…and 5 that aren’t worth it

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you.

Unless I’m going on a ski trip, I try to avoid checking bags at all costs to allow me to speed out of the airport as fast as possible after I land (and avoid risking the airline losing my bag). With that goal as my North Star, I have to be a little choosy about what I pack. I see articles on line all the time touting the best travel products, and it can honestly be a little hard to tell what’s going to truly improve your life and what’s a waste of space. Below I’ll outline 10 products I always pack and 5 that aren’t worth it.

*I will add a caveat that while certain products are more important for certain climates/activities, these are things that are generally brought with us no matter where we go or for how long.

Worth It

Patagonia Nano Puff Jackets

These jackets have a hidden pocket that the entire jacket can stuff into to form a little pillow. Then, when you need the warmth, you can open it back up and it’s a surprisingly warm faux-down jacket. Thomas and I both have one and we wear them all the time. If it’s raining, I’ll usually layer a raincoat on top, but they are pretty water resistant on their own.

Anker Portable Charger

Our phones are old and the batteries aren’t the best, so I usually have to recharge my phone partway through each day. We use this charger just as much at home as we do when we travel and it can charge an iPhone 3-4 times before it has to be recharged itself. The only downsides of this charger are that it’s heavy and it takes a long time for it to get charged (but it charges other devices quickly).

Lululemon Fanny Pack

I own this belt bag in 2 colors and bring it everywhere. When we pack really light, it’s my personal item on the plane, but otherwise it lives in my backpack until we reach our destination. It’s the perfect size to hold passports, vaccine cards, masks, my phone, and any other random items like sunglasses, lip balm, or the portable charger I just mentioned.

(It looks like these are out of stock right now on Lululemon’s website, but they are constantly doing restocks so keep an eye out.)

Tide Stain Stick

If you’re really good at packing light, you likely bring at least one piece of clothing you plan to re-wear on your trip, but your plans can get derailed quickly if you spill on it. Bringing along a Tide Stain Stick has saved the day on so many trips. In fact, on my bachelorette trip, I was that friend who included a Tide Stain Stick in everyone’s welcome bags and lo and behold it came to the rescue when someone spilled wine on their shirt later that night!

Reusable Water Bottle

Given that airports are notorious for charging $5+ for a bottle of water, I always make sure to pack a water bottle to fill up after security. The exact one I carry with me varies from trip to trip. For short trips where space isn’t that much of a concern, I bring my day-to-day favorite Hydroflask. If I’m trying to save space, I opt for collapsible bottles. I have an upcoming trip to a country where you’re not supposed to drink the water, so I will be bringing my new Grayl filtering water bottle on that trip (but I haven’t tried it yet so tbd on how much I like it).

Reusable 311 Bag

Maybe I’m later to the game on this one, but I recently realized just how many quart sized plastic bags I’ve been using on all my trips and decided to invest in a reusable one that is A) better for the earth and B) won’t rip open easily. I bought these TSA 311 compliant bags with a waterproof zipper and I love them. I’ve even noticed they hold more stuff than a normal quart bag but I’ve never had an issue at security.

Solid Shampoo /Conditioner Bars

On that same note, when you don’t check a bag, every inch of the 311 bag is precious and I am not going to waste any of it by bringing shampoo/conditioner bottles. I have brought these shampoo and conditioner bars from Lush on trips for years and always been very happy with them as a backup when our accommodation doesn’t have any toiletries.

I also recently bought these Matador dry-through cases for the bars, which are much better than the containers Lush sells because the bars are actually able to dry in these cases without getting everything around them gross.

All-in-One Charger Cord

I was a little hesitant to buy this cord out of the fear that if it didn’t work, I wouldn’t be able to charge any of my devices, but so far, I am so grateful for it. I can charge my iPhone, Apple watch, Kindle, and more all at once off of one USB port, which is important as plugs can be few and far between when traveling.

Packable Backpack

This packable backpack stuffs into its own pocket (much like the jackets) to be about the size of my fist, making it easy to throw in a suitcase. Then it unfolds to be a great daypack or even an extra bag if we bring too many souvenirs home.

Packing Cubes

For as organized as my house is at home, once I’m traveling, my stuff tends to just explode out of my suitcase as if a tornado hit it. Packing cubes help control the chaos and stay organized while I travel. I have also used compression packing cubes to save space on really long trips, but I tend to stick to the regular ones. I don’t bring every packing cube on every trip – instead I mix and match what works best for my suitcase and what I’m bringing.

Not Worth It

Neck Pillow

This might be a controversial opinion, but I’ve tried multiple neck pillows before and always come to the same conclusion – they’re just not worth the hassle or extra space they take up. The same thing goes for any other items sold to make your plane ride more comfortable. My best solution is to use my packable jacket as a pillow or lean on Thomas’s shoulder when we travel together (if you have a window seat leaning against the wall is also a great option).

Travel-size Deodorant

Deodorant isn’t a liquid, so it doesn’t have to be in your quart sized bag. Thus, there’s really no reason to pay extra for a dedicated travel sized deodorant that’s only marginally smaller (but costs way more per ounce) than a normal stick. I just throw my normal deodorant in my bag and I’m good to go.

Cadence Containers

I probably get an ad for these containers at least once a week, but I don’t see a reason to every buy them. Unless you’re obsessed with making your toiletries aesthetic, it’s crazy to me to spend over $70 on 6 of these. The regular travel-sized containers are fine, and if you need to, you can buy much cheaper travel sized bottles that work just as well if not better.

Phone Mount

Lots of companies sell phone mounts to make it easier to watch a show or movie on the plane, but the added bulk isn’t worth it for me. And maybe you’re thinking “it’s so small, what’s the problem?” but if I said that about ever small travel product, my suitcase wouldn’t have room for my clothes. When packing light is a priority, you have to put every single item under the microscope and determine if it’s worth the extra space. I also think a lot of travel products are gimmicks aimed to separate you from your money by saying they solve a problem that isn’t even a real “problem” to begin with.

Luggage Cup Holder

In theory, I love the idea of a cup holder on my suitcase for my Starbucks while I stroll through the airport. However, when I start thinking about how I actually use/abuse my suitcase, I see a disaster waiting to happen. I have a 4-wheel suitcase that I often use on 2 wheels when I hit a bump + you have to lower your handle quickly to get your suitcase into the overhead bin once you board, so where do you put the cupholder? The practical side of me sees this as more of a hassle than a benefit.