Can you actually kit out a trip from Asda without buying junk that falls apart before you reach the airport? Yes — but only if you know which of their own-brand lines are good and which are a waste of £3. I’ve spent the last month testing George Home and ProAction travel gear against pricier stuff from Decathlon and Amazon. Some of it surprised me. Some of it went straight back.

This guide covers what to buy, what to skip, and how to build a full travel kit for under £40.

What Actually Matters When Buying Cheap Travel Gear

Most budget travel accessories fail for the same three reasons: zips that catch, fabric that tears, and seams that split under pressure. That’s it. If a product avoids those three failure points, it’s probably fine for most trips.

At Asda, the George Home range handles soft goods — packing cubes, toiletry bags, neck pillows. The ProAction line covers more technical stuff like padlocks and luggage scales. They’re not made by the same manufacturer, so quality varies wildly between the two.

Here’s my quick filter before buying anything: grab the item, pull the zip open and closed five times. Check the stitching where the zip meets the fabric. If you see loose threads or the zip catches on the second pull, put it back. That one test eliminates about half of what’s on the shelf.

Zips Are the First Thing to Fail

I’ve had three Asda packing cubes die on me. Every single one failed at the zip, not the fabric. The fabric was fine. The zip pull snapped or the teeth misaligned. When a zip fails on a packing cube, the cube becomes useless — you can’t compress it, you can’t close it, you’re better off with a plastic bag.

Asda’s current George Home packing cube set (£8 for three) uses nylon zips that are acceptable but not great. They’ll survive maybe 10-15 trips before showing wear. For the price, that’s actually reasonable. Just don’t expect them to last like Eagle Creek cubes that cost £30 for the same three sizes.

Weight and Size Claims Are Often Wrong

I weighed the ProAction digital luggage scale (£6) against my calibrated kitchen scale. It was accurate within 20 grams, which is fine. But the George Home “compact” travel pillow I bought was nowhere near the size shown on the packaging — it’s about 30% smaller once you unpack it. That’s not a dealbreaker for a £4 pillow, but it’s annoying if you’re buying online without seeing it.

Always check the actual dimensions printed on the back of the packaging, not the marketing photo on the front. Asda is particularly bad at this with their travel pillows and blankets.

The 12 Asda Travel Buys I’d Actually Recommend

Here’s the list. I’ve included exact prices from my local Asda in Leeds as of March 2026. Prices vary slightly by store, but these are close enough to plan around.

• George Home packing cubes (3-pack, £8) — The medium cube fits 5 t-shirts and 2 pairs of jeans. The zips are decent. Best value in the entire store.
• ProAction TSA-approved padlock (£3) — Solid little lock. Fits hostel lockers and suitcase zips. Not Fort Knox, but it deters opportunistic theft.
• ProAction digital luggage scale (£6) — Accurate within 20g. The battery lasts ages. I’ve used mine for 2 years.
• George Home clear toiletry bag (£2.50) — Meets airport liquid rules. The plastic is thick enough to survive being jammed in a backpack.
• George Home microfiber travel towel (£7) — Dries in about 3 hours. Packs down smaller than a paperback. Not as soft as a £25 Dock & Bay towel, but it’s a third of the price.
• ProAction eye mask and earplug set (£4) — The earplugs are genuinely good. The eye mask is fine. For £4, buy it for the earplugs alone.
• George Home travel adapter (£9) — Covers EU, US, and Australia. Feels flimsy but works. Don’t plug anything high-wattage into it.
• George Home neck pillow (£4) — Microbead filling. Okay for short flights. Goes lumpy after about 20 hours of use.
• ProAction luggage straps (£5 for 2) — Bright colours make your bag easy to spot on the carousel. The clips are surprisingly strong.
• George Home travel blanket (£6) — Thin but warm enough for a bus or plane. Packs into its own pouch.
• ProAction mini first aid kit (£3.50) — Basic plasters, antiseptic wipes, a few bandages. Fine for city breaks. Add your own paracetamol.
• George Home wet/dry bag (£4) — Great for storing wet swimwear or dirty shoes. The roll-top closure actually keeps water in.

Asda vs Decathlon vs Amazon: What Each One Does Best

If you’re wondering whether to bother with Asda when Decathlon exists, here’s the honest breakdown.

Asda wins on price for almost everything. Decathlon wins on durability and features. Amazon is a lottery. If you’re a frequent traveller doing 10+ trips a year, spend a bit more at Decathlon for packing cubes and the adapter. If you travel once or twice a year, Asda is perfectly fine and you’ll save £20-30.

When NOT to Buy Asda Travel Gear

Here’s where I’d steer you away from Asda.

First, skip the George Home luggage. The hard-shell suitcases they sell for £35-45 look fine in store but the wheels are terrible. I watched someone drag one through Leeds Bradford Airport and the wheel was wobbling within minutes. Spend £60+ on a proper suitcase from IT Luggage or American Tourer instead.

Second, don’t buy the ProAction power bank. It’s £10 for 5,000mAh, but the charge speed is painfully slow and I don’t trust the battery management. Anker and Belkin both make 10,000mAh power banks for £15-20 that will actually charge your phone quickly and won’t die after six months. This is one area where the extra £5-10 genuinely matters.

Third, avoid the George Home “travel iron” and “travel kettle”. Both are underpowered and the kettle takes 8 minutes to boil. You’re better off using hotel kettles or buying a cheap collapsible silicone kettle from Amazon for £12.

How to Build a Full Travel Kit for Under £40

If you’re starting from scratch and want a complete basic kit without spending more than £40, here’s exactly what I’d buy at Asda tomorrow.

Start with the packing cubes (£8) and the clear toiletry bag (£2.50). These two items will change how you pack more than anything else. The cubes compress your clothes and keep your bag organised. The toiletry bag means you’re not digging through your backpack for your toothbrush at security.

Add the luggage scale (£6), the padlock (£3), and the eye mask/earplug set (£4). That’s your functional core. You can now pack efficiently, weigh your bag before the airport, lock your luggage, and actually sleep on the plane.

If you have budget left, grab the microfiber towel (£7) and the wet/dry bag (£4) if you’re staying in hostels or doing any beach time. Skip the neck pillow unless you have a long-haul flight coming up, and even then, a £4 microbead pillow is only marginally better than nothing.

Total for the core kit: £23.50. Full kit with towel and wet bag: £34.50. That’s less than what Decathlon charges for two packing cubes and a towel.

The Verdict: What I’d Actually Buy Again

If I had to pick three Asda travel accessories to recommend without hesitation, it’s the packing cubes, the digital luggage scale, and the wet/dry bag. Those three are genuinely good products at prices that undercut everyone else.

The packing cubes are the standout. For £8, you get three cubes that work well enough to justify the purchase within one trip. The luggage scale has been accurate every time I’ve used it and has saved me from overweight baggage fees twice. The wet/dry bag is just useful — it’s one of those things you don’t think you need until you’re trying to pack a wet swimsuit in a backpack full of clean clothes.

Skip the luggage, the power bank, and the travel appliances. Those are money wasted. But for the core accessories every traveller needs, Asda is genuinely hard to beat on price.