The $14 toiletry bottle set is supposed to end the TSA liquids nightmare. Is it actually leakproof, or is it just a smaller version of the same mess? I’ve been flying 120+ segments a year for the last four years, and I’ve had a 3-1-1 bag explode on me at O’Hare. I’ve also lived with a set of these bottles for the last 18 months. Here is the truth about packing liquids, from a guy who has cleaned shampoo off the inside of a $300 carry-on.
Related: How To Pack A Laptop In Carry On Luggage
If you are just here for the answer: you need silicone bottles with a locking cap, a clear quart bag that isn't flimsy, and a hard rule about not filling anything to the brim. The rest is marketing.
Veken 10 Set/8 Set Packing Cubes for Travel Essentials,Anti-Wrinkle Buckled Suitcase Organizer for Shoe & Toiletry Bag,Carry On Luggage Bag for Airplane & College Dorm Room Accessories,Women Men Gifts
Leakproof seals, wide mouth for filling, locking caps survive my bag being thrown
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Matador Soap Bar Case XL - Waterproof & Leakproof Extra Large Soap Holder Travel Case, Quick Dry Soap Pouch for Large Soap Bars, Shampoo Bars and Conditioner Bars, Soap Bag for Traveling
The only way to carry solid shampoo without a mess
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Verage Underseat Carry On Luggage with Wheels, 14.5-Inch Spinner Small Suitcase, Softside Lightweight Travel Bag for Men and Women, Airplane Carry On Bag, Black
The classic squeeze tube, no leaks, easy to clean
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Matador Soap Bar Case v2 - Waterproof & Leakproof; Quick Dry Pouch for Soap, Shampoo & Conditioner Bars
Thick plastic, double zipper, doesn't burst
Visit on Amazon →How I tested
I’ve been in the baggage business for over a decade. Six years at the gate, two years repairing luggage in a shop, and four years reviewing it. The "Juno test" applies to softside bags, but for liquids, the test is the "gate check special." I pack the bag full, put it in my carry-on, and run it through the overhead bin on a CRJ-900. That’s the small regional jet where you have to shove your bag sideways. If a bottle survives that, it survives the belt.
I filled each bottle with shampoo, conditioner, and lotion. I flew with them. I also threw my carry-on down a set of stairs at home, because that is what the ramp agents do when they are angry. I checked the zippers on the bags, the seals on the bottles, and the caps after every flight.
The Veken 8-Piece Toiletry Bag Set
Let me start with the problem. The first time I used these, I didn't lock the caps. I was in a hurry, threw the bag in my carry-on, and by the time I landed in Denver, I had a wet spot on my favorite shirt. That is on me, not the bottle. The caps have a locking mechanism, and if you don't engage it, you are asking for trouble.
The version I own came with the clear quart bag, a 3-1-1 bag that meets the TSA sizing, and three silicone bottles with a wide mouth. The wide mouth is the key feature. You can fill these with a funnel or even a spoon, and you don't need a syringe to get thick lotion in there. The seals are a hard plastic gasket, not a flimsy rubber ring. After 18 months, the seals still look new.
The bag itself is a weak point. It's clear, it's got a double zipper, and it's held up. But it's a bit tight if you pack the bottles to full capacity plus a tube of toothpaste. You have to be strategic. The zipper on the bag is better than the Amazon Basics ones, but not as beefy as the Shacke Pak zippers I rave about.
These are not compression bottles. You can't squish them down to get the last drop out. You have to shake them, wait, or just accept you're leaving a little shampoo behind. That's the trade-off for a bottle that won't burst.
Pick these up if you want a set that works every time.
The Matador FlatPak Soap Bar Case
I am a skeptic of anything that claims to be ultralight and packable. Matador sells a case for a bar of soap, and I thought it was the dumbest thing I'd ever seen. Then I flew with it.
I've used this for six months with a bar of Dr. Bronner's. It's a flat, zippered pouch that you wet, put your soap in, and it seals. The material is a coated nylon that doesn't absorb water. You can throw it in your bag while the soap is still wet, and it won't soak your clothes.
This is the only way to carry solid shampoo without a mess. I still carry liquid for conditioner, but the soap bar case means I don't need to pack a liquid body wash. That frees up space in my quart bag for other things. The case itself is $15, which is a lot for a pouch. But it's the difference between a bar of soap that ruins a pocket and one that doesn't.
The downside is the zipper. It's a thin zipper, not the beefy kind I like. It hasn't failed, but it doesn't feel like it will last a decade. I've had it for six months and it's fine.
Choose this if you want to ditch liquid soap entirely.
GoToob by Gotoob (or similar squeeze tube)
Humangear has been making these squeeze tubes for years. I started using them before I worked at the gate, because they are the only bottles I found that don't leak from the cap. The cap is a flat, wide disk that seals against the body of the tube. There's no threading to strip, no tiny hinge to break.
I've used the 3-ounce version for over a year with face wash. The silicone is thick, not flimsy. You can squeeze it, and it holds its shape. The opening is a slit, so the product comes out in a controlled line, not a glob.
The problem is the cap doesn't lock. On the Veken bottles, you twist the cap to lock it. The GoToob just presses shut. If you pack this at the bottom of a bag and something heavy sits on it, the pressure can pop the cap open. I've had it happen once, and it was a mess.
The other issue is filling. The opening is the same slit that dispenses the product. You have to use a funnel, and even then, it's slow. You're not going to fill this quickly in a hotel sink.
This is the classic for a reason. It's the bottle I recommend to people who are tired of leaky caps, but you have to be careful about pressure.
Amazon Basics Quart Bags
I don't usually review bags, but the quart bag is the thing that fails most often in the TSA line. The cheap ones from the grocery store burst the first time you cram them into a bin.
The Amazon Basics version is thicker than the store brand. It has a double zipper that actually seals. I've used these for a year, and I've never had one pop open.
The problem is the zipper. It's not a sliding zipper. It's the press-and-seal type. You have to run your fingers along the entire track, and if you miss a spot, it's not sealed. I've seen passengers in the security line get flagged because their bag was half-sealed.
These are worth the money because they are cheap and they work. But if you want a bag that seals with one motion, look for a slider bag. I haven't found one that meets the TSA sizing and lasts, so I stick with these.
How to pack liquids without a disaster
Here is the system I use. It's the same system I used at the gate, and it's the same system I use now.
First, buy the Veken set and throw away the bag it comes with. Use the Amazon Basics quart bag instead. The Veken bottles are the best I've tested, but the bag is a bit tight. The Amazon Basics bag gives you a little more room.
Second, fill the bottles to 80 percent capacity. The air gap is what prevents the pressure from building up and popping the cap. If you fill to the brim, you are asking for a mess.
Third, lock the caps. Every time. If the cap has a lock, use it.
Fourth, put the quart bag in the outside pocket of your carry-on, not at the bottom. If it leaks, you want it to leak where you can see it and clean it up before it soaks into your clothes.
I don't track prices day to day, so I won't pretend to know next week's. But I know a $13 set of bottles that has survived 18 months of travel is worth the money.
The bottom line
The Veken set is the winner. The locking caps and the wide mouth make it the most reliable option I've tested. The GoToob is a close second if you don't mind the filling hassle. The Matador case is the smart move if you want to skip liquids for soap.
You will still have to take your bag out at security. You will still have to put it in the bin. But if you use a locking cap and don't fill to the brim, you will never be the person cleaning shampoo off the belt at 5 AM. That's the win.