dopp kits that will go anywhere [and what to put in them]

A GOOD dopp kit is essential, but that doesn’t mean it needs to be basic. And these baller versions will not fail you in either form or function no matter where you’re headed. Whether you’re floating down 100 miles of river or checking into a luxury resort, these durable kits will keep you super organized and ready for whatever comes next. We own and love several of these bags, so they’re field tested for durability and ease of use. And I also included a few of our favorite things to stash inside them for travel.

AN AWESOME dopp kit is a fantastic gift for just about anyone on your list, from tweens to grads to dads to teachers. And you know you can’t gift an empty bag, right? So add a few useful or straight fun things to make their travels that much easier. Happy Trails, lovelies. GIFT A LITTLE HAPPINESS. xo

Dopp Kits make awesome gifts

~~ I gifted my husband this Topo Designs Dopp Kit because he needed a bit more space. It’s a perfect size for holding everything you need and has a totally unique triangular shape so it doesn’t wobble over. It has a water resistant liner and is easy to clean. It’s a perfect blend of form + function; super durable, but with Topo’s iconic hip styling, and it comes in 10 awesome color combos [I’d have a terrible time choosing just one for myself]. It’s a perfect option for someone who’s happy to just dump everything in and go. ~~ $34

~~ Ok, if you like to organize your travel stuff down to the last cotton ball, Tobiq’s Toiletry Bag is going to be your new BFF. It has more little pockets and compartments than you could imagine would fit into such a compact space and it’s also super durable. It opens wide, accordion style and it comes in 8 pretty colors to make anyone smile. Plus it’s designed by a fellow CO mama. I LOVE mine and am coveting a Travel Bag next. ~~ $69

~~ My husband and I have both been using our Sea to Summit Toiletry Bags for close to a decade and they both somehow still look brand new. We’ve dragged them down hundreds of miles of river, to countless campsites and to luxury hotels. This Small Hanging Toiletry Bag has plenty of space for my husband’s more minimal stuff and good mesh zipper pockets for the loose bits. They’re all awesome. ~~ from $46.95

~~ I love the classic logo on this The North Face Base Camp Voyager Toiletry Kit. It’s kind of retro and cool and happens to also be the perfect size for someone who ‘needs’ some extras, but not the whole medicine cabinet. It’s durable and has several compartments for organization, comes in two cool colors and it looks rad, so a total winner. Might be awesome for a teen or tween, too. ~~ $40

~~ Cotopaxi’s Nido Dopp Kit has three compartments, including an interior zippered pocket to keep little bits extra safe. It’s kind of a perfect size, super durable and comes in a few really pretty solid colors OR you can choose one from their unique and colorful Del Día Collection that empowers the artisans who are sewing them to choose the colors they want to combine. ~~ $45

~~ If you’re happy to just toss everything in and hit it without a bunch of fussy pockets, the Aloha Dopp Kits are super pretty. They are roomy and ‘splash proof’ and come in a bunch of really awesome prints for both gals + guys. I love mine and also use one to keep track of my boys’ undies and socks while traveling, so it’s a good catchall for whatever loose stuff you need to wrangle on the road. ~~ $48

~~ We have a few of these little Patagonia 3L Black Hole Cube bags and they’re awesome. They’re technically designed to use as a catch-all for anything you need to wrangle, but they’re the perfect size, shape for a low maintenance dopp kit, all of my boys have used them and I’ve gifted several to other teenage boys. I also use a larger 6L Black Hole as our ‘medicine cabinet’ when we’re in the boonies for everything we might need to treat minor illness or injury. All of Patagonia’s Black Hole bags are weather resistant, have awesome handles, are incredibly durable and open nicely so you can see everything inside and are basically awesome. ~~ from $39

~~ STATE Bags has the whole family covered for stylish and super functional Toiletry Kits [or any other kind of bag for that matter]. From the more subdued, sleek Hart to the more flashy, fun Bensen, everyone can sport the look they love with all the organization they might need. Love them all. ~~ from $65

~~ Dakine makes a few different Travel Kits depending on how much space you need. This Groomer Medium Travel Kit has a unique top that peels fully open to find essentials easily. It has a few pockets for organization and is fully water resistant. The Revival has a hidden hanger loop if you like to get your kit off the countertop. Both versions come in a variety of fun colors + prints. ~~ $34.95

~~ Nomatic thought of everything when they designed the sleek Toiletry Bag 2.0. It has a spot for all of your essentials, including a dedicated pocket just for keeping your toothbrush clean. It’s totally water resistant so nothing’s getting in or out of this thing. And it has an optional hanging strap to get it off the counter. With 2 different sizes to choose from, you’ll def find an option that will hold all of your stuff. It’s sleek, durable and made for travel. ~~ from $54.99

~~ Fjallraven’s Kanken line includes a bunch of super useful, stylish travel accessories, including their awesome Toiletry Bag. I’ve gifted one to several teens I love and it’s perfect. It has enough organization to keep things a bit separated and is the great size. The inside can be wiped clean and it has a useful little handle for carrying. It comes in pretty colors, too. ~~ $54.95

~~ I gave each of my boys one of these Carhartt Travel Kits. It’s perfect for someone who wants to just chuck everything in there and go. It’s simple, but useful and cool. It’s water resistant both inside and out, easy to clean and comes in classic black or Carhartt Legacy Brown. ~~ $19.99

Stuff to put inside your dopp kit

~~ I’ve been searching for YEARS for good travel containers. Most reusable kinds are impossible to clean and I’m left with half a wee bottle of old, yellowing body lotion that’s nearly impossible to clean out. And if I’m lucky enough to find a travel-sized tube of something I actually use, I often end up only getting through half of it before it gets yuck and I feel doubly guilty about chucking both product and plastic. Sound familiar? Then you’ll love Cadence. These gorgeous little containers are made from ocean-bound plastic and come in different sizes and pretty colors so YOU get to decide how much stuff to put inside and how to organize them. They’re an absolute breeze to clean out between trips and are totally leak-proof, so you can put ANYthing in there. I use them for skincare, supplements, jewelry, hair goo… really, ALL the stuff. And you can customize the labels so you always know what’s inside [I chose to leave mine blank and use color to know what’s inside]. THEN they all magnet together. If I’m getting on a plane, I plop them all into a Stasher Stand-Up Mid and I’m ready to GO. I have placed three more orders after my initial purchase because I’ve found so many uses for them and I can’t get enough of the gorgeous colors. They’re magic, LOVE THEM. ~~ From $14

~~ I was a bit weirded out when I first tried this Cocobrush because the angle is different from any other brush I’ve ever used. But then I could tell that it was reaching in weird spots that other brushes don’t and now I totally love it and all the other brushes feel weird. I honestly think it makes me teeth cleaner. ~~ $10

~~ If you don’t love using those scratchy over-bleached washcloths in rentals [hi, hey there], just tuck a Geometry Luxe Washcloths or Hand Towel into your kit and you’ll be ready for a soft and happy experience every time. They come in a zillion prints and dry really fast, too. ~~ from $16 / Use DarcieC15 for 15% off your order every time.

~~ Whether you’re in the woods with no access to water or in the car after a gym workout, these Babo Botanicals Cleansing Wipes will freshen up your face, hands or any other body part with one big swipe. They deliver super gentle skincare on the go. I love them for camping, morning and night to get the grime off and prepare for what’s next and my boys love them, too. ~~ $8.99

~~ If there’s no water where you’re headed or you just have a ‘minimalist’ on your hands, Ursa Major’s Essential Face Wipes are your perfect solution. They deliver pretty much a whole regimen of super high quality, fresh-smelling, effective skin care with a single swipe and take up no space. ~~ $26

~~ I don’t travel without this Dr. Bronner’s Organic Magic Balm. We use it all the time for post ski or sun chapped faces, minor scrapes and dry spots and it really is like magic. ~~ $9.99

~~ I would SO never leave home without a trusted pair of tweezers. I mean, weird hairs pop up no matter where you’re going, right? Plus, we particularly like the fine point pair for the inevitable splinter emergencies. These little Tweezerman Micro Minis come in a variety of colors and set options. ~~ from $15

~~ My older son and I both use Native Deodorant and love it. The scents are all lovely and subtle. There’s no aluminum, talc, phalates or parabens and it works great [I think…nobody’s told me otherwise]. They also now have plastic-free versions, too. ~~ from $12

~~ This Boiron Calendula Cream isn’t sexy, but it’s my mom secret weapon and I bring it everywhere. It heals, cuts, scrapes, sunburns, burns and sometimes I just rub it on stuff that hurts so that my boys ‘think’ they’re on the road to healing. It’s awesome. ~~ $14

~~ I wouldn’t go anywhere without my Poppy & Pout Lip Balm. It’s the best one I’ve found. It’s squeaky clean, comes in a recyclable cardboard tube and in a bunch of yummy flavors. Wild Honey and Lemon Bloom are my personal favorites, but they all smell delicious. ~~ $10

~~ Don’t leave home without a good pair of clippers. This Tweezerman Stainless Steel Set includes two sizes of well-made, sharp and reliable clippers for any of your needs. ~~ $15

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