24 Travel Essentials Our Editors Refuse to Leave Behind

“This bag is a marvel of physics,” says editor Olivia Campbell of the Nanobag — a reusable shopping bag that folds down to an impressively small size for storage. Campbell says she’s tried other foldable portable bags, many of which have stiff fabric or don’t fold small. Yet, even the XL size of the Nanobag, which holds 25 liters, is “ridiculously light, simple, and convenient,” she adds. What we really appreciate is that the bag’s pouch is attached to the bag, helping us keep track of it while traveling.

The Nanobag also comes in Standard, Sling, Pack, Micro, and Daypack sizes, in fun colors and patterns. Just note that the diamond ripstop fabric isn’t thick, so we don’t put anything sharp or too heavy inside the bag. But we’ve used it for months and haven’t had any quality issues.

I swear by this Baggallini sling bag for exploring during a trip. The 2.9-liter capacity has three main compartments, two of which have their own interior pockets for additional storage. I can fit all of these essentials with ease: a wallet, my keys, my phone, a bottle of lotion, hand sanitizer, lip balm, eye drops, and a Band-Aid or two. 

It’s surprisingly lightweight and comfortable to wear, thanks to the adjustable, cut-resistant double-cable strap. I also appreciate the exterior water-repellent material and scratch-resistant material in the phone pocket to protect my belongings.

I tested this lightweight luggage a few years ago, and it remains the one I grab for flights because it fits in the overhead bin. I also love it for road trips. My favorite feature is the 360-degree double wheels that make walking or running with it an absolute breeze (seriously, I ran through the Atlanta airport with this luggage once). I appreciate the two portability options: a side handle for carrying or a top handle for pulling and pushing. 

If you’re traveling with a laptop in tow, we can’t recommend a laptop backpack enough. The Fjällräven Kånken Laptop 17 bag features a separate, padded 17-inch laptop compartment, keeping your tech safe and sound through your adventures. The backpack comes in 13- and 15-inch sizes, so it fits a wide variety of laptops. Editor Katie Tuttle says that she can also fit “snacks, my headphones, and a charger” into the bag, adding, “It also works well as a hiking pack.” Tuttle has taken it on many trips, and she reports that it still looks great, despite heavy use.

The Lululemon New Crew Backpack 22L Updated is one of our editors’ go-tos for carry-on and car trips (and yes, it really will fit under an airplane seat). “It cleans super easily, so I don’t worry about it getting gross on the airplane floor,” shares editor Ashley Ziegler. At 11.4 by 7.3 by 16.5 inches, with a 22-liter capacity, it offers plenty of storage pockets, space for a laptop or tablet, room for a water bottle, and more. We also love the padded shoulder straps; they help distribute weight evenly, giving our backs a break while traveling.

Both Ziegler and editor Lili Ladaga recommend an eye mask as a travel essential; it blocks out light so you can sleep peacefully. This eye mask is different than any others we’ve tried. Rather than lying flat on your eyes, the mask features 3D contoured “cups,” which sit around your eyes like goggles — and are just much more comfortable. “The material is silky soft, and you can adjust the headband for the best fit,” says Ladaga.

The Apollo is a vagus-nerve stimulation device you can wear on your wrist or ankle to help you sleep, relax, and more. “I use it at home, and I never leave the house for a trip without it,” says editor Alexandra Klausner. “Since travel is stressful, this helps a lot.”

Whether you’re an artist or not, you won’t regret packing this slim drawing set for anyone in the family. The carrying case contains 12 colored pencils, one eraser, one sharpener, and one drawing pad. A zipper closure ensures that everything stays put when you’re done with your masterpiece. It’s so lightweight that we didn’t even notice it in our carry-on backpacks during several flights. 

“It’s a great option for older kids as a screen alternative (or when the Wi-Fi is spotty on a flight),” says Campbell. It would also be a great calming activity for teens and adults. 

It’s so easy to miss taking a pill when you’re busy traveling, but we really appreciate how this pill organizer helps us remember such an important task. The container includes separate boxes for each day of the week, including a.m. and p.m. compartments, and they’re all color-coded so you don’t mix them up. “I can take just one day’s worth in my bag with me when I’m out for a day (this was especially helpful when I went to Disney with my family — I left all of the other days’ pills in the hotel room and just carried one day’s worth with me),” says Ziegler.

It is slightly bulky if you carry the whole thing, but it’s still handy to travel with, so you can leave your medicine bottles at home. We love it so much that it even earned a spot on our list of the best pill organizers.