Of all the travel preparation tasks to take care of before leaving on vacation, packing is the one I dislike the most. Especially because we pack light, I have anxiety that I’ll forget something important and have to go with it for a week or more. We’ve got our routine down to a science now, so we don’t have to go through the same packing worries as before. That’s because I’ve found the best travel toiletry bag and I leave it packed up in between trips.
Now when we go somewhere, which is frequently, we just pack the already-filled toiletry bag and don’t spend even a second worrying that something got left out. Brilliant, right? Whether you travel frequently and don’t want the hassle of packing a toiletry bag every time, or you just want to have all of your toiletries and accessories in one neat pack, this list will help you find the perfect bag for you.
Want to know what to pack in that toiletry bag? Why not try these eco-friendly toiletries?
Best Toiletry Bag for Travel
In case you don’t have a lot of time to read all of the reviews below and you’re just looking for a list of our favorite toiletry bags for travel, we’ve put together a quick-pick list for you, Everyone’s needs vary, but you should be able to find a perfect toiletry kit in this list that suits your needs.
Why Use a Toiletry Bag
In my opinion, a toiletry bag is an essential piece of luggage. Without it, you’d likely be packing your personal hygiene products, make up, and hair accessories in a bunch of different bags, or even stuffed into a plastic ziplock bag. There are so many reasons for using a toiletry bag instead. Here are a few of the top reasons you should have one.
Organization
The best toiletry bags have oodles of organizing pockets and sections so everything stays in its place. I actually wish my purse had this much organization. Routing around in a bag for something hiding in the deepest darkest corner is a real drag.
Makes Packing Easy
Whether you leave your toiletry bag packed up or clear it out after each time you use it for travel, it provides a really easy way to pack your bathroom stuff. I personally leave it packed up. Then all I have to do is toss it into my bag. No worries.
Avoid Messy Spills
Every one in a while, despite our best efforts, a bottle of shampoo will burst in the bag, or a plate of eye shadow will crack and colored powder goes everywhere. If these items are contained in an easy-to-clean toiletry bag, it’s unlikely that any clothes or expensive gear will get ruined when a spill happens. Plus, it’s super easy to clean.
What to look for in a Great Toiletry Bag
The perfect bag is not the same for everyone. You might be a light packer, like me and want the smallest bag you can find, or you might be a heavy packer and want as much space as possible. While there’s really no one-size-fits-all toiletry bag, there are a few things you should look for in a great bag.
- Durable and well-constructed
- Good, sturdy zippers
- High-quality mesh pockets
- Easy-to-clean inner lining
- Good use of space and organizational features
- Value for Price
Armed with these objectives, let’s go on a hunt for the best toiletry bag. All of the bags below can be found on Amazon.com. We like the ease of shopping on Amazon, and how quickly you can get it, especially if you’re a Prime member (try Amazon Prime 30-Day Free Trial
Recommended Toiletry Bags
eBags Pack it Flat Toiletry Kit
My personal favorite toiletry bag is the Pack-it-Flat toiletry kit from eBags. It’s small and compact – perfect for a light packer. It’s also a fantastic hanging travel toiletry bag, because the center part opens up as a flap with a hanger on it, so you can hang it wherever is convenient.
When we went on a cruise, that feature definitely came in handy, because there wasn’t enough space in the bathroom to put the bag on the counter top.
The eBags kit has just the right amount of space and sections to store all of the little stuff. In the center section, there are two pockets made of strong netting that stretch to fit tall things like and makeup, combs, toothbrushes.
There’s a plastic, fully-covered zippered pouch that holds smaller items like medicine, nail clippers, jewelry, or hair accessories. The flap also has a zippered pocket made of mesh. We’ve found it’s a great place to put medications that you want to be able to locate easily.
On either side of the bag are extra, long zippered pockets. The left side has one large pocket. The right has two pockets. One section has an expandable pocket, so it opens out to be quite large. The other is much smaller. We use one large pocket for our bigger items, like deodorant, sink detergent packs, bottle of Advil, etc. The other is where we store all of our charging cables and power adapters.
Pros: Thin and light. Expandable. Really durable.
Cons: Large bottles don’t fit. Side pockets have no added organization features.
Eagle Creek Pack It Quick Trip Toiletry Kit
If you don’t like all the pockets and mesh and loops of the other bags on this list, you might prefer the low-fuss factor of this Eagle Creek bag. It’s a duffel-style toiletry bag that’s easy to just toss things in and go.
If you don’t need to pack a bunch of stuff, this bag is the easiest to use, by far. It’s pretty small, by toiletry bag standards. Keep that in mind when purchasing. It’s only 4×10″. So you can only really fit the essentials.
Eagle Creek is a trusted brand. They make all kinds of travel organizers and bags. I find them to be very durable and high-quality products that you won’t have to replace any time soon. The material this bag is made of, Silnylon Ripstop, is very lightweight and practically see-through, but it won’t rip or snag easily. Also, the zippers are high-quality and durable.
Pros: Durable. Lightweight. No fuss.
Cons: Zero internal organization. Too small for most travelers.
eBags Portage Toiletry Kit
The Portage Toiletry kit is a great choice if you tend to pack bottles of product. It sits flat on the counter and has a large space in the center section for bottles, with mesh pockets to hold everything in place. Inside the main compartment, there’s a zippered pocket for smaller items that might get lost easily.
As the bag opens in a U shape, the space is fully utilized. On the flap that opens up are a few elastic bands where you can store things like toothbrush, razor, and makeup tools. Above that is a mirror and another small, shallow pocket. The bag has a detachable hanger, in case you want to hang it up, but it’s best when set on the counter top.
The Portage toiletry kit comes in 3 different sizes, so you can choose the one that fits your situation. I prefer the medium size, because you can fit everything you’d need for a week’s worth of travel – a typical vacation length for most people. Do keep in mind that you can’t take products through security at the airport in this bag. It’s more appropriate for trips that don’t involve flying.
Pros: Comes in multiple sizes. Sits on counter top.
Cons: Can pack it on the plane with bottles inside.
Amazon Basics Hanging Toiletry Kit
I like the AmazonBasics toiletry bag because it’s the happy medium between the eBags Pack it Flat and the larger Portage bag. The Amazon bag is made with a durable polyester and has an internal lining to make cleaning easy when something inside spills.
It makes a great mens travel toiletry bag due to its rugged exterior styling. It looks more like a camera bag or electronics case than a toiletry bag. If you’re looking for a medium-size hanging travel organizer with space for travel-size bottles, but not so big that it takes up a lot of room in your luggage, this one is fantastic.
It has one large main compartment with mesh dividers, plus a zippered front pocket. There are two compartments on either side that are perfect for razer, comb, toothbrush. And on the flap, there are two more pockets, one with a zipper. Tons of space, but still fairly compact. And for a very affordable price.
Pros: Durable, neutral design.
Cons: Can pack it on the plane with bottles inside.
Travelon Compact Hanging Toiletry Kit
The Travelon compact toiletry kit is small and light, making it perfect for light packers. There are three zippered compartments. One has a hook so you can spread out the bag and hang it.
There are three open-top pockets for larger bottles in the center, but the other two sections have zippers, so you can stuff it full of odds and ends and they won’t fall out.
The compartments are all made of mesh so they’re easy to clean if something spills. The bag lays flat when closed and measures 2.2 x 8.5 x 5 inches
Pros: Small and light.
Cons: Some quality issues.
CONCLUSION
I hope you were able to find the right bag for you on our list. There are many choices on the market today, so it can be understandably difficult to discern between all of them. If you have a great toiletry bag that you use, tell us about it in the comments. I love to hear what everyone is using.
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Laura Lynch, creator and writer of Savored Journeys, is an avid world traveler, certified wine expert, and international food specialist. She has written about travel and food for over 20 years and has visited 70+ countries.
I always wanted to keep my things organized, specially when packing for a travel! Glad a friend of mine recommended me roadeavour’s travel toiletry kit, It makes packing easier!
That’s great, Joie!