21 Items Our Editors Pack for Every Single Trip
Trip after trip has edited down our suitcases to the essentials: the products we love and rely on so much so that we can’t imagine leaving home without them.
Related:9 Packing Mistakes Everyone Makes and How to Avoid Them
From the very best versions of obvious must-packs (our Senior Editor’s beloved noise-cancelling headphones) to the small nice-to-haves you may not have thought of (our Editor in Chief’s go-to red lipstick), each piece we picked will make your next trip more convenient, fun, or comfortable, no matter where you're headed.
Inflatable Travel Bags
I travel with wine a lot, and this is the best bottle protector out there. Plus, it's reusable. — Ray Isle, Wine Editor
To buy: amazon.com, $30
1 of 22
Travel Wallet
I will evangelize to anyone who’ll listen about my travel wallet. It’s got neat little labeled slots for keeping all my travel documents organized, and it’s this soft, buttery leather that makes me feel like a Fancy Lady every time I carry it — a nice, albeit fleeting, sensation when you’re sardined into a middle seat in economy. It’s roomy enough to carry a phone and a backup battery, and it even doubles as a clutch for dressy events. — Lila Battis, Food & Wine Editor
To buy: amazon.com, $595
2 of 22
Kiehl's Since 1851 Cactus Flower and Tibetan Ginseng Mist
Thanks to the low humidity on flights, I often find my skin dries out when I’m traveling, which is when this little mist comes in handy. They have a 2.5 fl oz size that you could take with you as a carry-on item, making it easy to spray and stay hydrated throughout your flight. The product is great to use after applying makeup as it keeps your skin soft. — Talia Avakian, Digital Reporter
To buy: nordstrom.com, from $17
3 of 22
Hand Cream
Ever since a photographer gifted me this Claus Porto Favorito hand cream, I always have it in my travel bag. It keeps my hands extra soft and has a great, subtle scent. — Scott Hall, Photo Director
To buy: neimanmarcus.com, $25
4 of 22
Red Lipstick
A beautiful red lipstick will cure any of my travel woes: dull skin from an overnight flight, a crummy mood courtesy of jet lag, and yes, even a hangover after one too many cocktails in a buzzy neighborhood or hotel bar. After searching for years for the perfect shade, I've settled on Chanel Pirate (No. 99) and never leave home without it. The texture is creamy, the tube glides on smooth, and better still its long-wearing. — Jacqueline Gifford, Editor in Chief
To buy: nordstrom.com, $38
5 of 22
Nook Glowlight E-reader
I plow through more books on vacation that I can reasonably pack, and a good e-reader lets me carry ample reading material without sacrificing suitcase space. The Nook’s screen is very easy on the eyes and its adjustable Glowlight feature gently illuminates the screen with warm or cool light – especially great if you want to read on a night flight without using the harsh overhead light. — Skye Senterfeit, Photo Editor
To buy: amazon.com, $136
6 of 22
Noise-cancelling Headphones
I'd avoided noise-cancelling headphones for the longest time because they often put too much pressure on my ears and would make them pop on the ground, let alone on planes. But then I got these bad boys, which 1. don't make my ears go wonky, 2. produce killer sound quality, and 3. have this cool built-in ambient noise functionality that allows sounds in your periphery to penetrate when you want them to — say, when you're walking around NYC streets and need to hear car horns or when you're on a plane and need to answer a flight attendant's question. — Sarah Bruning, Senior Editor
To buy: amazon.com, $348
7 of 22
Soft Foam Ear Plugs
You never know when you'll end up seated next to a crying baby or overly excited children on a flight. And there's always the chance that the hotel you booked is next to an all-night bar or happens to have construction going on right outside. Nothing makes a vacation go south fast like sleep deprivation, so I always have a pair of ear plugs with me. These ones are soft, easy to insert, and cheap for a large quantity — so you can pack extra, because these suckers can be easy to lose. — Karen Chen, Editorial Producer
To buy: amazon.com, $9 for 50 pairs
8 of 22
Fujifilm X100F Camera
The Fujifilm X100F camera takes absolutely superb pictures. More importantly, it's cute as all get out. It's substantially smaller than the typical 35 mm camera and fits neatly into a pocket — people are always stopping me and asking if it's an old Leica. — Peter Terzian, Articles Editor
To buy: amazon.com, $1,199
9 of 22
Reusable Water Bottle
Travel is a dehydrating act from beginning to end, and it's best to avoid adding waste to the world by buying disposable water bottles at every airport and destination. For many reasons, I never leave home without a reusable water bottle, and it's fairly easy to find a place to fill it up when I need to rehydrate. A plastic, leak-proof water bottle is best because you might find yourself in a situation that won't allow metal or glass bottles. Plus, this bottle's lightweight design is great for when you need to pack it away. — Mariah Tyler, Associate Digital Photo Editor
To buy: amazon.com, $20 for two bottles
10 of 22
Olly Wellness Boosts
I can't stand to let jet lag or an upset stomach ruin the excitement of exploring a new destination, so I take Olly wellness boosts every day when I travel. Daily Energy, Balanced Belly, and Restful Sleep are my go-tos for Vitamin B12, active probiotics, and melatonin, respectively, but there's also an Olly boost to battle every other on-the-go challenge, from stress to dull skin. The boosts are crafted by health and nutrition experts using natural ingredients, and they come in a fun gummy form. — Nina Ruggiero, Senior Digital Editor
To buy: amazon.com, $13
11 of 22
Journal and Pen
Journaling is my way of feeling grounded and "at home" even if I'm not physically at home. These Mon Carnet de Poche notebooks are my favorite — not only for their chic exterior, but also for the stack of perforated blank pages in the back that are perfect for leaving behind little thank-you notes while I'm traveling. — Kim Duong, Digital Assistant Editor
To buy: journal, amazon.com, $18; pen, amazon.com, $8 (originally $40)
12 of 22
Sudafed
While some people hate flying because of turbulence, I hate flying because of the impending — and mind-numbingly painful — earaches I get during take off and landing. The only thing that helps me is Sudafed. Because it's a decongestant, it helps clear my Eustachian tubes and equalize (i.e. relieve) the pressure in my ears. I take the recommended dosage an hour before my flight and voilà. Instead of worrying about rupturing an eardrum, I can actually relax and look forward to my trip. —Elizabeth Preske, Assistant Digital Editor
To buy: amazon.com, $7
13 of 22
Kayu 'St. Tropez' Straw Tote
While traveling, there’s little more crucial to me than a go-everywhere bag. And this seagrass tote by Kayu is the perfect combination of aesthetics (with charming raffia pom poms and a matching yarn-wrapped handle) and function (spacious enough for a beach towel and accessories; compact enough to carry all day long) for any jet-set scenario. — Annie Davidson, Fashion Editor
To buy: amazon.com, $135
14 of 22
Athleta Leggings
These high-rise tights are easily my favorite travel pants. They're comfortable enough for long drives, hikes, or plane rides while still looking polished. I pack a pair in black for a base that works with every top in my carry-on. And hey, occasionally I like to exercise on vacation. So when a friend invites me out to hot yoga, these are my go-to workout pair. — Abigail Williams, Senior Audience Engagement Editor
To buy: athleta.gap.com, $74
15 of 22
Aveda Stress-fix Rollerball
This is probably Pavlovian, but I got this rollerball as a gift many moons ago and always put it on before taking yoga classes, so now its scent has a doubly calming effect when I roll it into my wrists or temples as I settle in for a long flight. It's got a blend of lavender, lavandin, and clary sage — all the good anti-stress smells. And it’s not so aggressively scented that your seatmate would complain. — Richelle Szypulski, Senior Associate Editor
To buy: nordstrom.com, $24
16 of 22
Headphone Splitter
When traveling with kids, both parents can plug into the iPad to watch Game of Thrones while the kids sleep across the room. — Christine Bower-Wright, Design Director
To buy: amazon.com, $10
17 of 22
TSA-approved Travel Bottles
These are the answer to all of your toiletry packing woes. Fill them with shampoo, conditioner, lotion, sunscreen, face wash — you name it. The tubes are available in a variety of colors so you can color code, or write the product name on the cap. The product comes out with a simple squeeze (no more shaking and struggling), and the wide-mouth design make them super easy to fill and clean. Plus, I've never once had a leak. Once you go silicone squeeze bottle, you won't go back to using anything else. — Karen Chen, Editorial Producer
To buy: amazon.com, $21 (originally $26)
18 of 22
Clorox Cleaning Wipes
At the expense of sounding like I have seen reports of germs in hotel rooms one too many times, I feel most comfortable after having wiped down door handles and bathrooms at most hotels once I've checked in. — Devin Traineau, Associate Photo Editor
To buy: amazon.com, $14 for a pack of six
19 of 22
Favorite Beauty Essentials
There are a few beauty products that I have recently discovered and fallen in love with, to the point of wanting to take them with me everywhere. One is Drunk Elephant’s A-Passioni Retinol Cream, which, admittedly, took my skin a while to get used to (I’d never used a retinol before, so suffered through the inevitable purging period), but has completely transformed my complexion. Another is the Yves Durif hair brush —a cult-favorite product that I’d wanted to try out forever, and finally gifted myself. The Italian-made brush is super sensitive on the scalp and unlike drugstore brands, detangles and smoothes without much wrangling. As for makeup, I’ve found Chanel’s Baume Essentiel indispensable. I swipe the multi-use balm across my cheekbones using the brand’s Retractable Highlighter Blush to get a just-back-from-the-spa glow. Finally, Pat McGrath’s new FetishEyes Mascara is the real deal. I don’t wear a lot of eye makeup, but this has quickly become a mainstay in my kit. — Siobhan Reid, Associate Editor
To buy: Drunk Elepant A-Passioni Retinal Cream, amazon.com, $74; Yves Durif hair brush, violetgrey.com, $70; Chanel Baume Essential Multi-use Glow Stick, saksfifthavenue.com, $45; Pat McGrath Labs FetishEyes Mascara, sephora.com, $28
20 of 22
Baggu Reusable Shopping Bag
This reusable bag has come in handy in so many travel scenarios — like stocking up in Bavarian grocery stores that don't offer bags at checkout or toting all of my pool-day essentials — all while weighing practically nothing. — Richelle Szypulski, Senior Associate Editor
To buy: amazon.com, $12
21 of 22
A Comfortable, Versatile Pair of Shoes
From classic canvas sneakers to luxury leather bit loafers, see the travel shoes we swear by.