5 AMAZON ESSENTIALS THAT HAVE MADE ME A BETTER PACKER
All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by Condé Nast Traveler editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, Condé Nast may earn an affiliate commission.
Packing is rarely an easy task. Sure, it may become slightly less stressful the more often you do it, but figuring out what you need and how everything fits in the allotted space demands forethought and deliberate decisions. Even as a travel writer who packs a bag several times a month, I still have to think through the different factors that will influence my packing list—weather forecast, airline luggage policies, trip length, and activities with specific clothing requirements.
Because I travel so often, I do make a concerted effort to streamline the packing process. I’ve spent years figuring out how to eliminate as many of the minor hassles as possible (stocking up on TSA-approved toiletry bottles, creating a capsule wardrobe, identifying the roomiest suitcases), and I’ve found there are several packing essentials that exponentially increase my overall efficiency—and they’re each under $30 on Amazon.
Jump to:
- Drawer organizers
- Luggage scales
- Packing cubes
- Beauty product organizers
- Toiletry bags and pouches
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, this 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 last year after spending too much time digging through my clothes ahead of trips. It instantly decreased the amount of time I spent 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 my favorites when it’s time to prepare for a trip.
The beauty of an organizer like this one lies in its structured flexibility; the different bin sizes can be used however you see fit (ties, bathing suits, and winter accessories would also benefit from this method of organization), and the material is pliable while still providing plenty of support.
The Neaterize organizer set comes with 12 containers in three different sizes—small cubes, rectangular bins, and large squares—allowing you to play an organizational Tetris game within your drawers.
Those who don’t love the idea of bins—but still want their drawers to feel streamlined—might wan to opt for a set of drawer dividers. These can be adjusted, expanded, and stacked to fit most dressers and keep your clothes orderly.
While the Criusia bins are made to fit within drawers, they’re sturdy enough to stand on their own; plus, the stitched edges ensure they look aesthetically pleasing in any bathroom, bedroom, or laundry room.
More voluminous pieces of clothing (like long-sleeved shirts or shorts) may work better in these foldable storage boxes, which measure in at 11" x 11" x 4.7".
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 a couple of years ago, 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.
While the Etekcity luggage scale is battery-powered, it also has a convenient auto-off function, meaning you won’t unexpectedly end up with a dead scale when you need it the most.
No more replacing batteries; the Electrons luggage scale can be recharged with a USB power cord (it also functions as a power bank for your phone).
What makes this luggage scale stand out is its ergonomically curved handle—and its various chic colorways, including a hunter green and an elegant silver.
Coming in at just under $10, this is a standard digital scale that gets the job done quickly and effectively. It can also be switched to read the measurement in either pounds or kilograms; the zero (or tare) functionality resets it to zero.
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 an eight-piece Bagail set. They are lightweight and durable, and the mesh top panel allows me to see what’s inside without unzipping the cube.
There’s nothing more satisfying than color-coordinated travel gear. With 13 different packing cube colorways, you’ll be able to pick out a set that perfectly matches your luggage.
The OlarHike set comes with a large size (for jackets and sweaters), two mediums (shirts or dresses), two small (underwear and bras), and an unexpectedly useful slim cube (for socks or other smaller items).
The Veken set’s mesh panels—which also aid in breathability—allow you to see the contents of the cube and help you avoid a situation where you’re opening each one in search of a particular item.
Maybe you already own a set of packing cubes and you’re looking to add a few more to your collection. If that’s the case, these four medium-sized packing cubes should round out your arsenal beautifully.
Beauty product organizers
If there’s one part of the packing I (used to) find most tiresome, it’s getting all of my toiletries together. Not only am I adamant about keeping 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 makeup bag, 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.
Mini bars of soap are in the bottom drawer, followed by tiny bottles of cleanser, anti-aging products, and sunscreen; the top sections are reserved for the aforementioned perfume samples, body lotions, and miscellaneous travel-sized products. Now when it’s time for this part of the packing process, I simply pick and choose from this organized collection of products that all meet TSA requirements.
The three drawers and partitioned top section of this particular makeup organizer are surprisingly spacious—and they’re also easy to wipe clean if anything spills.
It might be labeled as a desk organizer, but this set of drawers works great for holding on-the-go skincare products and brushes. It comes in three colors—white, pink, and blue—but the containers themselves are clear, so you can always see what’s inside.
Depending on how extensive your makeup and skincare collection is, you might not need that much room for travel-sized products. If you only have a few items, invest in just one or two of the Cendray stackable organizers.
Travelers who want a bit more personality to their organizers will appreciate the look (and the functionality) of the Generic stackable cosmetics storage box, partially decked out in a glossy diamond pattern.
Toiletry bags and pouches
Even though I stick to a rigid skincare routine, the exact contents of my toiletry bag tend to change; some trips require more or fewer products. If I’m skiing in Jackson Hole, for example, I’ll bring extra Aquaphor. If I’m headed somewhere tropical, I up the ante on sunscreen. As my product roster shifts, it’s possible my toiletry bag lineup does, too. That said, I’ve amassed a few different types of Dopp kits and pouches over the years in order to ensure I pack efficiently and in an organized manner.
My MVP is, hands down, this Soidram nylon makeup organizer. If I’m packing most of my toiletries in my checked suitcase, I’ll use this to hold the essentials I want on my person and tuck it into my tote bag or backpack. I also use the pouches (I have three colorways) to organize my chargers, cords, and adapters, or carry my travel snacks. The material is supple enough that the pouch is easily stuffed into whatever remaining real estate I have in my bag, but it’s still plenty sturdy to keep everything secure and safe.
If you want to add a bit more personality to the pouch, you can accessorize it with sticky patches. I have “skin” on one, and my initials on another.
The Embla makeup bag comes in mini, small, and large sizes, plus a handful of colors, so you can mix and match as needed.
Simple, straightforward, and stylish, this makeup bag set is the perfect addition to any traveler’s toolkit; the black will also stay looking fresh longer than lighter colors.
Those who prefer a bit more organization in their pouches may prefer this version. The divider and separate compartments are key for keeping your products visible and orderly.
During my time as a travel writer, I’ve found these Amazon finds have been instrumental in making packing for any trip—from a wildlife safari in Grand Teton National Park to a couple of days in Dallas—significantly more organized and less stressful. A 10-day excursion to St. Barts included a leg of travel on a tiny plane with a strict luggage weight limit, so weighing my bag via luggage scale beforehand was a non-negotiable. When I began frantically packing for the holidays this year (after returning home from a last-minute work trip), my orderly drawers and travel-sized skincare products saved the day. And my organizational skills experienced notable improvement after the introduction of packing cubes and on-the-go pouches into my suitcase. Now, I see packing as just another part of the larger travel experience, rather than a much-dreaded task.
This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
- Want to be the first to know? Sign up to our newsletters for travel inspiration and tips
- 53 Best Travel Gifts for Every Globetrotter on Your List
- The Best Small Purses for Hands-Free Travel Days
- The Best Winter Wedding Guest Dresses for Cold-Weather Destinations
- The 31 Best Walking Shoes for Long Travel Days