As a traveler, I’m a proud member of team carry-on. Each time I fly, whether it be for a few days or a few weeks, I strive to fit everything into a carry-on bag.
There are plenty of other people who prefer to check a bag, though.
Whether you’re on team carry-on or team checked baggage, there are some universal packing tips that can help, regardless of your suitcase size.
General packing tips
Use packing cubes
Packing cubes are a popular topic of discussion here at TPG. Some of us, including TPG senior director Summer Hull, go so far as to say they will “change your life.”
As a mom of two who travels nearly 100,000 miles yearly, Summer recommends using cubes for family packing. She specifically uses them to divide the packing by activity and day, rather than have each person use a cube for all their items.
Plus, many packing cubes are water-resistant, helping keep clothes dry, especially if accidental spills occur while traveling.
Try ‘nesting’
Aside from packing cubes, another space-saving travel technique is known as “nesting.” When traveling, this practice involves placing smaller items inside larger ones. For example, stuffing your socks inside your shoes or laying belts around the outside edges of your suitcase.
Roll your clothes
It can be a point of contention among travelers, but if you know that you’ll have an iron at your hotel or just simply don’t care about a few extra wrinkles, rolling shirts and pants can help you pack more to save suitcase space.
Wear your bulkiest clothing items
During the holiday travel season, many of us may be packing winter clothing items. Whether you’re departing for a cold destination or heading to the ski slopes, TPG senior editor Christine Gallipeau reminds us to wear those heavy items rather than take up precious packing space.
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“I wear my bulkiest items, which in the winter usually means jeans, my thicker coat and boots,” she said. “That way, I don’t have to use valuable carry-on space for them since I never fly with a checked bag.”
Buy items at your destination
Depending on where you are traveling, look for opportunities to buy items at your destination. For example, TPG’s managing editor, Giselle Gomez, never packs a sleeve of diapers for her infant son; instead, she purchases baby items when she arrives at her destination. This helps her save a ton of space, especially since she only likes to travel with a carry-on and not check a bag.
Bottom line
As you head out on your next flight, keep these simple packing tips in mind.
Whether you try packing cubes for the first time or roll your clothes instead of folding them (or both), these tips should make packing a little less stressful while saving space, which is the ultimate goal.
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