15 Editor-Loved Must-Haves That Will Make College Commuting so Much Easier
No dorm room? No problem.
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Instead of stocking up on college dorm-room essentials and planning my big move after graduating high school, I hunkered down for two years of commuting to college from my parents' house. I was trying to save some cash on future student loans (mission accomplished) — but it required years of long drives before moving into a dorm junior year.
It's been a while since I was behind the wheel driving to a campus, but I remember the daily routine clearly: eat a quick breakfast, pack a lunch, grab my backpack and hop in the car with hopes that I wouldn't be late for my 9 a.m. There were a handful of items that made these early-morning commutes a breeze, from reliable chargers to cozy car seat covers to comfy sneakers seemingly designed for speed-walking through the parking lot.
Below, find some of my personal commuting favorites, along with products tested by GH Institute that I highly recommend for the college commuter in your life.
CAT MeshFlex Automotive Seat Covers
Why you need it: Commuting to college means being in your car (a lot) — and having a cozy seat cover made all the difference. While I didn't have these specific seat covers during school, our experts at the GH Institute appreciate their durability and comfortable foam backings.
What our experts say: These covers withstood 15,000 rubs in our Lab's abrasion tester and showed "minimal signs of wear."
RELATED: 5 Best Car Seat Covers
ASICS Women's Gel-Cumulus 26 Running Shoe
Why you need it: If I had a penny for every time I speed-walked through the campus parking lot to make it to class on time, I'd have... a lot of pennies. If only I wore these sneakers, which our Textiles Lab named best walking shoes for walking all day.
What our experts say: Our experts noted how "lightweight" these felt — and they praised the improved shock absorption as well as the padded back tabs for added support.
RELATED: 14 Best Walking Shoes
Why you need it: One thing I always made sure to have while commuting was a reliable backpack. This one, which our experts named the best value college backpack, boasts tons of features useful for on-the-go students (like a padded laptop compartment and an anti-theft lock). There's even a built-in USB port which is ideal for anyone charging their phone between classes.
What our experts say: Our Textile Lab pros determined that this backpack offered the best value as it costs a fraction of what most other college backpacks retail for, while still offering notable features.
RELATED: 15 Best College Backpacks
Why you need it: When you're commuting to college, you don't have the opportunity to run back to your dorm room for a quick meal between courses. The solution? A sleek, easy-to-carry lunch bag that'll keep your lunch fresh for up to four hours, per the brand.
What our experts say: We tested a version of this lunch bag from Hydro Flask, and our experts appreciated how the bag kept food upright (thanks to the flat bottom).
RELATED: 10 Best Adult Lunch Bags
HOTOR Car Trash Can
Why you need it: At the end of each school week, I remember my front seat being littered with empty water bottles and vending-machine snack bags. This car trash can, which is designed with a trash opening and mesh side pockets, definitely could've helped.
What our experts say: While we haven't tested this item, this trash can was recommended to Good Housekeeping by a professional organizer.
Apple AirTag
Why you need it: When you're running around campus without a home base (other than your car), it's easy to lose personal items every now and then. The Apple AirTag can help keep track of your belongings.
What our experts say: Our Lab experts named the Apple AirTag the best overall luggage tracker. They appreciated that it's lightweight and compact, plus they liked the easy-to-use accompanying app.
Amazon Essentials Women's Short-Sleeve Maxi Dress
Why you need it: When you add a 30-minute commute into the mix, time is limited between waking up and getting to class on time. This casual maxi dress is a simple solution to the question: "What should I wear to campus today?"
What our editors say: Thanks to its simple, yet chic design that can be paired with anything from gym sneakers to heels, it's perfect for long school days packed with classes and meetings.
RELATED: Best Travel Dresses
Zojirushi Stainless Steel Mug
Why you need it: Before leaving for class, I often filled a travel mug with coffee so I didn't have to make any cafe stops during my drive. This mug, which we named our best travel mug for commuting, is quite literally perfect for the college commuter.
What our experts say: It won't leak in a backpack, per our testing — and it keeps contents hot (or cold!) for up to six hours, according to the brand.
RELATED: 9 Best Travel Coffee Mugs
Why you need it: For me, sunglasses are a must-have while driving — especially a stylish polarized pair, like this one. Thanks to the polarized lenses, glares from the sun are reduced, per the brand. Plus, this particular style has over 10 frame colors and designs to choose from.
What our editors say: A few of our staffers are personal fans. "I get so many compliments when I wear [mine], and the key thing for me is the polarized lenses!" says Associate Editor Adrianna Freedman. "I plan to buy more in the future."
RELATED: 17 Best Sunglasses for Women
Amazon Essentials Women's Fisherman Cable Long-Sleeve Crewneck Sweater
Why you need it: Regardless of the season or semester, classes can be chilly — and I always liked having a sweater at hand in case I needed it. This cotton option by Amazon Essentials has a classic cable-knit design that can easily be paired with a dress or jeans. Thanks to its midweight fabric (per the brand), carrying it around from class to class shouldn't feel strenuous, whether it's in your backpack or around your waist.
What our experts say: Our Lab experts appreciate the inclusive sizing, with sizes up to 6X.
RELATED: Best Sweaters for Women
Anker USB-C Car Charger
Why you need it: Back when I commuted to college, a car charger was an absolute necessity. This one from Anker is built with two USB-C ports that quickly deliver 40 watts of power to your devices.
What our experts say: Our pros even named it the overall best USB-C car charger after testing various models.
RELATED: 6 Best USB-C Car Chargers
Bose Bose QuietComfort Ultra Noise-Cancelling Headphones
Why you need it: Since I didn't live on campus the first two years of college, I often found myself in the library between classes. Noise-canceling headphones were essential while studying and blocking external chatter — and these ones by Bose deliver.
What our experts say: Not only were our experts "blown away" by the clear sound quality of these, but they also praised the noise-canceling feature as well as the comfortable design.
RELATED: 11 Best Noise-Canceling Headphones
Wet Brush Detangler Hair Brush
Why you need it: For me, running around campus all day long meant taking breaks now and then to brush my hair. This mini Wet Brush was praised by one of our staffers, who called it a "game changer." It's the perfect size for a purse or even a car dashboard, and its detangling capabilities are impressive.
What our experts say: The full-size brush was named our best value hair brush. Testers found that it detangled hair "painlessly."
RELATED: 12 Best Hair Brushes
Repel Umbrella The Original Portable Travel Umbrella
Why you need it: Trust me: There's nothing worse than running through campus during a rainstorm without an umbrella — so why not opt for this one, which features an auto-open button? Right now, it's 55% off.
What our experts say: It was named the best travel umbrella on Amazon by our experts, who praised its compact size.
RELATED: 8 Best Travel Umbrellas
Why you need it: Depending on where you live, fall-semester mornings can get chilly — especially when you're leaving extra early for class. These faux-leather gloves are perfect for those frigid moments before the car heater kicks in.
What our experts say: They were named our best value driving gloves — but they can also be used walking around campus, due to their touchscreen-compatible design. Though budget-friendly, we like the chic faux leather design.
RELATED: 5 Best Driving Gloves
Amanda (she/her) is a writer and editor covering deals, trends and sales. She has almost a decade of experience in digital journalism, including more than five years in e-commerce at brands like Bustle Digital Group and TODAY. Amanda has a bachelor’s degree in communications with a concentration in journalism from Ramapo College of New Jersey. When she’s not working, you can find her writing songs.
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