The Best On-the-Go Organizers from Our 2023 Organization Awards

published Aug 14, 2023
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
silo of best on the go products
Credit: Photos: Solgaard, Cadence, Amazon; Design: Apartment Therapy

Getting ready for plane flights or road trips all require some level of coordination and planning. Got the keys? Is the luggage packed? Do you have snacks for the long drive? Whether you are leaving home for a short moment (like a quick trip to the grocery store) or a long one (enjoy that two-week vacation!), it can be helpful to be prepared for whatever you need out there.

We’ve put together our list of the best on-the-go organizers that make travel, road trips, and even the everyday errand easier to navigate. Read on for all the winners from the On-the-Go category of our 2023 Organization Awards.

Best On-the-Go Organizers

What Makes Up This Category of Winners

In this On-the-Go category, we’ve gathered not only travel-related organizers, but also ones that’ll help with your daily errands, like grocery shopping. We even fit in a couple of must-have gift ideas that you can grab and be on the go to the next event, whether it is a housewarming or birthday party.

On the Go Organizers Winners

1 / 8
Solgaard
$365.00

Once Best List Editor, Britt Franklin, tried the Solgaard Carry-On Closet, that was it — she'll never travel without it, ever. It’s any traveler's dream luggage. Along with being waterproof, scratch-resistant, and compact, the hard shell carry-on luggage's standout feature is its built-in shelving system for packing and a compression strap to hold it in place.

2 / 8
Cadence
$76.00

Managing Editor of Commerce, Tamara Kraus, says these TSA-friendly capsules make traveling with makeup, medicines, and the like so simple and efficient. "Aside from looking like a work of art, Cadence’s travel capsules are pretty smart, too. They're magnetic, so they fit super compactly inside my plastic liquids bag. Most importantly, they're leak-proof so you don't have to worry about a mess waiting for you when you land."

3 / 8
Amazon
$44.99

You'll be the talk of the town with this enviable reusable bag set in your grocery cart. Just ask Executive Lifestyle Director, Charli Penn, who doesn’t shop without this four-bag combo (which includes a cooler bag). “They’re detachable and the removable rods extend to fit inside every type of store cart you might encounter,” she says. “They're super sturdy and the mesh bottoms are so efficient. Collectively, they hold two weeks’ worth of groceries and they're super easy to carry and store.”

4 / 8
Calpak
$98.00

Whether you have a large or compact vehicle, the Calpak Car Organizer will provide some much-needed organization to the trunk of your car. It has three compartments and handles to easily move it to and from your vehicle, and it folds flat so you can tuck it away when not in use, too. Additionally, it's made with a water-resistant material to protect it from any spills.

5 / 8
Amazon
$18.99

This compact key holder from KeySmart may be small, but it packs a big punch. Its slim design can actually hold up to eight keys, so say goodbye to that messy pile jingling and taking up space in your pockets, bag, or purse.

6 / 8
Dagne Dover
$70.00

This travel tech organizer will keep all your cords, chargers, and accessories safe and in one place, with its waterproof material and elastic loops and airmesh pockets. "I've had Dagne Dover’s Arlo organizer for a few years now and have used it for every single trip, whether it’s for a weekend road trip to Maine or a two-week bucket-list trip to the Maldives. It’s surprisingly roomy and extremely versatile, and yes, it still looks as good as it did on day one," says Shopping Director, Jada Wong.

7 / 8
Amazon
$29.99
was $39.99

It shouldn't be a surprise that our top pick for the must-have gift to get for the most practical person in your life is a label maker — and the Brother P-touch Label Maker, at that! It's where organization and personalization intersect to deliver a present that's not only affordable, but also complementary to their way of life.

8 / 8
Open Spaces
$64.00

Open Spaces Storage Gems are seriously gorgeous storage solutions that'll elevate the look of even your most stylish friend's home. The acrylic storage containers feature pops of blue, dark green, amber, and light green to add just enough color to a dresser, bookshelf, or entryway table.

How We Picked Our Winners

The Organization Awards is our guide to the best organizers of 2023. Apartment Therapy editors truly believe these 80 outstanding winners, across 10 categories, are the finest home organizing solutions around. To create this list, we focused on common clutter issues that often arise in everyday life, identified the best products to solve them, and then tested them to see which worked the best.

Here are some of the key things we looked for in an organizer.

  • Durability Is it sturdy and long-lasting? Will it withstand heat, water, or other factors, depending on where it is stored?
  • Availability — Can you easily access this item?
  • Affordability — Is it budget-friendly or worth the splurge?
  • Functionality — Does it serve its desired function or beyond that? Does it solve the organizing issue at hand?

The ultimate goal: Help get your space sorted and free of clutter. Above all, we know there’s no right or wrong way to organize your home, so whether you have 300 or 3,000 square feet of space, we hope this list of adored and approved organizers serves as the best starting point for getting you organized. 

2023 Organization Awards

Want to see more winners? See here for the full list of winners for the 2023 Organization Awards.

All prices were accurate at the time of publishing, but may have changed since then.