If you fly carry-on only, your toiletry kit has to do it all. It has to be TSA compliant, leakproof under pressure, and compact enough to slide into a quart-size bag without turning into a mess. We tested and compared popular kits to find the smartest options for different travel styles and budgets. Whether you want ultralight bottles, premium leak resistance, or a simple all-in-one set that just works, this guide will help you pack faster and stress less.
Carry-on only travelers face a specific set of toiletry problems. You have to fit liquids into a single quart-size bag, keep everything under 3.4 ounces, prevent midair leaks, and still arrive with products that feel familiar on your skin and hair. The right kit solves all of this. It keeps items organized, decants your favorites into TSA-ready containers, and makes security a 15-second breeze.
This guide focuses on real-world packing: leakproofing that actually holds up at altitude, containers that are easy to fill and clean, and kits that match your travel style, not just a product grid. Start with the quick picks, then use the in-depth reviews and buying advice to choose the kit that will make your next trip simpler.
Quick picks
- BAGSMART 3-1-1 Travel Bottles Set — Best overall carry-on kit
- Matador FlatPak Toiletry Set — Best ultralight, space-saving option
- humangear GoToob+ Kit — Best premium leakproof bottles
- Nalgene Small Travel Kit — Best for long trips and runny liquids
- Peak Design Wash Pouch (Small) — Best organizer for frequent flyers
In-depth reviews
BAGSMART 3-1-1 Travel Bottles Set review
Who it is for: Travelers who want an affordable, all-in-one kit that makes it easy to decant a full routine and glide through security. If you like the idea of one purchase that covers bottles, jars, labels, and a quart-size bag, this is the place to start.
How it is built: The BAGSMART set typically bundles a clear, zip-top quart bag with a mix of squeezable silicone bottles for shampoo, conditioner, body wash, or lotion, small cream jars for moisturizer and balms, and a couple of fine-mist or pump bottles for toner, hair products, or hand sanitizer. Wide mouths make filling easier, and the soft bottles include no-drip valves and twist-on caps to minimize leaks. Label rings or stickers help you tell shampoo from conditioner at a glance. A small funnel and spatula are often included, which sounds trivial until you try to move thick moisturizer into a tiny jar without making a mess.
What it is like to use: This is the rare budget-friendly set that actually works well in real life. The clear bag keeps the 3-1-1 rule visible for agents, and the combination of bottles and jars covers most routines without buying extra pieces. The squeezable bottles dispense easily in a hotel shower, and the jars are great for night cream or hair masks. Everything fits a quart bag with room for a travel-size toothpaste and lip balm. For most people, it is a swift upgrade from a Ziploc and random minis.
Drawbacks: The clear bag is usually PVC, which can cloud or crease over time, and the zipper is not as durable as premium pouches. The sprayer or pump may not love thick products. As with most silicone bottles, very runny liquids can seep if caps are not tightened perfectly. Fill to about 90 percent, leave a little air, then lock caps, and you will be fine.
Compare it: The humangear GoToob+ Kit has a more robust locking cap and thicker silicone that resists weeping, which heavy users will appreciate, but it costs more and does not include a quart bag. The Matador FlatPak Toiletry Set packs smaller and lighter, yet is slower to fill and not ideal for thick creams. For most carry-on travelers, BAGSMART balances price, capacity, and convenience best.
Matador FlatPak Toiletry Set review
Who it is for: Minimalists, backpackers, and anyone counting ounces. If your priority is saving space and weight while still carrying real products, FlatPak’s fabric bottles and bar case are outstanding.
How it is built: FlatPak bottles use a welded, waterproof fabric body with a secure screw cap. They weigh a fraction of silicone bottles and collapse as you use them, which means no wasted space in your quart bag. The companion bar soap case uses breathable fabric that lets a bar dry between uses while containing residue, so you can ditch a liquid body wash and free up liquid allowance.
What it is like to use: The bottles fill from a wide mouth and pack flatter than anything else we tested. Because the body is flexible fabric rather than soft silicone, it compresses almost paper-thin as it empties. In a tightly packed personal item, that matters. The bar case is a quiet hero for people who use solid shampoo or soap. It keeps goo off everything and prevents a mushy bar.
Drawbacks: FlatPak bottles dispense more slowly than squeezable silicone. Thick conditioner or body butter can be frustrating, and the fabric body makes it harder to see how much is left. They are best for typical viscosities like shampoo, face wash, or body wash. As with many travel containers, FlatPak is not intended for pure oils or products that contain strong solvents. Check product guidance before filling.
Compare it: If leakproofing a wide range of products is your priority, the humangear GoToob+ Kit is easier to fill, label, and clean. If you want a value-priced all-in-one that includes a quart bag, BAGSMART is the better fit. For ultralight travelers, Matador is unmatched.
humangear GoToob+ Kit review
Who it is for: Travelers who want premium, proven leak resistance with bottles that are simple to fill and clean. If you reuse your kit on every trip, GoToob+ is worth the upgrade.
How it is built: GoToob+ bottles are made of soft, food-grade silicone with a wide opening that makes filling and washing quick. The LoopLock cap clicks into a locked position for transport, which reduces accidental openings in a stuffed bag. A built-in labeling ring helps you mark contents as shampoo, conditioner, or lotion. Many kits pair these bottles with a couple of small GoTubb containers for pills, balms, or jewelry.
What it is like to use: The squeeze is smooth, the caps feel secure, and cleaning is easy with a bottle brush. For staple products like shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and face wash, GoToob+ is a delight. The locking cap is the standout, especially for people who have been burned by cheap flip-tops in the past.
Drawbacks: You pay for quality, and the bottles are a bit bulkier than ultralight options. Like most silicone containers, very thin, alcohol-heavy liquids or pure oils can seep over time. Keep watery toners in a rigid bottle like those in the Nalgene Small Travel Kit if you want zero weeping.
Compare it: The BAGSMART set is a better budget buy and includes a quart bag and accessories. The Matador FlatPak kit is lighter and packs flatter, but GoToob+ wins for everyday ease and leak resistance.
Nalgene Small Travel Kit review
Who it is for: Travelers who want durability and a variety of rigid containers for runny liquids like toner, micellar water, mouthwash, or aftershave. It is also great for longer trips where you need several sizes or for families sharing one kit of containers.
How it is built: This kit usually includes a mix of small, rigid bottles and jars made from tough plastics with screw tops. They tolerate thin liquids well, clean up easily, and handle repeated use. You get a range of sizes to decant exactly what you need without overpacking.
What it is like to use: Rigid bottles shine with watery and alcohol-based products that can creep through silicone over time. The caps seal securely when tightened and are less likely to get pressed open by crowded packing. The tradeoff is that you pour rather than squeeze, so thicker products are less convenient.
Drawbacks: Rigid bottles take up the same space whether full or empty. They are heavier than fabric pouches and bulkier than some silicone sets. If you do not tighten caps carefully, thin liquids can still leak. A quick test at home helps: fill with water, cap, invert, and leave on a paper towel for 10 minutes.
Compare it: If you mainly carry shampoo and lotion, the humangear GoToob+ Kit is nicer in the shower. For ultralight packing, Matador FlatPak wins. For toners, mouthwash, and other water-like products, Nalgene is the most reliable choice.
Peak Design Wash Pouch (Small) review
Who it is for: Frequent flyers who want a compact, beautifully organized pouch that makes daily use easy. Pair it with any of the bottle kits above, and you have a streamlined setup that feels premium.
How it is built: The Small Wash Pouch uses a sturdy, water-resistant fabric and opens wide so you can see everything. Elastic and zip pockets hold bottles upright, a dedicated toothbrush sleeve keeps bristles clean, and a grab handle or small hook lets you hang it in tight bathrooms. It fits in most personal items without hogging space.
What it is like to use: The organization is smart. Razor here, clippers there, small jar tucked into a mesh pocket, and nothing gets lost at the bottom. It is a pouch you can use every day, not just on trips. Because it is not transparent, you will still place your quart-size liquids bag separately in the bin at security, which actually speeds things up.
Drawbacks: It does not include bottles, and it costs more than basic dopp kits. If you travel with many liquids, remember that TSA requires a separate quart-size bag, so keep those pieces modular. For travelers who prefer solid toiletries like bar soap and shampoo bars, this pouch is excellent since most of your routine can live outside the liquids bag.
Compare it: If you want a single purchase that includes containers and a clear bag, the BAGSMART kit is better. If you already own bottles or prefer solids, Peak Design delivers top-tier daily usability.
How to choose
Start with your liquids profile. If your routine is mostly shampoo, conditioner, and body wash, silicone bottles like the humangear GoToob+ Kit or the BAGSMART set are the easiest. If you rely on watery toners, micellar water, or mouthwash, include rigid containers like the Nalgene Small Travel Kit for zero seepage. If you can switch a couple of items to solids, the Matador FlatPak bar case is a smart swap that frees up liquid allowance.
Think in quart-bag real estate. TSA’s 3-1-1 rule allows one quart-size, clear bag of liquids, gels, and aerosols per traveler, with each item 3.4 ounces or less. Your goal is to fill that bag with the right products, not the biggest containers. For a five-day trip, 1 to 2 ounces of shampoo is usually enough, not 3.4 ounces. Smaller containers mean more room for skincare or hair products.
Weigh durability and leakproofing. Premium caps and thicker silicone, like on GoToob+, are worth it if you travel often. Budget kits can be excellent, but inspect caps and valves and do a sink test before flying. Rigid bottles prevent weeping with runny liquids. Fabric bottles pack light but dispense more slowly.
Match kit to trip length. Weekend away: two 1 to 2 ounce bottles plus a couple of small jars will do. One to two weeks: three 2 ounce bottles plus two jars is a sweet spot. Longer or family trips: consider the Nalgene kit’s variety of sizes and the organizational benefits of a dedicated wash pouch.
Budget smart. Under $25 buys a good all-in-one like BAGSMART. $25 to $40 gets you premium silicone bottles like humangear. $50 and up buys a great organizer like Peak Design, which you can pair with whatever containers you prefer.
Packing and refilling playbook
Decant with intent: Instead of filling every bottle to the brim, estimate what you will use. Most people use about 10 to 15 milliliters of shampoo per wash. For a week with three washes, 45 milliliters, which is about 1.5 ounces, is plenty. Fill only what you need and reclaim space in the quart bag.
Prevent leaks at altitude: For squeezable bottles, leave a small air gap, then lock caps. Avoid overfilling. For rigid bottles, tighten firmly and consider a small square of plastic wrap under the cap if you carry very runny liquids. Always do a quick sink test: fill with water, cap, invert, and set on a paper towel for a few minutes.
Label clearly: Use the kit’s label rings or a piece of painter’s tape and a fine marker. Abbreviations like SH, CO, BW, and TON keep things simple. Clear labels mean you will not wash your face with conditioner at 6 a.m. before a meeting.
Make solids do the heavy lifting: Swapping just two liquids for solids can halve your quart-bag burden. Consider a bar shampoo, a bar soap, a stick deodorant, and solid fragrance. Store bars in a ventilated case like the FlatPak to avoid mush.
Sample loadouts by trip length:
- Weekend city break: Two 1 ounce bottles for shampoo and body wash, one 0.5 ounce jar for moisturizer, travel toothpaste, and lip balm. Done.
- One-week work trip: Three 2 ounce bottles for shampoo, conditioner, and body wash, two 0.5 ounce jars for day and night moisturizer, one mini spray bottle for toner or heat protectant, and toothpaste.
- Two-week vacation: Three 3 ounce bottles, two jars, one rigid 2 ounce bottle for toner, and a bar soap in a ventilated case to save liquid space.
Clean and reset after each trip: Rinse bottles with warm soapy water, use a small bottle brush for corners, and let every piece air dry fully before storage. Many silicone bottles can go on the top rack of the dishwasher, but check the maker’s guidance first. A reset now prevents mystery residues and odors later.
Final thoughts
If you want one kit that fits most people and most trips, start with the BAGSMART 3-1-1 Travel Bottles Set. It is an easy win for price, completeness, and TSA simplicity. If you travel often and want the most reliable leakproof bottles, upgrade to the humangear GoToob+ Kit. If you are chasing grams and cubic inches, the Matador FlatPak Toiletry Set packs flatter than anything else. For runny liquids and longer trips, add the Nalgene Small Travel Kit. And if you want a streamlined pouch that feels great every day, the Peak Design Wash Pouch (Small) ties it all together. Pick the lane that fits your travel style, and you will spend less time fiddling with bottles and more time enjoying the trip.
See also
For a streamlined overview of our favorite leakproof setups, browse the top travel toiletry kit picks.
– To keep your nails looking polished between flights, try one of the best home acrylic nail kits.
– If dry cabin air irritates your skin, pair your kit with gentle exfoliators for sensitive skin.
– Travelers battling body breakouts can swap in one of the best body washes for acne-prone skin.
– Round out your carry-on beauty capsule with elegant winter perfumes that travel well.
FAQ
What exactly counts as a TSA quart-size bag for toiletries?
A quart-size bag is roughly 7 by 8 inches and must be clear and resealable. It can be a sturdy zip-top pouch or a purpose-made clear toiletry bag. TSA does not require a specific brand. All liquids, gels, creams, pastes, and aerosols in carry-on must fit inside this single bag, and each container must be 3.4 ounces or less.
Which products should go in silicone bottles versus rigid bottles?
Use silicone bottles for medium viscosity products like shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and lotion since they dispense easily and are simple to squeeze in the shower. Use rigid bottles for runny liquids like toner, micellar water, mouthwash, and aftershave, since these can slowly seep through silicone over time.
How do I stop my bottles from leaking during flights?
Do a quick leak test at home. Fill to about 90 percent so there is a little air space, close caps firmly, and lock any cap mechanisms. For squeezable bottles, do not overfill and avoid squeezing them while capping. For very runny liquids in rigid bottles, a small square of plastic wrap under the cap can add security. Keep the quart bag upright in your personal item if possible.
How much product should I pack for a one-week trip?
Most people use 10 to 15 milliliters of shampoo per wash. For three washes, 45 milliliters, which is about 1.5 ounces, is enough. The same goes for conditioner if you use it each time. Face wash usually takes 1 to 2 milliliters per use, so 1 ounce covers a week. Decant only what you actually need to free space for skincare or hair styling products.
What is the best way to clean and dry reusable travel bottles?
Rinse with warm soapy water right after the trip, then use a small bottle brush to clean corners and threads. Rinse thoroughly and let every part air dry completely before reassembly. Many silicone bottles are top-rack dishwasher safe, but only wash that way if the manufacturer says it is allowed. Store bottles uncapped to prevent trapped moisture and odors.
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