I wouldn’t call myself a travel expert. But I would consider myself a travel products expert. I’ve been a shopping editor for the past 10 years, so I’ve been able to try a lot of genius products over the years during my trips, whether it was a quick weekend away with friends or a 10-day trip to Europe. And no matter the length of the trip, I have some non-negotiable products that I always pack. From a eye mask for total darkness, a super useful travel adapter and even some compression packing cubes that make a huge difference, these are the things that make traveling so much easier for me. And the best part? Everything on this list is under $100.
So before you jet off on your next trip, grab these essentials. You can thank me later!
12 Useful Products Under $100 That I Never Travel Without
1. Quick Clean: Because you can encounter so many germs while flying, I always keep a pack of these Lysol Disinfecting Wipes with me. They’re compact but easy to grab and wipe down my seat and tray table. Plus, they’re great to have for any other spills or messes that happen while traveling.
2. Sleep Anywhere: I need to sleep in complete darkness, so I love to use the Ostrichpillow Eye Mask because it’s specifically designed with blink-friendly eye cups that don’t put any pressure on your eyes while you sleep. I love it so much that I even use it when I sleep at home!
3. No Noise: In addition to the eye mask, I also use these Loop Switch 2 Adjustable Ear Plus while I sleep to block out all noise. They’re also designed to adjust from 20 to 26 decibels, so they’re also great to protect my ears but not block out all the noise while attending a concert.
4. Stay Hydrated: Since I refuse to pay $6+ for a water at the airport, I always pack my Owala FreeSip Water Bottle empty and then fill it after I get through security. It keeps the water cold for hours, and I also love that you can drink it two ways.
5. Overpacking Dream: I have a really hard time not overpacking when I travel (what if my mood changes, and I don’t like the one thing I packed to wear!?), but these large compression packing cubes from Calpack have been a savior. All you have to do is stuff it full, and the wrap-around zipper will considerably bring down the size. Plus, the patterns is so cute!
6. Shopping Must: And since I also love to shop when I travel, I know that I will already have limited space in my bag. That’s why I pack The Foldie, as it’s an expandable bag that I can fill and fly home with. It also has a luggage sleeve and is water-resistant.
7. TSA-Approved: After flying with my liquids in a plastic baggie for years, I recently upgraded to Cadence’s medium parcel. It holds one quart, so it’s perfect to take through TSA, and the innovative magnetic closure keeps my liquids in place but easy to grab while on the trip.
8. International Must-Have: Anytime I go to Europe, this Sokoo travel adapter is the first thing in my bag. I love how it has two plugs, three USB-A ports and a USB-C port so I can keep all my electronics charged without having to bring multiple converters.
9. In-Flight Entertainment: If you’re going to be on a long flight, I highly recommend grabbing the Twelve South AirFly Pro. It easily connects your wireless headphones with the in-flight entertainment, so you don’t have to rely on cheap wired headphones without noise cancellation during the flight. I’ve used mine with my AirPods Pro, and it worked great!
10. Keeping Tabs: I don’t usually check a bag when I fly, but when I do, I keep an Apple AirTag in my luggage. This gives me peace of mind, so I know exactly where my luggage is during the whole journey.
11. All-Day Power: My iPhone is almost three years old at this point, so even though it works perfectly fine, the battery does not last all day anymore. So when I know I’m going to be out and about using Maps and taking a bunch of pictures, I keep this Anker Power Bank in my purse so I can easily recharge it anywhere. It makes a huge difference.
12. Worth It: And while this is not necessarily a product, I can’t end this list without recommending TSA PreCheck. For under $100, it makes going through security so much easier. I’ve had it for nearly 10 years now, and it’s honestly the best money I’ve spent on traveling ever. Seriously, if you haven’t signed up, do so now.
