Ditch the Liquids Bag: The Complete Guide to Dry Travel Products

Traveling full-time is much easier when you aren't constantly worried about the 3-1-1 liquids rule or a shampoo bottle exploding in your bag. While toothpaste tablets are the gateway product, almost every liquid in your bathroom now has a high-quality solid alternative.

Why Go Dry?

The TSA Problem

The 3-1-1 rule limits you to 3.4oz (100ml) containers in a single quart-sized bag. For digital nomads, this means:

• Constantly buying travel sizes
• Risk of confiscation at security
• Exploded bottles in your pack
• Wasted space on packaging

The Solid Solution

Dry products eliminate these problems entirely:

• No liquid restrictions — walk through security without removing anything
• No spill risk — nothing to explode at altitude
• Longer lasting — most bars outlast their liquid equivalents by 2-3x
• Less plastic — bonus for the environmentally conscious

The Complete Swap Guide

1. Oral Care

Toothpaste Tablets The most popular entry point to dry travel. Just bite, chew slightly, and brush with a wet toothbrush.

• Bite — Best for fluoride seekers (they offer both fluoride and nano-hydroxyapatite versions)
• Denttabs — European brand with a cult following
• Huppy — Great flavors, refillable tins

Pro tip: Fluoride vs. non-fluoride is a real debate. If cavity prevention is your priority, stick with fluoride or nano-hydroxyapatite formulas.

Mouthwash Tablets Same concept—chew, add water, swish, spit.

• Lush Toothy Tabs — Popular and widely available
• by Humankind — Clean ingredients, refillable

2. Hair Care

Shampoo Bars The technology has come a long way. Modern bars don't leave that waxy residue the old ones did.

• HiBAR — Salon-quality formula, 80+ washes per bar
• Viori — Rice-based formula from Longsheng, China (seriously good)
• Ethique — Wide variety for different hair types

Conditioner Bars Trickier to get right, but several brands have nailed it:

• HiBAR Conditioner — Pairs with their shampoo
• Ethique The Guardian — Great for color-treated hair

All-in-One Bars For minimalists who want one bar for everything:

• J.R. Liggett's — Old-school bar that works for hair, body, and shaving
• Dr. Bronner's Bar Soap — The classic 18-in-1 (they really do list 18 uses)

3. Shaving

Shave Sticks These look like small deodorant sticks. Rub directly on wet skin, lather with hands or brush.

• Shavestix — Purpose-built for travel
• Arko Shave Stick — Budget classic, used by barbers worldwide

Shave Bars Contain high amounts of cocoa butter and bentonite clay for "slip."

• Ethique Tip-to-Toe — Works for shaving AND moisturizing
• Desesh Shave Bar — Specifically designed for sensitive skin

4. Body & Skin

Solid Deodorant You probably already use stick deodorant—just make sure it's not a gel or spray.

• by Humankind — Refillable container, great scents
• Native — Widely available, solid formula
• Cardboard tube options — Many eco-brands now skip plastic entirely

Face Cleansers Several forms work for travel:

• Cleansing sticks — Dermalogica and Glow Recipe make solid stick versions
• Powder cleansers — Add water to activate (Dermalogica Daily Milkfoliant)
• Solid balms — These technically melt but are TSA-approved as solids

Body Moisturizer Lotion bars and solid balms work great:

• Ethique Butter Block — Intensive moisture in bar form
• Lush Massage Bars — Melt into skin from body heat

5. Sunscreen (The Hard One)

This is the trickiest swap. Solid sunscreens exist but have limitations:

• Stick sunscreens — Work well for face, awkward for full body
• Powder SPF — Touch-up protection, not primary coverage

Reality check: For full-body sun protection, you may still need a liquid. Consider keeping one small liquid sunscreen as your only toiletry bottle.

The Essential Case: Matador FlatPak

The biggest mistake travelers make with solid products is letting them sit in a puddle of water. Wet bars:

• Degrade faster
• Get slimy
• Can damage other items in your bag

The solution: Matador FlatPak Soap Bar Case

This case is made of special fabric that lets the bar dry out THROUGH the bag while keeping your luggage dry. It's the single best accessory for solid toiletries. Get one for each bar you travel with.

My Travel Setup

After testing everything, here's what I actually use:

Total toiletry weight: Under 12 oz, no liquids bag required.

Making the Transition

Don't throw out all your liquids at once. Try this approach:

1. Start with toothpaste tablets — Easiest swap, biggest impact on your liquids bag
2. Add shampoo bar — Test at home first to find one that works with your hair
3. Swap shaving — If you shave, this is the next easiest
4. Face products last — These are more personal and may require experimentation

Where to Buy

Most of these products are available on Amazon, but consider buying directly:

• Bite — bfriendy.com
• HiBAR — heirloomers.com
• Ethique — ethique.com
• Lush — Physical stores worldwide

The Bottom Line

Going dry isn't just about TSA convenience—it's about simplifying your travel life. Fewer bottles, less weight, no spills, longer-lasting products.

Start with toothpaste tablets. Once you experience walking through security without removing your toiletries bag, you'll never go back to liquids.