How To Choose The Right Toiletry Bag?

There are so many kinds of toiletry bags out there. How do you choose one that is truly useful and versitile?

Frankly, I bring A LOT of toiletries when I travel. If I am going on short trip, where I am only bringing a carry-on bag, I prefer to use a simple zipper toiletry/cosmetic bag that has only one compartment (like the ones on the right side of the above photo). Because this kind of toiletry bag takes up less space.

When choosing a zipper toiletry bag, it's best to look for one that has a spacious interior. So it's useful to store all kinds of stuff in it. Most importantly, its material should be waterproof, both inside and outside! This way, the interior is easy to clean up and the exterior won't get wet in the bathroom!

The exterior of the left striped-toiletry bag is satin, it stains easily and soaks up water. The right black-toilety bag is plastic, so it's waterproof!

If I am going on a trip that lasts for more than 5 days, my all time favorite toiletry bag is the hanging toiletry bag.

It can hold an amazing amount of stuff! Everything is organized in its own compartment.

The same amount of stuff fits into two zipper toiletry bags. But the curling iron and the hairdryer won't fit. 

 But the inside is disorganized. It's difficult to shuffle through and look for what I need. 

Hanging toiletry bag is great because:

1) It can store large amount of stuff.

2) I can group and store my toiletries in different compartments. Therefore, everything is easily located and reachable. 

3) Packing and unpacking is easy! Just take the whole thing in or out of the luggage, then hang it somewhere. 

4) Instant shelving! Often there is not enough space anywhere in the room to put out the toiletries. How often has it happen to you that you resort to put something above the toilet, and it falls into the toilet bowl? Hanging toiletry bag is an instant shelving system! You can hang it almost anywhere. 

5) Hang it anywhere! 

 On door/cabinet/drawer knob 

On top of the door

 On towel rack

In the closet

When choosing a hanging toiletry bag, look for one with large and sturdy hook. Larger hook is easier to hang. Strong hook is very important because it needs to be able to support the weight of the entire content. 

Choose a durable material. Material such as plastic that is waterproof is ideal. The inside of my hanging toiletry bag is fabric, so the edge of the hanging bar is tearing out of the bag. 

Large hanging toiletry bag takes up a lot of space in the luggage. So I usually fold it in half, and place it flat in the luggage.