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There are a few things every traveler needs, no matter where in the world they’re going — and a toiletry bag is one of them. The humble case might be an afterthought to some, but these helpful bags are crucial to keeping your travel essentials organized.
We tested 52 toiletry bags and cosmetic cases (and continue to do so for a period of at least six months) in order to bring to you the best of the best, evaluating capacity, design, portability, and value. We also considered the overall quality of the bags, as well as their ease of use on real trips.
Taking our test results into consideration, we’ve put together a list of the best toiletry bags across various categories; you’re sure to find one that suits your needs.
Best Overall
Away Large Toiletry Bag
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Away
You might be most familiar with Away for its selection of hardside luggage and weekender bags, but the brand carries travel accessories, too, including this large toiletry bag that earned high marks across the board during our tests.
Though we found the bag to be even roomier than expected, there are so many individual compartments including a clear cosmetic bag, a zippered pouch, two mesh linings, and an exterior pocket, to name a few. You won’t be reaching into a bottomless pit, rummaging around for individual products here. We also love that the bag zips open wide enough for you to reach inside with ease. We packed it with both large and small items, from travel-size liquid bottles to makeup brushes, and there was still room for more.
We also noted the durability of the water-resistant nylon, which is lightweight without feeling cheap. The interior of the bag is coated with an easy-to-wipe material, allowing you to clean up any spills quickly. The bag comes in five color options (with limited edition colorways offered on occasion), as well as a smaller size option and a hanging version of the bag.
The Details: 10.2 x 3.7 x 5.9 inches | 8.8 ounces | Nylon | Water-resistant
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Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson
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Travel + Leisure / Tamara Staples
Best Compact
Dagne Dover Mila Toiletry Organizer
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Dagne Dover
If you’re a toiletry minimalist, this is the case for you. The highly compact Dagne Dover Mila keeps all your products neat and organized in a tiny, plush drum made of water-resistant recycled poly. Unzip the lid and you’ll see a grid created by a removable insert — use the insert to keep your products separated from one another, reducing their impact if the toiletry bag is jumbled around. There’s also a zippered mesh pocket in the lid, as well as four elastic loops to hold items like makeup brushes and lip balm.
We did notice, however, that the insert takes up quite a bit of space in the bag, and you’d be able to squeeze quite a few more items inside if you remove it instead. Of course in that case, you wouldn’t have much help in terms of organization. Ultimately, we love the flexibility — you can customize the bag to suit your needs.
The Details: 5.5 x 5.5 x 5.5 inches | 6 ounces | Material | Recycled poly
Best Waterproof
Matador FlatPak Zipper Toiletry Case
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Back Country
While many toiletry kits are water-resistant, this one is fully waterproof, and that makes all the difference if you’re on an outdoor adventure like camping or a multi-day kayaking trip. It’s made from a special nylon that has a secret superpower: “dry-through” technology, which allows moisture to escape from the bag without letting any in. That means your toiletries (like a wet toothbrush) can dry while they’re in the bag.
We found this bag to be deceptively spacious, given that it looks like a simple pencil pouch at first glance. The bag expands at the bottom, allowing it to stand alone on a flat surface while giving you the space to fit larger items in with ease. That said, there aren’t any useful organizational tools to keep your products in order — this is a fairly bare-bones bag.
The Details: 9.5 x 6.75 x 3.5 inches | 1.1 ounces | Nylon | Waterproof
Best Organization
Peak Design Wash Pouch
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Peak Design
When you have a large number of toiletries to bring with you on vacation, the best thing you can do is choose a toiletry bag that helps you keep everything organized. This is that bag! Though it appears small from the outside, the bag is so thoughtfully designed with organizational tools — we found that there’s a pocket for just about everything. The main compartment is large enough to fit small bottles, while mesh pockets of various sizes line the walls. There’s also a separate pocket for your toothbrush, which keeps it nice and clean.
Other highlights include a wide opening to access each pocket easily, and the ability to stand on its own thanks to the bag’s layer of high-density foam that also helps protect the items inside. It also has a handy hanging hook if you’d prefer to keep some counter space clear.
The Details: 10.2 x 6 x 4.4 inches | 8.7 ounces | Nylon
Best Dopp Kit
Dare to Roam Steward Dopp Kit
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Dare to Roam
What are dopp kits, anyway? Though the term can be used interchangeably with “toiletry bag” today, the dopp kit was originally a durable toiletry bag devised by German leather maker Charles Doppelt that was popular with military personnel in the 20th century. It typically takes the silhouette seen here in this bag — a large main compartment, sometimes with side pockets.
What dopp kits are great for is space; we were amazed by how much could fit in this bag, especially because it’s expandable with side clips and adjustable webbing straps. As such, it’s ideal for longer trips where you’ll need as much space as you can get. We also love that it’s made from an antimicrobial and antibacterial nylon (yes, it’s water-resistant), though we think it could use a little more organization beyond two interior pockets and one exterior one.
The Details: 4.5 x 8.7 x 4.7 inches | Polyester | Water-resistant
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Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson
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Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson
Best Small Hanging
Sea to Summit Hanging Toiletry Bag
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Amazon
When it comes to hanging bags, this one is perfectly balanced. It’s made from an ultra-thin, water-resistant nylon and takes the shape of a saddlebag, which is ideal for hanging. We found that no matter how many items we stuffed in there, the bag never really felt weighed down; all the products were perfectly situated and easy to access, thanks to a plethora of pockets.
This bag also comes with a detachable mirror, which makes it great for outdoor adventures when you don’t have access to a vanity, as well as handles for easy transport. Ultimately, it is perfect for people limited on space and weight, whether they’re on a multi-day trek that requires them to carry all their gear or traveling for an extended period of time with limited storage space. The toiletry bag comes in two sizes (we tested the smaller one) and four color options.
The Details: 10.2 x 3.9 x 8.9 inches | 0.3 ounces | Nylon | Water-resistant
Best Large Hanging
Bagsmart Hanging Toiletry Bag
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Amazon
Bagsmart is known for making convenient travel products at affordable prices, and that’s certainly true of its hanging toiletry bag. Before it’s opened, the bag looks just like a little quilted briefcase; inside is an extraordinary amount of storage. Unzip the perimeter and the bag unfurls into four panels of hanging storage for your toiletries, which we found perfectly capable of storing just about every toiletry in the book save for full-size bottles of shampoo and body wash. While most of the storage compartments are variously sized zippered pockets, some actually have elastic bands to help hold your items in place.
The quilted material is made of polyester, which we found to be a little difficult to clean. It is water-resistant, though, and the texture adds a nice visual quality. Plus, it comes in ten colorways.
The Details: 12.6 x 9.1 x 4.3 inches | 15.2 ounces | Polyester | Water-resistant
Best for Cosmetics
Béis The Cosmetic Case
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Béis
The clean, minimalist design that Béis is so loved for comes through in its cosmetic case: a sturdy bag with plenty of space for makeup aficionados. For starters, it’s offered in eight elegant earth tone hues. But then there’s the simple rectangular shape, which feels almost handbag-like in its sculptural form, as well as luxe hardware that adds to that handbag quality.
Though this bag can carry all types of toiletries, it’s specifically designed with cosmetics in mind. That’s evident from the removable mirror and brush holder, which has PVC material where the brush heads will go for easy cleaning. There are also a few slip pockets, which we found especially helpful for palettes. One thing to note, however, is that the main compartment of this toiletry bag is simply a vast space without any dividers to organize individual products. That said, we can report that nothing broke or spilled during evaluations.
The Details: 9.5 x 4 x 7 inches | 1.38 pounds | Polyester | Water-resistant
Best for Men
Bagsmart Toiletry Bag for Men
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Amazon
Fun fact: dopp kits were originally designed for men so it makes perfect sense why this one is designed to fit shaving and grooming products in particular. It’s made of canvas for a rough-and-tumble look, and it’s offered in seven colors (mostly neutrals, but also light pink) and two sizes. Though we consider it sturdy enough to stand on its own, we also found it flexible enough to be stuffed into a packed weekender.
As for storage capabilities, there’s a main compartment that’s accessible via a double zipper, which means the kit opens nice and wide for you to be able to access your items. That main compartment can fit bulkier items, while smaller items can fill the pockets along the sides. There are also two separate side pockets, one of which is designed to hold wet items.
The Details: 10.2 x 5.9 x 6.3 inches | 6.4 ounces | Canvas | Water-resistant
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Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson
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Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson
Best for Short Trips
Tumi Response Travel Kit
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Nordstrom
Luxury brand Tumi doesn’t only make high-end suitcases and travel bags — they also make high-end toiletry bags. Made from ballistic nylon (and offered in three colorways), this is one of the most durable toiletry bags out there, and it wouldn’t be surprising if this bag lasted years, even with regular use.
Its best feature is the fact that it opens like a clamshell, with two distinct compartments in each half. That makes it easy to access everything in the bag, whether you’re laying it flat on a countertop or you’re hanging it via the attached hook. There are four pockets, including one water-resistant one, and two elastic loops to hold products like toothbrushes or razors. We think it’s a reasonably spacious bag, but only for travel-size products — that’s why we recommend it for short trips rather than long ones.
The Details: 6.3 x 9.5 x 3.5 inches | 0.9 pounds | Ballistic nylon
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Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson
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Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson
Best Leather
Cuyana Travel Beauty Case
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Cuyana
Take one look at the Cuyana Travel Beauty Case, and it’s clear that you’re dealing with a luxury item. Made from Italian pebbled leather, this toiletry bag is extremely elegant in each of its three colors: ecru, soft rose, and black. We found that this is high-quality leather that’s not so delicate you have to worry about damaging it when stuffing it in your backpack or weekender.
As for storage, there are two main compartments: one with an internal elastic pocket for storing larger items and another that has elastic straps to hold items like makeup brushes in place. They open like a clamshell, and between them is a detachable pouch for smaller items. The pouch is ideal for a few items that can be used to refresh your makeup on a travel day, but it can’t hold enough products for a full face.
The Details: 6.2 x 10.2 x 3.1 inches | 1.6 pounds | Italian pebbled leather
Best Pouch
MZ Wallace Mica Cosmetic Case
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MZ Wallace
The best thing about a pouch like this one is that it’s very straightforward — all you have to do is toss in your items without giving much thought to organization. We loved this particular toiletry bag because it’s more spacious than it seems at first glance. That’s particularly true of the one zippered pocket inside: it was able to hold seven makeup brushes.
By the same token, the lack of organization might be frustrating to some. Depending on your preference, you might wish there were a few dividers or additional pockets to keep things a little tidier inside the bag. Still, the amount of space it has for items is impressive, and for some travelers, that might be just what they’re looking for.
The Details: 9.49 x 4.02 x 5.98 inches | 0.23 pounds | REC Oxford
Best Budget
WANDF Toiletry Bag
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Amazon
As you’re probably well aware by this point, toiletry bags can get quite expensive — but they don’t have to be. This is a particularly budget-friendly model, yet it accomplishes just about everything you’d need a toiletry bag to do. For one, it has multiple compartments. And for another, it’s a water-resistant case, which means it can handle being splashed on a bathroom counter.
The compartments are both the success and the downfall of this toiletry bag. We were beyond impressed with the amount of space inside the main compartment, as well as with the two side compartments with mesh pockets. But we found that the main compartment was almost too spacious and could benefit from another divider of some kind. Given its size, it could also benefit from a double zipper opening, which would allow you to access more items throughout the bag than the existing single zipper.
The Details: 10.24 x 4.72 x 5.91 inches | 3.53 ounces | Nylon | Water-resistant
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Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson
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Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson
Other Toiletry Bags We Liked
- Dagne Dover Hunter Neoprene Toiletry Bag: We love the soft, water-resistant neoprene material of this bag, as well as the two detached pouches for easy organization. (And did we mention the colors? Those are beautiful, too!) Unfortunately, we found it to be a tight fit to squeeze both of the detachable pouches into the main bag when all three had items in them.
- State Bags Bensen Dopp Kit : This is a spacious bag with a detachable pouch for additional storage — there’s not much to not like here. But we think it’s a bit too expensive, and we found the hook to be too small to use in many cases. Because it’s so spacious, it’s best for longer trips, as we think it might take up a bit too much room in a carry-on bag.
- L.L.Bean Personal Organizer Toiletry Bag, Medium: A favorite for decades, this bag is the king when it comes to storage space and organization — there are pockets for just about everything. Some might find the sheer number of storage spaces to be overwhelming. But others, particularly those going on long trips or families who might be sharing a toiletry bag, will love the roominess.
- Baggu Dopp Kit: This bag packs flat, which is great when you need to store it somewhere. But when you expand it, you’ll find that it’s large enough to carry all of your toiletries and then some. The only thing we worried about was the durability of the materials. Though it did not fail any of our rigorous tests, we suspect it may wear out over time.
Our Testing Process
We tested 52 toiletry bags and cosmetics cases in our lab to determine the best products.
Testing started with an analysis of the bag when it was empty; we examined the materials, the construction, and the overall design.
Then we packed the bags with common travel essentials like toiletry bottles, makeup, and dental products, among other items. We then re-evaluated the design of the bag, noting overall capacity; convenience and security of organizational compartments, pockets, and pouches; closure functionality (such as zippers, magnetic clasps, and Velcro tabs); and overall sturdiness and stability of the bag.
Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson
Next, we put the bags into weekenders, carry-on luggage, and backpacks to see how they’d fit. We also carried around the larger bags to evaluate the feel of the toiletry bags in them.
Finally, we rated each toiletry bag on its capacity, design, portability, and value, all the while considering extra characteristics like the material’s water-resistance, ease of cleaning, and any extra features, such as hanging straps or built-in mirrors.
Testing of the toiletry kits then continues for a period of six months on our real-world trips, and we will continue to update this article based on the results.
When the bag was fully packed, we placed it inside a large weekender bag to get a sense of its weight by carrying it around our lab. We also checked how much space the bag took up inside the weekender bag to determine if there was ample room to store other items, such as clothing and accessories. We then determined whether the bag would be suitable for weekend trips and/or longer vacations.
After rating for all attributes, we checked each bag’s price to rate the overall value.
Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson
Tips for Buying a Toiletry Bag
Look at the design of the bag
Some toiletry bags are voids — they have one cavernous space to fit all your items. But others are separated into compartments with pockets and pouches to keep your items in place. Depending on what you’re storing in your toiletry bag, you might prefer more organizational tools than a single open space. Also consider the material; more durable, water-resistant materials are ideal for toiletry bags, since they’ll be getting quite a bit of use on the road.
Consider capacity and the items you pack
What do you plan on putting in a toiletry bag? If you’re a minimalist who carries very few toiletries — say, just face wash and toothpaste — you might only need a small case But if you have an extensive skincare routine — including sunscreen and after-sun lotion — and you travel with all your makeup, you’ll need a bag with enough space for everything.
Think about portability
If you plan on taking your toiletry bag in your carry-on, you’ll want it to be as compact and lightweight as possible to save room for everything else in your bag. And if you’re packing liquids, gels, or aerosols, make sure your items’ sizes comply with the TSA’s 3-1-1 rule. If you’re checking your toiletry bag, though, you might have more flexibility with size and weight.
Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson
Why Trust Travel + Leisure
Stefanie Waldek is a freelance travel writer with a decade of experience. For this article, she incorporated tester feedback and used her own experience with toiletry bags.
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