If there’s one thing I’ve learned as a traveler, it’s that the wrong toiletry bag can ruin your flow. Too bulky, and it hogs too much space. Too disorganized and you’re wasting time in the bathroom instead of the beach. Too basic, and it feels like you’re going camping instead of traveling in style.

That’s why, after years of wasting money on one wrong toiletry bag after the other and surveying dozens of you, I came up with my own checklist for finding the right one - I call it the SPFDD (spiffed) Rule. SPFDD stands for Size, Portability, Functionality, Durability, and Design. If a toiletry bag doesn’t pass all five, then it’s not getting added to cart.

Here’s how to use SPFDD to choose the perfect toiletry bag for you:

S - Size

Bigger isn’t always better. A great toiletry bag should be just the right size for you— roomy enough to fit your essentials, but compact enough to prevent you from overpacking. I like to have my toiletries on me at all times, so whether I’m going on a weekend roadtrip or hitting the airport for a 10-day vacation my toiletry bag always stays packed and fits in my carry-on. For me that means a medium size bag with roughly a 3-4 L capacity measuring 9 x 6 x 4 inches is the right fit.

In the OOOasis toiletry bag survey, 72% of you also preferred a medium with only 18% favoring a large toiletry bag. I thought this meant most people don’t check their toiletries, but surprisingly nearly 50% of respondents do exactly that. Sure checking in your toiletry bag means you can have full size items and a larger toiletry bag, but with 6.3 of 1000 bags still getting mishandled in 2025, and international flights experiencing nearly 6 times more mishandled bags than domestic flights, I personally would not recommend that.

So before you shop for a toiletry bag, think about your essentials and how you pack your toiletries to figure out if you need a small, medium or large toiletry bag.

P - Portability

Next think about the moments when you’ll actually be using your toiletry bag. Will you A) need to hang it up in a tiny bathroom with no counter space? B) spread it on a counter top because there are no hooks? C) pull it out under pressure for TSA inspection? Most likely it’s D) all of the above, so a good toiletry bag has to work everywhere — it should be TSA-friendly, easy to grab and give you easy access. Therefore an exterior handle that makes it easy to pull out and carry is key.

Once opened a toiletry bag should also have the option to hang because how many bathrooms have we seen that have zero counter space? So a 360 rotating hook or loop is non-negotiable. There are many toiletry bags on the market with static hooks, but without rotation, your access is limited. The Peak designs wash pouch for example, which was named best toiletry bag of 2025 by New York Time’s Wirecutter, has a hook but it does not rotate. Similar to the July hanging toiletry bag, a runner up in the 2024 list, which has a nice stowable hook, but does not rotate either.

So before you shop for a toiletry bag, make sure there is an exterior handle for easy carrying and there is a rotating hanging mechanism for easy access at all angles. Bonus points if the bag doesn’t have a huge footprint when it’s spread on the counter or can be used standing up.

F - Functionality

Most people struggle with organizing their toiletries and resort to either using multiple bags or having to dump everything out to find something. Functionality is all about smart compartments: separate spots for liquids, brushes, skincare, and the little things that always seem to disappear. To figure out how many compartments you need, split your toiletries into categories. My toiletries fall into the following five categories so I know I’ll need five separate compartments.

Body (and miscellaneous): Lotion, bodywash, perfume, silicon loofa, (period items, tweezer, nail file, meds)
Teeth: Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss
Face: Serums, lotion, face wash, makeup remover
Hair: Brush, pins, shower cap, leave in conditioner
Makeup: eyeliner, eyebrow pencil, lip stick, mascara

Create a similar list to figure out how many compartments you need. Including exactly what items fall into each bucket will also help you figure out how big each compartment has to be. For example, I don’t really need a big compartment for makeup, but I need a very big compartment for body and miscellaneous items.

The best toiletry bags make it easy to see exactly where everything is and find it without stress. A pro tip and something that a few people mentioned in the survey is to find a bag with clear interiors so you don’t have to open every compartment to see where everything is. I did that for the OOOasis toiletry bag ;).

D - Durability

We ask a lot of our toiletry bags — they get tossed into suitcases, squeezed under airplane seats, and sometimes survive accidental spills. A durable bag means quality zippers, waterproof lining, and materials that won’t rip the second you overpack. You also want to look for materials that are easy to clean or wipe down like PVC or vegan leather.

D - Design

Last but definitely not least: design. Your toiletry bag should feel like you. Sleek, stylish, and functional — not an afterthought. Travel accessories should spark joy and confidence, just like the outfits you choose for your trips. Over the years I have found that most toiletry bags are either cute or functional. If they are cute then I can’t organize my items and end up frustrated with the mess and if they are functional then it looks like I’m going camping, which, if you know me, I haven’t done since 2010 and would like to keep it that way.

Why SPFDD Matters

I’ve cycled through more toiletry bags than I can count, and none of them ever checked all five boxes. They were either functional but ugly, cute but not functional, or just not providing the seamless experience I was craving. That frustration is what inspired the OOOasis toiletry bag — something that finally passes the SPFDD test. Apparently spiffed means "to make a person or thing neater or more attractive and all I can say is that’s exactly what we’re trying to do here!

So the next time you’re shopping for a toiletry bag, run it through the SPFDD test. If it passes? You just found your new travel bestie. If it doesn’t? Leave it on the shelf and sign up for our newsletter below to be the first to know when preorders for the OOOasis toiletry bag drop.

How to Pick the Perfect Toiletry Bag