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31 Products To Help You Become The Carry-On-Only Traveler You’ve Always Dreamed Of Being This Fall

You’ve got places to be, leaves to peep, and not enough money to splurge for checked luggage.

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by Danielle Healy BuzzFeed Contributor

I am a contributor and former BuzzFeed Shopping editor who loves finding new problem-solving products, zero-waste swaps, and home organization hacks.

1. A helpful "Pack this!" checklist because sometimes the biggest travel headache is figuring out what to bring. This should help you figure out exactly what you need ahead of time so you can avoid spur-of-the-moment overpacking.

Amazon

Promising review: "I am a list maker. This helps identify all the important things to take/prepare for a trip so you don't miss something important. Love it!" —A. Keating

Get it from Amazon for $10. 

2. A pair of slip-on quick-dry water shoes with sock-like flexibility to get that barefoot feel without that barefoot vulnerability. Plus, the low profile makes them easy to pack since we know shoe space is limited, to say the least. 

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "I have very wide feet and these fit well. I used them to walk to the beach on a short gravel trail as well as on the beach. They also worked fine on the rocky shore. These are very light, thin, and easy to pack." —Kindle Customer

Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in women's sizes 4–13.5, men's sizes 3–12, and seven colors/patterns).  

3. Some Tide sink packets each loaded with the perfect amount of detergent for washing those salty bathing suits and dirty undies, so you can avoid overstuffing your suitcase even on multi-week excursions. 

www.amazon.com

Each pack comes with three packets, and they're tiny enough to easily slide into the side of any toiletry bag.

Promising review: "I have taken these packets on travels worldwide. They are small and fit in my bag. They are good for a wash in a sink or wash bag... Glad to have them. They don't leak either." —Barbara Jefferson

Get a three-count from Amazon for $4.45 (also available in multipacks and two scents).

4. Plus, a 6-foot travel clothesline that'll make drying your freshly cleaned laundry right in the hotel room a straightforward affair that doesn't involve draping wet clothes over every square inch of available space. You don't even need clothespins — just hang the clothes between the braided cords.

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "This works much better than I’d anticipated. It’s half the weight of the previous system I used. It’s easy to attach, and clothes don’t fall off." —Beth

Get it from Amazon for $12.99. 

5. A plastic-free Color Cream Multi-Stick for a lightweight, buildable wash of color wherever you need it. Lips, cheeks, lids! This all-in-one product won't bog down your makeup bag and is perfect to bring for on-the-go touch-ups  

Axiology

I have like three of these. Been using and loving the multisticks as my primary blush/lippie for years. I love how easy it is to take with you for touchups, and it's so easy to work with for a chronically rushed, running-late gal like myself. Caring for the cardboard packaging takes an element of learned finesse, but it's a worthy trade-off imo, and you get used to it. It last foreverrrr, so I promise the price is well worth the investment (three great products in one!!). 

Get it from Axiology for $28 (available in 12 colors). 

6. A set of durable packing cubes because it's time to *accept* your tendency to overpack instead of against it. Simply follow the packing directions, and each cube will pleasantly surprise you with how much it can hold. Not to mention the sheer joy of being able to find the right outfit without tearing apart your entire pack job. 

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Set includes: 1 XL Cube, 1 L Cube, 1 M Cube, 1 S Cube, 1 Shoe Bag, 1 Laundry Bag, 1 Toiletry Bag, 1 Accessories Bag (Passport Wallet)

Promising review: "An amazing set for its price. Helped me save enough space in my carry-on luggage for a week-long international trip. No issues with durability so far." —Vi

Get an eight-piece set from Amazon for$16.99+ (also available in a 9- and10-piece set and in 17 colors).

7. And a vacuum-free space-saving compression bagto significantly compress your clothes by sucking out all the air — seriously, no vacuum required! These are designed for travel, so all you have to do is fill up a bag and roll it out to release air through the built-in valves. 

Emma Lord / BuzzFeed

BuzzFeed Shopping editor Emma Lord has had major success with these:

"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 made a habit of taking them with me in case other people joining me on trips needed 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."

Get a set of eight from Amazon for $17.28. 

8. A refillable travel perfume atomizer for a quick and easy way to transport your favorite scents, so you don't have to spend your whole vacay not smelling like your best self. 

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Using the atomizer is easy: Simply unscrew the cap to your perfume bottle, place the perfume nozzle into the hole at the bottom of the atomizer, and pump the perfume inside.

Promising review: "This product is great for smaller bags or for going on vacation. It works well and hasn't leaked. I've had these for about a year now and would still get more. They look exactly like the photos and work well. Would get again." —Angelena

Get a four-pack from Amazon for $6.99+ (also available in a five-pack and seven color combos).

9. A heavy-dutylaundry bag with a built-in travel pouch that makes it easy to deal with stinky socks and other not-so-fresh linens without any inner carry-on cross-contamination. 

www.amazon.com

Just stuff them in and squeeze to release the extra air!

Promising review: "As a frequent traveler, this bag has been great for packing dirty laundry on the return trip home. It will hold much more than I usually put in it and compresses nicely in the suitcase. I toss it in the washer along with the clothes, and it has held up for well over a year now." —Kindle Reader

Get it from Amazon for $10+ (available in two styles). 

10. An all-in-one international travel adapter so you don't show up in a new country with no way to charge your phone — no matter where you go — since several chargers for that multi-country expedition is valuable space we can't afford to lose. 

www.amazon.com

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

Promising review: "Got this to use in Europe last summer and plan to use in Australia next spring. I love that it has all the different outlet adaptations on it, so you can use it in multiple countries." —NureseMoMo

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

11. A travel-size wrinkle-release spray that makes it easy to revive crumpled, fresh-out-of-the-suitcase clothing even when you don't have easy access to an iron or don't want to waste space packing a steamer. 

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "Hate dragging out the old hotel iron and board, so I just spray my wrinkled clothes with this, and voila! Takes the wrinkles out, and off I go — no wrestling while putting the iron and board away. I even have a small travel iron or use my hair styling irons if I want a better finish, but this usually does the job nicely." —Audie 

Get it from Amazon for $9.05.

12. A waterproof toiletry bag with enough space to pack your entire 14-step self-care routine. It's the next best thing to packing your medicine cabinent! Plus, it's got a rotating hook so you can hang it on the back of a door or in the shower. 

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "Perfect toiletry bag! I don’t travel without this thing! Fits so much inside and has so many pockets and compartments. Folds up and fits in a carry-on, backpack, or bag."  —Allie Telgenhoff

Get it from Amazon for $12.98+ (available in two sizes and 19 colors/patterns).

13. A roll-up straw sun visor if your destination calls for chic sun protection that can fold down small enough to toss in a tote without fear of it bending out of shape. 

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "I get a lot of compliments when I wear this hat. I actually saw it on a friend, and it looked amazing, so I had to go and buy it. I also love how easily it rolls up for travel. In the past, I've had hats that were much more delicate. This hat seems to be resistant to bending out of shape, which is exactly what I needed." —Schiccatano

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

14. Or a *genius* magnetic hat clip so you can finally bring your favorite wide-brimmed beauty on vacay without a) packing it and crushing it, or b) committing to wearing it/holding it.

www.amazon.com

The magnetic clip securely attaches to your hat brim (damage-free) — just attach around the strap/handle of your choosing!

Promising review: "The perfect travel accessory! Not sure why I hesitated to buy this for so long but I’m glad I finally did! The magnet has a very strong grip and perfect for straw hats and caps. It even grips my wool flatcaps as well. I can’t speak for thicker hats but this fits my needs perfectly. Bring on the sunny days!" —VF

Get it from Amazon for $24.99+ (available in seven colors).  

15. A spacious travel backpack that pushes the spatial limits of what you thought a personal item could carry, making it the perfect companion for all the outfits you couldn't cram in the carry-on. 

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Reviewers say it meets even Spirit and JetBlue's personal item rules and fits under airplane seats!

Promising review: "This is a perfect size backpack for traveling on a plane as your personal item, especially to international destinations. You could fit rolled-up clothes in here for another week, and it has a very handy shoe bag and tons of places for your electronics. This will be an excellent addition to my carry-on suitcase. Best purchase all year. I consider myself an expert on travel bags. I have way too many. It’s smaller than it looks but so roomy." —AP

Get it from Amazon for $22.99+ (available in five sizes and 17 colors).

16. Or a nylon anti-theft rucksack, so you can avoid wasting precious space in your suitcase with extra bags. This ultra-versatile style can be worn like a backpack or shoulder bag, so when it's done being your airport personal item, it can be a stylish purse for dinner.

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "Have had the smaller version for years. Held up well. Bought the larger one just to have more carrying capacity. Great for travel. The opening is against your back to deter pickpockets in busy cities. Side zipper compartments are easily accessible and roomy enough to carry replaceable things, i.e., a small brush, hair accessories, tissues, lip balm, etc." —PH

Get it from Amazon for $26.99+ (available in two sizes and in five colors/styles).

17. A foldable 3-in-1 wireless charger for forgetful packers who always seem to leave behind at least one vital charging cord. With this all-in-one dock, you'll always have what you need to power your iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods. 

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "I have been using this charger at home and when I travel. I mainly purchased it for traveling. It works well, folds up into a neat compact square, and charges my iPhone, watches, and earbuds all together without having to bring three separate chargers with me. You will love the convenience, trust me!!" —BobC 

Get it from Amazon for $22.99+ (available in six colors). 

18. A set of refillable, TSA-friendly toiletry containers if you're sick of spending a small fortune on name-brand travel-sized products and just want to make your own. You won't have to worry about leaks, and the entire set fits in the provided clear zip pouch. 

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "Definitely what I needed for traveling. The clear pouch holds all of the bottles perfectly. Easy to clean them out, reusable. Love the extra little bottles it came with for vitamins and a spray bottle you can refill." —Kelly

Get it from Amazon for $9.90+ (available in three different sets).

19. Or a set of Cadence containers with custom removable labels and wide openings to make traveling with TSA-compliant versions of your entire self-care routine a breeze. And, yes, they're totally leakproof and airtight. 

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

This "daily routine" set includes four flex medium and three flex small Capsules. 

BTW, you can also get sets with labeled tiles for hair care and skincare!

Cadence is an AAPI woman–owned small business that was founded by Steph Hon with the goal of eliminating single-use travel-size plastics. The containers are made from recycled ocean-bound plastic. 

Promising review: "I love these! The small size is perfect for packing vitamins and pills. I save so much space instead of bringing the whole bottle when I travel. It's nice how compact everything stays with these containers being magnetized." —LB 

Get the daily routine set from Amazon for $138 (available in four colors and other sets).

20. A pack of moisture-proof travel pill organizers because it'll make packing the ever-growing collection of prescriptions and vitamins now required to maintain your body MUCH more space efficient than the alternative — a plastic bag of stray pill bottles. 

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "These were the perfect size to hold all our medicine. We didn’t need a Monday through Friday organizer. We just needed something to help consolidate medicine for travel. It held way more than I was expecting and came with labels, so no confusion of medicine." —Momof3

Get a three-pack from Amazon for $6.09+ (available in two color combos). 

21. A fast-drying microfiber travel towel that'll lighten the load next time the family loads up for a wet 'n' wild adventure at the beach or water park. It comes in sizes suitable for your whole crew and is shockingly absorbent. 

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "Great travel size. Used while taking dips while out on long hikes. The case makes this better. Dries great and stores easily. Wiped off the sand and then flicked the sand off easily. Perfect lightweight towel for hiking. Clipped onto the pack to dry as I walked. I liked the button to hang-dry the towel. Washed in the machine with no problem. Beats my old shammy from my swimming days. I hope I can keep the interior case clean." —ImBeingLazy

Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in seven sizes and 14 colors). 

22. A dual-voltage 2-in-1 straightener and curling iron so you don't have to decide between packing light and styling versatility on your trip. While you can't adjust the heat levels, it has a swiveling, tangle-free cord and a carrying case (which some reviewers mention is *not* heatproof, FYI). Just remember to bring an adapter if you're traveling internationally!

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "I did a carry-on only for 11 days in Japan. Size was of the essence to pack so lightly. This hair wand was great. Would I want to use it every day? NO. It takes a bit more manipulation due to size. But it's perfect for travel. I was very pleased with it and highly recommend it. If I didn't have this, I would have had two bulky items: a flattener and a curler. This is great and well worth avoiding luggage fees and other hassles of checking a bag." —Cheryl Regan

Get it from Amazon for $20.99+ (available in black and white).

23. Or just opt for a lightweight mini flat iron for smoothing out your wavy locks when the blowout you banked on lasting the whole trip doesn't cooperate. 

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

It also comes with a heat-resistant pouch for easy carrying!

Promising review: "This fits perfectly in my toiletries travel bag that I take with me as a flight attendant. Anything that comes in a small size and still works well is perfect for me." —Kathy S

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

24. Plus, an adaptable hair diffuser if you're tired of lugging your blow dryer halfway across the world just so you won't have to be without your diffuser. This attachment adjusts in size to fit most blow dryers, so using the Airbnb dryer doesn't feel like a sacrifice. 

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "Purchased for a recent trip to the UK, Croatia, and Montenegro. Doesn’t disappoint. Great for curly hair. It is lightweight, small enough, and doesn’t take up lots of room. Highly recommend for international hotel travel!" —Karen and Liz

Get it from Amazon for $21.25+ (available in seven colors). 

25. A heavy-duty bag strap because no one wants to be stuck wearing (or holding) their puffy jacket while navigating the airport. This simple little add-on attaches to luggage, purses, or backpacks to free your hands of those travel essentials that are just too bulky for your bags. 

www.amazon.com, Amazon

Promising review: "I bought two straps to use for my trip. It was so worth it! It held my family's light jackets and kids' travel neck pillows. We also used it to hold our water bottles on our hikes. I wish I knew about these sooner!" —Lisa H

Get it from Amazon for $7.99+ (also available in two-packs and five colors). 

26. A makeup-erasing cloth to gently — but effectively — remove your makeup with just a little bit of water, so you can finally downsize your toiletry bag. Plus, it's endlessly reusable! Once it gets dirty, just toss it in the wash.

Amazon

I bought one of these cloths after including it in previous posts, subsequently selling myself on it (hazard of the job). It honestly works better than I could've imagined! You really do just need to dampen it with water to have your makeup melting off in seconds. I think this is a great zero-waste option for people (like me) who don't wear a ton of makeup on a day-to-day basis because you can get a lot of uses from this cloth without needing to wash it constantly. I've found it especially handy for traveling, as I don't need to pack any liquid/cream removers or drop money on single-use wipes. It also washes up shockingly well. I've had it for close to three years, and every time it comes out of the washing machine almost entirely stain-free, I'm equally shocked.  

Get it from Amazon for $16+ (available in nine colors/patterns).

27. A pair of reusable waterproof shoe covers for smart weather prep that doesn't involve packing your absurdly heavy galoshes. These easily fold down tiny enough to stash in a purse, so you can keep your tootsies dry even when a storm rolls in out of nowhere. 

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Check the handy sizing chart on the product listing so you can find your ideal fit!

Promising reviews: "Exactly as described. The size was exactly right for my shoe size. Perfect for a trip, as they take up very little space in a suitcase and work quite well to keep the rain out and puddles away from shoes." —Caroljean

Get a pair from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in unisex sizes S–4XL and three colors). 

28. A plush velvet travel jewelry case so you can cram your extensive jewelry collection in your carry-on without also committing to a half-hour untangling sesh while rushing to make your 7 p.m. reservation. 

www.amazon.com, Amazon

Promising review: "I purchased this box for a weekend getaway. In the past I have just thrown all of my jewelry into little makeup bags, but then everything gets tangled and disorganized. I love that this box keeps everything organized and leaves all my necklaces tangle-free!" —Dogmom206

Get it from Amazon for $24.99+ (available in five colors). 

29. A 3-in-1 travel razor equipped with a refillable spray bottle to wet skin, a shea butter moisturizing bar, and two triple-blade razor cartridges to cram all your on-the-go shaving needs in one pocket-sized package. 

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "Honestly, before these items, I would have to take so many things just to shave during vacation, but this has a four-in-one and it’s easy to travel with and it gets through TSA when in your carry-on. 😁" —Maria Allegue

Get it from Amazon for $20 (refill razor heads available). 

30. Or a teeny on-the-go Gillette razor because it takes up basically no space at all, and plenty of reviewers like it enough to keep using it once they get home. 

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

It comes with one handle and one blade refill!

Promising review: "Perfect for traveling or throwing in your gym bag! The container has holes in it to allow for the razor blades to dry, which I really like. I also love that I can use the refill razor heads from my regular razor with this! Even though the handle is small, it's really easy to hold and has a nice grip." —thisisausername

Get it from Amazon for $9.99. 

31. A Tencel travel shawl to make you question how you ever traveled anywhere without it. Equipped with UPF 50+ protection, this multi-talented addition can be a sun shield for bare shoulders, an airplane blanket, a trendy scarf, or a cozy wrap when you're feeling chilled. All in a foldable style that's compact enough to stash in a purse.  

www.amazon.com, Amazon

Promising review: "I love my new everywhere scarf/shawl. I purchased the silver for travel and am now wearing it almost daily. It is sooooo soft and versatile. Looks great with jeans and a sweater as a scarf. Looks really nice as a shawl with a dress or slacks and a blouse. You will love how you feel wrapped up in it on an airplane or in the car on a trip. Don’t pass up owning this great accessory. Enjoy it!" —George K.

Get it from Amazon for $48+ (available in 11 colors).

Still need to grab a few more things before your next trip? Let us help:

* Things That’ll Make Your Next Longggg Trip As Comfortable As Possible

* Products Parents Consider *Lifesavers* For Traveling With Kids

* Things You Can Wear Multiple Ways On Vacation If You’re Tight On Suitcase Space

* Things That Are More Exciting To Do On A Plane Than Stare At The Flight Tracker

* Planning To Travel More This Year? Check Out These 30 Products

Plus, finds from Amazon, Target, and Walmart.

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Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.

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