You Should Ditch These Travel Items in Favor of Full Size Versions

Travel items have their place. I swear by my little dope kit, which has a travel toothbrush, a mini tube of toothpaste, a pint-sized deodorant, and a short handle razor in its own protective case . These items last almost forever, take up very little space in my suitcase, and work just as well as their full-sized counterparts.

But there are travel-sized things that just aren’t worth it—whether you buy them at home or use freebies at hotels. Those little coffee pods and tiny shampoo bottles are more trouble than they’re worth. If you’re going to be flying in economy class, it makes sense to fit everything into the smallest space possible . But if you’re checking luggage or heading out on a trip this summer, use that extra space to indulge in the luxury of a few full-size pieces.

Real laundry basket.

I used to stuff my dirty clothes into a plastic bag in my suitcase until one day I went on vacation with my family and packed a foldable basket for us all to share. It was so comfortable and took up so little space to pack that I’ve taken it on nearly all my trips since then, even solo trips.

That way, when I take off my clothes at the end of the day, I can toss them in the bin in the corner instead of carefully packing (or leaving them on the floor). The airflow keeps them from getting too stinky, and having a basket also makes it easier to use the laundry on long trips.

Our Managing Editor Megan Walbert takes this idea even further. “I take a laundry basket with me when we go to the beach,” she says, referring to a real plastic laundry basket like the one you would use at home. She packs clean towels and pillows in it and then uses them to do laundry on the trip. The entire basket of already dirty clothes and towels can simply be loaded into the car for the ride home.

Big bag of coffee

Getting coffee on the road can be annoying. Of course, your hotel has them, but usually in the form of small boxes that you use with paper cups in the room. If you’re lucky, there is also a trash can in the hotel lobby. Otherwise, you will have to look for Starbucks.

But you can also bring your own coffee in almost unlimited quantities. I like to travel with a plastic pouring funnel , a set of filters (tip: you don’t need special pouring filters, just use cheap ones and fold them to size) and a bag of pre-ground coffee – whatever you want. If you’re a coffee snob, bring something out of the ordinary; if not, buy a bag of anything at your nearest grocery store or coffee shop. I will be using the in-room coffee maker to make hot water and then pour it from a paper cup directly into the funnel above my full size travel mug.

Pillows

If you prefer a neck pillow on an airplane, bring a neck pillow with you. But if you’re bringing a miniature version of a regular pillow with you to go camping or sleep on a friend’s couch, do yourself a favor and bring a real pillow with you at home. You will be more comfortable this way.

And if you’ll be using your pillow in multiple places — like on the train and then in your bed — consider packing a few extra pillowcases so you always have a change of clean clothes on top of the pillow.

Toiletries you use more than a drop

I started this post by praising my tiny toothpaste and deodorant, but tiny toiletries only work for the things you use every day. If you have long hair, do yourself a favor and get a normal size bottle of shampoo. If you have dry skin, take a full container of lotion with you. You definitely don’t want to skimp on sunscreen if you’re heading out into the sun, so bring a large tube with you.

When you fly, the maximum carry-on size for liquids is 100 milliliters (3.4 fl oz), which is significantly more than what you might think of as “travel size”. Take bottles of this size with you instead of saving those ounces you got at the hotel last time.

And if you really don’t have room for more than mini toiletries, consider that you can just buy full size toiletries when you get to your destination. I showered with French shampoo while vacationing in Paris , which made the trip a little more special than if I had brought my usual brand from home.