12 Travel Accessories You Didn't Know You Needed (+ Bonus Picks)
Introduction
I used to think a good trip came down to the suitcase. Buy the right one, roll it through enough airports, and everything else would sort itself out. Then I spent a week in Portugal with a suitcase I loved and a bag full of problems I hadn't planned for: no way to dry a swimsuit overnight, a sink with no stopper, a phone at 4% battery in a taxi line, and hangers in the Airbnb that snapped the moment I touched them.
None of that had anything to do with the suitcase.
Over the past few years and dozens of trips, I've slowly replaced the big purchase mindset with a different one. The accessories that live in the side pockets of my bag do more to make a trip run smoothly than the bag itself ever could. A five dollar sink stopper has saved me more stress than any piece of luggage I own. So has a mug that folds flat, a fan that also charges my phone, and a strap that turns any bag into something I can clip to a bike rail or a bathroom hook.
This list covers 13 accessories I've actually packed, used, and in a couple of cases returned. I'll tell you where each one shined, where it let me down, and who should skip it entirely. Nothing here got a good review just because it showed up in my mailbox. If something underperformed, you'll read that too.
Quick Comparison Table
| Product | Best For | Price | Rating | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gear Aid HeroClip | Hanging bags on hooks, rails, tables | $10-$20 | 4.8/5 | Keep |
| LifeStraw | International travel, tap water anxiety | $15-$20 | 4.8/5 | Keep |
| Aeropress | Coffee snobs who road trip or rent Airbnbs | $30-$40 | 4.7/5 | Keep |
| Sea to Summit Collapsible Mug | Camping, hostels, flights | $10-$15 | 4.3/5 | Keep |
| JISULIFE Handheld Mini Fan | Hot climates, backup phone charging | $15-$25 | 4.6/5 | Keep |
| KraftGeek Vlogging Tripod | Solo travelers, content creators | $20-$30 | 4.5/5 | Situational |
| Foldable Travel Hangers | Long trips, Airbnbs with bad hangers | $10-$15 | 4.7/5 | Keep |
| Sea to Summit Clothesline | Hand-washing clothes on the road | $10-$15 | 4.7/5 | Keep |
| Mr. Riga Sink Stoppers | Hostels, hotels, hand-washing | $8-$12 | 4.6/5 | Keep |
| Elabase Multi USB Adapter Kit | Multi-country trips, shared rooms | $20-$30 | 4.6/5 | Keep |
| MYCARBON Digital Luggage Scale | Budget airlines, checked bags | $10-$15 | 4.6/5 | Keep |
| Fossil Origami Bowl | Keeping small items in one place | $25-$40 | 4.4/5 | Nice, not essential |
| Braun Travel Alarm Clock | People who don't want to rely on a phone | $15-$25 | 4.1/5 | Keep |
Bonus find: Scandihome Laundry Bag, reviewed at the end.
Individual Product Reviews
Gear Aid HeroClip
I picked up the HeroClip after watching another traveler use hers to hang a day bag on the back of a packed train seat in Lisbon. There wasn't a hook in sight and her bag stayed off the floor for the whole ride while mine sat wedged between my feet.
It's a carabiner with a rotating hook on one end and a clip on the other. You attach the clip end to your bag, purse, or backpack, then hook the other end onto whatever's around: a bike rail, a bathroom stall door, a table leg, a bunk bed frame. The hook rotates 360 degrees and locks flat when you're not using it, so it doesn't snag on anything else in your bag.
I've used mine most in hostel bathrooms, where the floor is the last place I want to set a toiletry bag. It also earns its keep at outdoor markets and food festivals, where hanging a bag off a chair beats setting it under a table where you can't see it.
The small size clips onto my daypack's top loop and stays there permanently now. I forget it's even attached until I need it, which is exactly how a good travel accessory should behave. The large size is a bit bulky for anything smaller than a backpack, so match the size to what you're actually carrying. It's best for anyone who carries a bag through public transit, hostels, or crowded events and hates setting it on the floor.
A small piece of gear that solves a problem you don't notice until you don't have it anymore.
Gear Aid HeroClip
A rotating carabiner clip that hangs your bag almost anywhere. Small, light, and easy to forget you're carrying.
★★★★☆ 4.8/5
Pros
- Genuinely useful in places with no hooks
- Locks flat so it won't scratch surfaces or snag fabric
- Small size is light enough to forget you're carrying it
Cons
- Large size can feel bulky on smaller bags
- Steel hook can leave a faint mark on painted wood if you hang something heavy
LifeStraw
I brought the LifeStraw on a trip through Northern Vietnam after a friend got sick from bottled water that turned out to be a refilled tap bottle sold at a market stall. Bottled water isn't a guarantee in every country, and I wanted a backup that didn't rely on trusting a label.
The LifeStraw is a personal water filter you drink through directly, no pump, no batteries. It filters out 99.999999% of bacteria and 99.999% of parasites, according to the company's own testing, and it doesn't touch chemical contaminants or viruses, so it's not a fix for every water source.
I used mine mostly on hikes and in a guesthouse where the tap water smelled off. It's not something I use daily in cities with reliable infrastructure. It's the accessory I hope I never need but I'm glad to have when a water source looks questionable.
Drinking through it takes a bit more suction than a regular straw, especially with murkier water. It's not something you'd want to use for every glass of water on a trip. It earns its place as insurance for the specific situations where tap water is a gamble, best for travelers heading to countries where water quality is uncertain, and hikers near natural sources.
Not something I use every trip, but exactly what I want in my bag on the trips where I might need it.
LifeStraw
A personal water filter you drink through directly. No batteries, no pump, filters bacteria and parasites from questionable water sources.
★★★★☆ 4.8/5
Pros
- No batteries, no setup, works immediately
- Genuinely reassuring in countries with unreliable tap water
- Lightweight enough to carry without thinking about it
Cons
- Doesn't filter viruses or chemical contaminants
- Suction takes more effort than people expect
- Not useful in countries where tap water is already safe
Aeropress
I'm the person who checks an Airbnb's coffee setup before checking the bed. After one too many mornings staring at instant coffee packets in a rental kitchen, I started packing an Aeropress.
It's a manual coffee brewer that uses pressure instead of gravity, so it brews faster than a pour-over and produces a cup closer to espresso in strength. All you need is hot water, ground coffee, and something to press it into.
I've used mine in Airbnbs, a camper van in Scotland, and a hotel room in Chiang Mai where the only coffee option was a kettle and a jar of instant granules. It changed my mornings on every one of those trips.
You still need ground coffee and something to boil water in, so it's not a full solution on its own. I pack a small bag of pre-ground coffee and use the kettle most rentals already have. The cleanup takes 30 seconds since the used grounds pop out in a solid puck. It's best for coffee drinkers who road trip, rent Airbnbs, or stay somewhere without a proper coffee maker.
The one item on this list I'd replace immediately if I lost it.
Aeropress
A manual, no-electricity coffee brewer that makes a strong cup in under a minute. Packs small, cleans up fast.
★★★★★ 4.7/5
Pros
- Makes a genuinely strong cup with no electricity
- Fast, simple cleanup
- Durable enough to survive checked luggage
Cons
- You still need coffee grounds and hot water
- Takes up more room than instant coffee packets
- Not ideal if you don't drink coffee often enough to justify packing it
Sea to Summit Collapsible Mug
The Aeropress needs something to brew into, and this mug is what solved that for me. It folds flat to about the height of a coaster and pops up into a full-size mug in two seconds.
I use it for coffee at rentals with no mugs, for tea on flights when I don't want the tiny plastic airline cup, and once, memorably, as a bowl for cereal in a hostel kitchen in Split that had exactly two bowls and six guests.
It holds hot coffee without warping, and the folded shape takes up almost no space in a packing cube. The only downside is a faint silicone smell the first few uses, which fades after a couple of washes. Best for anyone pairing it with the Aeropress, or packing light and skipping a hard mug.
Small, useful, and it earns its space in the bag every trip.
Sea to Summit Collapsible Mug
A 12 oz silicone mug that folds flat for packing and holds hot coffee or tea without warping.
★★★★☆ 4.3/5
Pros
- Collapses to a fraction of its full size
- Holds hot liquid without deforming
- Doubles as a small bowl in a pinch
Cons
- Slight silicone smell when new
- Feels less sturdy than a hard mug when full
JISULIFE Handheld Mini Fan
I bought this after standing on a Bangkok train platform in July, sweating through a shirt I'd put on twenty minutes earlier. A regular fan wasn't going to cut it, so I picked one that also works as a phone charger and flashlight.
It's a small handheld fan with three functions built in: the fan itself, a backup power bank you can charge your phone from, and a flashlight for the times you're fumbling for a hotel key in the dark.
The fan itself is strong for its size and runs quietly enough to use on a plane without bothering the person next to you. Using it as a phone charger drains the fan's own battery fast, so I don't rely on it as my main backup battery, more of a last resort. Best for travelers heading to hot, humid climates or long transit days without air conditioning.
A good fan first, a backup charger second. Don't buy it expecting it to replace a real power bank.
JISULIFE Handheld Mini Fan
A 3-in-1 handheld fan with a built-in power bank and flashlight. Quiet, strong airflow, USB rechargeable.
★★★★☆ 4.6/5
Pros
- Strong airflow for the size
- Quiet enough for public spaces
- Useful backup functions if your phone dies
Cons
- Charging your phone drains the fan quickly
- Full charge takes a couple of hours
KraftGeek 60" Vlogging Tripod
I picked this up before a solo trip to Iceland, hoping to get a few photos of myself that weren't blurry arm's-length selfies or asking a stranger to take one badly.
It's an extendable phone tripod and selfie stick with a wireless remote and mounts for a light or microphone if you're recording video. It extends to 60 inches, which is tall enough to get a full body shot without crouching down or standing on a rock.
It worked well for landscape shots with me in the frame, but the legs feel thin and I wouldn't trust it in strong wind with a heavier phone attached. I also found myself using it less on trips where I was traveling with other people, since it's really a solo traveler's tool.
Worth it if you travel alone often. Skip it if you usually have someone else to take the photo.
KraftGeek 60" Vlogging Tripod
An extendable phone tripod and selfie stick with a Bluetooth remote. Reaches 60 inches for full body solo shots.
★★★☆☆ 4.5/5
Pros
- Genuinely tall reach for solo shots
- Remote works reliably up to about 30 feet
- Folds down small enough for a daypack
Cons
- Legs feel flimsy in wind
- Overkill if you usually travel with people who can take your photo
Foldable Travel Hangers
Every Airbnb seems to have exactly three hangers, and at least one of them is broken. After a trip where I hung a wrinkled blazer on a towel rack for two days, I started packing my own.
These fold flat for packing and pop open into a full hanger shape. I keep two in the side pocket of my suitcase permanently.
They've held up shirts, jackets, and dresses without issue. I wouldn't hang anything genuinely heavy, like a winter coat, since the hinge feels like the weak point over time. Best for longer trips, Airbnbs, and anyone tired of hotel hangers with no hooks.
Cheap, small, and it fixes an annoyance I ran into on nearly every trip before I packed one.
Foldable Travel Hangers
Flat-folding hangers that pop open to full size. Solve the broken-hanger problem in most rentals and hotels.
★★★★☆ 4.7/5
Pros
- Takes up almost no packing space
- Solves a real, recurring problem in rentals
- Cheap enough to buy a few and not worry about losing one
Cons
- Not rated for heavy items like coats
- Hinge feels like it could wear out with heavy daily use
Sea to Summit Clothesline
I pack light enough that I hand-wash a shirt or two mid-trip instead of checking a bag full of clean clothes. This clothesline is what makes that actually work.
It's a braided elastic cord with hooks on each end, so you don't need clothespins. You loop it between two points, thread damp clothes through the braid, and they stay put without slipping off.
I've strung it across a bathroom, between a curtain rod and a doorknob, and once between two bunk bed posts in a hostel. Clothes dry a bit slower than on a proper line since the braid presses fabric together, but it's never let anything fall. Best for light packers who hand-wash clothes mid-trip.
Simple, cheap, and it's the reason I can pack half the clothes I used to.
Sea to Summit Clothesline
A pinless braided elastic clothesline that strings up between any two points. Small, light, no clothespins to lose.
★★★★☆ 4.7/5
Pros
- No clothespins to lose
- Sets up on almost any two anchor points
- Compact and light
Cons
- Clothes take slightly longer to dry than on a flat line
- Only useful if you're hand-washing on the road
Mr. Riga Sink Stoppers
Half the sinks I've encountered in hostels and older hotels don't have a working stopper, which makes hand-washing clothes or soaking a stained shirt almost impossible. These flat silicone stoppers fixed that in about five seconds.
They're flexible discs that seal over most drain shapes, including the mesh drains common in Europe that a normal rubber stopper won't fit.
These have worked on every sink I've tried them on, including a stubborn drain in a Prague apartment that I'd basically given up on. They're also handy in bathtubs with missing stoppers, which happens more often than you'd expect in older buildings. Best for anyone hand-washing clothes on the road or staying in older buildings with unreliable plumbing.
One of the cheapest items on this list and one of the most used.
Mr. Riga Sink Stoppers
Flexible silicone stoppers that seal round and mesh drains alike. Cheap, reusable, and solve a common hostel problem.
★★★★☆ 4.6/5
Pros
- Fits drain shapes normal stoppers can't
- Cheap and reusable
- Weighs almost nothing
Cons
- Can slip on very wide drains without pressing down
- Easy to accidentally leave behind in a rental
Elabase Multi USB Adapter Kit
After frying a hair straightener in a European outlet on an early trip, I stopped guessing at plug shapes and started carrying a proper adapter kit.
It covers plug types for over 200 countries and includes multiple USB ports, so you can charge several devices off one outlet, which matters in hotel rooms where outlets are never where you need them.
I've used this across six countries without issue. It gets warm during heavy use, like charging a laptop and phone at once, but never to a concerning degree. It does not convert voltage, so check your device before plugging in anything that isn't dual voltage. Best for travelers visiting multiple countries or anyone tired of buying single-country adapters.
One adapter kit instead of five loose ones. Worth the upgrade.
Elabase Multi USB Adapter Kit
A universal plug adapter with multiple USB ports, covering plug types for over 200 countries in one compact unit.
★★★★☆ 4.6/5
Pros
- Covers nearly every country's plug shape
- Multiple ports means fewer adapters overall
- Compact for what it covers
Cons
- Gets warm under heavy load
- Does not convert voltage, so check your devices first
MYCARBON Digital Luggage Scale
Budget airlines don't forgive an overweight bag, and I learned that the expensive way at a check-in counter in Barcelona. This scale has ridden in my carry-on since.
It's a small handheld scale with a hook. You loop the strap around your suitcase handle, lift, and the digital display shows the weight in seconds.
Readings have consistently matched what airport scales show, within half a pound. It's saved me from repacking at the counter more than once by catching an overweight bag the night before. Best for anyone checking bags on budget airlines with strict weight limits.
Cheap insurance against a fee that costs far more than the scale.
MYCARBON Digital Luggage Scale
A handheld digital scale with a backlit display, accurate enough to match airport scales and catch overweight bags early.
★★★★☆ 4.6/5
Pros
- Accurate readings that match airport scales
- Small enough to forget it's in your bag
- Backlit display works in dark hotel rooms
Cons
- Needs a steady hand for a clean reading
- Requires a battery, which can die without warning
Fossil Origami Bowl
This one came into my bag as a gift, and I wasn't sure it would earn a permanent spot. It's a foldable leather tray that pops open into a shallow bowl shape, meant for holding keys, coins, or jewelry on a nightstand.
I use it mostly at the end of a travel day, emptying my pockets into it instead of scattering coins and a hotel key card across a nightstand. It's a nice habit, but it's not essential the way most items on this list are. I've traveled plenty of trips without it and never missed it. Best for people who like a tidy nightstand and don't mind paying for a small convenience.
A pleasant extra, not a must-pack. I'd buy it again, but I wouldn't rebuy it in a panic if I lost it.
Fossil Origami Bowl
A foldable leather tray that pops into a shallow bowl for keys, coins, and small items. A nice habit, not a necessity.
★★★☆☆ 4.4/5
Pros
- Keeps small items in one visible spot
- Folds completely flat for packing
- Nice material, feels durable
Cons
- Not essential, more of a nice habit
- Pricier than its usefulness really justifies
Braun Travel Alarm Clock
I started carrying a real alarm clock after one too many mornings where my phone died overnight while charging on a foreign outlet that didn't quite deliver enough power. Missing a flight because your phone alarm didn't go off is a bad way to start a trip.
It's a small analog clock with a loud, reliable alarm, no app, no phone battery involved.
It's been reliable every time I've used it, and not depending on my phone battery for something as important as waking up on time has been worth the small extra weight. The tick is faint but noticeable in a completely quiet room, which bothers some people more than others. Best for anyone with an important flight or meeting who doesn't want to trust a phone alarm alone.
Old-fashioned, and exactly the kind of backup you want for the mornings that actually matter.
Braun Travel Alarm Clock
A compact analog alarm clock with a loud, dependable alarm that doesn't rely on your phone's battery overnight.
★★★★☆ 4.1/5
Pros
- Doesn't rely on phone battery
- Loud, dependable alarm
- Compact travel case
Cons
- Faint ticking noise in quiet rooms
- Needs its own battery, one more thing to check before a trip
Bonus Find: Scandihome Laundry Bag
This one wasn't on my original list. I found it while looking for a replacement for the plastic grocery bag I'd been using to separate dirty clothes from clean ones, which always seemed to be the one thing missing from every packing cube system I tried.
It's a breathable mesh bag with a drawstring closure, sized to fit inside most carry-ons without eating up too much room.
The mesh keeps dirty clothes from making everything else in the bag smell like a gym locker, which a plastic bag never quite manages. It also doubles as a wash bag if you're using a hostel's shared laundry machine and don't want your socks mixed into a communal pile.
A small fix for a problem I didn't realize I'd been solving badly for years.
Scandihome Laundry Bag
A breathable mesh laundry bag with a drawstring closure. Keeps dirty clothes separate and doubles as a wash bag.
★★★★☆ 4.6/5
Pros
- Breathable mesh keeps odors contained
- Doubles as a wash bag for shared machines
- Packs flat when empty
Cons
- Mesh isn't waterproof if clothes are actually wet
- One more item to remember to unpack and wash
Buying Guide
How to Choose Travel Accessories
Start with the problems you've actually run into on past trips, not the problems a product page tells you that you have. If you've never once needed a sink stopper, don't buy one because it's on a list. I built this collection over years of trips, one annoyance at a time, not in a single shopping trip.
Which Ones Are Worth Spending Money On
The Aeropress and the LifeStraw are the two items here where quality actually affects the outcome. A cheap knockoff water filter is not something you want to gamble on, and a poorly made coffee press will leak grounds into your cup every time. Spend a bit more on those two.
Which Ones Are Overrated
The Fossil Origami Bowl is the one item I'd tell a budget-conscious traveler to skip. It's a nice object, but it doesn't solve a real problem the way a sink stopper or a luggage scale does. If you're building a kit from scratch, this is the item to cut first.
Travel Accessories for Carry-On Only Travelers
Prioritize the smallest items with the biggest payoff: the sink stopper, the collapsible mug, and the foldable hangers. All three pack into a shoe or a side pocket without taking real space from your clothes.
Travel Accessories for Long Flights
The collapsible mug beats airline cups for tea or water refills, and the mini fan helps on planes where the air system runs warm. Skip the tripod here. It has no use on a plane.
Travel Accessories for Road Trips
The Aeropress and the mug are made for road trips, where you control your own mornings and don't need to rely on gas station coffee. The luggage scale matters less here since you're not flying, so that's one you can leave home.
Travel Accessories for International Travel
The Elabase adapter kit and the LifeStraw both earn their spot the moment you cross into a country with different plug shapes or uncertain tap water. These two matter far less on a domestic trip.
Travel Accessories for Business Travelers
The Braun alarm clock and the luggage scale solve the two failures that actually cost business travelers money and stress: missing a flight and paying an overweight bag fee. The tripod and laundry bag matter less here, since business trips are usually shorter and don't involve as much hand-washing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most useful travel accessories for international travel?
A universal plug adapter, a personal water filter like the LifeStraw, and a small luggage scale cover the three most common problems international travelers run into: incompatible outlets, uncertain tap water, and overweight bags at check-in.
Do I really need a luggage scale if my suitcase has a built-in one?
Built-in scales on suitcases are convenient but often less accurate than a dedicated digital scale. If you're close to a weight limit, a separate scale gives you a more reliable reading before you get to the airport.
Is the LifeStraw safe for all types of water?
No. It filters bacteria and parasites but does not remove viruses, heavy metals, or chemical contaminants. It's best used as a backup for questionable tap water, not as a substitute for bottled water in every situation.
What travel accessories are worth buying for carry-on only travelers?
Small, multi-purpose items give the best return on space: a collapsible mug, foldable hangers, and a sink stopper all pack into a shoe or a corner of a packing cube.
Can I bring an Aeropress in a carry-on?
Yes, it's made of BPA-free plastic and passes through security without issue. Just pack the ground coffee separately if it's more than 3.4 ounces and you're worried about liquid rules, since finely ground coffee can occasionally get extra screening.
What's the best way to charge multiple devices while traveling internationally?
A single universal adapter with multiple USB ports, like the Elabase kit, replaces the need for several separate plug adapters and lets you charge more than one device from a single outlet.
Are collapsible travel mugs actually durable?
Good ones, like the Sea to Summit mug, hold up well over repeated folding and hot liquid. Cheaper silicone mugs can crack at the fold lines faster, so this is one category where the brand matters.
What travel accessories help the most on long flights?
A collapsible mug for water or tea refills, a personal fan for stuffy cabins, and a phone charger or power bank cover most of the discomfort that comes up on long-haul flights.
Do I need a separate alarm clock if I have my phone?
Not always, but a phone alarm depends on your phone staying charged and the do-not-disturb settings working correctly. A separate alarm clock removes that risk entirely for trips where missing an alarm isn't an option.
What are good travel gift ideas for frequent travelers?
The HeroClip, the collapsible mug, and the sink stoppers all make solid gifts. They're inexpensive, solve real problems, and aren't things most people think to buy for themselves.
Conclusion
None of these items will change a trip on their own. What they do is remove the small annoyances that otherwise pile up: the dead phone, the broken hanger, the sink with no stopper, the overweight bag fee at the counter. Add them up over a year of travel and they save more stress than any single piece of luggage ever has for me.
If you're starting from nothing, I'd pack the sink stoppers, the collapsible mug, and the luggage scale first. They're cheap, they're small, and they solve problems you'll run into on nearly every trip. Build out from there based on where you're headed and how you travel, not based on a list telling you to buy everything at once.
