As much as I love visiting new places, I tend to fall into the camp of those who describe traveling as “exhausting,” particularly the packing and unpacking parts of it. While the pros of travel far outweigh the cons of packing, I’ve found it critical to optimize the process as much as possible. Over the last few years, I’ve been on a personal mission to find ways to make packing less arduous—whether it’s a pair of sneakers I can wear with everything in my suitcase or a backpack that fits all of my travel essentials. During my search for these travel hacks, I discovered a few specific packing essentials that increase my overall efficiency—and they’re each under $30 on Amazon.
This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
Drawer organizers
Believe it or not, my first packing essential doesn’t actually leave my house. An organized closet and dresser is the key to seamless packing but, unfortunately, organization has never been one of my strong suits. To achieve any semblance of order in my dresser at home, I need some assistance. Enter the SimpleHouseware Organizer and Drawer Divider set. I purchased the four-bin set over a year ago, after spending too much time digging through my clothes ahead of trips. It instantly decreased the amount of time I spend packing. I use the $14 organizers to separate my clothes into categories of pieces I always need to pack; socks, underwear, bras, T-shirts, tanks, and leggings all have their assigned bins, making it easy to grab and go my favorites when it comes time to prepare for a trip.
Luggage scales
Reaching the 50-pound checked luggage limit always comes quicker than you think, especially if you’re packing thick winter clothes or multiple pairs of shoes. Before I purchased a handheld luggage scale last year, I would do one of two things to attempt to avoid the overweight bag fee: 1) try to calculate the weight by holding my suitcase on a bathroom scale, or 2) hope for the best. Neither strategy was very effective. Now I just hook the scale to my luggage handle, weigh the bag, and receive reassurance that I haven’t overpacked. It’s also small enough to bring with me; if I pick up anything at my destination, I can reweigh my bag and make any necessary adjustments.
If you aren’t sure you need one, think of it this way: Overweight luggage fees can run anywhere from $75 to $400, depending on the airline, and my go-to luggage scale is $12. In just one use, it pays for itself.
Packing cubes
If there’s one thing I’ll never travel without again, it’s a set of packing cubes. They’ve had a positive ripple effect on my packing (and unpacking) process. Sorting clothing and accessories into cubes not only encourages me to stay organized while on the road, but it also streamlines the unpacking process. I always bring an extra one to hold dirty laundry, and I’ll empty its contents directly into my washing machine upon return. While packing for an extended trip to England in 2021, I realized I needed more cubes—at the last minute, I ordered a Bagail set. They’re lightweight and durable, and the mesh top panel allows me to see what’s inside without unzipping the cube.
Beauty product organizers
If there’s one part of the packing process I (used to) find most tiresome, it’s getting all of my toiletries together. Not only am I adamant about keeping up my beauty routine while on the road, but I’m also very thorough. Everything from face moisturizer to leave-in conditioner must accompany me—even if they travel in more compact containers. To combat this size issue, I started to collect smaller versions of beauty and skincare products. The free perfume samples you get with an online Sephora order? The mini body lotions and travel-sized toothpaste tubes you find in hotels? Those will eventually make their way into my Dopp kit, especially if I’m only traveling with a carry-on. Instead of tossing them all in my cabinets (where I’d forget about them), I now keep them in an organizer in my bathroom.
