. A universal travel adapter with four plugs built into a single unit that is compatible in over 150 countries, because nothing is worse than starting your vacay and realizing you didn't bring the correct plugs.
Promising review: "Just returned from the EU and UK and this proved out to be a hit. Being able to plug US items in and charge various travel items using USB and C in several countries with different plugs in one unit just worked perfectly and saved carry lots of different style plugs. I put into my carry-on with no security issues and as returning to the US was happy I did — could charge several items at once in the US airport (as well as UK and EU) upon arrival while waiting for the next flight. A great travel addition." —LJJJ
Get it from Amazon for $22.99+ (available in two colors).
5. A 4-in-1 pump dispenser that allows you to fill it with your favorite liquid products like shampoo and shower gel. With just a simple twist, you can easily alternate between your products, eliminating the need to bring multiple travel-sized bottles.
Promising review: "I loved this product because obviously I didn’t have to carry a lot of extra bottles with me. This actually made my life so much easier while traveling. You can just grab the GoBout and head to the shower. It was a 10-day trip and worked perfect for me. I even had some extra left. I can refill it anytime and I also use this to go to my gym and swimming." —Anisha Khatri
Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in five colors).
6. A carry-on backpack, which opens like a suitcase and is spacious enough to pack several days' worth of clothes for your getaway. Plus, it comes with packing cubes to get the absolute most out of your space.
Promising review: "I originally bought this bag for a vacation in Italy. We would be traveling a lot by train so I didn’t want a rolling suitcase and this bag fit enough for me for an entire week and I don’t pack light!! Absolutely love this bag and its function. Now I usually use this as my carry-on every time I travel!" —wade
Get it from Amazon for $39.99 (available in five colors).
7. A compressed towel tab which may look small, but transforms into a full-sized towel. Perfect for packing light on camping trips or keeping in your beach bag. Use it to freshen up after a dip in the lake or dry off after hiking in the rainforest.
Promising review: "I got this for my Cancun trip. Wasn’t expecting much but this definitely exceeded expectations. It’s actually very tiny and after you put a bit of water it is a whole full-size towel! I say this is great for travel due to the size and ease of use! I would recommend just having this in the house just in case anyhow." —YC
Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in two sizes).
8. A compression bag with the power to easily roll up your clothes and pack them tightly, reducing their overall size and freeing up valuable space in your luggage. You'll be amazed at how much you can be able to fit — you'll feel like a Tetris master!
Promising review: "Where have these things been all my life? The space these things save is great for long-term storage and even traveling. They work with your own vacuum as well as the vacuum pump provided. I have nothing but good things to say about these things. Easily fit a week's worth of clothes into a backpack...we all know checking in items for a flight can be a bit pricey. Wife got the entire checked bag to herself. Worth it!" —Ismael Perez
Get a 12-pack from Amazon for $15.99.
9. A body-wash-infused sponge that'll effortlessly save space by eliminating the need for separate shower gel containers or bar soap. Simply add water and squeeze to release the soap.
Promising review: "This is so easy to travel with and then throw away at the end of the trip, this making room for an additional souvenir (haha). The scent was good, it didn’t dry out my skin and it came with a nice travel bag. My only complaint is the travel bag for it allows for the wet/dampness to soak through as it’s some type of mesh. I solved that problem by keeping this in a Ziploc bag when I changed locations on my trip." —Tamia
Get a three-pack from Amazon for $16.59+ (available in two scents).
10. A collapsible water bottle designed to free up so much space in your personal bag when going on excursions, which will have you feeling light and free while on the go.
Promising review: "It was perfect for what I wanted it for. I went to San Francisco and knew I'd be walking a lot so this was very convenient to carry around. It collapses perfectly and comes with a clip that is strong enough to hang on a backpack and walk around all day. I recommend it for trips so you're not consistently having to buy water bottles." —Reyna
Get it from Amazon for $12.98+ (available in five colors).
11. A weekender bag with a main garment compartment, shoe compartment, AND inner pockets for toiletries to effortlessly fit all you need for a two-week long trip. Perfect for the carry-on-only travelers who refuse to check a bag, because there is literally no need.
Promising review: "I purchased this bag when I had to go on a few conferences for work. I highly recommend this. I was able to take my jackets and dresses and all my extra clothes in the middle. The shoe bag came in handy. None of my clothes got dirty. It was easy to manage and slid right in to the overhead bins on the plane. The color was easy to spot. Just tie a scarf on the handle if you plan on checking it." —Nilsa
Get it from Amazon for $66.99 (available in six patterns).
12. A cable organizer bag that helps save valuable space by keeping all of your cables and electronic accessories in one compact place.
Promising review: "Perfect for travel. All my cords, extra cell phone, and portable battery charger and ear buds fit just fine. Husband was frustrated finding and pulling out cords from luggage even when trying to be organizes. Got home and bought him his own." —Amazon Customer
Get from Amazon for $10.39+ (available in 11 colors).
13. A cute travel belt to secure your personal item to the top of your carry-on luggage — handy for people who are determined to carry on all their stuff and not check a bag.
Cincha is a BIPOC-owned business run by couple Ash and James.
Promising review: "This is a traveling game changer! So easy to clip on and off, and your tote bag stays snug when it is clipped in. Don’t know how I survived traveling before this amazing belt!" —Katie
Get it from Cincha for $39.99 (available in 16 patterns).
14. A multifunctional diaper bag with a built-in changing mat, insulated bottle pocket, and plenty of compartments to keep everything organized while exploring on vacay. This diaper bag is so compact yet spacious, you won't have to stress about "squeezing in just one more thing" before heading out on your excursion.
Promising review: "I’ve so far been so unbelievably happy with this diaper bag, of all the ones I’ve looked through this was the most perfect! Not to mention I glossed over the fact that it literally turns into a mini crib!! The insulated bottle slots are so adorable and it’s definitely not lacking in space! I was as well impressed by the wipe dispenser pocket! All in all, I’ve been thoroughly baffled and impressed by this bag, 110/10 recommend!" —Megan
Get it from Amazon for $28.89 (available in nine colors)
15. A refillable perfume atomizer that pumps perfume directly from your full-sized bottle. Now you can still take your favorite fragrance without your bags being weighed down by heavy perfume bottles.
Promising review: "Had high hopes for these and was not disappointed! We travel by air a lot and anything that takes the size of a full container is fantastic. Rather than taking an entire bottle of cologne or perfume, these slip into my wife’s purse or even a pocket or backpack. Easy to use, worked on every bottle we tried so hopefully the same for you. Highly recommended!" —Cosmicpapa
Get a set of four from Amazon for $6.99 (available in four color combinations).
16. A pill organizer equipped with eight compartments to keep all of your medications organized without the weight of bulky pill bottles slowing you down on your adventures.
Promising review: "I’ve had these for about a year and I’ve used them on multiple trips. They are excellent for travel. The inside does come out so be careful with overloading. Was excellent for my family of six; we used one for kids' medicine and one for adults." —Matthew J. Norrid
Get a set of three from Amazon for $8.99.
17. A cooler backpack perfect for a beach day or road trip, because it keeps all your food and beverages cool without the need for a giant cooler. A great space-saving option!
Promising review: "Took this on a flight to an oceanfront condo. We didn’t rent a car, so I knew I’d have to haul beverages from the local store. We are a high-volume beverage couple, so we were going to have to restock frequently. Carrying a 12-pack can get heavy after a block or two. I used this as my personal item on the flight, packing my quart-size bag of liquids, my sippy cup, iPad, etc. it was easy to strap onto my suitcase when walking through the airport, lightweight and great number of storage compartments. Once at the condo, we went to the local store. It EASILY fits a 12-pack and a two-liter bottle. It handled the weight easily and was comfortable to carry. It would absolutely handle more items too. We did fill it with ice and beer and it kept everything cold for the day. I didn’t notice any leaks on mine, but it seemed to struggle to stand in its own unless you have it loaded properly. I highly recommend this. Tempted to buy a backup now lol." —Heidi Johns
Get it from Amazon for $35.32+ (available in four colors).
18. A retractable toilet that folds up when not in use, leaving more room for other important things like snacks and gear. Plus, it's super handy when nature calls and there is no bathroom in sight.
Promising review: "First off, this is not supposed to be a regular toilet...if that is what you are looking for then it's not for you. It is meant for camping or car emergencies. I love the concept of it being adjustable because when used in a car you can put it in a lower setting and not be hitting the roof of the car, hunched over and no one knows your using it. I got it for long-distance travel because finding a restroom, much less a clean one, is a challenge. It collapses easily to leave stored in the car. I looked so long for one with this concept....best money spent!" —Gail
Get it from Amazon for $39.99 (available in two colors).
19. Laundry detergent sheets so you can wash and re-wear clothes and not have to pack as many. Bonus points for saving money on hotel laundry services!
Promising review: "I brought several sheets of this detergent on my international trip. I put them in a Ziploc sandwich bag in my carry-on luggage. They made hand- washing of my garments very easy — quickly became sudsy water when washing out travel clothes and rinsed out easily." —Mslamama
Get it from Amazon for $19.95 (available in two scents).
20. A set of functional Cadence containers to hold a variety of items such as medication, small jewelry, and skincare in minimal space. These magnetic containers connect together so no need to worry about them getting lost, and they come with labeled tiles so you know what's inside each jar.
Cadence is a women-owned small business.
Promising review: "Extremely well made, zero leakage after four flights in two weeks, only thing I realized is that I'll need the extenders for some of my capsules for trips longer than three days (shampoo and face wash especially). Also note that I would pull them out in TSA lines - the magnets get flagged and they'll open your suitcase." —Brook B.
Get a set of six from Cadence for $76 (originally $84; available in eight colors)
21. A 4-in-1 power kit that is a must-have for any road trip. This compact device is a portable charger, air pump, jump starter, and built-in flashlight all in one, saving up a TON of room in your vehicle.
Promising review: "Easy and accurate tire inflation, along with the ability to jump start a car makes this a must-have tool. I was very pleased with the ability to inflate my tires while traveling when the low pressure indicator came on without having to spend time and travel a great distance to find an air pump and the ability to jumpstart the car if needed is a relief when traveling." —John K.
Get it from Amazon for $129.99.
22. A set of six compression packing cubes to maximize space-saving by squishing everything down, leaving plenty of room for souvenirs. Not only do they save space, but also keep you organized in the process by knowing what is what in each cube.
Promising review: "When I travel, I try my best to always use a carry-on. I always panic or end up having to take clothes out because they don't always fit. On this trip, I carried a 20" roller and I used the TWO medium sized cubes and fit: four pairs of leggings, one pair of jeans, two pairs of shorts, two T-shirt dresses, two long dresses, five shirts, six pairs of undies, two bras. I even had enough room for my toiletries bag (which I normally have to carry in my backpack) AND my hair straightener and curling wand!!" —Lanie
Get a set of six from Amazon for $24.99 (available in eight colors)
23. A pair of cute foldable flats for when the sightseeing tour involved a bit more walking than you planned. These flats are compact enough to fit in your personal bag while out exploring.
The reviews used in this post have been edited for length and clarity.