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Oil paint is a surprisingly good travel medium. It stays workable for hours, so you can paint at a slow pace on a hillside, and colors do not shift as they dry the way watercolor and acrylic can. The trouble is liquids. Solvent, medium and dirty brush water have to go somewhere, and a leaking jar in a backpack ruins a trip quickly. The best oil painting supplies for travel are the small, sealed, clip-on containers that keep those liquids where they belong, plus a palette you can close up with wet paint inside.
Quick answer: For brush cleaning on location, the DIRBUY portable brush washer has a rubber-sealed clip lid and a carry handle. For medium and solvent at the palette, the U.S. Art Supply large-mouth double dipper has leakproof screw caps and weighs very little. To carry wet paint home, consider the Nuanchu airtight glass palette set.
Here are seven travel-friendly oil painting supplies, a comparison table, the criteria we used, a packing checklist, and a guide to choosing gear for plein air painting and trips.
Our Top Picks at a Glance
- DIRBUY Portable Leak-Proof Brush Washer — Best travel brush washer
- U.S. Art Supply Large Mouth Double Dipper — Best lightweight double palette cup
- Aliotech Double Dipper with Screw Lid — Best double cup for storing medium
- AUEAR 2 Pack Double Palette Cups — Best value two-pack
- Honbay Large Mouth Single Dipper — Best minimalist single cup
- MyLifeUNIT Stainless Steel Brush Cleaner — Best compact washer for car or studio travel
- Nuanchu Airtight Glass Oil Paint Palette Set — Best for carrying wet paint
| Product | Best For | Key Spec | Key Strength | Price Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIRBUY washer | Outdoor brush cleaning | Approx. 3.94 x 3.4 in, stainless, filter | Sealed lid and handle | $ |
| U.S. Art Supply double | Solvent and medium | 2 x 1 oz cups, 3.2 oz | Leakproof screw caps, light | $ |
| Aliotech double | Medium storage | 3.8 in long, 1.8 in cups | Sealed lids | $ |
| AUEAR 2 pack | Spare cups | 2 double cups, stainless | Two for the price of one | $ |
| Honbay single | Minimal kits | 1.75 in wide x 1.19 in deep | Gasket seal, small | $ |
| MyLifeUNIT washer | Car-based trips | 10 oz, sealing ring, filter | Larger capacity | $ |
| Nuanchu glass palette | Wet paint transport | Glass palette plus 12.8 x 9.25 in airtight case | Seals paint between sessions | $$$ |
How We Chose
These picks are based on the Amazon listing details and specifications checked in October 2026, how well each item’s size, seal and weight suit painting away from home, and how widely each is reviewed by Amazon buyers. We have not carried these items on trips ourselves, so we report listed dimensions and features and avoid claims about leak performance beyond what listings state.
- Sealed lids: screw caps, gaskets or rubber rings that keep liquid in.
- Size and weight: small enough for a backpack or pochade box.
- Attachment: clips that slide onto the palette edge so cups do not tip over.
- Material: stainless steel resists solvents and rust.
- Transportability of wet work: airtight palettes keep paint usable for the next session.
Best Oil Painting Supplies for Travel Reviewed
1. DIRBUY Portable Leak-Proof Brush Washer — Best for outdoor brush cleaning
A travel brush washer needs three things: a seal, a filter and a way to carry it. This DIRBUY washer is made of corrosion-proof stainless steel, has a clip-on lid with a watertight rubber seal that the listing says prevents overflow, a filter screen, and a handle so you can carry it or hang it from a box. The listing specifically mentions artists on the move and outdoor painting.
At roughly 3.94 x 3.4 inches, it is compact enough for a backpack but large enough to rinse a medium-size brush. Fill it with odorless mineral spirits or a safflower oil before you leave.
Best suited for: Plein air painters who walk or hike to their painting spot.
Key features:
- Approx. 100 x 87 mm (3.94 x 3.4 in)
- Stainless steel
- Clip-on lid with rubber seal
- Filter screen and carry handle
Pros:
- Designed with outdoor use in mind
- Handle to hang from an easel or box
- Filter keeps sludge separate
Cons and limitations:
- Modest capacity
- Any sealed container can still leak if knocked hard while open
Buying consideration: Pack it upright in a zip bag as a backup layer of protection.
2. U.S. Art Supply Large Mouth Double Dipper — Best for solvent and medium at the palette
A double dipper lets you keep solvent in one cup and medium in the other, clipped to the edge of your palette. This U.S. Art Supply version has a wide mouth with a leakproof screw cap on each cup. Each cup holds 1 oz (30 ml), and the listing gives a weight of only 3.2 oz in plated stainless steel.
The wide mouth matters outdoors: you can dip a brush quickly without fumbling, and the screw caps mean you can pack the cups with liquid still inside.
Best suited for: Any traveling oil painter who uses solvent and medium.
Key features:
- Two 1 oz (30 ml) cups
- Leakproof screw caps
- Bottom clip for palette edge
- Plated stainless steel, about 3.2 oz
Pros:
- Light
- Wide mouths are easy to use
- Screw caps for transport
Cons and limitations:
- Small volume for long sessions
- Clip fits thinner palette edges best
Buying consideration: Fill them only halfway for travel; a little headroom reduces spills when opening.
3. Aliotech Double Dipper with Screw Lid — Best for storing medium between sessions
Aliotech’s double dipper measures 3.8 inches long and 1.2 inches high, with containers 1.8 inches in diameter. It is made of metal with a bottom clip that slides over the palette edge, and sealed lids so you can use it for both storing and mixing.
The slightly larger cup diameter is handy if you use a lot of medium or larger brushes.
Best suited for: Painters who carry pre-mixed medium on trips.
Key features:
- Double cup, 1.8 in diameter each
- 3.8 in long, 1.2 in high
- Sealed lids
- Palette clip
Pros:
- Store and mix in one
- Good size for medium brushes
- Inexpensive
Cons and limitations:
- Shallow cups
- Lid seal depends on careful closing
Buying consideration: Label which side holds solvent and which holds medium to avoid mixing them up outdoors.
4. AUEAR 2 Pack Double Palette Cups — Best for spare cups at a low price
AUEAR sells two double palette cups together in rust-resistant stainless steel with screw lids and a bottom clip. The listing mentions holding turpentine, linseed oil and other mediums.
Two sets let you keep one in the studio and one in a travel kit, so you never forget to pack it.
Best suited for: Painters who want a dedicated travel set and a studio set.
Key features:
- 2 double cups
- Stainless steel
- Screw lids
- Palette clip
Pros:
- Value two-pack
- Rust resistant
- Studio and travel duplicates
Cons and limitations:
- Small cups
- Dimensions listed are compact
Buying consideration: Keep one set permanently packed in your plein air bag.
5. Honbay Large Mouth Single Dipper — Best for minimal kits
If you paint solvent-free or only need medium, a single cup is enough. Honbay’s single dipper measures about 1.75 inches across and 1.19 inches deep with a 1.38-inch opening, and has a plastic gasket that seals tightly plus a palette clip.
It is about as small and light as useful gear gets.
Best suited for: Ultralight travelers and solvent-free painters.
Key features:
- Single cup, 1.75 in diameter
- Plastic gasket seal
- Wide mouth
- Palette clip
Pros:
- Very small and light
- Gasket seal
- Low cost
Cons and limitations:
- Only one cup
- Small volume
Buying consideration: Use it for medium only, and clean brushes with a rag and oil instead of solvent on short outings.
6. MyLifeUNIT Stainless Steel Brush Cleaner — Best for car-based trips
For painting trips where you drive to the spot, a slightly larger washer makes sense. The MyLifeUNIT holds 10 oz, uses a sealing rubber loop for leak-proof closure according to the listing, and includes a removable porous filter. The details list it as portable and free-standing.
It is a practical choice for road trips, holiday rentals and painting workshops.
Best suited for: Painters traveling by car or staying at one location for several days.
Key features:
- 10 oz capacity
- Sealing rubber loop
- Removable porous filter
- Stainless steel
Pros:
- More capacity than small travel washers
- Doubles as a studio washer
Cons and limitations:
- No carry handle
- Heavier when full
Buying consideration: Wedge it upright in a box or crate in the car.
7. Nuanchu Airtight Glass Oil Paint Palette Set — Best for carrying wet paint
The set pairs an 11.81 x 8.46 inch grey tempered glass palette with a 12.8 x 9.25 inch airtight palette with a lid. The listing describes the glass as smooth for easy mixing and accurate color viewing, and the airtight case as sealing in moisture, mainly referencing acrylic use for the stay-wet part.
For oils, the useful part is a sealed box that keeps dust and debris off mixed paint while you travel. Glass is heavy and breakable, so this suits car trips and painting holidays more than hiking.
Best suited for: Painters on multi-day trips who want to keep mixes between sessions.
Key features:
- Grey tempered glass palette 11.81 x 8.46 in
- Airtight palette case 12.8 x 9.25 in
- Lid seals the case
Pros:
- Accurate mixing surface
- Keeps paint covered in transit
- Easy to clean
Cons and limitations:
- Glass adds weight
- Stay-wet features are aimed at acrylic
- Higher price tier
Buying consideration: Wrap the glass in a towel inside the case for extra protection.
Buying Guide: How to Choose Oil Painting Supplies for Travel
Decide on solvent, oil or nothing
The simplest travel kit uses no solvent: wipe brushes with a rag and a little oil on site, and wash at home. If you prefer solvent, use a small amount of odorless mineral spirits in a sealed washer.
Check transport rules before flying
Flammable solvents are generally not allowed in airline luggage, and some oil mediums may also be restricted. Check current airline and TSA guidance before you pack, and plan to buy solvent at your destination if you need it.
Prioritize seals over size
A small cup that seals is better than a large one that does not. Screw caps and rubber gaskets are the features to look for.
Choose stainless steel
Stainless steel resists solvents, does not crack like plastic and cleans easily.
Think about carrying wet paintings
A wet panel carrier or a pochade box with panel slots protects finished work on the way home. Small panels are easier to carry than stretched canvases.
Keep the palette small
Limit yourself to five or six colors plus white. Fewer tubes mean less weight and more harmonious paintings.
Building a Travel Kit by Trip Type
There is no single right travel kit. What you carry depends on how you get to the painting spot and how long you stay. These three setups cover most situations.
The hiking kit
Weight rules everything. Take a small pochade box or a lightweight tripod easel, three brushes, a knife, four or five colors plus white, and two or three small panels. A single sealed cup with medium, a rag and a little oil handle cleaning. Skip solvent entirely; wipe brushes thoroughly on site and do a proper wash at home. Everything should fit in a daypack with room for water.
The day-trip kit
If you drive to the location and walk a short distance, you can add a sealed brush washer such as the DIRBUY, a double dipper with solvent and medium, a wider color range and a wet panel carrier. A folding stool makes long sessions far more comfortable. This is the setup most plein air painters use most often.
The painting holiday kit
Staying somewhere for several days changes the priorities. You can bring a larger washer like the MyLifeUNIT, an airtight palette such as the Nuanchu set to keep mixes from day to day, more panels and a broader palette. If you are flying, plan to buy solvent locally or paint solvent-free, and pack paint tubes in a sealed bag in case a cap loosens in transit.
Whatever the trip, run through a quick test at home: set up the kit on a table, paint for half an hour, and pack it away again. You will quickly see what you forgot and what you never touched.
A Simple Oil Painting Travel Checklist
- Limited palette: white, two yellows, two reds, a blue, an earth color
- Three to five brushes: small, medium and large flats or filberts, one small round
- Palette knife
- Small panels or canvas boards
- Double dipper with sealed caps
- Sealed brush washer or rag and oil for cleaning
- Paper towels and a bag for used rags
- Pochade box or lightweight easel
- Hat and sunscreen; a viewfinder for composing
Practice subjects that suit short sessions. Our guides to painting grass in oil and painting fog in oil both translate well to outdoor sketches.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Packing too much. Heavy kits discourage you from going out at all.
- Using open jars. They spill and evaporate. Use sealed cups.
- Leaving oily rags in a hot car. Oil-soaked rags can self-heat. Seal them in a metal container with water or lay flat to dry.
- Forgetting a way to carry wet work. A wet painting on the back seat ends up smudged.
- Ignoring airline rules. Solvents confiscated at security leave you without supplies.
- Painting in direct sun on your palette. Glare makes colors look different. Shade your palette and canvas if you can.
FAQs
What oil painting supplies do I need for plein air?
A small set of paints, a few brushes, a palette knife, small panels, a sealed palette cup, a cleaning method (sealed washer or rag and oil), paper towels and a portable easel or pochade box.
Can I fly with oil paints?
Oil paints themselves are often allowed, but solvents generally are not because they are flammable. Rules vary, so check your airline and current TSA guidance before traveling.
How do I clean oil brushes outdoors?
Wipe off excess paint with a rag, rinse in a small amount of solvent or oil in a sealed washer, and do a full wash with soap and water when you get home.
What is a double dipper used for?
It holds two liquids, usually solvent and medium, in separate cups clipped to your palette, so you can dip brushes without reaching for jars.
How do I keep oil paint fresh while traveling?
Use a sealed palette box to keep dust off and slow drying. Oil paint stays workable for a long time, so mixes often last into the next day.
What size panels are best for travel painting?
Small panels are easiest to carry and finish in one session. Many plein air painters use sizes in the 6 x 8 to 9 x 12 inch range.
Final Recommendation
For most traveling painters, the core kit is a DIRBUY washer for cleaning and a U.S. Art Supply double dipper for solvent and medium. If you want a backup set or a second kit, the AUEAR two-pack is great value, and the Aliotech double dipper is an alternative with slightly larger cups.
Ultralight or solvent-free painters can get by with a Honbay single cup. Car-based trips leave room for the MyLifeUNIT washer and the Nuanchu airtight palette set, which keeps mixed paint protected between sessions.
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