College Packing List: Essentials for Students

CNN
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With the school year quickly approaching, it’s always a good idea to be one step ahead on your shopping list, especially when it comes to students. The truth is back-to-school shopping is far from glamorous, and while shopping for bedroom decor and piecing together that all-important campus wardrobe can be more exciting, you’ll want to make sure your child has it all. which he needs for a smooth move -in experience.

It can be easy to overlook handy items like an umbrella or stain remover stick, but in the end, these will be the items they’ll need on a daily basis. To help you out, we’ve put together a list of unexpected college essentials that your child will actually use when they enter campus.

Hurricane Box Fan ($ 35.00; amazon.com)

A box fan is essential to keep the living space cool and fight against the summer heat.

Bedsure Twin XL mattress cover ($ 42.99; amazon.com)

Dorm mattresses are notoriously uncomfortable, so given how little sleep students get at first, that extra comfort of a mattress topper will go a long way.

4 Tier Metal Utility Cart ($ 59.90, originally $ 65.99; wayfair.com)

Due to the minimal storage space many dorm rooms provide, a utility cart is a great space saver for storing everything from snacks to school supplies.

Command Medium Designer hooks (starting at $ 4.89; amazon.com)

The control hooks are essential for hanging decorations and preventing damage to the walls.

Surblue Bedside Cart ($ 13.99; amazon.com)

Bedside tables aren’t necessarily efficient when it comes to saving space, so this bedside cart is the perfect place to keep a pair of glasses, a phone, and whatever else they’d like to have by their bed.

Black + Decker Hand Vacuum ($ 59.00; amazon.com)

Dust can build up quickly in dorms, so staying stocked with a mini vacuum is the best way to keep those rabbits at bay.

OxiClean Max Force Stain Remover Gel Stick ($ 3.69; target.com)

Without a parent to help with the laundry, dye sticks are useful for random spills.

Pure Enrichment Puresteam Portable Cloth Steamer ($ 29.99; target.com)

A traditional iron and ironing board can be a bit bulky for a dorm room with limited storage space, so consider purchasing a portable steamer to keep clothes looking their best.

Large Dokehom Laundry Basket ($ 15.99, originally $ 26.99; amazon.com)

Laundry baskets with handles are perfect for carrying tons of clothes to and from the laundry room.

Brita Standard Everyday Water Filter Pitcher ($ 27.99; amazon.com)

Ditch the single-use plastic water bottles and opt for a Brita water filter instead, which will save you both money and trips to the vending machine.

Anker PowerPort Strip 3 ($ 22.99; amazon.com)

Most dorms don’t provide a lot of outlets, so investing in a reliable extension cord for all of their gadgets can be a lifesaver.

Anker PowerCore 13000 ($ 46.99; amazon.com)

Portable chargers are a convenient purchase to ensure their devices never run out of battery again, no matter where they are. As the top pick for the best overall portable charger, we would say this one is a great choice for college students.

Apple Airpods Pro ($ 189.99, originally $ 249.00; amazon.com)

Reliable wireless headphones can be a game-changer for students on the go. In addition, the noise cancellation function is perfect for studying and concentrating. We even named them the best headphones of 2021.

Livho 2 Blue Light Blocking Glasses Pack ($ 15.98, originally $ 15.98; amazon.com)

Considering the amount of time students spend on their devices, blue light glasses can help the body’s natural sleep cycle after a long day of staring at a screen.

Apple Airtag 4-Pack ($ 99.00; amazon.com)

Apple Airtags, which can be attached to valuables like room keys or wallets, are great for making sure students can find their belongings when they lose them. Read our rave review about them here.

LED Desk Lamp with Wireless Charger ($ 25.99, originally $ 40.00; amazon.com)

Many students know what it’s like to spend a sleepless night studying in their dormitory the night before an exam. This desk lamp provides a wireless charger and allows customization of lighting modes for perfect working conditions.

Super Mini Automatic Umbrella Weather Station ($ 5; walmart.com)

There is nothing worse than walking across campus in the rain without an umbrella. Keep all of your belongings dry with a compact umbrella that can easily fit into a backpack.

Artfan Academic Planner 2021-2022 ($ 20.99; amazon.com)

Organizational skills can make or break a semester. A good planner can seriously help students stay on top of their homework and manage their time.

Yeti Rambler 26 oz ($ 39.99; yeti.com)

As one of our favorite reusable water bottles of 2021, this Yeti Rambler is perfect to bring to class and well worth the effort.

Febreze Odor Eliminating Deodorant ($ 4.94; walmart.com)

Since many colleges don’t allow candles in dorms, Febreze is great for keeping a dorm room smelling fresh.

Mainstay Small Utility Shower Tote ($ 9.95; amazon.com)

A shower basket is essential for keeping all of their toiletries in one place so they can come and go from the bathroom easily.

Xomiboe Shower Shoes (starting at $ 10.90; amazon.com)

These waterproof shower shoes will help protect student feet from bacteria and germs in shared bathrooms. Trust us, you won’t want them to shower barefoot.