32 Travel Products With Some Big “Just In Case” Energy

Sep 24, 2023

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed collects a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.

Maybe you can't buy happiness, but this portable door lock and travel security belt sure can buy peace of mind.

BuzzFeed Staff

Promising review: "I have two of these, and they are amazing. The loop goes around the door handle and two thin metal prongs go in the crack of the door. If the door opens even a little, the prongs are separated and it lets out the loudest, most obnoxious wailing sound in the history of the world. It's great for a single girl traveling on her own!" —Kelly

Get it from Amazon for $14.99 (clip the 25% off coupon on the product page for this price; available in eight colors).

Check out a TikTok of the portable charger in action.

Here's what BuzzFeeder Elizabeth Lilly has to say about it: "I bought this specifically for my weeklong trip to Europe in December when I knew I'd be taking a million videos of adorable Christmas markets. But! I keep it in my bag all the time, even when I'm not on vacation. I use Google Maps to get around NYC and any New Yorker will tell you that when you leave your home on a quick errand at 10 a.m. on a Saturday, you may not get home until 3 a.m. because there's always something cool to do and friends constantly reach out with impromptu plans. This little charger has saved me on several days while I'm out and about. No more need to bring your pal a phone charging cord when you're meeting for happy hour and searching the bar for stools near an outlet."

Promising review: "The holy grail of portable chargers!!! I was traveling to Disney for vacation and knowing me, I would drain my battery with just taking pictures alone. I wanted a portable battery but didn’t want a carry a cord either, so I was excited when I found this little baby! It does exactly as described, has a pretty pink color, and I get one full charge of battery for my iPhone 11. Get it. You will not be disappointed!" —Meghan Doble

Get it from Amazon for $29.75+ (clip the 15% off coupon on the product page for this price; available in six colors).

Promising review: "These were awesome! My entire family suffers from motion sickness, especially carsickness. My little one gets sick in the car on a regular car ride through the city. So I knew that a long road trip was going to be a disaster. I was amazed at how well these bands worked for everyone! Not one single person complained about being sick for 12 hours in the car. At one point I did have one child remove their bands because they said they were getting too tight. But after only a few minutes without them, a headache started to come on, so they immediately put them back on and the relief was instant. I have suffered for decades and now I know better. I will never travel without mine again!" —1SmartCookie

Get a set of two from Amazon for $8.50 (available in adult and children's sizes).

Promising review: "I just got back from an overseas trip using this belt. I went through TSA three times wearing this and had no issues. It's able to hold several bills if you fold them carefully. I would buy this again. It's definitely worth the money." —Neutron

Get it from Amazon for $17.99.

Hair Dance is a US-based cruelty-free, vegan small business that specializes in haircare products.

Promising review: "I was a little unsure about this product but wanted it for vacation to limit aerosols or liquids. I am mind blown! It smells great, doesn’t leave a residue and both volumizes and keeps my hair looking fresh. It also lasts for much longer than an aerosol if you’re someone who uses this daily or every other day. The bottle is small enough to not take up space, but I’ve had my first bottle for months and am barely through half. This will be my go-to from now on." —E

Get it from Amazon for $16.99 (available in two sizes).

HELLO, I AM OBSESSED WITH THESE. Despite all the rave reviews I was definitely skeptical of space-saving bags that didn't require a vacuum, and even as they were actively squishing my clothes into oblivion I still couldn't quite believe it. I had easily two suitcases worth of clothes I wanted to pack for a three-week trip to London, and I managed to neatly pack the entirety of my wardrobe in one roller carry-on bag. Truly all I had to do was put my clothes in the bag, push them to the bottom, and then sit on it to get the air out before sealing it up. I had tons of extra bags and make a habit of taking them with me in case other people joining me on trips need them to be able to pack souvenirs on the way home. I'm never taking a long trip without these again — these are worth every damn penny.

Get a set of eight from Amazon for $16.97.

Promising review: "I absolutely love this wallet. I needed a new travel wallet, and this holds everything I need all in one place, and it still closes nicely and stays flat! I can fit my boarding pass, passport, ID, credit cards, money, checked baggage tickets, receipts, and more in it, yet it doesn’t bulk up or look like an overstuffed mess. It's just amazing. The description says it only holds US money, but I just used the boarding pass flap to hold all my Japanese yen (¥), which are larger. I didn’t use the zippered pocket for coins as I much prefer a separate coin purse for that sort of thing. I definitely recommend to anyone who travels a lot!" —Anthony Luu

Get it from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in 39 colors).

It fits any phone up to 100 mm x 170 mm (or about 3.9 inches x 6.7 inches). It's also a great fix for keeping out sand and dirt (and a great option for runners, if you're caught in the rain but still want to be able to toggle through your music options).

Here's what BuzzFeeder Elizabeth Lilly has to say about it: "With these, I find that they're good for about a day due to condensation. I've used this case to take underwater pics, on boat rides, and have worn it with the lanyard jumping off a boat into water. So I really trust these!"

Promising review: "I purchased this case in July for an upcoming canoe trip with a friend and as luck would have it, we flipped our canoe. Being the rebel that I am, I chose not to wear my phone around my neck. And so it, my ID, and my debit card ended up at the bottom of the river, and I just assumed it would be discovered a thousand years from now and placed in a museum as an ancient artifact. Fast-forward to this week. I was contacted via FB by an Alachua County Sheriff’s Office diver and guess what he found? Yup, my phone case with all of the contents intact and dry as a bone! He had to cut the case open but there was not one single drop of water in it and he ended up purchasing a case for himself because he was just that impressed!" —Julie McDonald

Get it from Amazon for $6.99 (available in 14 colors).

Check out BuzzFeeder Elizabeth Lilly's TikTok of the digital luggage scale in action.

Promising reviews: "I cannot imagine how we would have managed a big international trip without this. It saved us so much stress and, I’m sure, surprise charges at the airport." —Potter Freak

"This scale works and was accurate on four flights. First flight was a test at 46 pounds and Delta scales said it was 46 pounds. The next two flights were at 49 pounds and both United and Delta found it to be 49 pounds. The bag on the fourth flight weighed 49 but the United scale found it to be 48 pounds. Four different airports and scales proved that this scale is a good, low-cost, must-have item for air travel." —Robert

Get it from Amazon for $8.99 (available in three colors and also a two-pack).

Promising review: "Absolutely love this! I purchased it for a week-long vacation and it kept my jewelry safe and untangled. I had stopped traveling with necklaces because they always wound up a tangled mess. No more! Bonus is that the soft pink case is beautiful. It is also very slim so it’s easy to pack or carry in your purse. Highly recommend this product! My favorite purchase in a long time!" —Petite and Pampered Boutique

Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in two sizes and seven colors).

Ring Thing Designs is a California-based Etsy shop that specializes in ring storage, and donates a portion of each sale to anti-human trafficking nonprofits.

Promising review: "Great concept, execution, and delivery!! I bought five for various daughters and daughters-in-law for their beautiful rings when they exercise or travel. So convenient and helpful in safeguarding their precious items...They LOVE! Thank you so much for making such a wonderful product at a reasonable price and quick delivery!" —Celia Flynn

Get it from Ring Thing Designs on Etsy for $19.95 (available in eight colors).

LokiStashed is a California-based small business that specializes in unique and practical hair accessories.

Promising review: "I got these scrunchies so I could stash away money, lip balm, and car/house keys while enjoying a hike, at the beach, or going to festivals ... basically places where you don't want to be worried about carrying a lot or you don't want people to know where your stuff is. I have very long thick hair and the scrunchie will go around my hair twice while in a ponytail or bun and it is comfortable." —Amazon Customer

Get a pack of three from Amazon for $12.99 (available in two color combinations).

A lot of nurses, teachers, and parents also swear by this backpack, since it's so well-organized, durable, and comfy!

Promising review: "Love how well made this is. I’ve spilled things on it many times and it is easy to clean off. All the pockets are amazing. Fits everything I need for work — laptop, small keyboard, headphones, charging cord, etc. very comfortable even though I have it fully stuffed." —Denise Wells

Get it from Amazon for $38.98 (available in 12 colors).

Promising review: "I am a bag lover and this one is the best. I thought the straps might not be comfortable, but they are. The size is absolutely perfect. The location of the pockets is wonderful. The outside pocket on the back is genius. The red color is gorgeous. Holds all I need and then some. The locking zipper pulls add security." —Gina

Get it from Amazon for $110+ (available in five colors).

Safego is a small business that specializes in portable lock boxes for indoor and outdoor use.

Promising review: "This is a must-have for vacations. We took it to Atlantis in the Bahamas. It worked perfectly. Held our phones, room keys, etc. while we were out enjoying the beach or pool. Just looped it to beach chair or table. Highly recommended." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $49.95+ (available in four colors).

Promising review: "I used this stuff on the Appalachian trail and it works amazing. Like marble on marble and instant relief. A must-have for any trail hiker." —Draco

Get it from Amazon for $8.99.

Promising review: "Wow. I took this on vacation, during which we walked about 20,000 steps daily. And of course my shoes begin to rub against parts of my feet, terribly. But I smeared this on and it was amazing. I did have to reapply a few times a day, in public, but I highly recommend this!! I used it on my toes, ankle area, etc., and my feet felt great (normal)." —Y.

Get it from Amazon for $9.

The Lamare is a Florida-based Etsy shop established in 2017 that specializes in planners and journals.

Promising review: "I loved the journals I received. They are gorgeous. They're well-made and fun to use!" —Kristy

Get it from Amazon for $13.95 or The Lamare on Etsy for $14.95.

Also, unlike your regular undies, you don't have to scrub the blood out of these. They're designed so it rinses right out in the sink with soap and warm water, and can get tossed in the washer and dryer from there. You can read the rest of my review on Bambody period underwear for more deets!

Psst — reviewers love these undies, but suggest sizing up!

Promising review: "My job requires traveling to places that may not always have a bathroom, so when I’m on my period I wear these as a fail safe in case my tampon or pad is at a max and I’m not somewhere I can change them out. It’s worked great so far and it makes it far more comfortable on the job." —Sam

Get it from Amazon for $10+ (available in women's sizes XS–6XL, two colors, and in three-packs).

You can check out my review of Macks Earplugs for more deets: "The moldable silicone of Mack's Earplugs contours easily to the shape of your ear to block out noise much more effectively than other foam or plastic varieties, and the noise reduction is so good that if I pair them with a white noise machine (or just like a white noise loop on Spotify) I genuinely don't hear noises from outside my room. Not only that, but once they're in place, they stay locked there until you decide to pull them out. I've also *loved* these for traveling — if you put these babies in on a plane not only does it help reduce some of the YIKES factor when the plane takes off (it's loud!!), but it cancels out the murmuring noises of passengers on the flight and makes it easier to get some shuteye."

Promising review: "I have always bought earplugs based on the decibel ratings, but none of them have ever worked very well for me, because they don't stay in my ears. These have a lower decibel rating than any of the foam earplugs I have used in the past, but they are much more effective. They really block noise, and they don't go in your ear canal; they just cover the entrance to the ear canal. I find this much more comfortable. I am really glad I found these, and just wish i had found them sooner." —Portlandia

Get 12 pairs from Amazon for $12.99.

Promising review: "Took this on vacation and I bought two, one for myself and one for my boyfriend. My feet are women’s size 6 and my boyfriend's are men’s size 9. We were both able to fit one pair of slipper/slides and one pair of shoes. My boyfriend and I just placed on top of each other. We had mud on our shoes and sand but it didn’t get mixed up with the rest of our belongings (hence why I purchased the darker color, I knew the lighter one would stain/look so dirty). I will def use this every single time I travel." —OctoberPaperTrails

Get a set of two from Amazon for $9.99 (available in seven colors).

Promising review: "These were a lifesaver. I was walking to the bus and decided it was a great decision to drink coffee while walking. Like a scene from an infomercial, I spilled coffee all over my white shirt. Yes, the classic coffee on the white shirt. Luckily I had one of these in my bag (I put one in each of my most-used purses in anticipation of my clumsiness). I went into a store bathroom and quickly scrubbed the Tide To-Go on my shirt. All of the coffee blobs went away and once the awkward wet splotches dried up, my shirt was perfectly white again. You've got yourself a big fan, Tide." —NAD

Get a pack of three from Amazon for $7.74.

Each pack comes with bandages to fit your heel, toe, and foot. People who wear heels also recommend these!

As a blister-prone human, I swear by these. A few years ago, before I invested in these running socks that prevent blisters, I got a blister on my big toe so unspeakably large and painful that I am cringing even TYPING about it, and no amount of rest from running seemed to heal it; it just kept coming back. I finally used one of these bandages, and the pain was virtually gone from the moment I put it on. It was also so airtight that nothing got inside, and it didn't loosen in the shower. You're supposed to take it off when it loses adhesive so it can come off gently without disturbing the blister if it hasn't fully healed yet. After using two of these in a row over the course of a week and a half, my blister was finally healed up enough that it stopped coming back.

Promising review: "So glad I thought ahead to buy these before going to Italy. I had new fashionable shoes and low-cut socks and we did 10 times more walking that I had anticipated. I tried the shoes on for an hour and got a blister. Wore these for 10 days in Europe and had zero issues, total comfort, left them on for multiple days through showers. I’ll never travel without these again." —Paul Hinman

Get it from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in four types of packs).

Eyelov is a small business that specializes in personal care products for travel.

Promising review: "Perfect for an overnight trip. I hate packing contact solution, but this keeps everything together and the small bottle holds enough solution to take my contacts out and soak them, and then rinse them to put them back in. I was pleasantly surprised to see the suction and the tweezers. I haven't had to use them, but I definitely needed them in the past. Cute addition to my travel bag and worth the money." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in three colors).

Promising review: "Prevents your feet and ankles from swelling on long flights. Also gave me an overall more comfortable feel on a 12-hour flight. I didn't feel the need to stretch or wiggle my feet quite as much. Sizing guide was pretty spot on. They look like regular socks and I didn't have any issues with impressions on my feet. They also they were not super tight in the toe area which I liked. Time will tell if they stay in shape after multiple uses and wash cycles, but for that price it was a great deal." —Tar

Get it from Amazon for $17.98+ (available in 13 colors and sizes S–XXL).

Each set of nine containers also comes with two small spatulas and a storage bag.

Promising review: "I have traveled twice now with these little jars and have had no issues with leaking. I love the two mini spatulas that come with the set for getting thicker products out of the jars. I only wish I could buy more of the smaller ones without having to purchase the larger. Great product and highly recommend." —Amazon Customer

Get a set of nine from Amazon for $9.95.

FWIW, if you're planning to exercise in a mask while traveling, this mask also has the approval of a *ton* of runners and athletes in its reviews. I have two of them in my own rotation, and I'm impressed by how comfortable they are on long flights *and* while working out. The straps are super soft on your ears — I've gotten so used to straps chafing and was surprised by what a difference this made. I gifted one of these to my dad for Christmas, too, and it's his go-to for walks and errand running. It's just an overall easier mask to breathe in (while still maintaining a tight fit and keeping the people around you safe!).

Promising review: "Like everyone else we've been using masks of varying quality. We work from home so I haven't thought much about airborne pathogens in close quarter environments, until my first business trip in 18 months, yikes. Bought this mask after great testimonials from colleagues who also travel, it worked perfectly for me. Continuous wearing up to seven hours in airports and multiple flights was no problem, very comfortable with great airflow. Is this an N95? No, of course not, but it is an effective barrier that you will use without 'taking breaks' and risking exposure. Highly recommended!!" —T. Martin

Type Of Fit: Around-the-ear loops

Pocket For Filter: No

Fabric Type: Iso-Chill fabric

Shipping Time: Standard shipping

Get it from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in five sizes and 10 colors; for reference, I'm wearing the Small-Medium above).

Check out a TikTok of the snack spinner in action.

Promising review: "I bought these before they were on Amazon. I’m obsessed. My kids think it’s a game, and they’re so intent on eating all the food inside. Even my picky eater. As a mom who absolutely hates to hand wash things, I’m so grateful that a) the entire thing comes apart for washing and b) it’s completely dishwasher-safe. This thing is awesome. One of a kind. I own five right now. Will probably be getting more in the future for when the baby is old enough to snack independently." —Jordan Christman

Get it from Amazon for $26.07+ (available in three colors).

Promising review: "We enjoy traveling and spend several weeks on the road each year. I have lower back problems that require my getting cortisone shots for pain relief. For the last few weeks, I have also been having trouble sitting for more than a few minutes because of a pain in the area of my tailbone. I ordered this item for our last trip. I could not believe the difference it made! I was able to sit comfortably both driving and riding without any pain, and that made a huge difference in my enjoyment of the trip. When we got home I ordered a second one so I could leave one in the car and have one inside. I am recommending it to all my friends who need some relief." —Susan S.

Get it from Amazon for $49.95 (available in three colors).

Note: You should only ever look at the camera when the car isn't in motion!

Promising review: "I saw this product on TikTok and knew I wanted to try it. I LOOOOOVE this product! I hate trying to use my rear view mirror to look into her mirror to make sure she’s okay. The quality of the video is great for the price, and I can easily see if my infant has spit up or I can see her mouth to shove a paci in if needed. I can see details like if her eyes are open or closed. The night vision isn’t too bad but not as detailed but you can see enough. But overall for the price, I would buy this product again hands-down." —Michael Giblin

Get it from Amazon for $29.99.

Cincha Travel is a California-based small business that specializes in adjustable travel belts made out of vegan leather. The brand donates 100 airline miles for each purchase, which are used to reconnect separated migrant families.

Promising review: "I try to go on trips with just a carryon and backpack. The issue is my backpack always gets so heavy and hurts my back in king travel days. This belt completely solves that problem! It is high quality, comfortable, and looks super sleek! It’s my favorite travel precut hands-down! —Benjamin

Get it from Cincha Travel for $39.99 (available in 15 colors, and can be monogrammed for an additional $12).

Promising review: "We travel frequently and have two children. As any parent knows, packing for yourself and your children can be overwhelming (especially for a trip longer than a few days). I have found this list to be a lifesaver and I also give it as a gift for other traveling families. It is easy to plan, organize, and list out items that are easily forgotten. You can also list the quantity of each item needed. It has a variety of clothing options and space to add more. Overall, wonderful purchase and has likely saved me many forgotten items!" —Mike D.

Get it from Amazon for $7.

Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.