15 ‘Deals’ to Skip From Amazon’s Labor Day Sale—and What a Traveler of 30 Years Says to Buy Instead

Plenty of travelers can say that they’ve been jet-setting for most of their life—but far fewer can say that their travel experience predates their existence. But I can confidently say that I’ve been boarding flights since before I was born; in fact, I was even conceived while my parents were traveling. With 30 full years of travel experience under my belt, I’ve learned a thing or two about what travel gear is worth its weight in gold—and what’s worth avoiding altogether, even when they’re on sale. 

Curious to know what travel products I’ll be shopping (and skipping) from Amazon’s Labor Day sale? Keep scrolling. Ahead are the 15 items I’ve deemed less-than-worthy of your hard-earned dollars, plus 15 alternatives I recommend buying instead. From Samsonite luggage sets to podiatrist-approved Vionic ankle boots, these 15 products have my stamp of approval as a traveler of 30 years, featuring price drops up to 65 percent off. 

Best Overall Deals:

Don’t buy: Lesser-known shoe brands

Do buy: Your favorite name brands

Now, don’t get me wrong—there are hundreds of lesser-known shoe brands on Amazon that are top-tier in quality. But if you’re loyal to a specific brand, like Brooks or Converse, I recommend shopping for those instead. It’s more difficult to find styles from these brands on sale throughout the year, especially at these competitive price drops. 

Case in point: Keen’s Whisper Closed-toe Hiking Sandals are usually $120, and while you can find them on sale across the web for $90, Amazon has them listed at just $65 right now. And these New Balance 327 V1 Sneakers are usually $80—but they’re marked down by $20 for the holiday weekend. So, do yourself a favor and just spring for the name-brand shoes you know you’ll love; those other underrated gems will still be there to try out once Labor Day weekend is over. 

Don’t buy: Single suitcases or carry-ons

Do buy: A luggage set

There are so many great deals on luggage, like duffel bags, rolling carry-ons, and checked suitcases, happening at Amazon this Labor Day. But if your luggage rotation is looking a little worse for the wear, consider upgrading your collection in one fell swoop while they’re on sale. Buying two-, three-, or even five-piece luggage sets is the easiest way to save money while stocking up on everything you need for travel. 

One of my favorite luggage sets on sale right now is this Samsonite Ascella 3.0 set. This duo includes a softside carry-on and medium checked suitcase, both equipped with expansion capabilities, interior zippered dividers, telescopic handles, and smooth spinning wheels. 

Don’t buy: Single-device portable chargers

Do buy: A multi-device power bank 

As a 30-year-old who has traveled all of her life, I’ve accumulated an embarrassing amount of portable chargers and power banks. Many of them are outdated and worse for the wear, and couldn’t juice up my phone if their lives depended on it, but alas, I feel weird about throwing stuff out, so I’ve been hiding them deep in my closet for “just in case” purposes.

That is, until now. I bought this exact Charmast Portable Charger back in February, and it has quickly become my ride-or-die tech accessory, even when I’m not traveling (I’m using it to charge my headphones as I type this). This genius power bank has four different built-in charging cables and has an LED screen that displays how much battery life it has left. It’s small, powerful, and can handle tons of abuse; I’ve dropped it hundreds of times now, and it’s still working like a charm. 

Don’t buy: Thick fleece sweatsuits

Do buy: Transitional matching sets

When the temperature drops to subzero levels, a thick, cozy fleece sweatsuit can be a lifesaver. But you likely won’t see those kinds of numbers for at least another four months, depending on where you live, and because their material is so thick and warm, you run the risk of becoming a sweaty, overheated mess while wearing these kinds of sweatsuits outside. 

My tip? Wait until Black Friday rolls around to invest in a plush, fleece outfit—and grab a matching set that’s just as cozy without being suffocating. I love this matching crew-neck pullover and drawstring shorts combo from Anrabess. You can wear them together as a comfy, cute airplane outfit, or wear them separately with different tops and bottoms. And, just as I suspected, their midweight fleece fabric is “perfect” for transitional months, according to five-star reviewers. 

Don’t buy: An inflatable neck pillow

Do buy: A twistable memory foam pillow

I try to buy products that we feature in our roundups when I can. A few months ago, I decided to purchase this Dot&Dot Twist Memory Foam Travel Pillow after reading some of the five-star reviews it had received on Amazon—and I am so glad that I did. 

This travel pillow has ruined standard donut-style neck pillows for me. It can be twisted to create multiple different shapes and angles (a dream for leaning up against the window), and therefore, can be used in ways that standard neck pillows cannot, such as a lumbar support pillow. It’s also covered in plush memory foam that, in my opinion, offers support that’s far superior to inflatable neck pillows. And, you guessed it—it’s on sale right now for Labor Day for 50 percent off. 

Don’t buy: A self-defense keychain

Do buy: An ultra-loud personal safety alarm

As a female solo traveler, I’m always thinking of ways that I can travel safer and smarter. Self-defense keychains, like cat ears, might seem like a good way to ward off a violent attacker, but these weapons require you to be extremely close to an assailant to use them effectively, and if they’re able to take them away from you, you could end up getting hurt in the process. And because these keychains can be classified by TSA as a weapon, they’ll likely get confiscated at the security line, anyway.

Instead, I recommend buying a personal safety alarm keychain, like this top-rated one from She’s Birdie. On sale for $30, this pint-sized keychain has a top ring that, when pulled, blasts an ultra-loud 130-decibel siren that’ll startle your attacker and alert passersby that something’s going on, giving you time to escape.  

Don’t buy: Trendy statement blouses

Do buy: A versatile button-down

You may be itching to drop some money on some trendy fall tops this Labor Day, but allow me to convince you to stick with the versatile styles instead (at least for now!). Autumn technically doesn’t kick off until late September, with Fall Fashion Week kicking off a week beforehand. We won’t have a good sense of what fall trends to add to our closets until then, and we’ll be experiencing hot, late-summer temperatures for at least a few more weeks. 

It’s for these reasons and more that I recommend holding off on bold statement blouses this Labor Day. Instead, buy a reliable, lightweight button-down shirt that’ll work overtime in your carry-on for many seasons to come—like this oversized option that’s on sale for $23 and is carried up to a size 5XL. It’s got a classic square collar and chest pocket and has a bottom hem that hits far below the hips, allowing you to tuck it into low-rise skirts and pants. 

Don’t buy: Uncomfortable fashion boots

Do buy: Podiatrist-approved boots you can walk in

People who deal with chronic foot pain know this to be true: Not all ankle boots are created equal. Some flat boots look deceptively comfortable, but have a serious lack of arch support that can exacerbate plantar fasciitis. And some ankle booties with wedge heels might appear moderate, but can actually throw your weight onto the balls of your feet, scrunching your toes up against the toe box.

This Labor Day, invest in a pair built for all-day comfort, like these chic Vionic Aria Ankle Boots, on sale for 65 percent off. Both podiatrists and Oprah Winfrey herald Vionic for their cute, comfortable styles, and these Chelsea boots are no exception. They’re built with cushioned, arch-supporting EVA midsoles and the brand’s patented Vio Motion technology, which promotes foot alignment and more balanced steps. 

Don’t buy: A regular backpack

Do buy: One that can also be a duffel bag

The best purchase I made this year, hands down, was my Calpak Terra Laptop Duffel Backpack. This thing opened my eyes to how genius two-in-one duffel backpacks can be: They’re usually far roomier than standard backpacks, and come with an adjustable crossbody strap so you can schlep it across your body when your back and shoulders need a break. 

Unfortunately, the Calpak version is a bit steep—even at its sale price of $168. But Amazon has several more affordable options you can shop for Labor Day, like this one from Mier, $43. It has a dedicated shoe compartment and multiple interior and exterior pockets, and is constructed with a water-repellent tarpaulin material to protect your belongings from the elements. 

Don’t buy: Regular earbuds

Do buy: Noise-canceling earbuds

Normal Bluetooth earbuds are fine for listening to music at home or in quiet public spaces, but between the crying babies and the roaring sound of plane engines, flights can be notoriously loud. You’ll wish your earbuds could filter out the background noise, which is why I recommend reaching for a noise-canceling set like the Apple AirPods Pro 2 instead. 

These bestselling pair is equipped with Active Noise Cancellation that can remove up to two times more background noise than competing models, enhancing your listening experience while on the go. They also have a Transparency Mode that lets background noise in, for moments when you want to stay tuned into the world around you while still jamming out to your favorite songs. The best part? They’re on sale for $169.

Don’t buy: A passport cover

Do buy: A passport wallet you can track

Take it from someone who almost lost their passport in a Costa Rican jungle last year—don’t board an international flight without a GPS tracking device attached to it. Replacing a lost or stolen passport while abroad is a logistical nightmare that I wouldn’t wish upon my worst enemy, and my close call in Costa Rica was enough to convince me to swap out my old passport cover for an AirTag-holding passport wallet. 

Amazon has hundreds of options to choose from, with many of them on sale for Labor Day, like this RFID-blocking one from Pascacoo. On top of an AirTag slot at the back, this passport wallet has four credit card slots, a SIM card holder, dedicated spaces for your cash and travel documents, and a pint-sized metal pen.

Don’t buy: Mesh luggage organizers

Do buy: Compression packing cubes

When it comes to traveling light, every inch of space counts—and while mesh organizers do a decent job of keeping your socks, underwear, and outfits separate, they don’t have the space-saving capabilities of compression packing cubes. If you’re looking to become a pro at traveling with just a carry-on, I suggest scooping up a set of compression packing cubes at Amazon while they’re on sale for Labor Day. 

I own and use this specific set of Bagail cubes; they helped me squeeze a week’s worth of clothes into my tiny carry-on while traveling solo to Puerto Rico, and the water-repellant fabric kept my clean clothes dry when I had to shove my still-damp swimsuit back into my bag after a day at the beach.  

Don’t buy: An open tote or handbag

Do buy: An anti-theft bag with zippers

I love a floppy leather hobo bag or screen-printed shopping tote, but these open-top bags just aren’t a good choice for traveling. Items can spill out of them too easily when they’re placed down, and they expose your essentials to the rest of the world, giving thieves and pickpockets a free peek into what valuables are up for the taking. 

The peace of mind that an anti-theft travel bag can provide is invaluable, and Amazon has plenty of zippered, theft-deterring options on sale for Labor Day. This spacious crossbody bag from Travelon, on sale for 35 percent off, has slash-resistant lockdown straps, RFID-blocking credit card slots, and locking zipper pulls, all ensuring that your most-loved items stay protected while sightseeing. 

Don’t buy: A travel steamer

Do buy: A 2-in-1 travel iron

I currently own and use a travel steamer, especially for trips where there’s a nice dinner or business event on the itinerary—but I’d be lying if I said it performed up to my standards. Having to refill the reservoir over and over again can be annoying, and some wrinkles are so stubborn, they demand direct contact with a clothing iron.

Imagine the look on my face when I discovered that not only are two-in-one travel irons a thing that exists, but Amazon has them on sale for Labor Day for as low as $20. This option from Piomatic, 33 percent off, has a non-stick plate and five steam outlets for busting out wrinkles, but can also operate as a dry iron. Weighing in at just 16 ounces and measuring under 6 inches in length, this baby is compact and easy to throw in a carry-on. 

Don’t buy: Single travel-sized toiletries

Do buy: A travel set from your favorite brand

Did you know? Amazon has hundreds of all-in-one travel toiletry sets from a wide variety of haircare and skincare brands. Rather than buying individual travel-sized shampoos or body washes, you can scoop up a curated set from your favorite brand—and many of the best options are on sale for Labor Day. 

E.l.f.’s Holy Hydration Skincare set, which includes a facial cleanser, a daily moisturizer, a night cream, an eye cream, and a hydrating balm, is on sale for just $16. Meanwhile, Korean skincare brand Medicube’s Glass Skin Collagen travel kit is on sale for $15, and Chi’s Infra The Essentials Kit, $27, can help you achieve the blowout of your dreams while protecting your strands from heat damage.