The Best Toiletry Bag
This Old House Reviews Team
Do you need a better way to carry your bathroom products while you’re traveling? Find the best toiletry bag here with our Amazon recommendations.
When you’re traveling, you want to strike a balance between bringing enough toiletries that you feel comfortable but not so many that you weigh down your luggage. Once you decide on the items you want to bring, you can store them in a dedicated toiletry bag. To help you find the best toiletry bag for your upcoming trip, the This Old House Reviews Team combed through Amazon’s options. Learn more about our recommendations below.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SL2X217
BAGSMART Hanging Toiletry Bag
What We Like: Though other hanging toiletry bags fold, this one unfolds into four sections to hang almost completely flat against a wall. Though the bag weighs less than one pound, it offers enough storage space to fit all of the toiletries you need for a trip. For example, the two center sections feature seven elastic loops to hold your travel-sized bottles.
Key Features
- Made of fabric
- Weighs one pound
- Measures 12.6 by 9.1 by 4.3 inches folded
- Comes in other sizes and colors
What Customers Are Saying
Users had mostly positive feedback for this toiletry bag, citing its sturdiness and roominess. Some customers said that the two middle sections could fit full-size shampoo and conditioner bottles. Though the bag’s zippers kept their items secure, some users struggled to get them to glide smoothly.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Z8QZPMG
Packism Clear Toiletry Bags
What We Like: Offered in various quantities, sizes, and colors, these no-frills toiletry bags are TSA-compliant for air travel. While the zipper isn’t waterproof, the plastic that makes up the rest of the bag is to keep the items you’re storing dry. If a bottle explodes in the bag, the liquid or gel won’t reach your surrounding clothes, either.
Key Features
- Made of plastic
- Weighs less than a pound
- Measures 7.5 by 5.9 by 2.2 inches
- Comes in other sizes, colors, and quantities
What Customers Are Saying
Happy customers liked that these bags came in multipacks because they could sort their bathroom items into groups. On the other hand, unsatisfied customers left complaints about the rigidity of the bags, as this prevented them from squishing slightly to fit into full suitcases.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LK3VAGI
KomalC Leather Toiletry Bag
What We Like: This leather bag uses both a zipper and a clip to keep its main pocket secure. Though the pocket has a water-resistant liner in case your items are wet, the outer layer of buffalo leather isn’t waterproof or water-resistant. To keep this material protected from wet bathroom counters, the bag has five bottom studs that raise it.
Key Features
- Made of leather
- Weighs less than a pound
- Measures 9.3 by 5 by 4.3 inches
- Comes in other colors
What Customers Are Saying
Satisfied customers reported that this bag was both stylish and high-quality. Though small, it fit more items than users expected it to. Conversely, some customers mentioned that its color looked slightly different from the color in the listing’s photos.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09283KP67
Narwey Hanging Toiletry Bag
What We Like: This large toiletry bag is designed for makeup lovers who want to take all of their essential products and more with them when they’re traveling. The main compartment stores large items, such as foundation bottles, and the four sections that unzip from this compartment have pockets and loops for makeup brushes, lipsticks, and other small items.
Key Features
- Made of fabric
- Weighs less than a pound
- Measures 7.5 by 4.5 by 9.8 inches folded
- Comes in other sizes, colors, and patterns
What Customers Are Saying
Users liked that this bag had so many pockets because it meant that they could organize their products. However, some reviewers thought that the pockets were too small, which limited what size items they could hold.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075XHZMQ7
Gonex Nylon Toiletry Bag
What We Like: The manufacturer offers this toiletry bag in multiple bright colors, making it easy to see when it’s buried in your suitcase. Since its nylon material is durable, water-resistant, lightweight, and flexible, it can withstand heavy use.
Key Features
- Made of fabric
- Weighs less than a pound
- Measures 10.2 by 4.7 by 5.7 inches
- Comes in other colors
What Customers Are Saying
Users praised this toiletry bag for being made of lightweight material because it didn’t add much weight to their checked luggage that had a weight limit. They also said that it offered just enough room with its three pockets to store all of their essential products. However, a few users reported that the nylon was thinner and a different color than what was advertised online.
Buyer’s Guide
Though all toiletry bags carry personal hygiene products, they’re not created equal. Read our guide below to learn about the features that vary from bag to bag.
Design
Traditional toiletry bags are rectangular with a single zipper and pocket. These bags may also have smaller pockets on the inside or outside of the main compartment.
Expanding, folding, rolling, or hanging toiletry bags have a built-in hook to hang them from a nearby shower rod, towel rod, or door handle. Though they offer numerous pockets for those who use an extensive list of bathroom products, they fold or roll into a compact shape to take up minimal space in your suitcase.
Makeup bags are specifically designed for makeup products, as they have loops for brushes and pencils. However, they usually have larger pockets as well that you can use for other makeup products or general bathroom products.
Size
Look for a toiletry bag’s listed dimensions to get an idea of how well it fits in your suitcase and stores your products. If you’re traveling on a plane, we also recommend looking into airport security guidelines in regards to bag and bottle sizes.
Material
Polyester and nylon make for water-resistant, fast-drying, durable, and easy-to-clean toiletry bags. They’re also lightweight and flexible, so you can stuff them into your full suitcase easily. Some fabric bags also have mesh pockets to help wet products dry faster.
Another common material is plastic. It’s lightweight, affordable, and water-resistant but not particularly decorative. On the other end of the spectrum is leather and suede. Though stylish, these materials are heavy, expensive, and not water-resistant.
Compartments
While some toiletry bags have one large pocket to hold all of your items, others have multiple pouches, loops, straps, pockets, and other compartments. With numerous compartments, you’re able to sort your products. For example, one pocket can have shower products, while another can have makeup products.
Transparency
Some toiletry bags are clear, which is generally an airport security requirement for liquids and aerosols. If you fly frequently and don’t check your suitcase, you may want one of these bags.
Toiletry Bag Tips
Bringing a dedicated toiletry bag on your trip is a smart travel tip in itself. However, there are other pointers you should know if you want to get the most out of your bag.
- You can separate different items within your toiletry bag by securing them in small plastic bags.
- If the bag’s zipper gets stuck, lubricate it with lip balm or WD-40.
- Place a cover over your toothbrush’s head to protect its bristles from damage and dirt.
- Only place important medications in your toiletry bag if you’re carrying your suitcase on the plane. If you’re checking it, remove any prescriptions, and carry them on your person or in your personal item.
- Before you head to the airport or embark on a road trip, check that any bottles with liquids are tightly sealed.
FAQs
What should I carry in my toiletry bag?
Store your bathroom essentials in your toiletry bag. For most people, these items are:
- Body wash
- Comb/brush
- Deodorant
- Face wash
- Shampoo
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
If your toiletry bag is oversized, you can fit more items, including moisturizer, conditioner, foundation, and eyeliner.
How do I clean spills in my toiletry bag?
Use warm water and mild soap to wipe the inside and outside of your toiletry bag if you spill something. Let the bag air-dry before you put your products back inside of it.
Where should I store my toiletry bag when I’m not traveling?
Keeping your toiletry bag near your other travel items, such as your suitcase and backpack. That way, you know where everything is when it comes time to pack for your next trip.
Can I share my toiletry bag with my child?
You can. However, if you get them a separate bag, you can bring more items and teach your kid how to pack and stay organized.
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