Best Products Style Travel Accessories The Best Travel Tech Organizers for Keeping Everything in Its Place The Native Union Stow Lite will make your travels a little less hectic. By Joel Balsam Joel Balsam Instagram Website Joel Balsam is a Canadian freelance journalist and guidebook author whose work has appeared in National Geographic Travel, Time, The Guardian, BBC Travel, Lonely Planet, and more. His home is Montreal, but he can often be found tasting his way through markets. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Published on May 31, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. Photo: Courtesy of Amazon, Day Owl, Aer, and Function101 Packing your stuff with perfect geometrical precision before you leave on a trip, only for everything to turn into a heap of shrapnel when you get to your accommodation is basically an art form. Who hasn't spent valuable travel time digging through their bag for a plug adapter, charging cable, portable power bank, dongle, or their passport and boarding pass while holding up the aisle line? But it doesn't have to be that way. Travel tech organizers can keep all your stuff in one tight, stylish package. As simple as a pouch or as complex as a case with more than a dozen straps and pockets over several compartments, travel tech organizers are all a little bit different. But while extensive features are nice, not everyone is bringing that much gear with them when they travel, so make sure you pick one that fits you and your style. For a travel tech organizer that fits all the essentials, especially during a flight, the best overall option the Native Union Stow Lite Organizer. It might not be the largest, cheapest, or most stylish option, but it's the simplest way to grab what you need quickly, and it's built to last. Here are the eight best travel tech cases to make your life a little less hectic. Best Overall: Native Union Stow Lite Organizer at Amazon Best Budget: Bevegekos Small Tech Organizer at Amazon Best for Small Laptops and Tablets: Knomo Knomad 13" X-Body Organizer at Amazon Best Mesh Pouch: Easyfun Mesh Pouch (4-Pack) at Amazon Most Stylish: Day Owl Cord Pouch at Day Owl Most Durable: Aer Cable Kit 2 at Aer Best Multi-Cable: Bagsmart Cable Organizer at Amazon Best Box: Function 101 BentoStack at Function 101 T+L's Top Picks Best Overall: Native Union Stow Lite Organizer Courtesy of Amazon View at Amazon ($30) Also available at Native Union Why We Love It: You can just unzip and grab what you need without having to unfurl it on a table. What to Consider: It is quite small, so there's no room for a tablet, laptop or related accessories. Since 2009, Native Union has built an empire on its sleek, high-quality tech accessories that accompany Apple products. And while not exclusively for Apple users, this minimalist travel tech organizer continues that tradition. You simply unzip it and tiny pockets on the sides keep things organized. So the main pocket — which expands to make the case rectangular — is the perfect place to put your phone and travel documents like a passport and boarding passes. Heck, you could even put a sleeping eye mask in there. Then, you can stuff your charging cables, ear plugs, and earbuds (pro tip: bring two — one with a wire for in-flight entertainment and your usual Bluetooth set) in the tiny side pockets. Dimensions: 7.87 x 1.56 x 4.72 inches | Weight: 4.96 ounces | Material: Polyester, polyethylene, and cotton Best Budget: Bevegekos Small Tech Organizer Courtesy of Amazon View at Amazon ($13) Also available at Walmart Why We Love It: Two compartments maximize the amount of tech you can pack into this small organizer. What to Consider: It's petite, so it won't do very well holding larger accessories. There are travel tech organizers out there for a few bucks cheaper, but the Bevegekos has the best features for the price. The small case has two compartments: one with two mesh pockets for tech like a phone and a power bank or external hard drive, the other for cables, adapters, headphones, a mouse and/or small wall chargers. The outside isn't the most durable — you get what you pay for — but it is water-resistant Jacquard, so if some water spills in your bag you won't have to worry. When you're not traveling, this case also works well for pens, pencils, and erasers. Dimensions: 9.41 x 7.52 x 1.89 inches | Weight: 4.2 ounces | Material: Jacquard Best for Small Laptops and Tablets: Knomo Knomad 13" X-Body Organizer Courtesy of Amazon View at Amazon ($22) Also available at Knomo Why We Love It: It fits everything you need — from passport to sub-13" laptop or tablet to cables and credit cards — in one sleek case. What to Consider: It's on the heavier side and difficult to open from a cramped airplane seat without bumping elbows with the person beside you. The cleverly-named knomad from Knomo is a one-stop shop for your travel tech. At 13", the case is big enough for a MacBook Air or standard iPad (though not Pro models) and has convenient pockets that make it easy to see everything as soon as you open it. The case also comes with a two-year warranty and a pull-out shoulder strap, so you can take it down to the pool without having to stuff it in another bag. At the time of writing, the Knomad is significantly discounted on the company's website and Amazon, so if you're thinking about grabbing one, now would be the time. Dimensions: 10.6 x 14.76 x 2.36 inches | Weight: 17.6 ounces | Material: Nylon and leather Related: The Best Car Phone Mounts Best Mesh Pouch: Easyfun Mesh Pouch (4-Pack) Courtesy of Amazon View at Amazon ($10) Why We Love It: These mesh bags keep things simple and affordable. What to Consider: It still might be annoying to ruffle through your bag to find multiple pouches rather than having all your gear in one place. There are plenty of travel tech organizers on the market with a plethora of features and designs — but do you really need something so fancy? This four-pack of mesh bags certainly does the trick in a pinch, and it's the most affordable option on this list. The pouches are made of mesh polyester, so you can see what you're looking for without unzipping, and they come in a few sizes: two small 5-inch, one medium 8-inch, and another 10-inch large. Don't have much tech? Use these to organize your cosmetics, pencils — whatever! Dimensions: 2 at 5.1 x 4; 1 at 8.2 x 5.1; 1 at 10.2 x 7.2 inches | Weight: 1.08 ounces | Material: Polyester mesh Most Stylish: Day Owl Cord Pouch Courtesy of Day Owl View at Day Owl ($29) Why We Love It: It's affordable, sustainable, and it'll look cool when you pull it out of your bag. What to Consider: Other organizers have many more pockets and features. There are certainly fancier travel tech organizers out there. One from Stow is made from Italian leather and costs £600 ($740 USD), and this one from Cuyana will go well with your set of luxury handbags. And if those are for you, go for it! But if you ask me, this Day Owl cord pouch is cute as hell and it just so happens to be much, much more affordable. The features of this bag are nothing special — four straps and one big pocket inside a single compartment — but it looks great and is made with sustainable materials like recycled plastic bottles and polyester and seaweed. Its zippers are also made with "conflict-free metal," which is a description I've never heard before, but it sure sounds like something worth supporting! Dimensions: 7 X 5 X 2 inches | Weight: 3.2 ounces | Weight: Waxed canvas, polyester lining and trim, foam and metal zippers Most Durable: Aer Cable Kit 2 Courtesy of Aer View at Aer ($50) Also available at Apple Why We Love It: This rugged case has plenty of cool features and is made with military-grade material to keep your gear safe. What to Consider: It's pricier than most other bags on this list and might be overkill on pockets, depending on how much gear you own. For many of us, the tech products we bring on our trips are the most expensive things we're traveling with. They might even be the most expensive things we own, period. So it's a good idea to take care of them. Aer's cable kit is made with water-resistant nylon that was originally developed for military body armor, so those travel tweezers in your bag aren't going to stand a chance at breaking through. Plus, the organizer really maximizes space with a ton of cool features over two compartments and an outside zipper pocket, all while not being very heavy. Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 3 inches | Weight: 11.2 ounces | Material: Nylon and YKK zippers Related: The Best Anti-theft Travel Backpacks of 2022 Best Multi-Cable: Bagsmart Cable Organizer Courtesy of Amazon View at Amazon ($17) Also available at Bagsmart Why We Love It: This case has plenty of loops and pouches for all of those cables, chargers, SD cards, and USB keys. What to Consider: If you don't carry that many cables, you might want something smaller or one which can fit a laptop or tablet. If you're the kind of person that gets dizzy keeping track of all your cables (USB/USB-C/Ethernet/HDMI etc.), this is the travel organization case for you. Bagsmart's small kit packs in a lot: there are two zippered pockets, six other mesh pockets with elastic loops above them to keep everything secure, three SD card slots, and several more elastic loops for things like pens. That's a lot of organization, and yet the case remains very light and thin. Perhaps that's why it's a mainstay in many frequent flyers' travel lists. Dimensions: 6.1 x 8.5 x 0.8 inches | Weight: 3.2 ounces | Material: Nylon Best Box: Function 101 BentoStack Courtesy of Function101 View at Function 101 ($50) Also available at Bloomingdale's and West Elm Why We Love It: It's stylish and keeps you organized when working at a desk or table. What to Consider: It might be bulky and heavy, depending on what kind of bag you're packing it into. Serious creativity points go to this bento box-style travel tech organizer, which is inspired by modern Japanese lunch boxes. It comes apart in four blocks, all of which stack on top of each other for easy transport, and it's specifically designed to hold Apple accessories such as the pencil, watch, cable, and charger. A really neat feature with this organizer that you don't see in the rest is that the blocks can come apart to create little compartments for your gear while you work, so you stay organized at your desk as well. It even has a little flip stand for your phone for using it as an extra mini-screen. Dimensions: 9.2 x 2.8 x 2.8 inches | Weight: 12.9 ounces | Material: Plastic Related: 18 Stylish and Sturdy Laptop Bags Tips for Buying a Travel Tech Organizer Know what storage you need Each travel tech organizer is made differently, but depending on the tech you have, you might not need so many pockets, bands or compartments. For instance, if you already have a laptop case that you like, you might not need another one. You should also make sure it'll fit into your carry-on. Suffice to say, bigger isn't necessarily better when it comes to travel tech organizers. Frequently Asked Questions When is a travel tech organizer useful? If you fly a lot, keeping all of your documents and travel gear handy is well worth it. It'll save you from digging in your bag and holding up the line when you're asked for your boarding pass or if you need to grab a pen to fill out customs forms. Travel tech organizers are also useful for digital nomads, or those who frequent cafes or coworking spaces as it can keep your essential tech all in one place. What should I put in my travel tech organizer? These are supposed to make your life simpler — not more complicated. So plan to only put what you need in the case. For example, will you really need that old external hard drive at the ready on the plane? That said, extra pockets can also be convenient for your travel documents and even chapstick or eyeliner. Why Trust Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure writers are shopping and product experts who use personal experience and expert recommendations to choose the best items for shoppers. For this article, writer Joel Balsam, a frequent traveler who has visited more than 50 countries, reviewed and selected from the industry's best options. Up Next: The Best Carry-on Luggage Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we'll send you our favorite travel products each week. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit