In our opinion, a toiletry bag is an essential item that every individual should own for traveling. While you can technically pack your toiletries and grooming supplies directly in your suitcase, not only do you take the risk of something leaking, but you end up wasting more space and nothing is organized or easy to find. However, everyone’s needs are different, and you shouldn’t simply purchase the first travel toiletry bag you see. Use the suggestions below to help you decide what to look for in the best travel toiletry bag that will meet your needs.
Benefits of Travel Toiletry Bags
Before we start exploring what to look for when shopping for a toiletry organizer, let's explore some of their benefits. A toiletry bag, sometimes referred to as a Dopp kit, is designed to keep toiletries organized. Most bags include several compartments that provide users with ample space to store their grooming essentials, such as razors, deodorant, shampoo, condition, body wash, nail clippers, a compact mirror, beauty products, makeup brushes, and more. When everything is organized in the various compartments, you’ll enjoy easy access to whatever you need.
Toiletry bags can be useful at home, particularly if you have tight counter space, but they are truly indispensable when traveling. Their convenient features make them much more useful than packing all of your toiletries in a suitcase and having to rifle around to find what you need. Moreover, the water resistant design helps protect the other items in your suitcase from getting damaged.
What to Look for When Choosing a Travel Toiletry Bag
As we mentioned above, every individual has unique needs when it comes to selecting the best toiletry bag or makeup bag. Use the list of features below to help you choose a travel toiletry bag that will best suit your needs and preferences.
Capacity
As you start shopping for a toiletry travel bag, you will want to think about finding a bag that offers enough room for all of your toiletries or travel sized products. Think about the essentials you like to pack for a trip, along with the available amount of space in your suitcase, to help you decide whether a small or large toiletry bag would best match your needs. If you are a light packer, you may be able to get away with a smaller bag, while a larger bag may best suit someone who likes to pack extras for their trips.
Layout and Design
In addition to thinking about the ideal size for your travel kit and having enough space for everything, you should also closely inspect the layout of each bag. You want to ensure that the toiletries bag will help you keep all of your essentials organized and that it will allow you to easily access whatever you need to take out. The best toiletry bags will include numerous pockets.
Some things you may want to look for include a large main compartment, several smaller interior pockets, a cosmetic pouch, internal mesh pockets, an exterior pocket, or a shallow zipper pocket for smaller items. If the bag expands, it can be more versatile to accommodate your packing needs for both longer and shorter trips. You may also be able to find bags with a removable mirror.
While many toiletry cases are solid, you can also find clear toiletry bags. A clear toiletry bag makes it possible to view what is inside the bag without opening it. You could also find bags with clear internal pockets, even if the exterior is a solid material.
Material and Durability
Deciding on the best material for your womens or mens travel toiletry bag is another important consideration. You may be pleasantly surprised at the number of solid colors and patterns that are available. Just be sure to select a water resistant and leak proof material and design. A completely waterproof bag, or at least one with a water resistant pocket, will help protect the other items in your suitcase in the event something spills.
A good toiletry bag with a lightweight feel and one that allows for easy cleaning is also ideal. Leather is one of the best materials for a toiletry bag, but you can also find durable nylon, polyester, and waxed canvas options as well.
Portability
The best travel toiletry bag will be easily portable. Look for features that will make a toiletry bag easy to pack in your suitcase or even to carry it by itself for shorter car trips. Handles are an excellent accessory to find in a travel toiletry bag. As you’re looking for carry on toiletry bags or bags to pack in your suitcase, size will be another important consideration. You don’t want the toiletry bag to take up too much of your packing space in your suitcase.
Hanging Capability
Finding a toiletry bag with a hanging hook can be a real asset. You never know when you’ll end up somewhere with very minimal counter space. If you have a hanging toiletry bag, you can just hang the bag on the back of the door or towel rod using the metal hook. Then, take out your supplies as you need them. After use, simply return them to the hanging bag for safe storage. Other bags with no hook can be more challenging to keep in tighter spaces.
Toiletry Bags: A Must-Have Travel Accessory
If you’re planning a trip—either quick trips or extended vacations—a toiletry bag is one of the top travel accessories you’ll want to make sure you have. Water resistant toiletry bags make it so much easier to keep all of your grooming essentials organized and easy to find. They can be a true lifesaver in bathrooms where counter or shower space is limited. Do you feel ready to shop for the right mens or womens travel toiletry bag for your next adventure?
FAQs
What do you call a travel bag for toiletries?
Travel kits that hold toiletries are commonly referred to as toiletry bags. You may also see a toiletry bag called a Dopp kit or shower bag occasionally.
What size toiletry bag do I need?
The ideal toiletry bag size will vary depending on your needs. Consider the toiletries you intend to take—and whether you’ll be packing your toiletry bag in a weekender bag or a large suitcase. This can help you select a size that will meet your needs without taking up too much extra space in your luggage.
Additionally, you may want to choose one of the best hanging toiletry bags if you think your destination will not have enough counter space to hold all of your supplies.
