I Traveled for 6 Months with Just a Carry-On, and These Were My Space-Savings Essentials

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo:People / Amazon (4)

People / Amazon (4)

From December 2022 until May 2023, I lived out of my carry-on40-liter Osprey backpackwhile traveling through Europe and Asia, and I learned all about maximizing space.

Whether you’re a chronic over-packer or trying to save money on checked luggage fees, Amazon has travel products that willhelp you save spaceand stay organized no matter how long you’re away. I unpacked and repacked my bag countless times and carried it with me on dozens of planes, trains, buses, and boats, so I dwindled my packing list to the bare necessities and dropped weight along the way. Thesetravel essentialsmade the cut every time.

Shop the seven space-saving travel picks that changed how I pack, all under $30.

People / Maggie Horton

My Top Space-Saving Travel Essentials

Bagail Compression Packing Cubes

Amazon

$27$20 at Amazon

“I packed enough for 10 days, with room to spare,”one shopper shared, adding that “the cubes work like magic.” More than 10,000 Amazon shoppers purchased this travel essential in the past month, and now they’re 25 percent off.

Meisee Nylon Crescent Crossbody Bag

$15$12 at Amazon

This bag went everywhere with me on my trip and kept my most important items like my phone, passport, room key, and credit cards accessible. Its flexible fabric allows it to fold into an even more compact size, so you can shove it in your bag when needed, while its crossbody strap keeps it secure on the go.

It’s also surprisingly spacious and has two interior pockets for smaller items. I even prefer this purse over my Lululemon belt bag, and right now, it’s a fraction of the price at just $12.

Hydraway Collapsible Water Bottle

$35 at Amazon

Hydration is necessary for long-haul flights, sunny beach days, and sightseeing adventures, but bringing my bulky insulator water bottle along just wasn’t in the cards. Instead, I picked up this Hydraway water bottle that collapses into a compact disk —  it takes up less space than a deck of cards in my carry-on.

When you’re ready to use it, it transforms into a 25-ounce bottle with a flip-top straw, a leak-proof lid, and a convenient carrying handle.

Keep scrolling to shop more life-changing travel products at Amazon, including toiletry bottles, a travel adaptor, and more.

4Monster Quick Dry Travel Towel

$12 at Amazon

Tessan Universal Power Adaptor

$21$20 at Amazon

Vonpri Travel Toiletry Bottles, Pack of 4

$8 at Amazon

Bagsmart Travel Jewelry Organizer

$16 at Amazon

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See More from PEOPLE Shopping

This $27 Nylon Tote Bag ‘Holds So Much’ — Even a Change of Clothes and ShoesWayfair’s Coastal-Inspired Furniture Storefront Has Pieces to Revamp Your Patio for Spring — Up to 60% OffThe 50 Best Amazon Deals Happening This St. Patrick’s Day Weekend — Starting at $7

This $27 Nylon Tote Bag ‘Holds So Much’ — Even a Change of Clothes and Shoes

Wayfair’s Coastal-Inspired Furniture Storefront Has Pieces to Revamp Your Patio for Spring — Up to 60% Off

The 50 Best Amazon Deals Happening This St. Patrick’s Day Weekend — Starting at $7

source: people.com