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12 Clever Ways to Use Plastic Bags When You Travel

Sarah Schlichter

Deputy Executive Editor Sarah Schlichter's idea of a perfect trip includes spotting exotic animals, hiking through pristine landscapes, exploring new neighborhoods on foot, and soaking up as much art as she can. She often attempts to recreate recipes from her international travels after she gets home (which has twice resulted in accidental kitchen fires—no humans or animals were harmed).

Sarah joined the SmarterTravel team in 2017 after more than a decade at the helm of IndependentTraveler.com. Sarah's practical travel advice has been featured in dozens of news outlets including the New York Times, the Chicago Tribune, USA Today, Budget Travel, and Peter Greenberg Worldwide Radio. Follow her on Twitter @TravelEditor .

The Handy Item I Always Pack: "A journal. Even years later, reading my notes from a trip can bring back incredibly vivid memories."

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: "Road tripping and hiking through the rugged mountains of Patagonia."

Travel Motto: "'To awaken quite alone in a strange town is one of the pleasantest sensations in the world.'—Freya Stark"

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: "Aisle. I get restless on long flights and like to be able to move around without disturbing anyone else."

Email Sarah at [email protected] .

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When it comes to travel, plastic bags aren’t just for your 3.4-ounce liquids and gels. Before every trip I throw a half-dozen plastic bags of various sizes into my suitcase. Cheap, waterproof, and often reusable, they always seem to come in handy.

How to Use Plastic Bags When You Travel

Although I bring eco-friendly cloth bags to the supermarket each week, grocery-size plastic bags seem to accumulate anyway—so I like giving them a second life on the road. Odds are you have a few other types of plastic bags hanging around your kitchen, too, such as gallon-size freezer bags and smaller bags for sandwiches and/or snacks. All of these can prove useful when you travel.

Because plastic is so damaging to the environment, I’ve also included alternatives to plastic bags and some tips for how you can reuse plastic bags when you travel.

Keep Your Phone Dry

When I’m planning to be outdoors in the rain, I put my phone into a zip-top sandwich bag before slipping it into my pocket. That way it’s still at my fingertips but it won’t get damaged by water. Back at your hotel, leave the bag out to dry so you can use it again on the next rainy day.

Isolate Dirty or Wet Items

If your boots are muddy from a hike or your bathing suit is wet after a swim, seal them off from the rest of your suitcase by putting them in a grocery bag or a large zip-top plastic bag. I often put my dirty laundry into a plastic grocery bag or a small garbage bag as well, though there are plenty of good cloth laundry bags that you can use instead.

Wash Delicates

An Allurette Washer is a good long-term investment if you wash delicates often while traveling, but for occasional use, a gallon-size zip-top plastic bag is significantly cheaper and works just fine. Put the garment into the bag with some water and soap, seal it shut, and use your hands to rub the clothing from the outside. Give it a rinse or two, et voila! Clean undies, right in your hotel sink or bathtub.

Turn the bag inside out to let it dry, and you can use it again for other purposes or to wash more clothes later in your trip.

Hold Documents

Sure, a travel document organizer looks a little more elegant, but a gallon-size plastic bag works almost as well to hold things like boarding passes and printouts of flight and hotel confirmations. Just put the sheets of paper in the order you’ll need them and fold them in half inside the bag. The plastic will protect your documents from an unexpected bout of rain and can easily be reused on multiple trips.

Make an Impromptu Ice Pack

Whether you’re trying to keep drinks cool in your backpack or you need a cold compress for an achy knee, a zip-top plastic bag can do the job. Fill it with ice from your hotel, seal it, and you’ve got an instant ice pack. Sturdy freezer bags are best for this purpose, as they’re less likely to tear or leak than sandwich bags, and they’ll last longer.

Compress Your Clothes

You can buy compression storage bags for travel, or you can make your own poor man’s version with large, zip-top plastic bags. By putting your clothes into the bag and rolling and pressing all the air out, you can condense the size of your clothes and fit more into your suitcase. Just be mindful of your airline’s weight limits.

Again, buying the sturdiest bags possible, treating them gently, and storing them in a safe place between trips will let you use them multiple times.

Organize Your Clothes

One- or two-gallon plastic bags can also take the place of packing cubes in keeping your wardrobe organized in your suitcase. You can have one bag for underwear, another for socks, and so on—or put each complete outfit into its own separate bag. Because the plastic is clear, it’s easy to find and grab what you need.

Organize the Rest of Your Belongings

Snack-size plastic bags are perfect for holding little items like cotton swabs, jewelry, or bandages. I also like using small plastic bags to protect tissues and/or toilet paper in my daypack.

Avoid Hotel Germs

That luxury hotel room might look gorgeous, but studies have shown it’s almost certainly covered in germs —and the TV remote is one of the worst offenders. Avoid it by slipping it into a bag and pushing buttons through the plastic. Another alternative: Give it a good going-over with alcohol wipes —which can also be stored in plastic bags if you have them in bulk containers at home.

Clean up After Your Dog

If you’re traveling with your furry best friend, you’ll want to bring a roll of plastic bags to clean up during walks. Even better, consider a biodegradable alternative .

Clean up After Yourself

On road trips, it’s a good idea to pack some kitchen-size garbage bags to collect all the food wrappers, banana peels, and other detritus that builds up along the way. To minimize waste, empty the bag at a rest stop and reuse it—as long as it hasn’t gotten too odorous.

Smaller plastic bags, like grocery bags, can serve as mini-trash bags during a hike when you don’t have easy access to a trash can—or as a storage spot for waste items on a long flight while you’re waiting for a flight attendant to come by.

Make a Rain Poncho

Speaking of garbage bags, they can serve as a rain poncho in a pinch—just cut out openings for your face and arms.

More from SmarterTravel:

• 11 Clever Uses for Duct Tape When You Travel
• 3 Genius Packing Hacks for Plastic Wrap
• 7 Hacks for Staying Organized While Traveling

Follow Sarah Schlichter on Twitter @TravelEditor for more travel tips and inspiration.

We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.

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The Best Travel Bags for Wherever You’re Headed

If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. This helps support our journalism. Learn more . Please also consider subscribing to WIRED

Best Carry-On for Most People Travelpro Maxlite 5 Read more

Best Hard-Shell Carry-On Away Carry-On Read more

Best Soft-Shell Carry-On Yeti Crossroads 35L Read more

Best Bag for a Lifetime Briggs & Riley Baseline CX Read more

Whew! You've made it all the way across the globe. But have your toothbrush, pajamas, and running shoes made it, too? If you're a frequent traveler, it's easy to obsess over the logistics of getting your stuff clean, organized, and in good working condition upon arrival. Paying for a decent travel bag and a few useful accessories means buying a little peace of mind, especially when a few yards of zippers and some nylon are the only barriers between your precious belongings and the belly of an airliner.

Whether you're slinging a duffel into a car trunk for a weekend trip or packing for a whirlwind jaunt across Asia, we've got you covered. Need a bag for your passport or groceries? Don't forget to check out our other guides, like the Best Laptop Backpacks and the Best Recycled Bags , for more picks.

Updated April 2024: We reorganized this guide and added new picks, such as the Yeti Crossroads, Tom Bihn Aeronaut and Trinity, the Frame Carry-On Max, the Lo & Sons O.G. 2, the Camelbak A.T.P. 20, the Calpak Luka Duffel, and the Rux 70. We also updated the information on sizing and checked links and prices.

Special offer for Gear readers: Get a 1-year subscription to WIRED for $5 ($25 off) . This includes unlimited access to WIRED. com. Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day.

Best Carry-On for Most People

Look around any airport—if you see flight attendants or pilots, they will probably be rolling around a Travelpro suitcase. We like Travelpros because you get a lot of bang for your buck. They're durable, light, and not too expensive.

For only a little over $100, the Maxlite 5 is one of the more affordable Travelpro suitcases, and at 5.4 pounds, it's very light! The exterior toiletry pocket is a nice touch for when you go through security and need to take out your liquids, and the zippers are also quite strong and don't tend to get stuck. The wheels also rolled nicely on both the spinner and roll-aboard versions. Reviewer Matt Jancer did note that the aluminum handle extensions did sometimes stick and the main grab handle on the bag is only single-stitched, which may cause durability issues farther down the line. However, he has seen no issues yet. This probably the best bag you can get in the $100 to $150 price range.

Best Hard-Shell Carry-On

Away's business practices may have raised some eyebrows , but there's no denying that this company changed the travel market entirely. It has increased in price since we first tested it, but multiple WIRED staffers still use the classic Away hard-shell carry-on ( 9/10, WIRED Recommends ) as their travel suitcase.

Hard-shell suitcases tend to be heavier. There's also not as much give in the case, so you may find it hard to squeeze in more items than in a soft-shell bag, bu they look a lot sleeker than their soft-shell counterparts and protect fragile items better. The Away weighs 7.5 pounds, which is pretty standard for a hard-shell carry-on. When I tested it, I liked that it had multiple height settings and that the polycarbonate shell wiped clean and stayed mostly scuff-free (it helped that my tester was in the darker navy color). Away's suitcases also come with a built-in TSA-approved combination lock, four spinner wheels capable of rotating 360 degrees, and an included laundry bag to keep dirty clothes separate from the rest of your stuff. The handle did feel a bit wobbly, though.

★ Alternatives: So many companies now offer a direct-to-consumer, stylish, hard-shell carry-on similar to the Away's. We've tried ones by Monos ($255) and July ($295) . Besides price, the differences are mostly negligible. I like July's aluminum bumpers, but they do add weight. The Monos's handle rolls out more smoothly, but the July's pebbled surface doesn't show scuffs as badly. Both have survived multiple cross-country trips, being checked as baggage, and being ridden on by two small children with no damage.

Paravel also offers an Aviator carry-on ($395) that touts itself as the world's first carbon-neutral carry-on; it has an interior lining made of recycled plastic bottles, a telescoping handle made of recycled aluminum, and vegan leather trim to help it stand out from all the plain black bags at the airport. Product reviewer Jaina Grey fell in love with its roomy interior and durable, anti-scuff hard-shell exterior.

Best Soft-Shell Carry-On

Yeti's coolers and cups are famous for being bomb-proof. The company recently launched a luggage line that's similarly overbuilt. The Yeti Crossroads 35L is a 22-inch roller bag that's carry-on size for most major airlines. It weighs 7.7 pounds, on par with soft-sided competitors of the same size.

I recently spent a week dragging the Crossroads up and down grimy subway station escalators, thumping it across cobblestones, and scrunching it into overfull overhead bins during a trip to London, Paris, and Brussels. The blue 700D nylon on the front and sides looks just as fresh as it did out of the box while the molded polycarbonate shell on the back has a few well-earned battle scratches. The two extra-large fixed wheels are rolling as smoothly as ever and hopped up curbs so well that I grew to favor them over smaller spinner wheels. The Crossroads has a half-dozen well-placed pockets and sturdy zippers that didn't give me any anxiety even as I tugged them hard while smooshing down to fit souvenirs into a carry-on with 8 days of clothing. —Martin Cizmar

Best Bag for a Lifetime

Do you only want to buy one suitcase and never think about it, ever again? Briggs & Riley is one of the few companies with a lifetime unlimited warranty. I bought a Briggs & Riley carry-on as my first and only post-college purchase. Right now, it has lasted over 20 years. Periodically, I bring it into the one Briggs & Riley-approved dealership in my town to get a zipper pull put back on, and it's fixed for free in a few days. Its components are top-of-the-line. The face fabric is a heavy-duty ballistic nylon that’s water-repellent and abrasion-resistant. After having been dragged all over the globe, from the Philippines to Turkey to Iceland, the gleaming red is just as bright.

The low-profile wheels nor handles have never broken. The grab handles are also luxuriously smooth and padded, and there's an interior folding garment bag for my husband's suits. The only downside is that at 9.3 pounds, it’s pretty heavy.

★ Alternatives: If you need an absolutely bomber-tough rolling suitcase and don't mind its 9.6-pound weight, the Pro Front-Access Carry ($799) will stand up to more abuse than most rolling bags, with its aluminum frame and 70-percent-recycled polycarbonate body. WIRED reviewer Chris Haslam says it's his favorite rolling bag in years. Jancer also likes Travelpro's Platinum Elite carry-on ($315) , which he calls one of the most high-end polycarbonate bags on the market.

Carlton Reid

David Nield

Scott Gilbertson

Boone Ashworth

Best Backpack

When I reviewed the Cotopaxi Allpa in 2018 ( 9/10, WIRED Recommends ), it had only recently launched. Now, a half-dozen years later, it is one of the most popular travel backpacks that I see online and in airports all over the world. It's a combination of a camping backpack, a suitcase, and a soft, frameless duffel. You can splay it open like a sandwich to pack it easily; access items through a side zip; put it on your backpack and secure its weight with a sternum strap; or squash or stomp it into any overhead compartment or corner of your car trunk. The use case for this bag is extremely specific—the same people who are bopping around Thailand for several weeks in one backpack are not the same people trying to look professional at a work conference. But it is sturdy and comfortable.

★ Alternative: I took the Ekster Packable Duffel ($250) on several weekend trips this spring, and found that it more than upheld its claims of being built for “smoother journeys, on and off the grid.” This travel bag converts from a backpack to a duffel, with two separate compartments that also splay open for easier packing. The 600-denier exterior and water-resistant zippers are so sturdy that when we ran out of space in the car, we lashed it to the roof rack with surf straps and drove for hours in the rain. It, and its contents, remained pristine.

Best Convertible Bag

Every serious traveler knows the name of Seattle-based Tom Bihn, manufacturer of bomber bags that will last you a lifetime. The Aeronaut 45 is the classic Tom Bihn convertible carry-on, which the size of the maximum allowable carryon bag on a plane.

You get everything from a Tom Bihn bag that you pay for. It’s made of incredibly sturdy 1050 denier ballistic nylon, with bombproof YKK zippers. It has both hidden backpack straps and an extremely comfortable cross-body strap. This is commerce director Martin Cizmar's bag, and he's tossed it around and lugged it down rough streets and through crowds where roller bags are a liability. He owns two and the first lasted for more than a decade. This is the bag that both he and I would use, if we didn't have to constantly test other bags.

Best Personal Item

Some airlines are not content with charging you extra for checking a bag and now charge you for overhead bin space . The Tom Bihn Trinity ( 7/10, WIRED Recommends ) addresses that problem by providing a space for you to pack everything you need while still fitting underneath the seat in front of you. As the name suggests, it has three main compartments and three ways to carry—either as a briefcase with padded grab handles, a backpack, or as a shoulder bag with two attachment points.

It has three main compartments which can be arranged to your liking; for example, on one of the side compartments, you can zip a water bottle holder into place or unzip it for more room. It wasn't quite as versatile as I expected; I found that I prefer a small duffel with one main compartment that I can organize as I like. However, it does fit under the seat in front of me, even with clothes, laptop, and four (four!) hardcover books that I somehow stuffed inside it.

Best Work Bag

I've been traveling a lot for work and for family reasons in the past few months, and the bag I prefer for my personal item is the Lo & Sons O.G. 2, which is the larger version of the brand's Nouvelle purse ( 8/10, WIRED Recommends ). It comes in a medium and a large version; the medium is adequate as an everyday bag, but the large turns it into a versatile work/travel bag. It’s low-profile and has both smooth leather grab handles as well as a shoulder strap. I have kicked it under plane seats and around airports, and the nylon doesn't show any damage. There's a hidden separate compartment if you spill water on yourself, and it has sturdy feet so you can put it on an airplane bathroom counter and dig for your makeup without it falling over or getting the bottom of the bag too disgusting. The toothed zippers do tend to crinkle and snatch at your knuckles when the bag gets overstuffed, but I suppose you could always, uh, avoid overstuffing your bag.

★ Alternatives: We have plenty of recommendations in our guide to the Best Laptop Totes , but we love Lo & Sons. The Catalina Supreme Tote ($338) is also great for weekend trips. Again, there's also a bottom compartment for a pair of shoes, or anything else you need to keep separate.

The Best Hiking Daypack

The Camelbak A.T.P. is so useful that I’m always startled to realize it only has a 20-liter capacity. I have it in the 100 percent recycled white color, which saves water and only emits half the greenhouse gas emissions by eliminating the dying process. It’s a panel loader, which means you can unzip the top and see exactly where everything goes, like a duffel. This is convenient when packing for trips—I was able to fit clothes, a Dopp kit, and electronics for an overnight trip. (I know these types of zippers fail more often than top loaders, but it does make it easier to arrange and sort items near the bottom of the pack.)

I particularly like how narrow it is. It fits my back and goes under airplane seats that even my children’s backpacks can’t. The bottle pocket has a zipper that makes it expandable so it can fit a little coffee thermos or my giant Yeti water bottle . Exterior compression straps also help squeeze my clothes even smaller. This is a great backpack if you want something that looks sleek enough for a work bag but is durable enough to take on a weekend trip to Yosemite.

★ Alternative: I also love the Patagonia Black Hole Backpack ($149) . This 25-liter bag is the perfect combination work/adventure bag. The suspended 15-inch laptop pocket clips shut, and the rest of the pockets are thoughtfully placed. It’s extremely light (a little over a pound) and is made from 100 percent recycled ripstop fabric.

Best Duffel Bag

The Big Haul ( 8/10, WIRED Recommends ) is our favorite duffel because it hits the right balance of robust build materials and pockets without being too heavy to lug around all day. The standout feature of the Big Haul series, which comes in 28-liter to 120-liter options, is the ability to easily reposition the carrying straps, which feature plastic fishhook-style ends that slip into fabric loops. You can connect one strap end-to-end or double up on two straps in an H pattern for more stability with heavy loads. Adding and removing the straps isn't super fast, but it's not difficult, either, and six low-profile loops seems less intrusive than six rattling plastic buckles.

Two small interior pockets and an exterior pocket keep small things organized, and its water-resistant fabric is thick and tough without being stiff. All the sewing around the grab handles feels very robust too. Padded backpack straps hide away under a padded pocket on the top of the bag. This means that when you sling the Big Haul over your shoulders to give your arms a rest, your back is against the relatively clean top of the duffel, rather than a wet, dirty bottom side that's been set down on the ground. The current iteration of the Big Haul is also made with recycled nylon. What's not to love? —Matt Jancer

★ Alternative: For slightly more money, the classic duffel in this category is the Patagonia Black Hole Duffel ($159) , which also comes in a variety of colorways and sizes. You can either carry it by the grab handles or with the shoulder straps, and it's made from 100 percent recycled polyester with a TPU-film laminate. I (Adrienne) have had the 40-liter version for almost 15 years now and the laminate has yet to peel. It also fits as a carry-on on flights.

The Best Expedition Bag

If you like outdoor sports, you probably need a good expedition bag—that is, a huge, burly duffel that you can just throw all your pointy ice axes, trekking poles, or camp chairs into that you can take anywhere and everywhere. Reviewer Matt Jancer's expedition bag of choice is the Red Oxx PR5. He's used it for whitewater paddling trips and to lug mountain climbing equipment from coast to coast without a single frayed thread. Everything about Red Oxx is overbuilt. The zippers are huge, its thick pieces of nylon webbing are robustly sewn, and chunky metal rings hang the detachable carrying strap. All that said, it's not abominably heavy. At 3.4 pounds it's still lighter than many wheeled bags.

★ Alternative: If you've ever gone to a popular outdoor destination, like Yosemite or Everest, you've probably seen stacks of North Face Base Camp duffels . This is the quintessential expedition bag. My own personal bag is the OnSight Tarmac EPO , but the company no longer exists; I also have a Mountain Hardware duffel ($180) and after 20 years, the coating has finally started to peel.

Best for Camping

We love everything from Rux; I'm currently testing the waterproof adventure tote ($150) and I use it for everything from my climbing gear, to picnic gear, to bringing my kids' roller skates and soccer balls to the park. I have also leaked an entire water bottle in it and it stayed contained and out of the bottom of my car.

But for camping (or any outdoor pursuit, really), what you need is a Rux storage system , which, as the artist and filmmaker Van Neistat puts it, will help you kit your shit . It holds its frame shape, which means you can stack and organize inside of it just like a box, but it folds down like a bag for easy storage once you're at your destination. It's also light and waterproof and comes with a wide array of accessories . This is an upgrade for everyone who currently sorts their camping, climbing, or snowboarding gear in a series of $5 plastic totes and stacks them in their trunk.

The Best Aluminum Suitcase

Perhaps you've seen those Instagram-friendly, shiny aluminum suitcases and wonder whether it's worth the investment. Aluminum is extremely durable and can be machined with precision. That means it will protect your belongings better, and you can close them with latches instead of zippers. Your suitcase will last longer and be more secure— zippers are pretty easy to break into —and generally have fewer points of failure.

In my opinion, the cost-benefit analysis generally weighs against them. Aluminum suitcases are usually heavier and won't flex as much if you have overpacking tendencies, and I find them painfully conspicuous. Any suitcase with a decent warranty policy will painlessly cover any repairs. If you must have one, we like Arlo Skye's the Frame. Arlo Skye was founded by alumni from Louis Vuitton and Tumi, and reviewer Matt Jancer says that everything about the Frame screams robust quality, from the leather grab handles to the combination-lock latches. It also comes with a removable battery bank and has a few more liters of carrying capacity than the similarly-sized Away. The main disadvantage is that the interior organization is a bit lacking.

★ Alternative: Do you want the benefits of an aluminum suitcase without the drawbacks? You might want to consider Monos's Hybrid Carry-On ($325) . You won't fool anyone into thinking you've shelled out for a 100 percent aluminum suitcase, but Jancer notes that it's only a pound or so heavier than the competition and the aluminum frame offered better protection than any 100 percent polycarbonate suitcase that he tried.

A Good Emergency Go Bag

To be clear, any bag here could be considered a go-bag—even a grocery bag works when you have to leave the house imminently. But reviewer Nena Farrell used Calpak's duffel for an emergency surgery, and she is kicking herself for not getting it sooner. It was big enough for everything from makeup bags and extra outfits to a massive book and Nintendo Switch, and was comfortable to carry thanks to the large straps.

The shoe compartment was big enough for sandals and slides, but not big enough for shoes with an ankle. It was also a great place to stash haphazard Ziplocs of emergency toiletries and medications. There are some side pockets inside too, plus an exterior side pocket and a pass-through panel to place it on top of your luggage. It was a great hospital companion, but Farrell can't wait to take the Luka somewhere a little more fun.

Other Bags We Like

Not every good product can snag a best-in-category title, but there are several more bags we've tested that get our thumbs-up.

Osprey Ozone 40L for $280 : At 4.47 pounds, Osprey claims this bag is the lightest carry-on suitcase. It's also made from 400D recycled bluesign-approved nylon and is treated with DWR. This bag is light enough to easily hoist above my head and has also been checked multiple times.

Gregory Alpaca 40 Duffel for $140 : This duffel weighs a scant 2.7 pounds, but the water-resistant fabric and extraordinarily beefy (though plastic) buckles make it a solid bag for adventuring. There's an exterior pocket for storing shoes or dirty clothes. The backpack straps don't tuck away for storage—you have to unclip them—but might be the most well-padded, comfortable straps I've encountered on a duffel. Exterior daisy chains and an interior zippered pocket round out the impressive features list.

Land's End Waxed Canvas Duffel for $180 : Most duffel bags these days are made of nylon, and while it's tough to call a material that's been popular since the 1940s “modern,” nylon bags don't have the old-school charm that this waxed canvas bag does.

Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler 40L for $149 : This bag weighs 1 pound, 13 ounces, which is only slightly heavier than air. It also has backpack straps that stow away in a front pocket.

Skyway Epic Carry-On for $160 : At 7.1 pounds, the Epic is an average weight. The handle is a wee bit more finicky than our top pick, and the Travelpro's wheels glide a little more nicely. Still, the Epic is a solid choice.

Target Signature Weekender Bag for $81 : Looking like a cross between a duffel and a handbag, the Weekender has a structure that product reviewer Louryn Strampe says can become overfilled, so keep that in mind if you plan to bring it onto a plane as a carry-on. She appreciates its durability and the many internal pockets for organization, though, and its rather long five-year warranty.

Solgaard Carry-On Closet Plus for $345 : It's a tiny bit over what most airlines list as the maximum dimensions, but the difference is so small that it's accepted 95 percent of the time. WIRED reviewer Louryn Strampe praises its optional clip-in closet clothing organizer, which makes for efficient packing. The built-in TSA lock is easy to use, and there's an internal power-bank pocket. This suitcase is included in our Favorite Recycled Products guide.

Samsonite Outline Pro Carry-On for $200 : This is a hard-side, four-wheeled spinner carry-on made from an outer shell of durable polypropylene. Standout features include an interior fabric made from 100 percent recycled plastic bottles and a “WetPak” storage pocket for keeping damp items separated from the rest of your luggage.

Adidas Defender Duffel for $40 : If you're looking for an inexpensive duffel that'll handle some light-duty traveling, this is a good way to save $100. The fabric is significantly thinner and less sturdy than that of other duffels in this guide, and it lacks backpack straps. But for taking on the train or tossing into a car trunk, it'll do the trick.

Bags We Don’t Like

Some bags just aren't worth the asking price, especially with so many good alternatives at all price points.

Peugeot Voyages Carry-On Spinner for $595 : What a price tag for a plastic-case suitcase. You can see where Peugeot tried to imbue the Voyages with some luxury, such as the metal riveting and built-in travel locks, but the case felt no more solid than a budget hard-sided bag, and the USB charging port felt cheap, like an outlet you'd find built into a seat in an airport terminal.

Eagle Creek Caldera Convertible International Carry-On for $469 : At 6 pounds, 2 ounces, this bag is a bit heavy. There's a zip-off 19-liter backpack that you can separate from the rest of the 37-liter bag, but when they're zipped together, the combined size doesn't meet carry-on restrictions.

Ebags CTS Carry-On Spinner for $200 : This one wasn't awful, but there are much better options for the money. Its hard plastic sides felt more brittle than the hard-sided plastic Away suitcases. The handle rattles a lot and it didn't roll quite as smoothly as other bags.

A Few Travel Accessories

Once you've got your bag, you'll want to pack it with a few more useful items:

Apple AirTag for $24 : If you have an iPhone, it's one of the best ways to keep a digital eye on your bags. Drop an AirTag into an interior pocket to make sure you and your luggage are reunited at your destination. Don't have an iPhone? We suggest the Chipolo in our guide to the Best Bluetooth Trackers .

Eagle Creek Specter Pack-It Cubes Three-Pack for $35 keep everything inside your bags organized by allowing you to separate it into different cubes, so you won't ever have to hunt through seven pairs of socks to find your bathing suit again.

Calpak Clear Cosmetics Case for $75 : Calpak’s viral clear cases come in three sizes and a ton of colors for the edge trims. Reviewer Nena Farrell loved the small size for my gym bag and traveling with a smaller carry-on bag, while the medium was a great size for my daily makeup or larger suitcases.

Troubadour Buddy 2.0 Tech Case for $75 : You probably need a case to organize your spare charging cables and power banks. I've been testing this compact, waterproof, and recycled bag that fits neatly into my personal item.

UrPower Portable Steamer for $24 beats a travel iron because it's far lighter and you don't need to hunt down an ironing board at your hotel. WIRED reviewer Medea Giordano and I both have been using UrPowers for years. For a tiny thing, it's powerful and effective at steaming practically anything. You just need to refill it often.

Samsonite Manual Luggage Scale for $15 is handy when you're packing a heavy bag for an upcoming trip. Use it to weigh your luggage and make sure it's within the weight limits. International airlines are sticklers for carry-on weight, and even American airlines will be unforgiving about weight for checked bags.

InCase MacBook Sleeves for $50 will keep your laptop from bearing the damage caused by airport security lines. Travel through an airport without a case and it's only a matter of time before a bare laptop or tablet picks up nasty scratches and dents. Check our guide to the Best MacBook Accessories for more.

How to Pick the Right Size Bag

Every airline sets its own dimensional requirements for carry-on baggage, so if you want to be safe, you should check your airline's requirements before packing. But broadly, they're split into two categories: domestic and international.

Domestic flights by US airlines (and a few others) have standardized on 22 x 14 x 9 inches.

International carry-on bag sizes tend to be about 21 inches tall and a bit narrower, but they're all over the place. It's tough, because many international airlines will measure your bags at the airport and reject anything even slightly bigger than the allowed size. If you fly outside the US a lot, you may as well buy a bag sized for international flights.

You'll also want to check each airline's weight limits. They vary wildly, but some international airlines restrict you to 15 or 20 pounds, including the weight of the bag itself. For example, there are some East Asian airlines that limit carry-on bags to 11 pounds. Once you subtract 6 or more pounds for the bag, you're not left with much wiggle room to put stuff inside.

When to Remove Battery Banks

Battery banks, also known as power banks, are a travel must-have. Whether you're using a tablet to watch movies on your flight or relying on your phone to coordinate rideshares, hotel check-in, and handle your boarding passes, you've got to keep those devices charged and topped up. Many bags offer a removable battery bank that slides into a special pocket or notch of the suitcase.

For carry-on luggage on a flight in the US, you're allowed to bring a lithium-ion battery of 100 watt-hours or less. You don't need to remove it from the suitcase's pocket if you're storing your bag in the overhead bin.

Lithium-ion battery banks are not allowed in checked luggage. If you check your bag or have to gate-check it, make sure to remove the battery bank before you give your suitcase to the gate agent. Slip the battery bank into your purse, backpack, or pocket for the duration of the flight.

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21 Best SMALL Travel Cases for Toiletries to Pack Smart

Wanna pack light? Find the best SMALL travel case for toiletries right here, including leather, hanging and handmade bags. These small toiletry bags for men and women pack light and tight, while keeping your stuff secure and organized.

Choose from classic and luxurious small toiletry bags for business travel. Or, between a simple and fun small travel pouch for the gym or upcoming vacation. 

Disclosure: This post includes affiliate links to excellent travel-related products. This means that if you use the links below to make a purchase, we’ll receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!

15 Best SMALL Travel Cases for Toiletries to Pack Light

1. small linen travel bag for toiletries | the best linen on etsy.

Let’s start out with a super minimalist small travel bag for toiletries. Doesn’t this white linen toiletries pouch look SO soft and wonderful?! The Best Linen shop on Etsy is based in Lithuania, offering a variety of lovely handmade linen products including small travel bags. Machine washable.

Available in 14 colors, mostly in shades of white, grey and pink. Not sure on color? Request a sample! Want a different size? Let The Best Linen shop know!

2. HANGING Small Travel Case for Toiletries | BAGSMART

You can quickly see why this BAGSMART Toiletry Bag is so popular. It’s practical and stylish, and available in two sizes. Features include two-way zippered closures, large transparent zippered pockets inside, an exterior pocket and carrying handle. The 360-degree swivel hook makes hanging this small travel case for toiletries super convenient. And its water-resistant material is well-padded and easy to wipe clean. 

Comes in black, pink, navy, grey and teal.

3. Small LEATHER Travel Bags for Toiletries | The Florence Leather

If you’re looking for the classic elegance of luxurious leather, visit The Florence Leather shop on Etsy. Their small travel toiletries bags are handmade in Tuscany Italy, with full grain, vegetable-tanned leather. Choose from a variety of styles and classic colors. Some dopp kits are clean and simple, and others include multiple zippered pockets, inside and outside. 

Include engraving with your order to have it personalized.

When not in use, store your small leather toiletry bag in the cotton dust bag that comes with it. This dust bag will protect it from sun, dust, scratches and stains.

4. PRETTY Small Travel Toiletries Case | BAGSMART

Here’s another great choice for a small travel case for toiletries from BAGSMART. This feminine dopp kit has tons of space in its compact size, with plenty of zippered pockets and compartments to keep everything organized. Includes a waterproof compartment, double zippers to easily access everything.  

5. HANGING Small Travel Pouch | Relavel

Now, it’s pretty useful to have a super compact travel case for toiletries with the option of hanging it. This Relavel hanging travel pouch for toiletries has a bunch of mesh pockets to easily see your stuff, including elastic and zippered, and a double-zippered waterproof pouch, too. It comes in a classic black or vibrant pink or blue waterproof exterior, and closes with a simple buckle. Love it.

6. MINIMALIST Small Travel Bag for Toiletries | Lululemon

For a pretty and minimalist small travel bag for toiletries, check out the Feeling Ready Pouch from Lululemon. Reviewers love it. Made of abrasion-resistant and water-repellent fabric, it wipes up easily and stands up over time. Interior mesh pockets keep small makeup items in place. A small travel accessory bag that’s deceptively spacious!

Comes in silver, black, soft pink and red merlot.

7. PRACTICAL Small Travel Dopp Kit for Men | Lululemon

A practical AND handsome small travel dopp kit for men from Lululemon. The Urban Nomad Kit features a center divider with a zippered pocket and loops for your toothbrush and razor. Plus, interior mesh pockets on both sides and a two-way zipper. Its water-repellent exterior easily wipes clean. And at a hefty 5L capacity, it’ll pack all your small travel accessories.

Comes in smoked spruce and black.

8. LEATHER HANGING Dopp Kit | Elviros

Now, this leather hanging dopp kit from Elviros is a small travel case for toiletries that covers a lot of bases. The leather exterior is gorgeous and water-resistant. It’s compact, but with plenty of space, zippered pockets and full zipper to easily get to your stuff. And, it hangs!

9. SET of Small Travel Bags for Toiletries | Whimsy Eye Designs

Not sure what style of small travel bag you want for your toiletries? Do you want lots of options? Then go with this set of three small travel pouches from Whimsy Eye Designs on Etsy! Each set comes with a small zippered pouch, spacious toiletries bag, and drawstring jewelry pouch with eight interior pockets. Durable fabrics are repurposed and coordinated beautifully. Simply spot clean with a damp cloth.

Check the Whimsy Eye Design shop for current fabric combinations.

10. ESSENTIAL OIL Small Travel Pouch | Broken Arrow Ess

The Broken Arrow Ess shop on Etsy creates beautiful essential oil travel pouches . Choose between the petite essential oil bag, which holds three bottles or rollers, or the compact travel bag that holds 10. If you go with the larger pouch, you can use it for other small travel accessories and makeup, too. It features two removable inserts for essential oils and a flat bottom to keep them upright. Plus, a handmade tassel on the zipper to diffuse your oil.

Available in a variety of pretty fabrics.

11. FEATURE-PACKED Small Dopp Kit for Men | Everyman

The Hideout Dopp Kit from Everyman is packed with features for men who love to stay organized. It comes with a laminated mesh zip-out liquids pouch with two zippered compartments, which would be super handy. A built-in padded glasses case and toothbrush charging port. Plus, more elasticized and zippered interior pockets and large easy-pull zippers. Reviewers LOVE it.

Even with all these features, this small travel case for men has a clean, minimalist design. And it’s built to last, with waterproof AND indestructible materials!

12. Super Organized HANGING Travel Case for Toiletries | Narwey

Want a compact hanging travel case for toiletries that’ll keep you super organized? Then check out this hanging toiletries bag from Narwey. Don’t all of those mesh, see-through, elastic and zippered pockets and compartments make you swoon?! Find the perfect spot for your stuff, and easily find it all, too.

13. VERSATILE Small Travel Bag for Toiletries | Vera Bradley

Vera Bradley makes a variety of small travel bags for toiletries, including special pouches for pills, flat irons and glasses. And while many of Vera Bradley’s travel accessory organizers are hanging, my favorite is the super-versatile Signature Cotton Toiletry Bag . It’s lightweight, lined with PVC to protect against spills, and has drawstrings to carry as a backpack or over your shoulder. Reviewers love it for beach days and pool visits, too. Machine washable.

Choose from a variety of lovely, durable quilted cotton prints.

14. CLEAR Dopp Kit for Toiletries | Lermende

Now, this clear toiletries dopp kit is very close to the small travel case for toiletries that my husband used for years  as a commercial pilot. He loved it, because it was simple and minimalist, and got him through security quickly. This dopp kit is soft, waterproof and squishes down to almost nothing. Plus, it has a handy handle for carrying.

15. Wet-Dry CLEAR Small Travel Case for Toiletries | Lermende

Now, this clear small toiletries case is a bit more my style, with wet and dry compartments. It also features soft and waterproof see-through material with handles, but with a little more organization. Plus, it’s TSA-approved. So you can zip through security AND find all your stuff, too! Wipe clean with soapy water.

16. Small Travel Pouch with CORK | Bee Design

For pretty AND practical small travel bags for toiletries, visit the Bee By Design shop on Etsy. This shop offers a variety of small travel pouches in bright and muted fabrics, some combined with cork! I looove cork. Cork wears similar to leather, giving these bags a beautiful worn look as they age. These travel pouches come in two sizes and are handmade in Canada. Gently hand wash with mild detergent.

Find a variety of sizes, styles, fabric prints and cork colors.

17.  Roll-up LEATHER HANGING Travel Case for Toiletries | Vetelli

I love the look of this leather hanging toiletries case . The two-toned leather and dual buckles add class and elegance, perfect for business travel. It folds up flat and is easy to wipe clean. Features two zippered pockets and two pockets with button closures.

18. Classy HANGING Dopp Kit for Toiletries | Pantheon

19. Small CLEAR Travel Case for Toiletries | Rilos and Mimi

This small clear travel case for toiletries packs style, too! Not sure where you packed your sunscreen? Earbuds or charger? No problem, with these Poolside Resort bags from Rilos and Mimi on Etsy. Get one to carry toiletries and another for small electronic accessories. Hang it or carry it with the 6-inch loop. They’re machine-washable, made of PVC-free vinyl and canvas cotton. 

Available in a variety of fabrics.

20. Small LEATHER Travel Pouch for Toiletries | Coach

Coach makes a classy and soft small travel pouch for toiletries. The Julienne Cosmetic Case comes in two sizes, but reviewers suggest going with the larger 22 version. It features a domed shape for tall bottles and toiletries, an extended zipper and wide, gusseted sides to fit all your toiletries. Secure them in multi-functional pockets. Exterior scratch-resistant crossgrain leather is easy to wipe clean.

Comes in black and brown Coach signature canvas.

Did you know that Coach offers free lifetime leather care in their stores? Call to make an appointment. Recommended every three months.

21. Small LEATHER Travel Case for Toiletries | Coach

For a small travel case for toiletries that’s made from quality leather, check out Coach’s Travel Kit . It features multi-function and zippered pockets inside, plus an extra zippered pocket outside. The zippered closure is a wrap-around, giving you lots of space to store your small travel accessories. Refined calf leather exterior is easy to wipe clean.

Comes in black, grey Coach signature canvas, electric coral/red and spruce/agate.

Enjoy this post? SHARE with your friends!

You may also like:

• JEWELRY Organizers for Travel
• CUTE Travel Accessories for Women
• LUXURY Travel Gifts for Him and Her

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The 14 Best Travel Crossbody Bags to Complement Your Wanderlust

Brought to you by true enthusiasts.

Every item on this page was chosen by an ELLE editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.

There’s a fine line that divides the modern jet setter from the weary traveler, and it’s (mostly) marked by a precise combination of style and preparedness. And anyone who’s traveled knows that great bags are the most important companions.

Best Luxury

Bottega veneta the cassette padded leather crossbody bag.

Best Camera Bag

Isabel marant wardy camera bag.

Best Leather

Mansur gavriel moon sling bag.

The right crossbody allows you to carry your essentials hands-free while you’re hauling ass through airport security at 5 A.M. or putting in miles during a day of sightseeing. Of course, you might also need something to carry to dinner or on a spontaneous date with some accented stranger (a girl can dream!). The moral of the story is you need a bag that can do it all —and one that works for you in every way. So, whether you’re jetting off on an international adventure or gearing up for a summer vacation , shop the 14 best crossbody bags for travel, ahead.

If you prefer to shop designer, more power to you. For travel-friendly options, look for styles that close securely and transition well from day to night.

Dimensions: Height: 6.5 inches; width: 3.5 inches; length: 10.5 inches

Material: Leather

Colors: 19 options

Customer review: “This is a gorgeous bag, and the leather is so dreamy *but* you will be forced to pick and choose what you want to carry as the interior is quite small. I’m able to fit my iPhone pro, small wallet, lip balm and car key…and that’s pretty much it. But the look is worth it!”

While we love cameras, camera bags are usually ugly, point blank. You’re not paparazzi, and although you are a traveler, you wouldn’t want anyone to think of you as a tourist , right? This fashionable find from Isabel Marant is the solution.

Dimensions: Height: 5.25 inches; width: 3 inches; length: 7.25 inches

Material: Leather, silver, textile

Colors: Black

If style is your top priority, here’s an option that will match with quite literally anything you wear. The concession is that you might not be able to squeeze that telescopic camera lens inside it, but there’s more than enough room for airplane snacks.

Dimensions: Height: 5.5 inches; width: 7.1 inches; length: 10.6 inches

Material: Calfskin

Colors: Black, Desert, Avorio, Plum

Customer review: “What a beautiful and versatile bag, both in terms of style and colour. It's surprisingly roomy for the size. The leather is absolutely beautiful and buttery soft. Super happy with my purchase!”

Prada Padded Re-Nylon Shoulder Bag

It wouldn’t be a complete crossbody roundup without some form of nylon Prada. Similar to the ever-practical Re-Edition 2005 Re-Nylon Bag , this quilted flap-over bag comes complete with a detachable mini zipper pouch.

Dimensions: Height: 17 centimeters; width: 24 centimeters; length: 8 centimeters

Material: Nylon fabric

Colors: Black, Desert Beige

Customer review: “I have the original nylon and the Re-Edition, and they are my go-to bags. Lightweight, durable, and great for daily use.”

Dagne Dover Nova Sling Bag

If you’re the sporty or adventuring type of traveler, allow us to introduce you to this style from Dagne Dover. We think you’d be perfect for each other.

Dimensions: Height: 12 inches; width: 4 inches; length: 9.5 inches

Material: REPREVE recycled polyester

Colors: Onyx, Moonbeam, Goji

Customer review: “Recently took this bag on my weeklong trip to Amsterdam...It worked so well. It comfortably fit my small Nalgene water bottle, wallet, sunscreen, sunglasses—all the necessities. It’s not huge but it could also fit small souvenirs picked up throughout the day such as magnets, small jewelry items, candy, etc. Highly recommend!”

MZ Wallace Small Sutton Deluxe

Here at ELLE, we love MZ Wallace . This perfectly sized Sutton is just the latest obsession. We scrolled through pages and pages of five-star customer reviews in search of any “cons” to no avail.

Dimensions: Height: 10.2 inches; width: 9.8 inches; depth: 5.5 inches

Material: REC Oxford, Italian leather

Colors: 17 options

Customer review: “Love the feel, look and style. Everything fits so nicely in this bag. All items are an eyes view and so convenient to get. Love it.”

WE-AR4 The Cargo Leather Crossbody Bag

Cargo bags have appeared repeatedly over the past few fashion months, which means organization just got trendier. This sectioned bag allows you to keep all those bits and bobs in a place of their own.

Dimensions: Height: 8.5 inches; length: 10.5 inches; depth: 4 inches

Colors: Black, Sage, Navy, Ice Blue

BAGGU Medium Nylon Crescent Bag

This BAGGU option is actually a personal recommendation from associate fashion commerce editor Meg Donohue—although all the rave customer reviews amplify the point. This bag is spacious, not bulky, and surprisingly cute.

Dimensions: Height: 8 inches; width: 13.75 inches; depth: 4 inches

Material: Nylon

Colors: Black, Brown, Cocoa, Lemongrass, Pixel Gingham

Customer review: “This bag is so cute and easy to carry. I’m a mom on the go and my bags always get dirty. This bag is so comfortable and easy to clean. The strap is nice and wide and comfortable and the bag is big enough for me to even carry my Owala in it! If you’re on the fence, come on over. This bag rules!”

Béis The Sport Sling

Béis knows travel. This sling backpack is ideal for busy walkabout days and can complement any number of other Béis luggage pieces.

Dimensions: Height: 8.2 inches; width: 6.7 inches; depth: 2.7 inches

Material: Nylon, faux leather, recycled polyester

Colors: Black, Slate, Beige, Atlas Pink, Maple

Customer review: “Love all the pockets and how accessible the sling is! Grabbing what you need quickly from the slots is so handy. I can’t wait to use this on my Italy trip!”

Travelon Anti-Theft Courier Tour Bag

As a traveler with her naïveté on constant display, this anti-theft bag could’ve saved me some heartbreak (and the four hours I spent Google translating a theft complaint to the Paris police department). Slash-resistant material, deep locking compartments, and an RFID-protected pocket mean you can rest a little easier knowing your belongings are safe and sound.

Dimensions: Length: 11 inches; height: 11.5 inches; depth: 3 inches

Material: Cotton canvas, leather

Colors: Navy, Stone Grey

Customer review: “Did a month with this bag all over the world and there is no wear or tear that I can see at all...it fit everything I needed (wallet, rolled up rain jacket, phone, passport, rolled sun visor, etc.) and the zip out water bottle pocket works with a collapsible water bottle to fill up when you’re not in an airport.”

Tumi Valetta North/South Crossbody

For those who never leave their tech behind, keep your lifeline secure in Tumi’s vertical crossbody, complete with a touch of leather trim for style points. It has pockets for cash, cards, and mini must-haves.

Dimensions: Height: 7.3 inches; length: 5.3 inches, depth: 2 inches

Material: Nylon, leather

Mango Crossbody Bag

This bag from Mango gives off an aura of quiet luxury that makes it versatile enough to wear as your day-to-day bag or take it on the go. It’s polished, simple, and houses dual compartments to enhance convenience.

Dimensions: Length: 10.2 inches; height: 6.7 inches; width: 3.5 inches

Material: Polyurethane, polyester

Colors: Black, Leather

Customer review: “Yeah to to faux leather! The time has come for us to be conscious consumers. This purse is perfect to wear with my simple, classic wardrobe pieces.”

Coach Coachtopia Loop Quilted Wavy Tote

An extension of the Coach brand, Coachtopia revives recycled and upcrafted materials to give birth to new designs, like this puffy-soft crossbody laptop tote.

Dimensions: Length: 16.75 inches; height: 12.25 inches

Material: Recycled polyester

Colors: Twilight, Deep Orange, Black, Olive Green

Customer review: “This tote is so cute and comfy on my shoulders. It holds a lot of items...great for work or travel.”

FashionPuzzle Triple Zip Small Crossbody Bag

This crossbody bag has a 4.6-star rating from almost 30,000 reviews. At such an affordable price point, you might want to choose a couple of color options to add to your collection.

Dimensions: Length: 8.5 inches; height: 5.5 inches; depth: 2.75 inches

Material: Faux leather

Colors: 30 options

Customer review: “I use this when traveling, it holds so much without being bulky. I can put passports, phone, sunglasses, lip products, money/cards and still have gobs of room left.”

How to Shop for Travel-Friendly Crossbody Bags

• Look for bags that close securely. Zippered or lock closure tops are best. Snaps and magnets come in second, and open tops offer the least protection against theft.
• Before purchasing, make sure a bag will hold all of your necessities. If you’re a seasoned traveler, you likely know which items you like to keep on your throughout your days. But if not, give it some thought. Will you want to keep your passport on your person, or are you comfortable using the hotel safe? Do you carry an inhaler or EpiPen? Is your wallet large, or do you have a sleek card holder? Think these things over and be sure your new bag will hold everything you want it to. Often, it’s better to go slightly larger than you might initially think you need. Size up.
• Ideally, the bag will feel comfortable to wear and will have a thick, perhaps even padded, strap. It’s also preferable for straps to be adjustable.
• The more organizational features, the better.
• A bag that can be worn in multiple ways or has a versatile style is best if you want to pack light. Some bags won’t transition well to a fancy dinner or night out. If you only plan to bring one bag, keep this in mind.
• If you’re more concerned with practicality, you’ll definitely want to look for durable, weather-resistant materials, so you don’t have to worry about getting caught in the rain.

Why Crossbody Bags Are Good for Travelers

• If worn as a true crossbody, it’s not as easy for the bag to slip off your shoulder—or to be snatched—as it is with a tote, shoulder, or handbag. Yet, it still provides that handsfree convenience. The same can be said for backpacks.
• From a fashion perspective, crossbody bags are easier to dress up than backpacks and are likely to match with more of your outfits.

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9 Easy Ways to Use Less Plastic When You Travel

Travelers generate a massive amount of waste. You can help change that with these smart and easy tips.

I’ve often wondered whether bringing a refillable water bottle (and a zero-waste travel kit) while on the road is really a big deal. I’m just one person, so do my actions really matter in the grand scheme of things? How much waste does little old me create on a typical travel day? It can’t be that bad, can it?

I decided to find out. Last week, I took a business trip from Boston to Salt Lake City. On my flight out, which connected through New York JFK, I left the zero waste travel kit that I typically carry in my bag. I drank what I would normally drink, ate what I would normally eat. Washing my hands, I used paper towels instead of the air dryers. I tucked every single piece of waste I created into my carry-on. When I got to my hotel room and spread it out on the table, it was pretty appalling (see below).

In the U.S. there are approximately 2.3 million airline travelers per day. On my day of travel, I used seven single-use containers: one large plastic water bottle (it killed me to buy this), one disposable coffee cup and lid, two canned beverages and the two accompanying plastic cups. But let’s be conservative and assume that the average person on the average travel day will use five items. That alone adds up to 11.5 million items of trash (and we’re not even talking about food).

If only half of those people simply brought a reusable, dual-purpose (hot/cold) water bottle and refused to use single-use beverage containers, we’re talking about keeping more than 5.75 million items out of the waste stream per day. Over the course of a year, that’s an astounding 1,472,000,000 cups, lids, and bottles per year…for U.S. travelers alone!

So back to my original question. Does bringing a refillable water bottle while traveling really have an impact ? Y E S.

“There are many things about the sustainability of air travel that we–as individuals–can’t control,” says Jackie Nuñez, the advocacy and engagement manager at Plastic Pollution Coalition . She’s talking about jet fuel burned , and noise, light, and air pollution. “But there’s one thing we most certainly can: how much single-use trash we create as we cruise through the skies at 40,000 feet and schlep through airports.”

With a little planning and resolve, you can get through an entire trip creating almost no excess waste, says Nuñez, who calls herself an “urban backpacker,” because she always carries her zero waste travel kit.

Over a Zoom call, I ask Nuñez to give me some pro tips and we each show-and-tell’ed our travel kits. “The best part,” she says, “is that you don’t have to spend a dime to create one of your own. Between the kitchen and your camping gear, you probably already have everything you need to create a totally functional, basic zero waste travel kit.”

How to Make Your Own Basic Zero Waste Travel Kit

A Satchel to Hold Your Zero Waste Travel Kit

Pretty much anything goes for this, as long as you make sure all your items fit inside. A cloth shopping bag or a stuff sack from your camping-gear collection works great.

Drinking Vessels

It baffles me to see folks buying $8 plastic bottles of Fiji water at airports. Why, why, why? Refill stations are everywhere! San Francisco International Airport actually banned the sale of single-use plastic water bottles in 2019, and has thus diverted many millions of plastic bottles from the waste stream.

I’ve used an insulated steel bottle with a leak proof sipper lid for years; it serves double duty for hot and cold drinks. Back then, I’d also pack a small plastic cup for use on planes in case I want a glass of juice or wine, which is often. The system works just fine, but I recently discovered a new bottle that’s become my favorite  because it’s a cup and bottle all-in-one, so it takes up less space in my carry-on.

If you like to use a straw, invest in a set of metal ones .

“Kick off your adventure right by packing up your travel-day meal or meals in a reusable, sealable container [like a sandwich-sized Tupperware],” says Nuñez. “Not only does it let you clean out your fridge before you leave and reduce your food waste , it’ll save you money and taste just as good–if not better–than the airport fast food. And you have a leftover container to use at restaurants during your trip.”

Me? I like to fancy things up a bit. The Black + Blum Lunch Box Original ($30) is an elegant, square, leakproof, 34-ounce box that includes a little sauce pot, a side dish compartment, and a fork. For my flight home from Salt Lake City, it was perfect for a breakfast burrito with salsa and a side of fruit.

Nuñez includes a tin pie plate in her kit (a dish from your camp kit works well, too) and has perfected this slick move when she wants to order something to-go but avoid all the packaging: Just sit down and order in so you’ll be served on the restaurant’s washable dish. When the food arrives, transfer it to your plate and walk out (after paying, of course).

Grab a fork, spoon, and knife from your kitchen. Or buy a dedicated set at a garage sale or thrift shop . Remember: only butter knives will make it through TSA. A spork from your camp kit also does the trick. If you dig chopsticks, throw in a pair.

Cloth Napkin

A bandana also works well and both are washable in a hotel sink if needed.

Other Zero Waste Travel Kit Tips

These easy travel hacks will help you save waste.

• When you check in before the trip, download your digital ticket to your phone and avoid the paper one.
• If a restroom offers hand dryers, use them instead of paper towels. Or just shake and wipe your hands on your pants.
• If you need to eat on the go, look for a sit-down place that uses washable instead of disposable dishware. If you can’t find one, try to walk away with as little trash as possible. I often say to the cashier, “I’m trying to reduce my single-use plastic waste. Would you please wrap my sandwich in paper, no bag, and skip extras like napkins, utensils, and condiments?”
• Choose a hotel with a good sustainability policy that has eliminated single-use plastic toiletries, like Marriott or Hyatt properties . It also only helps to pack your own toiletries like shampoo, conditioner, and soap, so you can leave the mini bottles in the hotel bathroom untouched.
• Decline daily housekeeping during your hotel stay to save on water and energy. Hang up your towels to air dry and avoid using single-use cups and coffee products. And, of course, ignore the free single-use water bottles in your room.

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Istra is famous for its New Jerusalem Monastery which was established to serve as a Russian version of the Holy Land. Today the monastery has been completely restored following the damage it suffered at the hands of the Nazis and Bolsheviks, and remains the main reason for visiting Istra. The city can easily be visited as a day trip from Moscow .

Top recommendations in Istra

New Jerusalem Monastery

Visit the New Jerusalem Monastery, its magnificent walls and the amazing Resurrection Cathedral.

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The 10 Best Foldable Travel Bags to Stash Just About Anywhere

Here are the best just-in-case bags to use on your next trip, including backpacks, totes, and more.

In This Article

• Our Top Picks
• Tips for Buying

Frequently Asked Questions

• Why Trust T+L

Travel + Leisure / Joy Kim

Whether you tend to pack light — and hate the idea of lugging around any more than necessary — or always seem to come back from vacation with more than you arrived with, foldable travel bags can come in quite handy. They typically don’t take up much space but the extra room they provide makes all the difference. The best ones come in an array of shapes, sizes, and silhouettes at any price point — which means options abound, depending on your specific needs and preferences. 

To help narrow things down, we’ve gathered testing insights for our favorite foldable travel bags, plus researched other top picks from brands like Calpak, Longchamp, Samsonite, and more. Our top picks combine fashion and function, while prioritizing key features like durability and portability at the same time. 

Best Overall

Paravel fold-up backpack.

Made with water-resistant nylon, this lightweight backpack offers plenty of built-in organization, making it ideal for those on the go.

The soft material means that larger items can sag down or poke out noticeably.

If you’re looking to dip a toe into folding bags for travel, it’s hard to get more practical than the Paravel Fold-up Backpack. Whether you’re using it at your destination or as your in-flight personal item, it’s roomy enough to hold an extra pair of clothes, a 15-inch laptop, and more in the main compartment, plus small essentials such as chargers, a smartphone, and travel documents in the zippered front pouch. There's an interior zip pocket to keep smaller items separated and safe like keys or a wallet, as well. 

We’ve used this bag on our travels and as a personal item and love that the back pocket doubles as a luggage sleeve as needed. It’s also worth mentioning that its lightweight, water-resistant nylon material is made from 15 upcycled plastic bottles. 

When it’s time to unpack, just fold and zip the backpack up into itself — with no extra pouch (to lose). Coming in six colors including canyon yellow, safari red, and scuba navy (plus a mini version we’ve also tested and loved ), opt for personalized initial embroidery to add a custom touch to the shade of your choice.

The Details: 13 x 16 x 9 inches (unfolded); 6 x 6.5 x 2.5 inches (folded) | 0.63 pounds | Nylon

Away The Packable Carryall

• Capacity 4 /5

It folds down very small compared to its size when open.

The nylon material is ultra-thin and the bag has minimal structure.

Coming in at 43 liters, Away’s Packable Carryall is spacious enough to hold pretty much all of your essentials, from clothes to books to a laptop. It weighs around half a pound and folds down to around 4 x 6 inches, making it a compact and lightweight secondary bag, too. With that in mind, we recommend packing this inside your main carry-on or checked bag to use as a backup personal item for souvenirs and other travel trinkets. While the carrying strap is thick, we did find the bag itself lacks the structure that would allow it to stand on its own (so, if you set it down with your items inside, they all melt toward the ground). On a similar note, although the built-in luggage sleeve can come in handy, you’d have to make sure to pack well — with weighty things in the middle — to keep the bag from slipping off your suitcase.

Despite how thin the recycled nylon construction (which comes in four colors) is, it does happen to be water-resistant, making it an excellent choice for the beach or pool. Alternatively, because it’s so spacious inside, it could also serve as an overnighter or weekender bag as part of a longer trip. 

The Details: 15 x 19.7 x 9 inches (unfolded); 6.3 x 4.3 x 2.4 inches (folded) | 8.8 ounces (with pouch), 8 ounces (without pouch) | Nylon

Best Expandable Bag

Longchamp le pliage expandable travel bag.

• Capacity 5 /5
• Design 5 /5
• Durability 5 /5

This chic bag, which expands in height up to 20 inches, can be carried several ways, making it among the most versatile picks on this list. 

Overpackers may be burdened by how heavy it gets when stuffed with weighty items.

We’re big fans of Longchamp bags in general, and the Le Pliage Expandable Travel Bag in particular for its ability to be expanded and contracted in a matter of seconds. Leather trimming adds extra flair whether you’re using it as a daily bag at its shorter 14-inch height, or fully expanded at 20.5 inches for a trip instead. In fact, our team has used the bag in both sizes on nearly every occasion: A three-week trip to Europe, weekend visits to the beach, strolling around on hot summer days, long road trips, plane rides, or as an everyday purse.

This bag pulls double duty as both a handheld and hands-free bag thanks to top handles and a long adjustable strap (for crossbody or shoulder carrying instead). Meanwhile, the interior lining and zippered closure offer an extra sense of security, protecting against leaks and other mishaps. We found the nylon material incredibly easy to clean in the event of spilled water, coffee, or even food. We especially love how easy it is to use just about anytime since it folds up into a small square that can be thrown into another bag, perfect for trips where you return home with more than when you left.

The Details: 17.75 x 9 x 14-20.5 inches (unfolded) | 1.56 pounds | Nylon with leather details

Best Belt Bag

Paravel fold-up belt bag.

This fold-up belt bag can be worn three different ways; plus, it’s made with recycled materials. 

It’s pretty small in size, so it’s really only ideal for those who travel light.

Whether you call them belt bags or fanny packs , there’s no denying this budget-friendly pick from Paravel is exceptional since it folds flat and zips into a discreet pouch. Despite its small size, this belt bag offers a zippered front pocket plus a main zippered compartment so you can store all of your essentials (think: credit cards, cash, a smartphone, earbuds, sunglasses, and even some snacks) within arm’s reach. We also love how the bag is crafted with recycled, water-resistant nylon and recycled zippers. All you need to do is adjust the strap to sling it over your shoulder, wear it crossbody, or buckle it around your waist. The bag comes in six colors and can be monogrammed for an additional cost.

The Details: 8 x 5 x 2 inches (unfolded); 5 x 3.75 x 1 inches (folded) | 5 ounces | Nylon

Best Backpack

Samsonite foldable backpack.

This backpack can be folded up into a pouch that also serves as an interior pocket when it's open.

It’s constructed with polyester, which may be less durable than nylon. 

Searching for the perfect carry-on backpack ? Look no further than the Samsonite Foldable Backpack. While suitable for everyday use, it’s especially convenient for travel thanks to its compact, functional, and lightweight construction (at less than half a pound!). The spacious main zippered compartment is perfect for storing souvenirs, while the exterior comes with one large zippered pocket and two side mesh pockets. After your trip, all you have to do is fold up the backpack and stick it inside the interior pouch, which, when in use, also doubles as an interior pocket. We’d be remiss not to mention the adjustable mesh shoulder straps for optimal comfort and support, too.

The Details: 18.5 × 13 × 6 inches (unfolded); 5.5 x 6 x 1.5 inches (folded) | 7.4 ounces | Polyester

Best Suitcase

Rollink flex carry-on spinner suitcase.

This collapsible carry-on is chock-full of functional features like spinner wheels and interior pockets.

While the suitcase meets carry-on requirements for most major U.S. airlines, you may want to opt for the international carry-on size for those flights. 

The Rollink Flex 360° Carry-on Spinner Suitcase weighs just over six pounds and offers a durable, impact-resistant polycarbonate hard shell. However, what makes it stand out from a regular carry-on is the fact that it folds flat to just 5 inches thick (from 9 inches), so you can easily stow it in a closet or under the bed when not in use. Meanwhile, the interior has two slip pockets and one zippered compartment. Its smooth-gliding, 360-degree spinner wheels, built-in TSA lock, and adjustable telescopic handle are all bonuses. Select from eight colors, including bright yellow, warm gray, and rose pink. 

The Details: 22 x 14 x 9 inches (unfolded); 22 x 14 x 5 (folded) | 6.2 pounds | Polycarbonate

Best Duffel

Tumi voyageur just in case duffel.

• Capacity 4.5 /5
• Organization 4.5 /5
• Design 4.5 /5

This versatile duffel can be carried four different ways. 

The bag can feel flimsy if not filled completely. 

We’re huge fans of the Tumi Just in Case Duffel for its clever design — there are not one, not two, but four different ways to carry it: crossbody with one long strap, over-the-shoulder (with two medium-sized straps), by hand (with two additional two straps), and, lastly, hands-free (thanks to the sleeve, which slides onto your suitcase). Also, when fully open, the storage pouch actually snaps inside the duffel bag, serving as an extra interior pocket that’s roomy enough to store keys, a wallet, headphones, and other small but essential travel items. This is especially noteworthy because, in many cases, the folding bags’ storage case ends up 1) becoming wasted space and 2) is only too easy to lose. An additional front slip pocket also offers easy access to essentials such as your smartphone, ID, and boarding pass. 

Additionally, despite the bag’s seemingly compact size, it offers a surprising amount of storage space: In fact, we were able to fit four dresses, two shoes, a pair of pajamas, and a toiletry bag — with room to spare! Available in four colors, this foldable duffel is constructed with lightweight nylon, which is water- and stain-resistant. Shoppers also have the option to add embroidery for an extra-special personalized touch. 

The Details: 10.3 x 18.9 x 10.3 inches (unfolded) | 1.1 pounds | Nylon 

Calpak Compakt Bundle

With both a duffel and a tote bag, this two-piece set offers plenty of value and weighs in at just one pound total.

Both items lack luggage sleeves. 

Available in 15 color and pattern options, the two-piece Calpak Compakt Bundle includes a duffel and matching tote bag, both of which collapse into themselves for space-saving storage. Together, both items clock in at just one pound, which means they won't weigh you — or your suitcase — down. The duffel offers several interior and exterior pockets for optimal organization, making it great for travel or commuting. The tote bag also features a crossbody strap for easy, hands-free carrying and works well for groceries, beach essentials, souvenirs, and pretty much everything in between. For longer trips, consider folding the tote into the duffel to be used as an everyday bag-slash-backup personal item for souvenirs while on the go. Each bag is constructed with water-resistant nylon. 

The Details: 18 x 12 x 8 inches (duffel, unfolded); 21 x 20 x 6 inches (tote, unfolded) | 0.75 pounds (duffel); 0.25 pounds (tote) | Nylon

Best Oversized Weekender

Caraa baby hospital bag.

Made of water-repellent cotton, this oversized bag can be carried as a backpack or tote thanks to its long cushy straps. 

At around $300, this foldable bag isn’t exactly a bargain.

Don’t be fooled by its name: The Caraa Baby Hospital Bag is so much more than a hospital bag — in fact, this chic foldable bag is especially ideal for travel. The ultra-spacious bag is outfitted with several compartments, including a zippered interior pocket for magazines and other in-flight reading materials and two zippered side pockets that are roomy enough to hold shoes, water bottles, tablets, and more. The interior also feature a water-repellent cotton lining to protect your belongings from accidental spillage. 

Travelers can carry the bag by the straps, which feature a fashionable bow detailing. It’s also worth mentioning that the straps are long enough for the bag to be worn as a backpack or carried like a tote bag. When not in use, simply roll, fold, and stash the bag away in the corresponding pouch. Oh, and did we mention it’s constructed with water-repellent cotton and machine-washable, too?

The Details: 12 x 24 x 14 inches (unfolded) | 2.2 pounds | Cotton

Best Budget

Baggu nylon ripstop tote.

• Performance 5 /5
• Easy to Clean 5 /5
• Durability 3.5 /5

This machine-washable reusable tote can hold up to 50 pounds. 

There are no zippers. 

Baggu’s signature reusable tote is a fan favorite for its ultra-lightweight construction, and affordable price. A compact design, which folds into the corresponding pouch for convenient storage, is an added bonus. Despite the fact that it weighs less than 2 ounces, this one-of-a-kind bag is sturdy enough to hold up to 50 pounds. It’s also machine-washable and made with recycled nylon. Lastly, the durable bag is available in 20 colors and patterns to suit anyone’s style preferences from pistachio green to a raspberry print. 

The Details: 25.5 x 15.5 × 6 inches (unfolded); 5 x 5 inches (folded) | 1.9 ounces | Nylon

Tips for Buying Foldable Travel Bags

Decide how much space you need.

While shopping for folding travel bags, it’s important to consider how much room you’ll need for gear and other essentials. For example, if you want it for everyday use, you’ll want to prioritize a smaller bag you can easily carry as backup. If you tend to take a fair amount of shorter weekend trips, you likely won’t need a large piece of luggage. Instead, you can probably get away with a duffel bag , travel backpack , or even a large tote . On the other hand, if you often embark on longer trips, buying a larger bag, like a compressible checked suitcase, is a good idea.

Consider how compact the bag gets

As you narrow down your top picks for foldable travel bags, you’ll want to take into account how compact they actually get — because, in this case, size truly does matter. Can the bag fold small enough to fit in your pocket or purse, like the Paravel Belt Bag? If it’s a bulkier piece, such as a rolling suitcase, make sure it can fold flat for easy storage.

Foldable bags function the same way as standard bags, except they’re even more convenient for travel. Put simply, what you can fit inside all depends on the size and type of foldable travel bag you’ve purchased. The folded bags can be carried inside another day bag while at your destination, and used for souvenirs, groceries, and other purchases. For fuss-free organization, consider snagging one equipped with built-in zippered or slip pockets to maximize space. 

Foldable travel bags come in an array of shapes and sizes. With this in mind, it’s worth flagging that foldable travel bags can serve as a carry-on or personal item , depending on the specific one you’ve purchased. Just keep in mind that in order for your foldable travel bag to count as a personal item (as opposed to a carry-on) it has to fit underneath the seat in front of you. As always, check with your carrier before bringing it onboard.

Why Trust Travel + Leisure

For this article, T+L contributor Lauren Dana Ellman used her personal experience as a freelance travel writer and editor to choose the very best foldable bags for every type of trip. 

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