10 Travel Essentials That Cost Less Than $10

Luggage Scale

Spend 10 bucks on a luggage scale to avoid paying hundreds in overweight-bag fees. See our list of airline fees for evidence. American, for example, charges $100 per checked bag weighing more than 50 lb. on domestic flights. Invest in a small luggage scale and weigh your suitcase before showing up at the check-in counter with that bulky bag.

If you have room, pack a portable scale and bring it with you on your travels; this way, you can weigh your bag before your return flight, too. (Make sure your scale is properly calibrated; there should be instructions for this in its manual.) In the past, airport luggage scales have been shown to be faulty. Thus, having a scale on hand in case airline personnel claim your bag is overweight could help you duck a hefty fee and give you some leverage if you're willing to argue. The packable Analog Luggage Scale from TravelSmith sells for $10.

Downy Wrinkle Releaser

This stuff is a must when you're packing cotton, silk, linen, or other wrinkle-prone fabrics—especially when traveling to an iron-free zone, like a cruise-ship cabin. (For fire-safety reasons, irons are banned in most ship cabins.) I've successfully used Downy Wrinkle Releaser on many a trip, so I can vouch that it works like a charm. I've found that severely wrinkled garments that require a good deal of spray can get a little damp, so sometimes it's best to spray-and-tug your clothes the day before you wear them, hanging them to dry. Cost: $4.75 for a pack of two travel-size bottles on Soap.com.

Dry Shampoo

Unless you're flying in Emirates' first-class cabins with onboard showers, a long flight affords little opportunity to wash and dry your mane. But for the 99 percent, there's a cheaper option than dropping thousands on a plane suite with a sky shower: dry shampoo. The product absorbs excess oil between washes and is ideal for long flights, camping trips, or whirlwind vacations with little time for hair care. Aveeno Pure Renewal Dry Shampoo is available for $7.99 from Ulta.

Luggage Strap

Cost of a luggage strap: less than 10 bucks. The value of collecting your checked luggage in baggage claim: priceless. In Seven Ways to Prevent Lost Luggage, we advise using a colorful or unique luggage strap to make it less likely that a fellow flyer will mistakenly grab your suitcase in the baggage-claim area. This REI Luggage Strap comes in purple or green and sells for $9.50.

Vapur Anti-Bottle

We've recommended the foldable, reusable Vapur Anti-Bottle over and over again. Here's why: Unlike bulky traditional refillable water bottles, the Vapur's squishy, BPA-free plastic walls can easily be flattened and tucked into your pocket or bag. It's an earth-friendly bottle that takes up almost no space in a suitcase. Plus, it'll save you money, giving you the option to skip pricey bottled-water purchases in expensive airport shops or in destinations with unfavorable exchange rates. Cost: $6.99 on Vapur.us.

Sunblock Stick

Sticking with a carry-on bag? You won't be permitted to bring a bottle of liquid sunscreen larger than 3.4 ounces on the plane, in accordance with the TSA's carry-on rules. So get a sunblock stick, which, as an added bonus, definitely won't leak all over your clothes. Stick sunscreen—and stick deodorant, too—can be brought on a plane in any size or quantity, as the TSA labels it a solid and not a liquid or gel. Get the Coppertone Sport Sunscreen Stick for $5.99 from Walgreens.

Duct Tape

Duct tape is the Swiss Army knife of sticky substances. The multiuse adhesive has the power to repair luggage, cover foot blisters, hide valuables (you can tape them under your bed), cover tent or sleeping-bag holes, adjust skirt hems, remove lint from clothes, and more. You can even use colored duct tape as a makeshift luggage strap. Get the kind printed with images of bacon from Amazon for $6.87 (at the time of publication) for the ultimate in suitcase identification.

Luggage Ties

Luggage locks are key to keeping your suitcase safe—but there's a better (and cheaper) option. According to a report from Budget Travel, "Hundreds of locks and zipper pulls get broken off as they go through the conveyor belts at airport security gates. The locks fall off and land under the conveyor belts."

Budget Travel recommends purchasing plastic zip-ties to use in lieu of locks, and we concur. They're enough to significantly discourage tampering, and, unlike locks, they're cheap to replace. You can get a pack of them for $6.85 from Magellan's.

Tide Stain Stick

Before you avail yourself of the expensive hotel laundry service, whip out a Tide to Go Instant Stain Remover (or the new Tide to Go Stain Eraser, pictured here) and bid adieu to the splotch on your shirt. I like to keep one of these in my purse at all times. It works quite well, especially if you attack the stain as soon as possible. The stick contains liquid, so remember to put it in a zip-top bag if you're bringing one through airport security. Walgreens sells them for $2.79 each.

Hand Sanitizer

While traveling, fend off viruses and germs with a good bottle of hand sanitizer. Although hand washing is more effective, sanitizer is a smart supplement when you're far from a sink and soap. Diane Emo, Marketing Vice President for Coverall Health-Based Cleaning System, told us, "Hand sanitizers are recommended when hand washing with soap and water is not an option. They are a good backup plan and easy for children to use." Bath & Body Works sells travel-size bottles of sanitizer for $1.50 each or five for $5, in a range of scents.

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