31 Things You’ll Buy For Your Travels And Then Find Yourself Using All The Time At Home
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Which might just serve as a reminder to book your next trip. There are worse things.
Posted 9 hours ago
by Elizabeth Lilly BuzzFeed BuzzFeed Staff
As a Deputy Editorial Director for BuzzFeed’s shopping team, I love to get into the weeds of why a product’s worth the money by deep diving into customer reviews, and product-testing as much as possible.
If you're a somewhat frequent traveler, you likely have a bag of travel-only products that you pull out when packing for your trip. Well, this isn't a story about that. I collected a bunch of travel essentials you can also find uses for when you're sadly not using your passport or frequent flyer miles. Think stuff like a mosquito-repelling bracelet, a cute jumpsuit you can wear a million ways, and even a compact flashlight you'll be grateful you have around at home.
www.amazon.com, Amazon
Promising review: "This case has been amazing for storing my earbuds, various loose cable connectors, chargers, etc. I am using it right now on a trip, and it has been fantastic for keeping these items in one convenient, organized place. It is lightweight and fits easily into my one carry-on item when boarding the many flights I am taking. I’m pretty sure I will still be using it to keep all these items together and more easy to locate when I return home! I am so glad I bought this!" —V. Elia
Get it from Amazon for $9.85+ (available in 27 styles).
Promising review: "Took this on my first cruise. Anytime that I started to feel woozy I’d reach for it. I’m sure the required act of deep breathing helped a lot — and breathing in the fragrance of the essential oil is very calming and effective. Worked for me! Wonderful!" —Willy&Lilly
Get a pack of two from Amazon for $12.99 (also available in a pack of four).
Promising review: "FLIGHT ATTENDANT APPROVED! They work. 100% of the time." —Jessica
Get a set of two from Amazon for $8.47.
Promising review: "I have a big spot of blood vessels in the inner corner of my left eye. I use the expensive lubricant eye drops for moisture — I've used Visine, Clear Eyes, you name it. No eye drop has made my eyes look this great. Only Lumify! I was soo happy when I looked in the mirror and saw some beauty in my eyes instead of darkness and redness." —Angela Leonard
"Your tired red eyes might not feel any better, but they will look white. I have dry eyes and allergies, after a day of flying (flight attendant) they're red itchy and burn. I only use the drops just before work, never twice in one day. They keep my eyes looking white for 8–10 hours." —Hailey
Get it from Amazon for$11.93.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
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 $9.97.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "Love this! I am a flight attendant and keep it in my suitcase for various uses, but it's an outstanding for beach or picnic blanket. It weighs nothing, beautiful, and great quality! My new go-to gift item." —Laurance F. Haun
Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in 26 patterns).
Elizabeth Lilly / BuzzFeed, www.amazon.com
I wear a size L/XL in clothing and sometimes waist bags just don't work out so well for me. With this one, I can confirm that it fit around my waist comfortably without outerwear, across my chest without outerwear, *and* over a thick coat and several layers. The pockets inside are so handy and I even had room to spare throughout my Iceland trip. This was the only purse I brought for the whole trip and it performed its job flawlessly. Just make sure that you zip the zipper ALL the way because the zipper goes down pretty far on the sides for easier access to contents. Having my hands free was wildly convenient for a number of reasons, including crawling around inside of an ice cave and putting out my hands for some extra balance while walking on sheets of ice along cliffs. Oh, and it comes in so so SO many colors. And in case it looks familiar, TikTokers compare it to the Lulu waist bag.
Promising review: "Love this little bag! And the price — you can’t beat it." —Jolie
Get it from Amazon for $15.98+ (available in 32 styles).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
It has RFID-blocking technology; is made of slash-resistant, Securtex anti-theft fabric; and locking zippers that blend in with the backpack's design.
Promising review: "This has great security features. The compartment that holds cards has a locking zipper and sits securely against your back. Two side pockets for water bottle, umbrella, etc. Very roomy and lightweight. I used it this weekend at a tulip festival in Washington. It lightly rained the whole time I was outdoors, and nothing in my bag got wet. It wiped dry easily. A great daypack for adventures!" —pixie
Get it from Amazon for $108.59 (available in seven colors).
Emma Lord / BuzzFeed, Amazon
Mouthwatchers is a small business established by Ronald Plotka, DDS, that specializes in antimicrobial toothbrushes designed to get deeper cleans even patients with "great" dental hygiene might miss with traditional brush and floss routines.
Promising review: "I love that this travel toothbrush has its own self closing cover. Makes it very handy for travel at half the size of a regular toothbrush when packed and full-size brush when open. Also really love the bristles on this brush, they are soft but have enough stiffness to get between teeth when brushing." —Yvonne
Get it from Amazon for $5.99 (available in two colors).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "Guys. If you’re going on a trip and need a cute hat but don’t want to worry about it getting smashed…look no further. I bought this hat last summer. It’s been as far as The Maldives, all over Europe, and I wear it on the reg in southern California. It’s totally kept its shape, and I’m not shy of shoving it in bags. 10/10 recommend! I’m sitting on a bus in Croatia right now thinking how awesome this hat has been and decided to write a review, as I rely on reviews for my purchases on Amazon. Hope this helps someone!" —Lyra S.
Get it from Amazon for $24.99+ (available in 22 color combos).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Cliganic is a small biz specializing in health and wellness products.
Promising review: "I bought this to take on a cruise. Never had issues with bites. Once back home I put them on my son who is allergic to some bites and always itchy after time outdoors. Since he’s had these on outside it’s hardly an issue anymore. Very cool." —MardiGrasGirl
Get a 10-pack from Amazon for$8.49.
Promising review: "When you go to the pool or beach nowadays you see a lot of people with these $100+ rubber carry-alls. Sure, they look nice, but they are not as practical as this bag or have the features of this bag. I came to appreciate this bag when I loaded up the grandkids to take to the pool and realized too late that I did not remove my hearing aids or empty my pockets. This bag comes with a nice waterproof pouch and I was able to keep all those belongings, I should have left at home, safe and dry all day!" —David Petraitis
Get it from Amazon for $21.99(available in six colors/prints).
Promising review: "Purchased three pairs for our cruise. We all loved them. Best water shoes I’ve ever worn. Feels like you are barefoot but keeps your feet safe from anything you step on. Very comfortable! Highly recommended!" —Donna M
Get it from Amazon for $8.68+ (available in seven sizes and 49 colors).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising reviews: "Purchased this jumpsuit for a cruise. It is amazingly comfortable and fits perfectly. Normally I need to hem or alter the length, but this was perfect due to the type of bottom. It could be dressed up with jewelry and a large belt. I liked the black one so much I ordered the same one in a maroon." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $33.99 (available in sizes S–3X and 31 colors/patterns).
Amazon
Promising review: "I love this foldable airplane blanket! There are few things worse on a flight than being too cold. This little blanket is the perfect weight to keep you warm but doesn’t take up too much room in your carry-on/personal item bag. I actually clip it to the outside of my backpack." —Danielle Gaudette
Get it from Amazon for $25.03 (available in 16 colors).
Promising review: "This is a fantastic light! I use it every evening to continue reading while my son sleeps, it does not wake him or impede my sleep after I’m ready to go to bed. Great product." —Brian Masters
Get it from Amazon for $12.99.
Amazon, www.amazon.com
Check out a TikTok of the wrinkle balm in action.
Promising review: "Okay! So I was skeptical at first, but honestly this stick is life-changing!!! In a matter of minutes, my skin felt hydrated and plumped. After an hour, still hydrated. No greasy after feeling, very light, and you can feel your skin hydrated and absorbing. I love the fact that you can use it on your eyes, lips, and wrinkles!! Game changer for me, will def try the others!" —Kristy
"This stuff makes my face feel so soft and has a nice scent. I use it every day and will buy it again when I run out!" —Cyndy1
Get it from Amazon for $17.99+(available in seven styles).
Psst — it's also gluten free, soy free, and dairy free!
Promising review: "This stuff seriously works. Took on a five-day cruise when we had the unlimited drink package, and these Liquid I.V.s saved my life several times. Wouldn’t have made it to dinner/gotten off the ship the next morning without them." —Laura Bales
Get a pack of 16 from Amazon for $24.99 (also available in 18 flavors and also in sugar-free flavors). I'm also quite partial to the sugar-free Ring Pop flavor.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "We bought this for a road trip with our little one, who is still rear facing — it was perfect! We knew the seat was warm from just driving around town and wanted to make sure it was comfortable for a long drive. It kept it cool, isn’t loud, and love that we could plug it in vs. only the battery. We use it regularly in town now, too." —K Maddock
Get it from Amazon for $23.99 (available in three colors).
Amazon
I swear by this stuff!
Promising review: "Used this on our cruise, for all the walking in hot, humid places. Literally saved my thighs from 'chub rub.'" —Traci Carpenter
Get it from Amazon for $6.
www.amazon.com, Amazon
Promising review: "I was looking for a dry shampoo that would be easy to use on the go for a trip I was taking. I had no issues taking this through TSA and it was so easy to use on the go. You literally just pat the poof on your scalp and then rub the powder in. I do have black hair so dry shampoo is usually very visible in my hair, but I didn't have any harder time than usual rubbing this powder in. It did a really good job of soaking up all the oil and giving my hair volume. I'm not a fan of the price for the amount that you get, but it is lasting longer than I thought it would. I would definitely recommend and will purchase again." —Teresa
Get it from Amazon for $18+ (available in five colors/styles).
Jasmin Sandal / BuzzFeed
BuzzFeed Shopping contributor Jasmin Sandal says: "I swear by these bad boys not only for general storage purposes but also if I know I'm going to be traveling for an extended period of time. Plus, the satisfaction is indeed guaranteed because when you see those chunky layers flatten into a pancake...it's just *chef's kiss*."
Promising review: "These Spacesaver vacuum bags are awesome! With having a lot of luggage to take with me on international flights, every inch of space counts, and seeing your clothing and other materials reduced by 80% makes these bags a wonderful and necessary purchase. Two thumbs up, I highly recommend this product!" —Thomas G Wintringham
Get a six-pack from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in four sizes as well as other multipacks).
Promising review: "Used these on a sunburn on my back, and they were very soothing. Also provided padding when leaning back in my seat. I stuck one on my shoulder also to keep my seatbelt from rubbing the sunburn there. I bought them to use on the back of my kids' necks to help prevent heat exhaustion on a very hot day outside but ended up just using them for burn relief." —Joanna
"These saved us on our vacation with our little that is sensitive to sun!" —felicia faith
Get a pack of 20 from Amazon for $14.99.
Amazon
Promising review: "I am a flight attendant and have a wacky work schedule. I frequently have to sleep during the day. These are SO comfortable and cool as well. I have ordered and tried out at least 10 eye-masks off of Amazon and have found these to be the best. They are SO comfortable and do not have velcro on the straps, for which I am thankful, because I usually sleep on my back and am sensitive to the thickness of eyemasks which have the Velcro straps." —SW
Get one from Amazon for $14.99.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "Bought this bag last minute for a uniform compliance as a flight attendant, and it’s sturdy and a great bag. For the material and the price, it’s a great purchase. I’ve had it over four months." —Amber
Get it from Amazon for $14.29+ (available in a variety of colors and two sizes).
Promising review: "Got these for a family cross-country road trip. Glad we did! Worked great for the kids at questionable stops. It says not to flush them. We had to once because of a kid with stomach pains and that was our only option…. Yea. Otherwise, avoid flushing. But they worked as advertised. Well, except the tape part, we didn’t realize until after our trip that they could stick to the seat, so apparently they work well even without doing that part." —AmazonFrequentFlyer
Get a pack of 24 covers from Amazon for $9.99.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "I was in Hurricane Helene in North Carolina. I traveled there and was stuck with no power for five days. I always travel with a flashlight. This Gearlight flashlight was the only source of light I had for five days. It was a workhorse. The zoom lens let me to see far away, as in hundreds of yards. Or close up for inside. I could put it on its end to use like a lantern. I put Duracell AAA batteries in it when I received it. Those batteries lasted the entire five days. I was stunned and thankful. I can't praise this little flashlight enough. The value is priceless to me." —Vee Nuna
Get them from Amazon for $1799.
Promising review: "I love how it kept all my toiletries organized and in plain sight when hanging. It's very sturdy and great quality. I ordered this before I went on a two-week trip to Europe and was so happy that I did. This travel bag exceeded my expectations!" —Jackie Cooney
Get it from Amazon for $16.19+ (available in two sizes and three colors).
Amazon
Promising review: "I purchased this for my trip to Europe as I sleep with white noise every night. The rohm scores extra points for volume control, and it can get quite loud. It’s also lightweight and chargers easily with a USB." —Jessie W.
Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (also available in two- and three-packs).
Amazon
I first bought this for a weeklong Croatian vacation in 2021 when I did carry-on, and as long as you are *thoroughly* reapplying, this stuff stays on pretty well. On a beach club afternoon, I did haphazardly reapply and missed a strip on one arm, but I tend to do that with spray-on or lotion sunscreen, too. Since then, I've packed this for any trip I've been on, including a two-day Disneyland trip where I toted this around in my bag and shared with friends. I sometimes carry it with me in my purse on my everyday adventures because I know it's so easy to apply. Also worth mentioning...I am about the palest lady you've ever seen and swear by daily application of sunscreen. But when on a beach trip, I'm constantly swimming in the water and sweating. So yeah, this stuff works.
And if you're a bit hesitant about jumping on the solid sunscreen bandwagon, you can pack a stick of this, knowing you have enough sun protection to get you through to finding some spray-on or lotion SPF at your destination.
Get it from Amazon for $7.90.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Lots of reviewers who drive for a living rave about it.
Promising review: "I used this on my 19-hour-long flight in economy, and this is a game-changer. I have been traveling long haul all my life, and this has been the best experience so far. At first, it feels cold to sit on, which is definitely a plus. My butt didn’t become numb and sore, which is a first, and it fit on the seat perfectly. I definitely recommend. We will see how it holds up after a few uses!" —Ple
Get it from Amazon for $44.95 (available in three color combos).
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BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way.
Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.
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