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    Best Toiletry Bags

    We tried toiletry bags from Away, Bagsmart, Calpak, and other brands to see which is best for your travel needs

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    Away, Calpak, Nishel toiletry bags
    One of our favorite toiletry bags was incredible at organizing toiletries, while another one was simple but effective.
    Photo: Manufacturers

    In my early 20s, I traveled with a Ziploc bag containing a toothbrush and toothpaste as my only toiletries. Yes, I was a maverick who only cared for my oral health back then. But as the years have gone by, my toiletries list has expanded to include other necessities (sunscreen, for one) and items that may not be essential to others but which I can’t live without (earplugs and eyedrops).

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    All of this is to say that I’ve found toiletry bags indispensable to my traveling these days. A good toiletry bag can organize your toiletries and keep them in one place so that they don’t end up topsy-turvy in your luggage. And if the bag’s waterproof, it can also prevent spillage from occurring so you don’t open up your suitcase to see shampoo splattered all over your clothes. 

    Is there a difference between a toiletry bag and a Dopp kit, a term that might surface when you’re searching for toiletry bags online? Simply put, Dopp kits are a form of toiletry bag invented by leatherworker Charles Doppelt in 1926. They are typically made of leather or cloth. 

    While some people use the two terms interchangeably, there are some small distinctions between the two. Dopp kits are, as stated above, made of materials such as leather or canvas, while toiletry bags utilize materials such as nylon and polyester. Dopp kits also usually consist of a rectangular shape while toiletry bags can come in various shapes. Toiletry bags also typically have more compartments within than Dopp kits.

    To look for the best toiletry bags, I tried out six models that are bestsellers or from popular brands. And for those wondering about the TSA’s rules about toiletry bags, I address it later in the article, along with how I evaluated them. Here are the ones I recommend.


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    Pang-Chieh Ho

    Pang-Chieh Ho is a senior content creator at Consumer Reports who writes about the intersections of home products and health. She has been working in the media industry for almost 10 years. Books are her first love, but movies come a close second. You can send tips to her at pangchieh.ho@consumer.org.