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I'm lost without my beloved Tozo earbuds.

That means I'm often on a plane, whether I'm going international on a red-eye to Buenos Aires or flying solo for about two hours to visit family. Over the years, I've honed what I pack every single time and keep most of those things *in* my personal item and Beis carry-on bag while I'm at home. It's kinda cruel that you've gotta sit in a metal tube to get to some cool places, but it's a necessary evil I'm willing to take and these things I always pack help me! (So maybe they'll help you too.) 

If you're curious about more of my packing habits, check out things I'm glad I packed for my first cruise and my tips for carrying on only. 

I had a Kindle in the early 2010s, and never quite took to it, but I invested in a Kindle Fire in 2020 during quarantine and haven't looked back since. This 8-inch model takes up a TINY amount of room in my personal-item backpack, and I always load it up with books from Libby before each trip. That model I bought in 2020 lasted 'til spring 2025 for me after getting LOTS of use during travels (I once read four books on it on a 17-hour flight on the way home from a Vietnam trip) and also at home. I hardly ever leave my house without a physical book or my Fire tablet because I'm able to sneak in reading during my commute on the subway. This model has since traveled to Argentina, Brazil, Scotland, Ireland, France, and Costa Rica! It's SUCH a great investment for anyone on the go, even if you ADORE physical books. (I have a physical TBR stack at home.) Sometimes — a LOT of the time — you just don't have room in your bags for three books!

This handy little carrying case (which just so happened to match my Kiss press-on nails in the "dancing heart" design in this pic) easily slips into my coat, jacket, or even front jeans pockets, which is normally where I put it right before I'm getting ready to board so I don't have to dig for them in my bag. They also go in my coat pocket anytime I'm commuting so I can listen to a podcast or the same Slayyyter song 10x in a row on the way to the office. They easily switch back and forth between my laptop and phone via Bluetooth, and I've connected them to seatback Bluetooth on the plane so I can watch whatever Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks film is available. And if I end up losing these earbuds, it's nbd because I've more than gotten my money's worth out of them. I'm pretty sure you can barely buy an airport sandwich for their $17 price!

Get the current version of these earbuds from Amazon for $16.99 (available in nine colors).

Promising review: "Just used this on a long trip through New Zealand and Australia, several air flights, several hotels, many uses. It worked perfectly. Meds always accessible and never lost." —Charlie Butter

I bought this water bottle before a 2.5-week trip to Vietnam (where you don't drink tap water) and Malaysia (where you do). I didn't want to bring one of my ride-or-die S'well bottles because it would take up extra room in my bag when I wouldn't be able to use it during the majority of the trip. This handy silicone bottle did just the trick! It's very easy to roll up and *stays* rolled up thanks to the just-stretchy-enough loop. Said loop was also very handy while walking through airports and just around sightseeing. The bottle is easy to clean and doesn't make my water taste weird. I'm now using it as my daily water bottle and feel confident it'll serve me well for a long time. Plus! With a collapsible water bottle it's easier to remember if you left water in it before you go through security. 

Get a pack of two from Amazon for $9.99 (available in 14 colors/styles).

And if I'm flying somewhere that I'd feel better about having a water filtration bottle for, I pack my Brita water bottle. Though watch yourself when you're up in the air because you can get a bit wet opening it up due to the change in pressure! 

Psst — it's also gluten-, soy-, and dairy free! 

I always pack these for trips and will drink one the day of a flight, and end up feeling so much better during and after my flight. I even pack them in bulk and make my friends drink one after we land. I'm a Liquid I.V. pusher! They're also INCREDIBLY handy for drinking after a night of several cocktails. (Listen, if you hear ABBA blasting from medieval streets and walk into an open-air nightclub on your last night of the trip, you should stay awhile and enjoy yourself!) Being hungover on a plane is MISERABLE. But with one of these, I've hydrated, napped, and then woke up feeling vastly better in time to make a transfer back home. 

Promising review: "I recommend Liquid I.V. to everyone I know who travels. I drink this while I'm waiting at my gate before a long flight, and the difference is massive. Instead of leaving most long flights feeling dehydrated with no appetite and a sour stomach, I feel normal! I also keep a few tubes in my first aid kit for emergencies." —WritingFromNowhere

Get a pack of 16 from Amazon for $24+ (also available in sugar-free flavors). I'm also quite partial to the newer grapefruit flavor. 

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). 

This is me wearing them for takeoff for a Newark > Edinburgh red-eye flight and I had zero problems! I normally swap from these to the Mack's Earplugs (just mentioned) once we're up at a cruising altitude and I really block out noise from other passengers. So they're not really noise-canceling, but worth the extra room in your personal bag!

Promising review: "This product has changed my life. I travel fairly frequently and always have issues with ear pressure on the plane. My ears will be clogged up, and it is painful to swallow for a day or two after short-distance flights. But now, I use these and fly incident-free. You are supposed to insert them before the plane takes off and then before landing. I have found that it works best if I leave them in the entire flight from before takeoff until landing, but they work almost as well if you take them out once you reach cruising altitude." —Thomasina

Get a pack of three from Amazon for $19.85.

These little pieces of waxy goo (more on the waxy side) are super comfortable, and reviewers say they're more comfortable than foam earplugs. I agree! I'm able to reuse them over and over again, and I think during these past years that I've only reupped them once. I most recently used them on a ~six-hour flight back from Costa Rica when a little kid three rows in front of me screamed for the first half of the flight. They didn't completely block out all the noise, but they dampened it significantly. 

Promising review: "I have tried many types of earplugs due to a husband who snores. Took them on a recent trip to Galapagos and they performed wonderfully. Drowned out his snoring and all the noises outside the room. Easy to install in my ear and was comfortable all night long while I slept. They mold to the outside of your ear and form a seal that blocks on most of the noise. These will be my go-to earplugs from now on!" —jlwrink

Check out a TikTok of the portable fan in action. 

I own this and use it ALL the time. It comes in handy in a variety of situations at home *and* while traveling — especially when you're sitting in a stuffy plane in Miami in July with the doors open, waiting for the pilot to board and take off. I def got some jealous side-eyes from other passengers as I kept myself cool with this. 

Get it from Amazon for $14.39+ (available in three colors). 

Cadence is a woman-owned small business specializing in personal care travel solutions. Each mini capsule is created from recycled ocean-bound plastic and is refillable and reusable! Check them out on TikTok.

My trip length and where I'm going changes how many of these containers I use and what I put in them. If I'm going to my parents where I have a set of toiletries, I'll probably use a smaller container for makeup primer and maybe my daily SPF. If I'm traveling overseas, I'll use one container for my daily moisturizer, another for my night moisturizer, one for leave-in hair conditioner, and a variety of other things. They're truly leakproof and I'm able to pretty easily even move them to a plastic bag if you're at an airport where they force you to put all your stuff in their designated bag before you go through security check. I also love the brand's TSA-compliant toiletry bag and use it probably for 70% of my flights, but if I really have to pack in stuff, I'll opt for a zippered bag instead. 

Get a set of seven from Cadence for $138 (available in a variety of sets and sizes).

I tested this digital luggage scale out when packing for a trip to Iceland — check out my demo of how it works on TikTok!

Promising review: "We use this on every trip to avoid paying for extra weight as we travel internationally quite often. I have tested in several ways and also always note the weigh number in the airport. After several trips, I can say that the accuracy of it is right within 2 pounds. I have it for almost two years and still using the same batteries." —Cass Young

Promising review: "I saw this recommended on TikTok and bought it on a whim. I never knew a jewelry organizer would be so useful! I absolutely love this organizer and think everyone should have one!!" —Savana Bishop

Get it from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in two sizes and nine colors and patterns).

At home I always use gel Mitchum deodorant and opted for a random solid deo at the drugstore labeled for sensitive skin for a summer 2021 trip. Let me tell you, my pits did NOT react well to it. It looked like I had chemical burns! Since then, I've switched to this Vanicream solid deo for traveling. It's super effective but doesn't irritate my sensitive skin. And there are lots of reviewers with sensitive skin that would agree. 

Promising review: "I recently developed a serious reaction to antiperspirants. My underarms would break out in a horrible, painful red rash. So I tried different 'natural deodorants.' They did not break out my underarms, but they didn't really work! So I tried Vanicream after reading several reviews. IT WORKS!! My underarms don't break out, and it works as well as any antiperspirant/deodorant on the market. After my first order, I ordered two more. Couldn't be more relieved and happy to find this product!!" —Amazon Customer

OK, so $30+ for a pen you only used on flights might seem extravagant. But I received it as a gift years ago, and it's been the perfect pen to keep in the front pocket of my backpack since. It's thick and hefty enough that I can just feel around and find it in the dark as needed. And it's memorable enough that if I let a friend borrow it to write something, we both know it's time to give it back. 

I used to just pop into a CVS before a trip and buy these as needed, but they're really hard to find in stores now! Or at least in NYC, where we have limited space for things everywhere, including stores. These always stay in my backpack's front pocket. They're essential for international travel, but sometimes you realize your mouth just tastes awful after a post–airport coffee nap on your short flight. 

These have been on about a dozen trips with me and they are STURDY. I tend to test the limits with them and find the most success with laying my clothing flat and then stacking it inside vs rolling up items. It also helps prevent more wrinkles in my experience!

Get two from Calpak for $52 (available in 16 colors/patterns).

Promising review: "Great for travel. Lightweight, compact, and simple." —DawnieD

I snagged this backpack after hearing my colleague Chelsea Stuart sing its praises and used it for about 4.5 years before I got a little too careless with the main zipper and ripped it. Oof. By that point, I'd probably taken it on three dozen airplane trips and several regional train weekend trips. I basically treated it like a rental car, and would throw it around, kick it under a plane seat, and generally treat it like it was going to last forever. Since then, I've been using another, smaller backpack as my personal item for the past six or so months, and it's good, but this Beis backpack is GREAT because it zips open like a suitcase. Sigh. Yeah, I've gotta get another.  

Here are some more deets on the backpack: 

Inside, you'll find a mesh zippered pocket and a plastic pocket perfect for your toiletries. I can fit enough wet toilet toiletries in the second pocket as I'd be allowed to carry-on for a plane. In the mesh pocket, I put other necessities like cotton swabs, medicine, eyeglasses, etc. The main compartment is deceptively deep so you can easily roll clothes and Lego-fit them in together without using packing cubes. In fact, I fit all of the stuff in the second picture in that section (a romper, PJs, a bikini, sunscreen, five pairs of undies, a pair of jean shorts, nap dress, three pairs of socks, two pairs of sandals, two T-shirts, a slip skirt, sleep mask, curling iron, mini flat iron, makeup bag, and tote bag). AND it has stretchy X-straps to keep it all secure like you'd see in a roller suitcase so when I unzip it, everything stays put. But before I forget, there's a separate cushioned laptop pocket close to the backpack straps that I found works well for books or a Kindle if your travel leaves you laptop-less. 

I love that this backpack has DEEP side pockets so your umbrella or water bottle won't fall out. In fact, I stuck a flashlight and an umbrella in one side pocket. (You could always use a flashlight.) Plus! It has a generously sized pocket on the front of the backpack with easy access for sunglasses, snacks, writing pens...all sorts of those little extras you need to access quickly. To top it all off, the backpack straps and top handle are STURDY. I felt totally secure toting it around and slinging it into overhead storage compartments on the trains. I love the look and construction of it with faux leather and sturdy black canvas, and the trolley passthrough to easily fit on my roller suitcase I'm about to drag through a bunch of airports. At $100+, this isn't the cheapest backpack option but if you're a frequent traveler, you'll get so much mileage on it and seriously save on some baggage fees, making it well worth the cost. This backpack and I are going places, for sure. 

Get it from Beis Travel for $118 (available in three colors). 

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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.

Elizabeth Lilly is a deputy editorial director with more than a decade of lifestyle journalism spanning a range of subjects under her (tool) belt that includes four and a half years at a home improvement magazine. So she has well-informed opinions on tubing mascara, but can also install a friend’s window AC unit before brunch. When she's not working, she's plotting her next trip (and how to pack carryon-only for it), catching the latest horror movie, picking up a stack of library books, or convincing friends to go see the latest museum exhibit. 

Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.