These 10 Travel Essentials Deserve a Forever Spot in Your Carry On—and They're All $20 or Under

As a travel writer, I’m always brainstorming my next plane, train, or car ride. The further the better, but I’m also a fan of weekend trips, heading home to see family, and living out of a suitcase for multi-month stints. Basically? I’ve become an expert in packing across my personal item, carry-on luggage, and any checked bags.

Whether you’re on a quick jaunt or determined to pack everything you need in your carry-on suitcase and overhead bin, certain travel must-haves are more space-saving (and useful) than others. As an experienced, professional shopper, I’ve combed through dozens of listings to find the exact 10 products to maximize your packing list and solve any problems on the road—and they’re all under $20. Read on for my favorites.

Best 10 Travel Essentials Under $20:

• Cubetastic Hanging Toiletry Bag, $15 with coupon (was $17)
• Simplicity Fold Up Sun Hat, $20 (was $22)
• Travel Inspira Portable Luggage Scale, $8 (was $13)
• Vantamo Personal Safety Alarm, $20 with code (was $25)
• Steripod Toothbrush Protector Set of 2, $6
• Yiview Sleep Blackout Mask, $10 (was $15)
• Fyy Travel Cable Organizer, $8 (was $13)
• Olarhike 6-Set Packing Cubes, $17 (was $23)
• Perilogics Universal Airplane Phone Holder Mount, $10 (was $18)
• Charmast Power Bank with Built-in Cables, $20 (was $30)

Cubetastic Hanging Toiletry Bag

I would consider my makeup and skincare routine pretty minimalist, but that’s still always my biggest struggle when restricting myself to a carry-on; somehow, even the basics take up so much room. Other toiletry organizers I’ve tried are too tall for regular use in a hardshell (without having to practically break my suitcase to make it close), but this shorter, more compact toiletry bag gets the job done without sacrificing features. It contains multiple compartments and a hanger for easy unpacking when you get to your final destination. Elastic straps hold bottles without budging, and it even comes in 21 stylish colorways.

Simplicity Fold Up Sun Hat

UV protection is always a must, but I nearly always forget a hat during my travels.  It provides the same look and aesthetic as a floppy hat, but with the convenience of being able to pack tight and fold up. It’s not only chic, but it will certainly keep the sun out of your eyes, whether you’re adventuring or hanging out at a poolside cabana. You can customize the fit with its hook and loop closure, and its lightweight rattan is a beachy bonus, too. Better yet, it’s available in 11 shades.

Travel Inspira Portable Luggage Scale

Despite my best efforts, I’m actually a tried-and-true overpacker. And when it comes to baggage weight, I used to go by feel, hoping and praying at the check-in counter that my carry-on bag would squeak by the scales. That is, until I discovered this under-$10 portable luggage scale. Now I can never go back. It’s simply so convenient to stow this handy gadget in the suitcase when not in use and leverage it to inform my packing choices. Its LED screen is easy to read, and the device itself is easy to use; it’s easily saved me $50 (or those embarrassing minutes rearranging on the airport floor) on many occasions.

Vantamo Personal Safety Alarm

Unfortunately, as a solo female traveler, I can never be too careful. Whether walking city streets at night or struggling to navigate a new destination, a personal safety alarm is a cheap investment that can pay off in spades for peace of mind. This convenient item attaches to the end of your keychain and also includes an alarm and strobe light. Hikers and others might also appreciate having this companion on trails or other isolated situations. Plus, it lets you know when it’s low on battery, so you’re never stuck without it and wishing. And unlike other safety items like pepper spray, you can actually take this on the plane.

Steripod Toothbrush Protector Set of 2

I personally like to keep my toothbrush easily accessible in my personal item, because I’m nearly always taking redeyes. Whether I’m doing a nighttime routine in the airport or exhausted and collapsing when I get to my final destination, brushing my teeth is my absolute first priority to refresh myself. Digging around in my bag is the last thing I want to do, so this toothbrush protector pack is a must to keep the bristles (ew!) from getting makeup, germs, or anything else on them while rattling around in a carry-on pocket. This protector just snaps onto the end of the toothbrush and even has infused peppermint oil vapors to add a little spa-like touch.

Yiview Sleep Blackout Mask

Whether trying to catch some limited Zs on a redeye or struggling to sleep in a new destination or hotel, a blackout mask can go a long way in maintaining your sleep quality on the road by reducing visual stimuli. Unlike other masks, the soft, built-in eye cups of this pick block 100 percent of the light by providing 3D coverage—no light leaks around the edges. A blackout mask especially comes in handy in hostels, on public transportation, and in other areas where people are maybe not so considerate about keeping lights on during rest hours. Act quickly while it’s 33 percent off. 

Fyy Travel Cable Organizer

Unfortunately, I’m nearly always traveling with about 15 various tech items: cameras, memory cards, smartwatch, charger, laptop, charger, phone, charger, etc. The cords doth overwhelm, and there’s little I hate more than having to dive to the exact bottom of my bag in a crowded airport terminal because my phone’s at 8 percent. So a cord organizer can go a long way in reducing my travel concerns (and frankly, my temper). The double layers of this zip-up organizer mean you have plenty of pockets for arranging your tech accessories as you like, and it’s even waterproof. Shop the organizer in 22 chic colorways.

Olarhike 6-Set Packing Cubes

Nothing maximizes your bag capacity quite like packing cubes: compressible, zip-up cases that stuff and streamline your clothes. As someone who used to roll and fold my wardrobe to fit in my hardshell carry-on, these were an absolute game changer in making my luggage instantly organized (and practically double what I was able to bring). This set of six is a great start to the practice; fine mesh allows you to see what you’re reaching for without having to unzip everything, and two-way zippers won’t get stuck. Side handles make each one easy to tote too; I just throw them directly into a dresser at my next destination rather than having to unpack, re-fold, and put away each item individually. I especially love that this pack comes with a unique array of sizes for various creative assortments.

Perilogics Universal Airplane Phone Holder Mount

Consider me intrigued. While many airplanes now have mini device-holder stands built in for your phones and media, most flights I’m on don’t, which means I’m often straining my neck and back and crouching over the tray table in an awkward position to watch my shows. I’ve seen various “hacks” promising you can fold your barf bag into an origami holder, but I’ve always failed at the attempt. So this clever Amazon gadget is a thoughtful solution for newer iPhones and most Androids; simply rig up the mount to the back of the chair in front of you for easy, hands-free viewing. It even has 360-degree rotation for sharing a screen with a companion. Over 13,000 Amazon shoppers rate this pick five-stars, with one reviewer writing that they even use it on their nightstand and shower handle.

Charmast Power Bank with Built-in Cables

I bet you didn’t think you’d get all the way down the list without encountering a power bank, right? A portable charger is a total classic for any travel must-haves list, and for good reason—it’s universally needed. Recently, I’ve been in a ton of airports without charging infrastructure. Either half the outlets don’t work, or they’re impossible to access. So having an extra charge on hand is so worthwhile, especially because I don’t need to coordinate multiple cords either. This bank has them built-in with lightning, micro-USB, and USB-C attachments, as well as multiple input options too. With so many ports, you can charge up to six devices at once, and a clear numerical battery indicator will let you know its status. It’s pretty light too, clocking in at less than half a pound.