Top 5 Packing Tips
Are you one of those travelers who packs for your trip, only to find your clothes are a wrinkled mess when you get to your destination?
With these tips, you’ll be able to fit what you need in your suitcase, and find your clothes in wear-ready condition when you arrive!
WHN TIP – Make a Copy: Use our Travel-Packing Checklist when packing your bags, then keep the list separate from your bags. This will help if your luggage is lost and you have to file a claim.
Roll, don’t fold. Travel experts agree that if you roll your clothes rather than fold, they will take up less space in your case, plus they won’t get creases from the folds.
Layer in your luggage. The TSA recommends that you pack your items in layers (shoes one layer, clothes one layer, electronics one layer, etc.) to make screening easier. While you’re at it, wear, don’t pack, your bulky items (coats or heavy sweaters) to free up space inside your suitcase.
Use storage bags. Pack your liquids (cosmetics, toiletries) in self-sealing food storage bags. If something leaks, it won’t end up all over your clothing. Pack your clothes in storage bags, separating them by type: underwear and socks, workout gear, casual clothing, pajamas. It makes it easier to find what you need, rather than digging through the entire suitcase. Then pack one or two extra plastic bags for dirty clothes.
Skip the wrinkle-prone items. Some materials like linen and rayon are more prone to wrinkling. You’re better with blends (cotton and spandex, for example), knits or soft materials. Dave Dean, founder and editor of Too Many Adapters, recommends merino wool: “Clothing made from merino wool is super-lightweight, keeps you warm in cold weather and cool in hot weather and you can wear it for days on end and it still won’t smell.” (Check out Leslie Willmott’s How to Choose Smart Travel Fabrics for more tips.)
Bag your shoes. Put each pair of shoes in its own bag and add deodorizer sachets to keep them smelling sweet. Let them air out overnight and then pack them in the morning. Then, place your shoes around the perimeter of the case, with your clothing in the center.
WHN TIP – Less is More: Resist the urge to bring everything you own. Instead, stick to a monochromatic color scheme so you can mix and match, and bring along some travel size packets of laundry soap for a quick wash-out in the hotel sink.
Want more packing tips? Check out these YouTube videos!
Photo Credit: WeStudio