Anyone who considers themselves a seasoned traveler knows just what to pack for a long flight. While I wouldn’t say I’m a full-blown jet-setter, I do travel multiple times a year — enough to benefit from an airline’s credit card. And trip after trip, there are several nifty items I always find myself toting along, all of which are available at Amazon with prices starting as low as $6.
As Travel + Leisure’s Amazon shopping expert, you can trust that I discover some of the best finds at affordable prices. In fact, I do it for a living. And when you marry that skill with my knack for traveling, you’ll get a list filled with top-rated finds from some of the biggest brands around. That includes editor-loved Amazon travel picks from Lululemon, Scout, Sony, and Travelpro, just to name a few. I’ve tested each of these products during flights, on vacations, and throughout everyday life, so you know that I’ve put ‘em through the ringer (and they’ve all passed).
Editor-Loved Amazon Travel Essentials
CamelBak Chute Mag 25-Ounce Bottle
I’ve used CamelBak water bottles for over 10 years, primarily because they were trendy when I was in college, but they’ve stuck with me ever since. While I loved the classic Eddy+ straw water bottle in my 20s, I’ve since upgraded to the Chute Mag bottle, which has a leak-proof, screw-top lid, preventing dirt and grime from contaminating the mouth. Designed with a slim build, the water bottle fits nicely in my backpack or carry-on, too. Plus, I love that it’s made with plastic, making it lightweight enough to carry in-hand.
Lululemon All Night Festival Bag 5L
Tote bags are great, but when you want to carry just the essentials and roam hands-free, this is the Lululemon belt bag you’ll reach for instead. I love the All Night Festival Bag, which has a clever zipper design that makes me feel secure despite the rise in pickpocketing scares. It has a zipper around the top to stash important items like your passport, phone, and earbuds. However, that portion actually folds over to create a flap that’s fastened by a magnetic button. The bag also has an external zipper for small knick knacks like a subway card or ID. Shop it in black or white.
Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Premium Noise Canceling Headphones
Airplane engines, baby cries, and chatty passengers are all things these headphones can block out. I’ve had the older version of these for years and I’m due for this upgraded one. However, I can honestly say the Sony headphones deliver superior sound quality and a noise-canceling ability beyond any other pair I’ve tried. I love that I can listen in noise-canceling mode when jamming out and then switch to ambient sound control to hear the world around me. How else will I know we’ve landed?
Covergirl Clean Fresh Tinted Lip Balm
My toiletry bag is as minimalist as they come, complete with dual-purpose makeup like this Covergirl tinted lip balm. I discovered it after searching for the viral Clinique Black Honey Lipstick and found this $6 gem in the process. The pigmented wine-stained hue looks so good on and the hydrating formula is unparalleled. So instead of bringing a lip balm and lipstick, I just throw this one in my bag and call it a day. Psst, it looks so similar to the Clinique classic, too.
Cadence Travel Body Set Capsule Containers
Travel-sized bottles have nothing on these Cadence capsule containers that have instantly become a favorite. Unlike drugstore bottles that have a small opening and end up leaking in your bag, these Cadence ones are quite the opposite. They have a wide mouth perfect for carrying lotions, thick creams, and body washes. They have a secure twist-top lid that comes complete with labeled tiles, so you know what’s in what. Plus, they have a magnetic design that keeps the capsules together. I’ve carried these with me on trips to Las Vegas, Miami, and even internationally to Mexico and Italy—and they’ve never failed.
Etekcity Digital Luggage Scale
There are light packers, and then there’s me. I am not said light packer, which is why I need to carry a luggage scale with me on every trip. This digital luggage scale is ideal for solo travelers or single-person households because it allows you to lift luggage and check the weight right on the “handle” in lieu of using the outdated standing-on-the-scale method. And because it’s compact, I can stick it in my backpack or carry-on without worrying about it adding extra weight.
Travelpro Maxlite Air Medium Check-In Hardside Spinner
Week-long trips require more than a carry-on and less than a large suitcase, which is where this Goldilocks of checked luggage comes in. I wanted a lightweight piece for my Italy trip and opted for the Travelpro Maxlite Air suitcase; it has a durable hard shell, a medium-sized construction, and a 9-pound build. Yes, it was a godsend while trekking up and down stairs in Venice. It’s available in several fun styles, including blue, pink, and red. However, I particularly like the green, which gives it a colorful touch without showing dirt, bumps, or bruises.
Scout Little Big Mouth Makeup Bag
There are makeup bags, and then there are makeup bags. I use this Scout toiletry bag everyday, but it travels so nicely, I bring it on all my trips. It has a compact appearance, yet fits all of my skincare and makeup items thanks to its 6-inch capacity and three internal pockets. My favorite thing about the bag is its wire frame that expands out and keeps the top open, making it easy to grab my belongings without fishing for it. And because it’s made with a coated cotton material, the bag is a breeze to wipe down.
Ouai Melrose Place Eau de Parfum Travel
I like putting on perfume when I’m out and about, but no one has the capacity to lug around a full-sized bottle on a trip. Small, travel-sized options, like this on-the-go Ouai eau de parfum, are the solution — especially when they smell as good as this one does! The .34-ounce perfume delivers fresh notes of rose, lychee, and white musk for a spa-like smell you’ll want to bathe in. The scent lasts a long time, even with just a few spritzes. The best part? While this is TSA-friendly, there’s no reason why you can’t throw it in your purse on your way to work, a date, or brunch, too.
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