Packing Made Easy: My Favorite Travel Products

Travel Gear

When embarking on a trip, having the right travel essentials can significantly enhance your travel experience. Keeping organized and maximizing luggage space is crucial, especially if you’re a frequent traveler. Whether you’re heading for a quick weekend getaway or a month-long adventure, effective packing can make all the difference.

We absolutely love the Samsonite Omni PC Hardsided luggage – it is expandable, has spinner wheels, and the durable hard sides have served us very well with multiple airline trips each year. We each have a 24″ (Medium) and we’ve also recently added the 28″ (Large) and 20″ (Carry On) to our inventory. Highly recommend starting with the 3-piece set – you won’t regret it!

A versatile travel backpack is also a must. We each have one of these which makes it easy for us to be hands-free in the airport whether we are checking a bag or just using this to carry-on. These bags are also great for a road trip, day trip hiking, or trip to the beach! Plenty of storage pockets and tons of space!

These engraved luggage tags are made from a durable metal – highly recommend for travelling when you are travelling internationally, have multiple check bags, or have multiple connecting flights. They come in multiple colors and can be completely personalized! We have one on each piece of our travel gear.

A large travel purse is an absolute necessity. This cross-body is big enough to hold my travel wallet, phone charger, snacks, water bottle, electrolyte packets, ear buds, and just about any other travel necessity you’ll want with you. The perfect personal item for a flight!

My husband is very particular about pillows in rentals and hotels. This compact expandable memory foam pillow has been a game changer for him, allowing him to get good sleep no matter where we are!

If you are travelling internationally, this document organizer will streamline your storage! Perfect to house multiple passports, keys, cash, paperwork, and more.

Portable chargers are great if you plan on spending time outdoors away from electrical outlets and will be using your phone for navigation or music. This two-pack fits perfectly in the electronics organizer linked further down in the post.

If you are prone to overheating, especially on planes, you’ll want to snag a portable personal fan. It’s super quiet and provides just enough air flow if you are feeling a little claustrophobic or nauseous on travel day.

Smart Packing Techniques

One of the most effective ways to achieve space optimization is by employing versatile packing techniques. Consider using packing cubes, as they help categorize your items—clothes, electronics, and toiletries—while also maximizing space. Roll your clothes instead of folding them; this method not only saves space but also minimizes wrinkles. Additionally, always fill gaps in your suitcase with smaller items such as socks or chargers, ensuring no space goes wasted.

We have multiple sets of these packing cubes and they have totally changed our packing efficiency!

As a bit of a germophobe, I don’t like shoes to begin with. When previously packing shoes in my luggage, I would often pack ziploc or plastic bags to keep my shoes separate from clean clothes. These are a much better option – highly recommend!

If you don’t like spending money on travel size toiletries (or maybe your preferred brands don’t even make them) – these reusable silicone travel bottles are a game changer. I use them for my shampoo, conditioner, face wash, lotion, and body lotion. They are a great size and would work for a multiple week trip!

If I choose to bring additional products that can’t fit in the silicone containers above (i.e. hairspray, dry shampoo, etc.) these toiletry skins give me peace of mind having them in my check bag knowing they will prevent any leaks and contain any issues!

Essential Travel Organization

Incorporating organizational tools can streamline your travel essentials. Pouches and zippered bags can keep your toiletries neatly arranged, while travel-sized containers reduce bulk. A dedicated electronic organizer is a game-changer, helping you keep your cables and chargers easily accessible. Furthermore, don’t forget versatile multi-tools that can serve various purposes, contributing to both organization and convenience during your travels.

What do you do with your dirty laundry when you are travelling? Prior to the purchase of this genius bag, we threw ours in piles on the floor! These bags expand to a great size and can be hung up to keep your dirty and clean clothes separate. Folds back down into the little zipper pouch when you are done using it.

Got cord problems? We did! This little organizer bag has been ideal to store charging cords to all of your electronics, charging bricks, and our portable chargers. Storage on both sides and comes in fun colors!

Each time we travel I’ve found a different purpose for this hard-sided clear cosmetic case! It’s so versatile and I love that it offers a little bit of protection with the harder sides for its contents.

I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect hanging toiletry bag for years and I finally found it! This is the perfect storage for your hairbrush, perfume, toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash, contacts/glasses, and all the little cosmetics or toiletries you might take in addition to the silicone bottles of your products.

Another super versatile find to help keep you organized – I love that these are clear for easy organization and come in a variety of sizes.

By integrating these travel essentials into your packing strategy, you’ll not only stay organized but also maximize luggage space effectively. Happy travels!