3 products I rely on to help me pack and stay organized while I travel

To maximize your packing space and stay organized on the go, you need packing cubes. I can't believe I used to travel without them. They're such a simple product, but they making packing so much easier.

I love these expandable packing cubes from REI for a few reasons. There are three sizes, all of which can be expanded to hold even more with the side zipper. Each cube has a top handle so it can easily be picked up and moved around. The see-through mesh pocket on top holds a card where you can list the contents of each pack, so you know what's inside before you even open it.

The nylon material is lightweight, but durable, and most importantly water repellent — so your clothes will be protected from any unwanted toiletry explosions.

These packing cubes will not only keep everything neat and easy to find in your bag, but they help keep everything compact, which ultimately gives you more space. To get the most out of each cube, I've found that rolling rather than folding your clothing is the best method. Roll each piece tightly, and you'll likely have room for more clothing than each cube suggests.

If you don't have a set of packing cubes yet, here are some of our favorite options:

• 3 sets of packing cubes that make it easy to fit more and stay organized on trips
• The best packing cubes you can buy

All of your clothing is rolled up, placed in packing cubes, and ready to go. Now, it's toiletry time.

I honestly find packing toiletries to be even more of a nuisance than packing clothing. Toiletries are heavy, bulky, and the irregular shapes can make them hard to pack. You can pack a few pouches worth of toiletries and scatter them throughout your luggage, but I find that one big dopp kit works best.

There are many options out there, but I prefer something like this compact Reisenthel organizer. It isn't the coolest-looking option around, but it's affordable, waterproof, and can fit a whole bathroom counter's worth of products inside. It has compartments made to fit specific toiletry bottle sizes, like body wash, toothpaste, and razors.

The dopp kit can be packed and zipped into a compact bag, but it also includes a small hanger that makes it easy to hang up so you can see all of your products when you get to your destination. For just $11, this is a very useful, not to mention budget-friendly, way to keep your toiletries organized.

If you'd like something a little more stylish, or just want to see a wider array of options, you can find our favorite toiletry bag options below:

• The best toiletry bags you can buy
• The best dopp kits you can buy

Things don't always go as planned when you travel, so I always like to pack a few lightweight canvas totes or waterproof nylon bags to be extra prepared.

Plastic bags also do the trick, but these materials both offer a more substantial and sustainable option. These bags come in handy for separating dirty laundry, shoes, or containing any toiletry spills. Plus, you can actually carry them as tote bags while you're on your trip. Now, all you have to overcome is baggage claim.

If you want to see a few easily packable tote bags that double as reusable grocery bags, check out our guide:

• The best reusable tote bags you can buy