Updated on Nov. 05, 2024
Randomly shoving clothes, shoes, toiletries and loose items into a suitcase is no way to pack. Try a travel organizer for more efficient packing.
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Let’s face it: We’ve all packed in haste at least a few times in our lives and promptly regretted it. There’s nothing quite like showing up at your destination without an essential item.
A travel organizer—those little accessories that help us sort, plan and get the most out of precious luggage space—is a worthy investment for stress-free packing and efficient use of space, whether you travel once a week or once a year.
Like car organizers, they don’t just provide tidy packing or space organization—they take a lot of the worry out of travel, which is stressful enough without a disorganized suitcase.
We focused mainly on travel organizers that will help you optimize space in your carry-on suitcase, including options for toiletries, clothing, medicine and electronics. Once you’ve tried one or more of these and the organizing bug bites, check out these indispensable items for organizing your home.
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In a sea of options, we chose this highly-rated five-piece set from Shacke Pak as the best all-around set of travel organizers. Available in seven colors, these cubes make a great starter set and work well for carry-on or larger checked luggage. We like that they include a little of everything, including a shoe bag, a laundry bag and a toiletries bag.
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Not convinced you’ll get much use out of packing cubes? Minimize risk and your investment with these low-priced travel organizers from OlarHike. This 6-piece set includes four sizes of packing cubes, plus a shoe bag and a place to stash your laundry. Additionally, we love the eight color options, which make color-coding your family’s belongings a breeze.
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A hanging organizer, like this one from Vera Bradley, might be your best friend in a hotel bathroom—hang it on the mirror, towel rack or robe hook, and have easy access to all your toiletries. Hang the organizer while packing, too, so you can see what you’ve already stashed and make sure you don’t forget anything.
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We love that half of this two-compartment electronics travel organizer has room for large items, like power adapters, battery packs, digital cameras and a mouse. The other side neatly stores power cords, USB cables, earbuds and other small items in Velcro holders or mesh pockets—no more untangling a jumble of wires or digging in the bottom of your laptop bag to find your headset.
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There are many options for jewelry travel organizers—including huge ones that require their armed guards. This medium-sized organizer strikes a good balance by offering enough space for a range of jewelry items without taking up half a suitcase. It’s available in pink or black.
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If your medication needs call for their own travel organizer, look to this large, sturdy organizer for pill bottles—meaning no having to transfer pills from their bottles into a separate container, potentially losing track of them. There’s also a compartment suitable for other medical items, such as tubes, syringes or contact lens cases. A lockable version is also available.
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If you’re still not a convert to packing cubes, this solidly built set from Eagle Creek will win you over. They cost a little more than budget packing cube sets, but users love their durable, long-lasting construction. The collection includes three sizes: a medium option suitable for a few larger clothing items, a small for items like t-shirts and socks, and an extra small for underwear.
We think travel organizers are a great idea for every type of traveler, but here are a few things to consider before you purchase anything:
As our list shows, there are travel organizers for the main categories of your suitcase contents, including:
As shopping experts, our only job is to help you find a winning product. We start with the research and reporting basics—what products are made of, what they look like and how much they cost—to ensure that we’re only recommending the buys that are worth your time and money. Then, we research the features that speak to the product’s quality, taking advice from industry insiders and subject-matter experts on what makes a product a smart value (or worthy of a splurge). Finally, we do the work of combing through user reviews to see how real people interact with the product, and if it stands up to the test.
The consensus is that rolling clothes is a space-saving measure and helps reduce wrinkling, especially if you have to fit many items in a suitcase. Folding clothes and packing them flat remains a good option if you don’t have much to pack.
