What Not to Buy From the Amazon Memorial Day Sale 2025

Memorial Day weekend is right around the corner, and on top of an extra day of rest (and the signaling of the unofficial start of summer), the holiday weekend also ushers in a multitude of sales that can be a great opportunity to stock up on travel essentials ahead of your upcoming trips. While Amazon never disappoints with the sheer volume of deals it provides during events such as these, there’s no denying that it can be tricky to determine which deals are actually worth capitalizing on and what’s better left behind.

So, with the needs of savvy travelers in mind, we’ve created a comprehensive list of the 15 Amazon travel products to pass on during the retailer’s Memorial Day weekend sale, as well as the best swaps to get the most bang for your buck. Whether you’re searching for quality accessories to transform your travel experience or comfy clothes to add to your packing list, these are the deals you’ll actually want to score ahead of the long weekend—prices start as low as $10 on gear from Samsonite, Trtl, and more. 

Don’t Buy: a Single Suitcase

Do Buy: a Complete Luggage Set

Samsonite Winfield 3 DLX Hardside Expandable Luggage 3-piece Set

Amazon’s major sales are the best opportunity to buy travel essentials in bulk, so instead of picking up a single suitcase, you’ll undoubtedly find a much better deal on a luggage set instead. At 44 percent off, this trio of Samsonite’s is a no-brainer purchase since it includes a compact carry-on as well as medium and large checked bags, effectively fulfilling all your luggage needs.

Each suitcase is expandable, so you’ll have no trouble fitting your essentials inside with room to spare, and it certainly doesn’t hurt that the set has earned more than 3,100 five-star ratings for its quality, lightweight design, and other thoughtful features. 

Don’t Buy: a Bulky Neck Pillow

Do Buy: a Foldable, Lightweight Option

Trtl Travel and Airplane Pillow

A good neck pillow can single-handedly improve the overall comfort of your travels, but many of them are bulky and difficult to pack. Fortunately, the shopper-loved Trtl Travel and Airplane Pillow just went on sale ahead of Memorial Day weekend, and its compact design and sanitary packing pouch make it an asset for trips long and short. It provides more head and neck support than traditional neck pillows, and it’s even machine washable, so you don’t have to worry about bringing the germs of your travels home after your trip. 

Don’t Buy: a Travel Steamer or Iron

Do Buy: a Two-in-one Steamer

Quuenjenl Travel Steamer and Iron

Depending on the clothing you’ve selected for your travels, you’ll need to address each fabric’s wrinkles with either a steamer or an iron. Rather than buying (and packing) both, Amazon’s latest sale provides the perfect opportunity to snag this two-in-one that does both for 27 percent off. It heats up within five seconds, so you can quickly eliminate wrinkles in a pinch, plus it’s suitable for use on a wide range of fabrics without fear of damaging them. At just over one pound, it’s a lightweight addition to your carry-on—and even more compact than traditional travel steamers.

Don’t Buy: Pepper Spray

Do Buy: a TSA-friendly Safety Alarm

Thopeb Personal Safety Alarm

It’s important to note that pepper spray is still a great safety measure to have on hand, and you can travel with it provided it’s packed into your checked luggage. However, seeing as it can’t be delivered to some states and also can’t go into your personal item, you’ll be better served picking up a more packable portable safety device, like this marked-down option from Thopeb.

If you find yourself in an unsafe situation, simply pull the pin, and the device will release a loud, blaring alarm in tandem with a strobe light that will startle would-be attackers and alert passersby to your situation. It clips directly to your keychain for easy access and is a great accessory for solo travel and beyond.  

Don’t Buy: an Old-school Portable Charger

Do Buy: a Portable Charger With Built-in Cords

Charmast Portable Charger With Built-in Cables

Portable chargers are one of the most useful pieces of technology to have in your personal item while traveling. Instead of investing in one that requires you to provide your own cords, it’s much smarter to select an option with cables included. This slim charger comes with four built-in cables compatible with iPhones, Samsung devices, and more, allowing you to power up to six devices at once while you’re on the go. It’s fitted with a display at the front to show exactly how much charge is left, so you’re never caught unaware, plus it’s so lightweight that it’ll be a great addition to your purse during a day of sightseeing without taking up too much space. 

Don’t Buy: Individual Travel Outfit Pieces

Do Buy: a Lightweight Matching Set

Anrabess Women’s 2-piece Summer Lounge Set

Whether you prioritize comfort or style from your travel outfit, Amazon has no shortage of matching sets that provide both, many of which are on sale for Memorial Day weekend. And while it may seem obvious, it’s far more cost-effective to buy a ready-made outfit than individual pieces when crafting your dream travel wardrobe.

Now on sale for just $34, this two-piece set is a valuable addition to your shopping cart at $17 apiece, and you’ll never run out of ways to wear it since it’s so easy to dress up or down depending on your footwear and accessories. Best of all, the top and bottom are versatile enough to be worn together or separately, effectively multiplying your outfit options during your next vacation.

Don’t Buy: Sandals That Will Give You Blisters

Do Buy: a Comfy Walking Pair

Mysoft Women’s Comfortable Walking Sandals

It’s easy to fall into the trap of cute summer sandals (especially while they’re on sale), but if you’re picking up shoes for an upcoming trip where you’ll be doing a lot of walking, it’s of the utmost importance that you select a pair that’s comfortable straight from the box. Thankfully, these slip-on sandals deliver both comfort and style, making them the perfect selection to score while they’re on sale for $35.

The slip-on design is great for getting through TSA unencumbered by shoe laces, and they’re made with shock-absorbing insoles that will keep you fresh on your feet far longer than other footwear options. And as for blisters, one shopper raved, “Did I have a single blister or sore feet after two weeks? No, and as someone with plantar [fasciitis], this is a miracle.” They even went as far as to call them the “best travel sandals” they’ve “ever owned.”

Don’t Buy: a Handheld Portable Fan

Do Buy: a Lightweight Neck Fan

Jisulife Portable Neck Fan

We’ve officially entered the time of year when traveling with a fan is practically essential to remaining comfortable despite the heat. But if you’ve yet to pick up a portable option of your own, you’d be better served passing over the handheld devices in favor of a convenient neck fan that offers more complete cooling.

This lightweight fan boasts five different speeds and an adjustable design that won’t tangle in your hair. It keeps your hands free so you can stay comfortable while walking through the airport or during a day of sightseeing, and it even contains up to 16 hours of run-time on a single charge. 

Don’t Buy: a Basic Beach Cover-up

Do Buy: a Multifunctional Button-down

Lemafar Women’s Smocked Oversized Button-down

A bathing suit cover-up is generally good for only one function, but if you’re looking to maximize your travel wardrobe with versatile pieces you can wear again and again, your money will be better spent on an oversized button-down that will look just as great at the pool as during a nice dinner.

This striped top stands apart from the rest with sweet details like ruched sleeves, a soft cotton blend, and built-in side pockets. It’s easy to throw on over a bikini or pair with tailored trousers for a fancy meal, and you’ll get far more wear out of it than a run-of-the-mill cover-up.

Don’t Buy: Travel-sized Toiletries

Do Buy: Reusable Toiletry Bottles

Tocelffe 18-pack Travel Bottles

It’s no secret that you can’t fly with full-sized travel toiletries, but instead of picking up travel-sized bottles, it’s far savvier to snag a set of reusable containers to fill with your existing products. A best-seller at Amazon, this 18-pack of travel bottles is a genius addition to your packing routine since it can be used time and time again with products you already have.

The silicone bottles are easily refillable, and each one is built with a leakproof design that won’t cause spillage within your toiletry kit. Plus, the variety of colors makes it a breeze to differentiate the bottles, and they’re all TSA-approved sizes, so you don’t have to stress about anything getting thrown away in the airport. 

Don’t Buy: a Standard Backpack

Do Buy: a Clamshell Carry-on Backpack

Taygeer Travel Backpack

While it remains true that a backpack is the best personal item choice, it’s still important to select a bag that’s actually designed for travel. If you’re considering picking up a new tote on sale during Memorial Day weekend, we suggest leaving the basic bags behind in favor of this spacious carry-on backpack that unzips like a suitcase, leaving so much extra space for packing.

It’s the perfect size to slide beneath the seats of most commercial airlines (even when packed to the brim), while the interior is fitted with a built-in wet bag and shoe pouch to keep your belongings clean and organized. Accompanying straps inside the primary pocket keep extra clothes and other belongings firmly in place during your travels, and it also comes with a padded laptop compartment for safe transport of your devices. At $24, it’s a far better value than the traditional top-zipper backpack style—and it comes in 14 stylish colors. 

Don’t Buy: Mesh Packing Cubes

Do Buy: Compression Packing Cubes

Bagail 4-set Compression Packing Cubes

If your goal is to increase the amount you can pack into your suitcase, you’ll be far better off investing in a good set of compression packing cubes than the flimsy, mesh alternatives. This highly-rated set has earned more than 17,200 five-star ratings from happy customers, and we suspect it’s in large part due to the fact that it increases packing space by up to 40 percent, according to the brand.

Each bag is made from high-quality, rip-resistant fabric that can take the wear and tear of travel in stride, and the set comes with four different pouches of varying sizes to fit everything from bulky outerwear to socks and undergarments. At $17, you’re spending less than $5 per bag—a steal for the amount of packing space they’ll free up. 

Don’t Buy: Flimsy, Uncomfortable Earplugs

Do Buy: High-quality, Customizable Earplugs

Loop Quiet 2 Ear Plugs

Earplugs are a great way to block out in-flight noise or reduce the sounds of the snores from the travel companion you’re sharing a hotel room with. However, instead of picking up a box of cheap foam earplugs, Amazon’s Memorial Day sale is the perfect opportunity to grab the ultra-comfy (and somehow stylish) Loop Quiet 2 Ear Plugs while they’re 25 percent off.

Not only are they far more comfortable than standard earplugs, but they also come with three different silicone tip size options to best fit your ears—and they’re made to last for years. They’ll help you sleep better during your travels, protect your hearing if you’re attending a concert or sporting event, and best of all, they come with a portable carrying case for use on the go. 

Don’t Buy: Corded Headphones

Do Buy: a Compact Bluetooth Converter

Twelve South AirFly SE Bluetooth Wireless Audio Transmitter

Enjoying in-flight media traditionally means packing a pair of corded headphones or resigning yourself to wearing the uncomfortable pair provided by flight attendants. However, if you’ve been meaning to stock up on corded headphones for your next flight, feel free to take them out of your cart in favor of the Twelve South AirFly Bluetooth Converter that will allow you to connect your favorite noise-canceling headphones to the seatback screen.

The best-selling device simply plugs into the headphone jack beneath the screen, and with the touch of a button, you can pair it with your favorite cordless headphones to enjoy a movie without blocking your seatmates from using the restroom or experiencing inner-ear discomfort. It contains more than 20 hours of battery, so you can remain entertained throughout the duration of your flight, and right now it’s on sale for $35.

Don’t Buy: a No-frills Passport Holder

Do Buy: a Passport Holder With Bluetooth Tracking

Kicoroiny Leather Passport Holder With AirTag Slot

Traveling with a passport holder is a great way to ensure your valuable travel documents are stored safely in one place and are easy to access while rushing through the airport. But rather than picking up a standard option, you’ll find much more value in scoring a passport holder with a built-in AirTag slot so you can always have the peace of mind of knowing it’s on your person before leaving the house, airport, or flight.

This leather holder comes with two handy card slots and a secure pouch for your passport or boarding pass, plus it has a slot at the front designed to store an AirTag for easy tracking. If you’re someone who always worries about losing or forgetting your passport, you’ll want to pick up this handy accessory while it’s on sale for just $21, thanks to a special on-site coupon. 

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