When packing for any trip, the first thought of every traveler is how to compactly pack things in a suitcase so that everything fits. And at the same time, do not forget the basic things that you cannot do without. And so that everything folded retains its decent appearance and does not become too wrinkled.
The number of things will depend on the season, purpose and duration of the trip. And it is important to balance the volume of things and the size of your travel bag or suitcase. If you have to fly to cold countries for two weeks, and you only have a compact bag the size of hand luggage, then perhaps you should think about a new thing.
What to consider when packing your suitcase
- To avoid forgetting anything, make a list of necessary things. Then re-read it and think about which items can be replaced with more compact ones, and which ones you can not take with you at all. For convenience, use Lifehacker’s ready-made lists for different trips.
- Make outfits for each day of travel. Try to combine things so that you don't have to take too much.
- When choosing clothes, shoes and accessories, consider the weather conditions and how you will spend your time. Do not take things in reserve, otherwise they may remain in your suitcase for the entire trip.
- Do not take with you anything that you can buy cheaply at your destination. We are talking, for example, about toothpaste, soap or a beach hat.
- It is better to put heavy bulky items and things that will not be needed soon at the bottom of the suitcase. Accordingly, put at the very top what can be useful to you right away. For example, sleepwear or toiletries.
Here are some more useful tips:
5 rules that will help you pack for a trip →
Use of vacuum bags and sealing bags
If there are too many things or they are bulky, then you can use vacuum bags. Due to sealing, each item is reduced by three times, and the suitcase will fit 20-30% more clothes. In addition, they protect property from dust, dirt, insects, fungus and foreign odors.
There are certain packaging rules:
- All clothing must be dry. If you seal a wet item, the next time you open the bag you may notice an unpleasant odor.
- Massive carved buttons, buckles, zippers and locks must be hidden inside the fabric and only then the air must be pumped out so that the bag does not tear.
- If a small hole or cut occurs, it can easily be sealed with adhesive tape or tape. The main thing is to immediately notice the gap before the air escapes completely.
- Don't pack a lot of things in one big bag. It's better to use several small ones.
- Before you start packing, you should smooth out the item to prevent any bulges from forming. Subsequently, a flat bag will be easier to place in a suitcase.
For certain sealing bags, a vacuum cleaner is used to remove the air. It is worth thinking in advance about what to do if the procedure has to be repeated. Otherwise, you won’t be able to pack your clothes compactly into your suitcase on the way back.
How to fold shoes and socks compactly
Simply folding your shoes without putting anything inside is not a smart idea. After all, about 6–8 pairs of socks can fit into one pair of closed shoes.
We talked in detail about how to fold socks as compactly as possible here:
How to fold socks: 5 quick and easy ways →
The shoes themselves can be placed in regular plastic bags and placed along the edges of the suitcase. There it will take up less space than at the bottom.
If you want it to look neater, use special shoe covers. The free space in them can be filled with some little things. For example, the same socks.
Here are some convenient and beautiful cases:
- Case with mesh insert for several pairs of shoes →
- Case with transparent insert for one pair of shoes →
- Folding case for one pair of shoes →
It is better to place bulky cases with large shoes tightly on the bottom of the suitcase. Small cases with flat shoes will not take up much space. So they can be placed on top of the folded items at the very end.
Folding luggage
When things are prepared, they need to be put in a suitcase so that everything on the list fits and things take up less space.
It is important to pack your luggage not chaotically or as it turns out if the need arises to quickly find and pull out the necessary item. Ultimately, the suitcase should not be too heavy and uncomfortable to transport.
How to fold clothes compactly
To prevent clothes from getting wrinkled, it is best to roll them up or stack them in a special way. Lifehacker has already talked about it. And he even made a video instruction:
So we will not dwell on this method. But it’s worth talking in more detail about how to roll things up.
How to fold pants
Suit trousers need to be folded crosswise in half and, starting from the fold, rolled into a regular roll.
It's better to fold your jeans a little differently. Turn the top part out and place one pant leg over the other. Starting at the bottom, roll up the jeans. Then wrap the folded part around it.
How to fold sweaters, shirts and other long-sleeved items
Place the sleeves at an angle on the front of the sweater and fold them in the middle. Turn the bottom of the sweater out a few centimeters. Fold the right side of the jacket towards the middle and cover it with the left side. Starting from the neckline, roll the item and wrap it with the folded part.
Shirts are folded similarly:
You can use a simpler method: fold the shirt in half, lay the sleeves lengthwise and roll it up.
How to fold T-shirts
T-shirts fold almost the same way as sweaters:
And to save time, you can collapse them together:
How to fold dresses and skirts
Simply fold the skirt in half lengthwise and roll it into a roll. You can do the same with dresses with short sleeves. If they are long, fold the dress in the same way as sweaters.
How to fold warm clothes
If you only need to take a couple of sweaters, sweatshirts or other bulky items with you, you can simply fold them neatly this way:
And to save space, it’s better to put them in a suitcase not on top of each other, but vertically.
A warm jacket can be rolled into a tight roll and tied with rubber bands for security, as shown in this video:
Or put it in a bag or case:
But if there is a catastrophic lack of space in your suitcase, vacuum bags will come to the rescue. It is better to choose bags without a valve - they are also called compression bags.
Place your things there, zip the bag and roll it tightly. This will allow excess air to escape.
How to pack a suitcase
You can simply stack folded clothes on top of each other or put them in organizers. This will create order in your suitcase. And if you divide clothes into them by type (jeans in one organizer, T-shirts in another, and so on), this will also make it much easier to find the things you need.
Here are some good organizers:
- Set of eight organizers with bags and shoe cover →
- Set of six organizers with mesh inserts →
- Set of four flat mesh organizers →
Things rolled up and placed in organizers take up very little space. This way you can fit almost an entire wardrobe not only in a suitcase, but even in hand luggage!
Hand luggage on an airplane: what, how and how much you can carry in 2018 →
Well, if you still want to fold things the old fashioned way, in a pile, use tissue paper and film. This way the clothes will definitely not get wrinkled.
Recommendations for putting things in a suitcase
Necessary little things, for example, a belt, charger should be packed along the wall of the suitcase compartment, and socks, underwear, swimwear - in the free zones.
The main rule is that the tighter the clothes are, the lower the likelihood that they will wrinkle and fragile items will break.
- It is better to put fragile things on top. Liquids in luggage must be packed so that they do not leak.
- Before packaging, you need to check each bottle or tube to ensure that the cap is securely closed, place it in a tight package, and tie it well.
- It is better to place fragile objects so that softer things are located around them.
- Glass bottles must be wrapped in clothing.
After all these packing manipulations, you need to zip up the suitcase, you can press it down a little with your knee, but the main thing is not to overdo it.
How to fold your underwear compactly
You can’t just crumple the laundry: it can become deformed and take up a lot of space. You also need to approach packaging wisely.
Both women's and men's underpants can simply be folded neatly. Or you can roll it up like this:
Bras can be placed on top of each other, and panties can be placed in the cups of the latter.
There is also a more compact way: fold each bra in half, placing one cup in the other, and place the underwear on top of each other.
Place folded laundry in regular bags or special organizers. You can choose a simple chest organizer or an unusual bra-shaped organizer.
Tip #4: Put it in a special pocket
This method is suitable for those who travel light. Let's say you only take sneakers and flip-flops with you. Great! We put them in pairs, pressing the soles against each other, and the “tops” outward. We put it in a special pocket, close it with a zipper and forget about it.
It’s very convenient if you’re going to change your shoes right away at the airport or at a hotel: you don’t need to look for anything, just take it out of your pocket and keep your entire suitcase in order!
If you plan to take out your shoes while on the road, place them on top. Although this, perhaps, applies to all essential things.
How to fold cosmetics and toiletries
It is better not to take full-size versions of care products with you. They will take up a lot of space and make the suitcase heavier. Shampoos, gels, balms, tonics and other liquid cosmetics can be poured into small bottles. It’s better to put creams, lotions or masks into small jars.
You can purchase travel kits that have everything you need and even more:
- Nine-piece travel set →
- Eight-piece travel set →
- Six-piece travel set →
To prevent anything from spilling and staining things, use cling film. Unscrew the bottle cap, wrap the neck with film and screw it on.
As for decorative cosmetics, it is important not to break anything when transporting it. For protection, add cotton pads to blush, powder and eye shadow.
If possible, purchase mini versions of some products. For example, samples of cream, mascara or perfume. During the trip they will probably run out, and they won’t have to be brought back.
It is better to put cosmetics and toiletries in a cosmetic bag or special organizers.
Here are some very convenient options:
- Spacious hanging organizer for cosmetics and toiletries →
- Spacious travel cosmetic bag with several compartments →
- Large travel cosmetic bag →
- Compact travel cosmetic bag →
Tip #2: Cover your soles
Dirty shoes will ruin your suitcase, your things, and your mood in the end. If you decide to wash your sneakers upon arrival, you will have to cover the soles with something. Our favorite for this is masking tape. It looks like this: white, slightly rough, and comes in different sizes. Its advantage over regular tape is that it leaves no marks. That is, after it your feet will not stick to the asphalt. But dirt, quite possibly, will stick to the tape and be removed along with it. So you won’t even have to wash it, if you’re lucky.
How to fold various small items
Wires, cables, chargers and headphones can get lost among other things, or get tangled in a regular package. Therefore, it is better to resort to special storage devices:
- Large wire organizer with several compartments →
- Compact cable organizer with several compartments →
- Compact thin organizer for wires →
If you wish, you can make a simple organizer with your own hands:
A curling iron or other device can be placed in a towel and rolled into a roll.
Small belts can be tucked into shoes, and larger ones can be wrapped around folded jeans.
Jewelry can be placed in small boxes, glasses cases, or even in an unnecessary soap dish.
Here's how Lifehacker packed his suitcase:
How to pack a suitcase using organizers: reviews, tips, photos
Many people note that the question of how to pack a suitcase is easier to solve using special devices. For example, compression bags. By twisting them, a person can get rid of the air inside. Which significantly reduces the volume of packets. Items packaged in this way will receive good protection from dust, moisture, and odors.
Compression bags for suitcases can be deflated like this:
Covers for clothes - you can choose any models to suit any needs! Volumetric and flat, large and miniature, square, cylindrical, rectangular - you can really choose any option.
Organizers for clothes help save a little space in your suitcase and protect your belongings perfectly.
The shoe cover is perfect for any shoe. Even dirty, because it washes without problems. Shoes, slippers, sneakers, ballet flats, boots - for any type there is a place in the organizer.
Organizer for packing shoes in a suitcase
Organizer for underwear - has a lot of compartments for bras, panties and even clean socks. Also available in the form of bags.
This underwear organizer will help you quickly find what you need in your suitcase.
A cosmetics organizer will allow you to take with you everything you need for beauty and health. Care and decorative products can be conveniently packaged into compartments depending on their purpose.
Collecting cosmetics in a suitcase with such an organizer is now easier than ever.
A cable organizer is indispensable if a traveler plans to take chargers, headphones, or a portable battery with him. If there is space left, you can even place some kind of notebook or flash drive.
This wire organizer will help you collect all your tangled items with the greatest convenience.
A medicine organizer will help in any emergency situation. Thanks to the many compartments, the victim will quickly find what he needs.
These pill cases fit conveniently into a large suitcase.
Having figured out how to pack a suitcase as efficiently and quickly as possible, a person will begin to pack for a trip with great pleasure. Packing your things will simply no longer be perceived as a difficult part of a wonderful trip!
What is it for
Properly storing jeans and other wardrobe items is necessary not only to free up additional space and restore order. There are equally compelling reasons:
- The time spent on ironing is compensated by compactly folded pants.
- An open closet evokes positive emotions in both sexes when beautifully arranged stacks are revealed to the eye.
- The time spent searching for the right pair of jeans is reduced.
A person is able to discover more than one positive aspect for himself by learning how to fold jeans correctly.
