I Traveled 11 Out of 12 Months Last Year — These Essentials from $12 Kept Me So Organized, I'm No Longer Overpacking

Frequent flyer-approved

Credit: People; Amazon; Lo & Sons

Between weddings, bachelorettes, vacations, and trips home, I was a regular at the airport in 2025. As such, I’ve become an expert on how to optimize my comfort and organization with the least amount of hassle.

Below, I rounded up some of my top essentials including noise-cancelling headphones from Bose, a neck pillow that actually supports the full weight of my head, compression socks to reduce in-flight swelling, the lip product that locks in moisture despite the dry airplane air, and more.

So wipe that deep scowl off your face as you head to your economy seat. It’s time to follow in my unbothered (but very prepared) footsteps by adding these 15 travel essentials to your cart — no upgrade necessary. Prices start at $16.

Travel Essentials I Swear By

Reduces Neck Pain: Trtl Travel Pillow, $60; Amazon
Durable and Roomy: Lo & Sons Catalina Deluxe Large Weekender Bag, $158 (orig. $225); Lo & Sons
Noise-Cancelling: Bose QuietComfort Headphones, $229 (orig. $359); Amazon
Best Travel Purse: Away Featherlight Crossbody Bag, $46; Away
Lessens Leg Swelling: Nordstrom Knee-High Compression Socks, 2 Pack, $15 (orig. $38); Nordstrom
Doesn’t Dry Out Your Hands: Noshinku Refillable Bergamot Hand Sanitizer, Pack of 3, $26; Amazon
Aids Sleep: Loop Quiet 2 Ear Plugs, $25; Amazon
Never Lose Your Luggage Again: Apple AirTag, Pack of 4, $65 (orig. $99); Amazon
Organization Must-Have: Away The Insider Assorted Packing Cubes, Set of 4, $45; Nordstrom
Fast Charging: Inui Portable Charger, $20 (orig. $24); Amazon

Related: I'm Only Bringing a Carry-On for My International Trip — Thanks to These $50-and-Under Packing Essentials

Trtl Travel Pillow

Neck pillows are one of those travel essentials that most people can’t seem to get right. I was one of those people until I purchased this one. Here’s the truth, though: It takes some time to get used to. That’s because this isn’t your run-of-the-mill product, as it’s more of a brace than a pillow. Underneath the soft fleece exterior is a plastic internal support that aligns and secures your neck and head to prevent bobbing. It’s also slim and lightweight, so I can carry it easily in my backpack.

Pro tip: Practice fastening the pillow around your neck at home before your flight, so you don’t find yourself needlessly frustrated when you’re most in need of a nap.

Lo & Sons Catalina Deluxe Large Weekender Bag

~~$225~~

Of all of the weekender-style bags I’ve tried, this Lo & Sons style reigns supreme. I appreciate that the exterior is not only aesthetic but also durable enough to be tossed into an overhead compartment or the back of a cab with ease. Thanks to its roomy interior, I can also fit around three or four days' worth of clothes into it. Two intentional details I especially admire include the suitcase handle sleeve and the separate bottom compartment (which I like to use to store shoes).

Bose QuietComfort Headphones

~~$359~~

I’ve raved over these Bose headphones so much that I fear I’ve become a broken record. Alas, I don’t care; they’re too good to gatekeep. Major selling points: They don’t hurt my ears or head when I wear them for long periods, the noise cancellation is adjustable across three levels, the sound quality is impressive, and the ear cushions are replaceable. The battery is also something I treasure as it works up to 24 hours and then charges incredibly fast — five minutes on the charger and they’ll be up to at least 30 percent.

My trick for sleeping on long flights? Select a white noise playlist and turn the noise cancellation all the way up.

Keep scrolling for more of my travel necessities, including a speedy portable charger, an Apple iPad for watching downloaded TV shows, and a padded eye mask for overnight flights.