Pack my bags: A list of travel gear
Editor’s note: Our Buy section is your trusty instalment of recommendations for useful and delightful things. This community-sourced list—which we publish once a month—is designed to save you from unreliable online reviews and glorified Insta ads. You can count instead on the collective wisdom of our wise and experienced subscribers:) This month’s theme: accessories and organisers to make packing your suitcases pain-free—at all price points:)
For toiletries and makeup…
MUJI TPU Clear Case: Sitara likes it because it is TSA compliant and you can carry it in hand baggage. She says it “fits everything that you need and still prevents you from overpacking.” (Price: Rs 720)
Batfield Cosmetic Bag: Shalika recommends these Litchi leather bags, perfect for fitting makeup because they are “very spacious (can hold my entire life)”. The perks: These are cheap, available on Amazon, and come in “soooo many colours.” We quite like this green one! (Price: 1,299)
Inka Travel Pouches: If you prefer something in the cotton variety, Hiral’s got you covered. She likes them because they don’t take up unnecessary space—“also it has water resistant compartments that relieve my stress of any leaks.” That sounds ideal! Oh look, how pretty! (Price: 650)
Mokobara—The Hanging Toiletry Bag: This sleek pouch is Abhishek’s recommendation. He loves the quality and appreciates “the trial option.” The pouch is specially crafted with “spill-proof” materials and has a hook to hang on any door or ledge. (Price: Rs 5,999)
Nestasia Cosmetic Bag: Krishnakali recommends the set of three pouches of different sizes. These fit makeup products, shampoo bottles, serums etc, and are leakage-proof. Duh. (Price: 1,310 for a pack of three)
Upcyclie! Eco-Friendly Essentials Pouch- For Storage and Travel: Deepti has a sustainable brand for you. These products are made using fabric waste by women of Chennai slums. She likes them because they “are easily washable, and so cute and colourful.” See them below! (Price: Rs 995 for a pack of three)
Sittella Foldable Toiletry Kit Bag: This is a waterproof foldable toiletries kit that’s Stuti’s holy grail—you can see why in the image below. (Price: Rs 3,799)
Wildcraft Travel Toiletry Kit: Here’s another one with multiple compartments and a hook for your convenience, which has been our resident Assistant news editor Aarthi’s travel companion. (Rs 999)
Kuber Industries Jewellery Organisers: Our Advisory editor Arunima swears by these jewellery organisers and calls them a “godsend” and a companion on her every trip as they help her carry different jewellery every time, instead of chunky boxes. (Price: Rs 703)
To organise your electronics…
Daily Objects Tech Organisers: This brand was a hit among our subscribers. Krishnakali finds it “quite spacious yet compact”. For Deepti, it is the eco-friendly aspect—as it is “made of recycled PET bottles.” Stuti likes that it “accommodates all kinds of electronic devices and has catered slots for all types of wires and charges making it convenient.” (Price: 1499 for small)
The Calpak Tech Organizer: Sitara uses this one because it is compact and has a slot or space for everything. She loves that it “compresses everything tightly to fit into the tightest spaces of your bag.” (Price: $42 or Rs 3,500)
Fatmug's Charger Organizer: Smitha loves it because: “I am able to carry all my phone cables, two camera battery chargers, 4 camera batteries! I like the fact that I can just unroll the organiser and hang it off a nail or a hanger in my room closet when I am travelling.” Very handy, indeed! (Price: Rs 999)
Destinio Nylon Electronic Gadget Organizer Bag: Here’s an option that is not foldable, but has many compartments. This is Abhishek’s pick. (Price: 3,999)
The best cubes on the market…
- Baggu: Sitara finds these cute and useful when she has to pack per day or per event. (Price: $36 or RS 3,000)
- Fatmug: They are made of polyester, but Smitha says these are “sturdy, make you stick to a limited quantity you can carry and they come with all other sizes of packing cubes.” (Price: Rs 1,999 for a set of seven)
- House of Quirk: Smitha and Krishnakali both gave a shoutout to this brand. (Price: Rs 1,999)
- Mokobara: The Packing Cubes (Set of 6) is a fave among Abhishek and Stuti who like its sizes and quality. (Price: 3,499)
Best travel-sized skincare brands
- Forest Essentials: This is a luxurious pick but Abhishek says that “little goes a long way and one item can make your entire routine more enjoyable.” We can’t disagree with that! (Price range: Rs 1,250 to 1,850)
- Bath and Body Works: Stuti says it has all the essentials for shower time. (Price: Rs 499)
- Morroconoil: Stuti loves the shampoo, conditioner and oil from this brand. (Price: 4,680)
- Laneige, Clinique, and Estée Lauder: Sitara recommends mini-kits from these brands for all your skincare and makeup needs!
Pro tip: For travel sized bottles you can refill, look no further than Gubb Travel Bottles. Krishnakali says they are leak-proof–and “available in different varieties i.e, spray bottle, pump.” (Price: Rs 275 for a set of three)
Bonus travel hacks
Tip #1: Sitara loves the crossbody bags from Uniqlo and LuluLemon for carrying a passport, phone, boarding pass and other belongings as you “can keep it on you through the flight and quickly stash it in your hand baggage whenever needed.”
Tip #2: Stuti says 3-in-1 charging devices are “super handy to charge phones, smart watches and wireless earphones at once as usually when we travel we don’t have multiple outlets available for charging.” Duly noted.
