The Best Toiletry Bags for Keeping Personal Hygiene Products Safely Organized
![Best Toiletry Bags](/shopping/static/beb8c6559eb88933a0e062f446ec2214/8ae18/best-toiletry-bags.jpg)
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On the list of things that will ruin a vacation, finding your toiletries smeared all over the inside of your suitcase ranks pretty highโnot as bad as a crate of killer bees breaking open inside your aircraft, certainly, but itโs a serious annoyance. The solution is investing in a toiletry bag or dopp kit. Whether youโre traveling alone or with your family to a fancy hotel or into the wild, thereโs something on our list of the best toiletry bags thatโll work for you.
Spending a ton of money on something thatโs just going to sit on top of a hotel toilet, holding your athleteโs foot cream, isnโt for everyone. If youโre looking to spend less without skimping too much on features, this bag packs in a surprising amount for $17. As well as being water resistant, it boasts a shower hook, ten internal dividers, two side pockets, and a zipper pocket on the back.
When youโre packing for a camping trip, youโre trying to make everything as compact and practical as possible (or perhaps more accurately, you should be). Ospreyโs nifty organizer can help with this, unrolling to reveal five zippered internal pockets: Two large mesh pockets; two small, toothpaste tube-sized ones beneath a single zipper; and one large, more water-resistant pocket. Itโs also made of recycled materials and weighs just 0.2 lbs when empty.
Although not the most conventional-looking makeup bag, the COSMO gets points for innovation. What appears to be a simple drawstring bag fully unfolds into a temporary tray, so you can find exactly what youโre looking for at a glance. If youโre short on space but donโt want to just dump your makeup out on the bed, this is an ideal solution. Thereโs also a zippered, internal pocket and an elastic brush-holding strip for extra organization.
While it may look more like a kidโs lunch box than a toiletry bag, this is actually to its advantage: Opening flat, like a magazine, means you can organize and access your stuff more easily than with a regular, top-opening dopp kit. It also features three separate mesh compartments (one zippered), a water-resistant, TSA-friendly, snap-off pouch for short trips, and a hook for hanging it up when opened. Pretty much whatever you need this bag to do, itโll do.
Is it sensible to spend close to $600 on a toiletry bag? No. But is the bag packed with high tech features that actually make this a sound investment? Again, no. But the bag is beautiful, made from crossgrain calf leather, with an oil-resistant satin lining, and features two zippered compartments and two internal slip pockets. Itโs not some fragile objet d'art, eitherโspeaking from personal experience, I bought my wife the Smythson cosmetic case (in bright yellow, a color sadly currently unavailable) nearly a decade ago and itโs still going strong despite almost daily use.
Packing for any kind of trip when youโve got kids is a pain, particularly if theyโre still at an age that might require a small pharmacyโs worth of lotions and ointments at any given moment. This bag, at least, is large enough to fit both your stuff and theirs, and its compartments are roomy and separated enough that youโre not going to accidentally put diaper rash cream on your toothbrush (depending how sleep deprived you are, of course).
For those who like to keep their entire toiletry bag handy in the shower, a hanging option is vital. This bag strikes the right balance between lightweight and strong, while offering just enough capacity and organizational options (two zippable mesh pockets inside the lid and one open, internal mesh pocket) to keep things useful. Be warned, though, although itโs made of water-resistant material, it will still take in water through the zipper if it gets completely doused, so donโt put it right under the shower head.
While other bags on this list can claim a degree of water resistance, this one, made from 100% silicone, is the real deal, both leak-resistant and antimicrobial, so youโll never find it developing mildew. For those needing something smaller, itโs also available in the Koby Lite and even Koby Mini forms.
Our selections were made through a combination of thorough research, personal experience, and positive customer reviews.
When choosing a toiletry bag, you want to find something that keeps your stuff safe, dry, easily grabbed, and with enough room for everything you need.
Depending where it is youโre trying to washโthe shower block in a campsite, sayโit can be difficult to keep your stuff dry, so a wash bag that seals tight and keeps water out is a must. Conversely, you want the bag to stop any liquids spilling out when you travel.
Again, not every bathroom you find yourself in will be a luxurious five-star en suite. For bathrooms with little space, you want to be able to use everything in your toiletry bag without emptying it out. So a bag with multiple, easy-to-access compartments will be extremely helpful. Additionally, you want to consider where your travel organizer is going to โliveโ while youโre en route: Carry-on luggage, rolling suitcases, travel backpacks, and travel totes all have different capacities.
Some people can travel with a toothbrush and not much else. Others require a little more in the way of toiletries. Still, others wonโt leave the house without their entire medicine cabinet stuffed into their suitcase. Try to think exactly what youโre likely to take with you when you travel, and choose your bag size accordingly.
Technically, you can bring as many toiletry bags as you like, but when it comes to liquids (your shampoo, toothpaste, perfume, etc.), current TSA rules state that flyers may only take one quart-size, clear, zip-top bag in their carry-on. Itโs called the 3-1-1 rule: Everything must be 3.4 ounces or less, it must all fit in one bag, and itโs just one bag per person. Bigger items will have to go into your checked luggage.
The TSA doesnโt officially endorse any products directly (so ignore any โTSA-approvedโ claim you see), but quart-size bags measure roughly six inches by nine inches, so aim for something close to that. And obviously, go for something transparent.
That depends on you! If youโre planning on a longer trip with a large, checked bag, go nutsโtake all the stuff you think youโll need, so long as it fits into your suitcase and doesnโt break the airport scales.
For shorter trips with a carry-on, youโll have to pare it down a little. Consider decanting liquids like shampoos and body washes into smaller plastic bottles (pro tip, only fill these two thirds full if possibleโthat way the liquid has space to move around rather than bursting out, if the bag is squashed en route). Put your toothbrush in a travel case, and if youโre taking cologne or perfume, bring a smaller, travel-sized one โ youโll be seriously bummed out if your expensive, full-sized bottle gets confiscated during your TSA check.
All the usual suspects: Anything flammable or in an aerosol (e.g., hairspray), anything sharp, like nail scissors, and anything that breaks the 3-1-1 rule.
It depends on your situation, but in general you want something durable, water-resistant, and relatively light. With this in mind, nylon and polyester are the most common options.
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