The Taming of the Toiletries

The only part of traveling that I don't like is packing and unpacking. If only there were a packing fairy who would come to my house and take care of the packing and unpacking for me...

Until that day arrives, I've made the process far less painful with a clear, TSA-friendly toiletry bag that's always stocked with travel-sized toiletries and ready to go.

It sounds so simple it's almost stupid, but I'm telling you, this one little thing--a clear toiletry bag--just makes me feel like a travel pro.

I never get stranded someplace without deoderant or contact solution, because I always check the bag and restock it after a trip. It's kind of fun, actually, going to Target for the teeny tiny new toothpaste and thinking about where I'll brush my teeth next time: Croatia? Norway? The Galapagos Islands? Who knows!

If I'm going on a longer trip needing more toiletries, I'll either pop in an extra travel size, or shop locally when I arrive. We never check luggage, so we never travel with full-size toiletries.

I like the simplest possible bag style, nothing too big or bulky, just sized perfectly for the front pocket of my carry-on, where I can slip it out and back in with no fuss.

There are a bunch of good bag options that you can pick up on the cheap-and-quick from Amazon. 

TUZZ TSA-approved zipper bag, $6.98

Travel Smart by Conair, for $12.99

Or, from Pangda, you can get a 5-pack of clear PVC zipper bags for the same price!

Top Travel Pillows

When the plane touches down in Italy or Croatia or Australia, I want to be ready to roll, which means I need to sleep on the plane, which means I need a good travel pillow that doesn't let my head do that annoying drop-to-your-chest, break-your-neck move.

Andy and I tested four of the top-reviewed travel pillows, and here's what we think of the contenders: your kitchen-tested, Bruner-approved results!

Kay's Pick: TRTL Pillow

They call it a pillow, but it's really just a perfectly curved neck brace, surrounded by a super-soft wrap with a Velcro closure. I've had my TRTL wrap for a couple of years now, and I'm very happy with the no-head-drop sleep I get with this device. The cover is removable for machine washing (which, wow, it looks like I should do sometime soon), and it's perfectly packable, being only an inch or so thick. For me, a TRTL bonus is the wrap factor: it's cozy and warm on those chilly overnight flights.

The TRTL pillow is $29.97 at Amazon, a small price to pay for not waking up mean and tired.

Andy's pick: Purefly Pillow

Andy ordered a TRTL pillow when I did, but he's never been quite as happy with the TRTL experience as I've been. Hence, our further foray into the world of travel pillows. He's feeling optimistic about this Purefly pillow, an inflatable option with a super-soft cover that unzips for machine washing. The Purefly has a unique contoured headrest that helps prevent the dreaded head-bob. The Purefly deflates into a small pouch for excellent packability.

Andy especially liked the Purefly's price point: $15.99 at Amazon.

First Runner-Up: B Cozzy Chin-Supporting Pillow

While cutesy spelling annoys me in the extreme, I really like the feel and function of the B Cozzy. It's super soft and supportive, and I know my head would not bob around while wearing it.

I'm almost tempted to abandon my TRTL and find new love with B Cozzy, but SIZE MATTERS, y'all! I am not a person who checks a bag, and the B Cozzy is just going to B Big and B Bulky, and if I use the snap-strap to attach it to my luggage, it's just going to B Annoying. When I'm running through an airport, I do not need one more thing flapping around behind me, messing with my aerodynamics.

One thing to note on the B Cozzy: they have a few different colors and also a child's size, so there are some perks to this one. I'm thinking about keeping it around and maybe just cheating on the TRTL every now and again...

B Cozzy is $29.97 at Amazon.

Finally: Cabeau Evolution Pillow

The Cabeau Evolution has almost 3,000 4.5 star reviews at Amazon, which tempted us into trying it. The Cabeau is made of super-soft Memory Foam with a removable, washable cover. While it's a bit too tall for my neck, Andy found it very comfortable.

Our problem: it's pretty enormous, and it doesn't collapse down very well. It does have a bag for storage that would help contain its bounty a bit, but for us, this one takes up too much bag space. One helpful thing they did do with all that acreage: put a device pocket on the side.

The Cabeau is the most expensive of the pillows we tested, at $39.99.