Shop these must-have travel accessories from Lululemon, Away, Dagne Dover and more — starting at $8

If you’re like us, you spend the better part of the year dreaming about all the travel you will do. But whether this is the year you’re finally going to take that Southeast Asia adventure, or “White Lotus” inspired you to book a Sicily trip, or you’re all about the weekend getaway to that cozy cabin upstate, you’d better make sure that, along with the hotel stays and restaurant reservations, you’ve got the right travel accessories.

From the makeup bags that will help you stay organized to the best face cleanser to wash off the plane grime to the neck pillow that will make that 12-hour flight fly by, these must-have travel accessories (and some, voted Travel Gear Award winners by Shop TODAY editors) will make your travel easier, more comfortable and less stressful.

Our Travel Gear Awards winners | Travel accessories for long flights | Travel bags and backpacks | Travel organizers | Health & wellness travel accessories | Miscellaneous travel accessories | FAQs | How we chose | Meet our expert | Has your product been featured?

Etekcity Luggage Scale

Award: Best flight essential | Category: Tech

Serial overpackers know the pain of having an overweight bag and having to transfer items from their checked bag to a carry-on or personal item in the middle of the airport. Partnerships associate Klay Drageset is one of those people and says this product has solved all of her issues. “I even bring it on my trips with me because it’s so small and portable! I typically somehow end up with more items than I brought on the trip, so bringing this device wherever I go has saved me the $150 overweight bag charges many times,” she says.

Zoppen RFID-Blocking Passport Wallet

Award: Best travel wallet | Category: International travel tech

Skip the stress of having to dig through your entire bag when searching for your passport, thanks to this designated holder. TODAY commerce analytics manager Amanda Smith likes this wallet because it holds everything she needs and is easy to manage.

“When you’re traveling, you have to take out your drivers license and passport. So, many wallets and passport holders make it really hard to take the ID out. The easy access makes this one less thing to worry about during a stressful trip.”

Epicka Universal Travel Adapter

Award: Best travel adaptors | Category: International travel tech

If you’re anything like us, you’re familiar with the sense of panic that sets in three days before an international trip — when all of a sudden, you remember you need a travel adapter, realize you’re not sure which type you need and can’t recall where you stashed any of yours the last time you traveled overseas.

While we can’t help you find yours, we tried the Epicka Universal Travel Adapter for our first-ever Travel Gear Awards and highly recommend it. It has four plug types that will work in most countries, as well as USB ports. Go ahead and buy at least two.

Apple AirTag

Award: Best tech for checked bags | Category: Tech

Admittedly, we’ve been a bit skeptical of AirTags, which are designed to be put in your luggage, so if the luggage gets lost, you can track it. But after three staffers gave it a perfect five-star rating, we knew the hype was real.

“I’ve been nervous about checking bags after hearing horror stories the past few months so having an AirTag in my suitcase helped calm my nerves since I was able to check on it mid-flight (thanks to in-flight Wi-Fi) to ensure that it was traveling with me,” shares associate SEO editor Kamari Stewart, who slipped this AirTag in her suitcase on a recent flight to Aruba.

Twelve South Airfly SE

Award: Best in-flight must-have | Category: Tech

Refuse to use the headphones provided during a flight but want to take advantage of in-flight entertainment? Introducing the AirFly, which provides a way to use your personal headphones on every flight here on out. Simply plug the device into the headphone port and connect your earbuds via Bluetooth and stream away!

“I like that the AirFly is compact and that the pairing process is very straightforward,” says branded commerce editor Francesca Cocchi Zaboudil, who recently flew with this adaptor. “Overall, I think this product is great for a super specific purpose or for people who have trouble with the Bluetooth pairing process across products from different brands.”

Native Union Universal Belt Cable

Award: Best do-it-all charging cable | Category: Tech

Each staffer who tried this charger raved about how sturdy and useful it is. Designed to charge several devices with just one wire, it’s perfect for saving valuable space in your carry-on. “I can tell it would be pretty good for traveling because the cord is long and also comes with a little belt to help keep it wrapped up, which is super helpful when you’re traveling with an endless amount of cords,” shares partnerships editorial assistant Lauren Biggerstaff.

Moft Snap Stand Power Set

Award: Best portable charger | Category: Tech

Raise your hand if you’re guilty of forgetting one of the many chargers required by various devices while on a trip! This two-in-one power set resolves that issue, charging both iPhones and AirPods on the go. This MagSafe adaptable case even includes room to store cards and IDs, further replacing a cardholder. Additional perk: It can even serve as a phone stand, securing your phone so you can use it to stream movies while waiting at your gate.

Urbanista Phoenix Solar Powered Earbuds

Award: Best buzzworthy tech | Category: Tech

Both staffers who tried these headphones were enamored with its ability to be charged via natural or artificial light. (Don’t worry, you can also charge it through an outlet, if you prefer.) According to the brand, a full charge covers eight hours of continuous playback and 34 hours of battery reserve in the case.

“I’ve never had noise canceling headphones and the sound quality really is impressive (with transparency mode for when I’m walking outside),” says assistant partnerships editor Lauren Witonsky.

riemot Luggage Travel Cup

If you’re like us and like to travel with a coffee in one hand, a wallet in the other and a phone in our back pocket, this two-cup travel caddy is for you.

Made of a sturdy-feeling fabric, this cup holder easily slides onto the handle of your luggage, and when not in use, it folds up for easy stowing. It has three pockets: two holders in the front that can hold up to a 32-ounce water bottle (according to one reviewer, though it’s marketed to be able to hold only up to 24), and a back pocket that can hold smaller personal items like your phone.

The material, while sturdy, is also stretchy enough to be able to fit an array of luggage handle sizes. Plus, it’s machine-washable (always a plus).

FitKicks

Shoes are not the most comfortable things on long flights, but going in socks can be questionable. Enter: FitKicks, lightweight slipper-like shoes with rubber soles. Stash these in your carry-on and swap them out for a long flight. They also work great as slippers in a hotel room and can easily be put in the washer or washed in a hotel sink.

Everlasting Comfort Airplane Footrest

It feels like there’s never enough room for our limbs anymore when we travel via airplane. Good luck finding a position that’s truly comfortable in an airplane seat. But while we can’t guarantee this “foot hammock” will solve all issues of discomfort when flying, dozens of reviewers say it helps.

“Not everyone can afford a first class airline ticket, but [this] is a game changer. It’s lightweight, foldable in a very handy storage bag, easy for me to put on my backpack and carry around. All you have to do is slip it onto the tray table, and the person seated in front of you may not even notice,” one Amazon reviewer reported, adding that they also use it while working from home. Just note that, if you have a lot of stuff under the seat in front of you, it may not work, others added.

The footrest, which has adjustable straps, is made of 100 percent memory foam and comes with a convenient carrying case.

EO Sanitizing Wipes

Whether taking one long flight or multiple flights in 24 hours, these single-use sanitizing wipes are a must-have for disinfecting items. They also work great when it comes to cleaning messy hands after you attempt to eat that hastily-packed sandwich. Amazon sells them in packs of six.

Stanley IceFlow™ Bottle with Fast Flow Lid

You’ve probably heard the word Stanley mentioned at least a dozen times in recent conversations! If you don’t already have one of this brand’s trendy cups, why not start with this chic bottle with fast flow lid? Choose from a variety of colors to match your personality and instantly quench your thirst while vacationing in the Caribbean or Fiji. This water bottle also makes a great travel accessory for long flights to help keep you hydrated and avoid spills.

Ostrich Pillow Eye Mask

Getting a night of good sleep, whether in the form of a nap on a plane or a whole night in a new hotel room, can be a challenge. The Ostrich Pillow eye mask makes it a bit easier. It adapts to your face while blocking out all light — so you can go ahead and sleep deeply wherever you are.

One Amazon reviewer, who likes the mask, shared the following feedback: “Unless you sleep very still, I don’t think it works really well in bed. However, I used it on a long plane ride and it was perfect since you sleep in a seated position, [and] it stayed on the whole flight.”

Trtl Pillow

Lightweight and easy to pack, we love this travel pillow’s softness. It also provides excellent shoulder and neck support on long flights and is machine-washable. Just ask Shop TODAY associate editor Fran Sales, who took this pillow for a spin on her five-hour flight back from Utah to New York City — and who had to wait another five hours, into the early morning, because that flight was delayed.

“I knew I needed to get some shuteye at the airport if I were to be functional after getting off the red eye. Luckily, it did indeed support my neck — so well, in fact, that I fell asleep completely for a few blissful hours before boarding,” she reports.

Ostrich Pillow Go Neck Pillow

Made of compressible, high-density memory foam to help with its 360-degree natural ergonomic neck support, this comfy neck pillow, from sleep and self care brand Ostrich, is also one of the most stylish on the market. Its best feature, however, may be that you can remove the cover for washing.

RUNNER-UP: If the Ostrich is slightly too pricey, we also like Cabeau’s Evolution S3, an equally unique take on the typical neck pillow, but about $20 cheaper.

Royce Leather Bound Journal

Keep busy on a long flight by writing or doodling in this classic leather-bound journal. Available in six unique shades, this pebble-grain leather notebook is so chic that’ll leave all your fellow travelers envious. You can even personalize this notebook by adding your initials at no additional cost.

Bose Noise-Cancelling Headphones 700

It’s pricey, but with a 20-hour battery life and 10 different noise-reduction levels, Bose’s Noise-Cancelling Headphones will get you almost anywhere you need to go while softening every type of background noise available.

RUNNER-UP: If the Bose pair is above your budget, one of Shop TODAY’s editors currently uses and recommends the Phiaton 900 Hybrid Noise-Cancelling Headphones, which are a couple hundred dollars cheaper. They’re lightweight, have a long battery life and do indeed block out noise (at least in a noisy office).

“For shorter trips, I can’t stress enough the value of packing carry-on exclusively when you can,” says Belles.

“It will save you money if you don’t have airline status that allows for free bags. It will speed you through your arrival airport so that you’re first in a cab or Uber while others are crowded around a baggage carousel,” she explains, adding, “Most importantly, it ensures that your belongings arrive with you. Even if you end up needing to gate-check your carry-on, it’s still worth it.”

We found these picks to complement your carry-on luggage — so you can avoid baggage claim.

Everywhere Belt Bag 1L

Hand sanitizer, wipes, phone, hotel card—stash them all in an easily accessible spot thanks to the TikTok-famed Everywhere Belt Bag, a Shop TODAY favorite (that’s often sold out!). The only thing it can’t do is hold your water bottle.

Cotopaxi Nido Accessory Bag

Need a bag to keep your smaller accessories organized while traveling? Look no further than this Cotopaxi pack that features three compartments, side carry handle and interior zippered pocket for safely storing all your everyday essentials. Each pack is completely unique and is chosen for you at random. Who doesn’t love the element of surprise?

“The compartments make the bag. This is a great accessory bag. It makes me want to travel more because it’s a great size and well-organized,” said one verified five-star reviewer on the brand’s website.

Osprey Farpoint 40

We love a bag with a lifetime warranty, and the Osprey Farpoint offers that plus is roomy enough to hold all your essential carry-on gear. It’s sturdy but lightweight enough to use as a day pack for when you reach your destination.

Dagne Dover Large Dakota Neoprene Backpack

Another solid travel backpack with a different aesthetic, we’ve recommended the Dagne Dover Dakota backpack before, not just for its style, but also because it’s designed to slide snugly onto your carry-on’s handle.

Its material is soft but water-resistant, and it doesn’t lack for compartments, which include a pocket for your phone, a padded laptop compartment and a laptop sleeve.

RUNNER-UP: For an equally chic yet useful option that’s hundreds of dollars cheaper, we recommend Target’s Open Story Commuter Backpack, which boasts sturdy zippers, a padded laptop compartment and padded shoulder straps. One of our editors says it reminds her of Calpak’s Kaya Laptop Backpack, but with an external compartment for water bottles.

Bevegekos Tech Organizer Travel Case

We’d like to be those people that leave almost all our tech at home, but we’re never going to be. What we can do, however, is share the best way we’ve found to keep tech organized while traveling. Available in several sizes, the Bevegekos Tech Organizer Travel Case makes it easy to stash and find your phone charger, headphone charger and other miscellaneous tech items.

Cozy Essential Travel Compression Bags, Pack of 12

With an invention like this, you may question why you ever sat on top of your overstuffed luggage to seal it shut. Cozy Essential’s compression bags, which come in a pack of 12 of assorted sizes, are said to be able to save you about 80 percent of storage space — and you won’t even need a pump or vacuum. You simply roll out the air from the zipper side to the vent side and they’ll stay compressed in your carry-on. If you would like to use a pump, it comes with one that reviewers say is easy to use.

Skeptical? We were too, but this Amazon review is pretty compelling: “We’re moving and I have lots of baby clothes I’m not ready to give up yet, as well as skinny clothes and dresses I’m attached to but sick of them taking up space. Three bags took up three huge boxes, and now I can stuff them anywhere.”

Benevolence LA Store Plush Velvet Travel Jewelry Box Organizer

This deceptively unassuming jewelry case made Oprah’s Favorite Things 2022, and it’s not hard to see why. It checks off everything you need in a travel box: A chic design, a compact-enough size and shape, and still enough room to hold your essential pieces of jewelry. It even says on Oprah’s site: “It’s small enough to stash in your purse.” There’s an array of lovely colors to choose from, including Emerald, Dusty Pink and Periwinkle Blue.

FULL REVIEW: Read about how much one Shop TODAY editor, who owns this Oprah-winning travel case, loves how chic and organized it is.

Eagle Creek Pack-It Reveal Cube Set

While these aren’t as stylish as some of the other packing cubes on the market, they’re solidly built, and their mesh design means you can see what’s in them. Plus, they hold a week’s worth of clothing and keep them organized.

Sea to Summit Travelling Light Hanging Toiletry Bag

For a week or less of travel, this lightweight hanging toiletry bag is an excellent, inexpensive and compact way to keep your stuff organized, thanks in no small part to its slightly see-through mesh pockets. Plus, it’s made of water-resistant material and comes with a shatter-proof mirror for maximum portability.

Dagne Dover Mila Toiletry Case

If you don’t love the look of a hanging toiletry bag, this stylish toiletry case from Dagne Dover may be the one for you. It’s designed to sit pretty on a hotel bathroom sink — or even your dresser at home. Available in two sizes and several colors, it’s not the most spacious option, but it has plenty of storage options: Removable dividers, a clip for hair ties and a zippered pocket for smaller items will keep all your toiletries organized.

Away The Insider Packing Cubes

Even if you don’t have an Away suitcase, these packing cubes from the cult-favorite suitcase brand are a useful travel accessory. Available in sets of four and six in a variety of shades, the cubes compress to save space, while their mesh panel makes it easy to find what you need.

“Packing cubes help organize it all. If the accommodations will be limited in size, such as with a cruise, cubes are packed on a per-day basis, so that I can easily begin repacking when items are no longer needed,” says Belles. “Otherwise, I organize the cubes by type: slacks, blouses/sweaters, active/athletic wear, etc., and layer them by the day they’re needed.”

Away ​​The Hanging Toiletry Bag

Also from Away, this hanging toiletry bag is waterproof, has three mesh pockets that provide easy storage and a clear removable pouch for those prone to spilling liquid items. There’s also an external pocket that’s convenient for high-use items like hair ties. But remember that you may need something bigger for more than a week of travel.

Cadence Travel Capsules

It seems that these photo-friendly travel “capsules” are everywhere these days — so much so that it’s piqued the curiosity of more than one Shop TODAY editor.

“These are a little pricey, but seem so useful! You can customize a set of 6 travel capsules and they’re magnetic,” one of our social editors raves. Kamari Stewart, our associate editor, was doubtful of their value for the price, but says her best friend swears by them.

“They’re expensive and seemed useless,” Stewart says, “but she likes them because they keep her organized. She labels hers, and they’re easy to transport, so she can take all of her things and doesn’t have to pick because of size/space issues.”

With a near-perfect average of 4.8 star ratings among over 5,900 reviewers on the brand’s site, as well as specs like being customizable, magnetic, leakproof and durable, we’re convinced.

RUNNER-UP: But if you’re not swayed or are balking at the price tag, never fear. You can get a similar (but not nearly as aesthetic) travel solution from Amazon. Humangear’s Go Tubbs, which are made of a sturdy, BPA-free plastic material and come in packs of three, are portable and designed with a unique lid that can be operated with one hand, as well as a recessed area so that your written labels won’t rub off.

Ouai Mini Detox Shampoo

We’re big fans of the Ouai brand of shampoos for ourselves and our dogs, and this specialty-formulated detox shampoo from the brand, now in a portable 3-ounce version, doesn’t disappoint. (In fact, one Shop TODAY editorial assistant wrote a glowing review about it.) The shampoo is a must-have after a day on trains, planes, and automobiles. It cleanses dirt, oil and product buildup while helping to strengthen your hair.

1Saves20 Refresh Hair Collection

For those long-haul flights or exploration days when you may not have time to wash your hair, 1Saves20’s hair bundle will help. The collection includes a hair mist that’s meant to prep your hair for the dry shampoo afterward, but Amazon reviewers say the mist is fine on its own. It contains 17 all-natural, good-for-you ingredients like aloe vera, sea salt and vanilla.

Those reviewers report that it does a stellar job sprucing up next-day, unwashed hair by taming fly-aways and adding a bit of volume. They add that it smells great, and the sea salt in the formula adds a nice, refreshing touch. Make sure to spare your roots, though, some reviewers warn, as it may weigh them down or add build-up.

Instead, after priming your hair, use the dry shampoo — which is a powder you dispense with an eco-friendly pump, not an aerosol — to cleanse, soothe and liven up your scalp and roots. It does so with a blend of rice and arrowroot powders, essential oils, white peppermint and kaolin clay.

Something to note: Some reviewers say that if you don’t carefully section hair off and pump directly onto your roots (being judicious with the amount), you risk having white powder everywhere.

EDITOR’S TAKE: One Shop TODAY editor can attest to the products’ cleansing and refreshing powers. Having used the products together — first after a long, 16-hour day in Manhattan with a lot of commuting in between, and second after a sweaty workout in a packed gym after a nine-hour work day — her weighed-down hair that’s typically more thin and fine at the roots showed more life and volume (and she didn’t feel the need to wash it afterward). Her hair smelled wonderful, too, she adds.

Fleur & Bee Rose Water Toner

This all-vegan, phthalate- and paraben-free toner from Fleur & Bee is great for travel, especially when flying on a plane. It can go right in your carry-on bag and, thanks to soothing rosewater and the humectant glycerin, helps to refresh and hydrate skin that can become dry from traveling.

OSEA Vagus Nerve Pillow Spray

We’ve long been obsessed with the OSEA line of environmentally conscious beauty products, and the brand’s Vagus Nerve pillow mist is a lovely way to wind down a day of travel (or a stressful day of work at home). Spray the soothing, delicious-smelling mist on your pillow before settling down for the night and getting ready for a good night’s sleep.

Incredi-Heat Portable USB Heating Pad

Raise your hand if you’ve ever been three days away from a much-anticipated vacation — when suddenly you strain a muscle. This portable USB-powered heating pad is a must-have for those prone to muscle strains. It takes up some space in your bag, but it’s easy to use and relieves pains quickly.

Clearalif’s Laundry Detergent Sheets

If you have young kids, chances are you are planning to do laundry on your trip somehow. For some, it means only renting a vacation rental with a washer and dryer. For others, it’s the good old-fashioned wash-it-in-the-hotel-sink trick.

Whatever your method, lightweight laundry detergent sheets make it a snap to do laundry anywhere. They’re easy to pack, and these ones from Clearalif dissolve fast and work wonders when it comes to getting out food stains.

Travigo 4-in-1 Travel Dispenser Bottle

Say goodbye to having to buy travel-sized toiletries. This Travel Dispenser Bottle lets you refill four pouches with the shampoo, soap and other beauty and wellness essentials of your choice. Simple to use, you simply rotate the bottle to choose which liquid you’re picking — and it’s TSA-compliant.

LIV3D Travel Belt for Luggage

Have you ever been running through the airport trying to catch your connecting flight, only to let all the contents of your purse fall on the floor and slow you down? Make traveling effortless with this belt for your luggage that keeps your hands-free and securely transports your laptop backpacks, purses and more. Rated Amazon’s Choice for luggage straps, this trendy belt comes in four different shades and can be easily attached or removed.

“With this strap, I can simply connect whatever heavy bag or backpack I’d normally carry on my back to the handle of my suitcase and just wheel both around instead of having to lug the bag through the airport,” raved one verified five-star reviewer on Amazon.

miroposs Rechargeable Makeup Mirror

Look and feel your best while traveling with this rechargeable LED makeup mirror that comes in three different shades. This Amazon’s Choice compact mirror features a built-in large capacity 2000 mAh battery that can be charged with a portable power supply.

One verified five-star Amazon reviewer said, “This is a great mirror for travel or for home if you don’t have much space. It is compact and the light is great for putting on makeup and doing your hair. I’m never going to travel without it!”

We looked to TikTok travel influencers, bloggers and other frequent jetsetters for our top picks. We also chatted with Misty Belles, Vice President of Global PR at Virtuoso, a travel network, to get her take on what to look for in travel accessories. In addition, we scoured online reviews and tried out quite a few products ourselves to develop this list of travel accessory must-haves.

Click on a product category below to learn more or keep scrolling to see all of our travel picks and FAQs.

Misty Belles is the vice president of Global PR for luxury travel company Virtuoso Travel, where she’s worked for the past 20-plus years. She has appeared multiple times on The TODAY Show, as well as on CNBC, Fox News Business and The View.

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