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Keep your suitcase organized from takeoff to touchdown.
Solo travel and group travel have one major thing in common: a disorganized suitcase can create a serious headache. It can range from mild inconvenience (tangled charging cables and necklaces) to full-scale disaster (missing luggage). The right organizers can help everything stay in its place, so you can focus on enjoying your trip.
To find the very best travel organization products, we consulted the experts. Below, our frequent flier editors and professional organizers reveal the life-changing items they never board a plane without. Did we mention they're all from Amazon and will arrive in time for your next trip, even if it's in two days?
If you're curious what these pros use in their weekender bags, carry-on suitcases, backpacks, and toiletry bags to make their journeys near and far super streamlined, keep scrolling. We promise these picks are so good, you'll want to book a trip ASAP just to test them out.
On a two-week trip spanning Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand, Associate Shopping Editor Janae McKenzie relied on these packing cubes to keep her clothes organized in a sane way. “I spent a good percentage of that trip packing and re-packing,” McKenzie says. “Every country’s airline had a different luggage size or weight limit, so I was traveling with my slimmest suitcases to save some headache. That meant every outfit had to be packed just so in order to fit, and these compression cubes were filled to the brim. With a little extra shoving, they always fit, and they kept my packing and unpacking process smooth.”
Unless you wear all of the jewelry you're bringing on travel day, you'll need some sort of case to keep your prized pieces both safe and tidy. Otherwise, expect to lose a few earrings and encounter tangled chains. “Keeping jewelry contained and tangle-free can be a travel nightmare,” says Samantha Bryan, founder of Decorganize It. “This compact jewelry organizer is a must-have.”
We've all unzipped our suitcases to the dreaded shampoo bottle that exploded. Not only do you need to go out and buy new shampoo, but all of your clothes are drenched. “Ditch the Ziploc bags and go for these waterproof zippered pouches for toiletries. With many different size options available, the uses are endless,” Bryan says.
Calling anyone who has to sit on their suitcase just to zip it up: You need to try a set of packing cubes next time you travel. Not only can you actually bring more clothes, but they fit perfectly in your luggage. “If you haven’t tried the packing cube craze, you’re missing out,” Bryan notes.
If you experience stomach issues, headaches, allergies, or any other ailment on trips, you're not alone. While we wouldn't recommend roughing it and leaving your medications at home, we don't suggest bringing tons of full-size bottles with you. After all, you won't be going through an entire bottle of Advil on a trip, no matter how long it is. “Leave the big medication bottles at home. These pill organizers are a great travel option. I like to keep one in my car at all times,” Bryan explains. Plus, the set comes with tons of perfectly sized stickers you can pop on the lid of each compartment, so you always know exactly what's in each.
We've all seen these before, and that's because they're so good. “Travel bottles for your toiletries make packing your toiletry case so much easier,” Amelie Saint Jacques, founder of Amelie Organizes, insists. “For anything like a gel or lotion, I love the squeezable GoToob containers, but for liquids like mouthwash, this Nalgene one is the only one I've found that does not leak.”
“Speaking of toiletries,” Saint Jacques says. “The BagSmart toiletry bag is my absolute favorite. It unfolds in a way that makes everything both visible and accessible, and you can hang it on the bathroom door or in the closet. They also make a really great one for jewelry.” We wouldn't recommend this for minimalists who have no more than four products in their bathroom vanity, but for the over-packers, this is a must.
Even on shorter flights, you should take care of your neck while you work, read, or watch a movie. After trying a few different travel pillows, Saint Jacques says this one is the clear front-runner. “The only travel pillow I use is the Trtl one. It offers great support, allowing me to catch some Zzzs without accidentally leaning on my neighbor. I was never able to get comfortable with the regular U-shaped pillows, but this one really delivers.”
Saint Jacques is not the only one who throws an AirTag in her luggage; tester Jessica Cherner, does as well. “I get so much anxiety being separated from my luggage, so whenever I board too late and am forced to check my carry-on while boarding, I obsessively track my luggage to make sure it made it onto the plane,” she says. Saint Jacques does this too, saying, “I always put an AirTag in my suitcase so I can track it.”
Yes, you can get a standard miniature lock to snap onto your suitcase, but what do you do if you lose the key? Instead, opt for these TSA-approved ones whose only requirement is remembering the combination. “I use TSA-approved combination locks; that way, I don't have to keep track of a key, and it's one less worry,” Saint Jacques notes.
If you're bringing more than one chargeable gadget, be sure to keep the cords organized and tangle-free. “This is perfect for keeping chargers, cords, earbuds, and portable batteries from tangling in your bag,” says Heather Aiello, founder of The Organized You. “Using this type of organizer makes finding these items so much easier. When you are sitting on the plane, you can just take this out, and everything is right there for you.”
It's not often that we are packing one bag to go from a cold destination directly to a warmer one, but it's happened. In such cases, the last thing we want to do is waste excess space on bulky sweaters and coats. That's where compression bags come in. “These are a game-changer for bulky sweaters, jackets, or packing for multiple climates. They work very well when you are traveling during the winter months and need heavier clothing,” Aiello adds.
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