How to pack your luggage
How to pack your luggage
How to Pack Luggage Like a Pro
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If you have any plans to travel over the next few months, it’s pretty much guaranteed that you’ll be packing a suitcase or other travel case to take with you, unless you’re going to a naturist retreat or somesuch. Should your holiday plans include actually being clothed, then you can follow some of these steps to ensure that you pack everything you need.
Before you actually put anything into your suitcase, check what the weather’s going to be like at your destination of choice for the time of year that you’re heading over there, as this will give you a general idea about the clothes you should be packing. If you’re going to a tropical destination, naturally you’ll want to be prepared to dress for hot, sunny days and balmy nights, but you might also want to pack some warmer clothes for unexpected cooler, overcast days, or even rainy ones. Remember that wearing layers is optimal for any climate, as you can add more if you get cold, or take a layer or two off if you’re overheated.
Make a List
Try to plan ahead and sort out what you’ll be wearing for each day that you’re gone, and remember that the clothes you travel in count as one of the outfits. Choosing pieces that can mix and match is a smart idea, and be sure to add an extra pair or two of underwear/socks just in case.
Once you’ve sorted out exactly what you’re going to wear, write it all down on a sheet of paper (or type it up and print it out). As you pack each item, cross it off your list—this ensures that you won’t arrive at your hotel to discover that you’d forgotten to pack something vital.
*As a side note: always, always have an extra set of clothes in your carry-on luggage. Always. You never know when/if your luggage will be misplaced, and you don’t want to be stuck in your traveling clothes until the rest of it shows up. Keep your personal medication (along with a prescription letter from your doctor, if need be) in your carry-on as well, along with your toothbrush, passport/wallet, etc.
Bottoms First
Shoes and heavy/bulky items such as hairdryers and extra handbags should be placed at the bottom of your luggage. If it’s a piece you’ll be carrying, the heaviest bits should be right next to the hinge that attaches the lid, while if it’s a luggage piece on wheels, the bulky bits should be right at the bottom, above the wheels.
Your shoes, boots, and packed purses are ideal spots to carry smaller items within: tuck jewellery, socks, gloves, belts, extra glasses, etc. into these to maximize space. Once the heavy bits have been places where you like them, use the spaced in between them for small items like socks, underwear, rolled-up bathing suits, etc.
Fold ‘Em Up
Contrary to what some might believe, rolling your clothes to fit into your luggage is not a good idea. Items that are folded lay nice and flat, as opposed to all those rolled clothes wasting space. The first layer atop your shoes and such should be those of the thickest fabrics: jeans, khakis, woolen skirts, jackets, and sweaters. As you pack these, leave a small gap right in the center of the suitcase—this is where you’re going to nest your toiletry bag (mentioned next). If there are any spaces left around the edges, use those gaps for items like your hairbrush, an extra book, etc.
Personal Care Products
Fragile items and personal care products should be placed in a padded fabric case, and kept in the center of your luggage so they’re buffered by all of your clothes. Small bottles of perfume or cologne should be kept in zip-able freezer bags just in case they leak: you don’t want to reek of your favourite scent the whole time you’re traveling. In fact, it’s smart to pack any creams inside those bags as well to be on the safe side. Remember that if you’re flying, any liquids or gels have to be packed into travel-sized containers and stored within a clear plastic bag in your checked luggage.
The Upper Layer
The very top layer of your luggage should be comprised of lightweight, delicate fabrics that are prone to wrinkling, such as thin cotton, linen, satin, and silk. If you want to be super careful, items like silk shirts/blouses, etc. can even be wrapped in tissue paper to protect them from any damage, and then placed between more sturdy items of clothing for extra protection. This is a smart thing to do if you’re a bridesmaid heading to a location wedding and you have a delicate dress to wear, for example. This is also the place where you’d pack a suit, unless your luggage has a special front piece that unzips into a garment bag—if it does, use that instead.
Be sure to take a copy of the list you made with you so that you can cross things off again on your return trip: you don’t want to leave anything behind in your hotel room. When traveling, it’s best to leave your most valuable jewellery, watches, etc. at home, but if you do plan to take such items with you, either wear them, keep them in a travel belt on your own body, or store them in your hotel room safe.
How to pack your luggage for your flight
Check if the product is allowed on the flight
Security control rules for cosmetics, foods and alcohol
Liquids may only be taken into the cabin in containers of less than 100 millilitres each. All liquids must fit into a single transparent, resealable plastic bag with a maximum volume of one litre.
Any larger containers of liquid must be placed in your checked hold baggage.
In addition to drinks and other fluids, nearly all cosmetics and a variety of foods are liquids. Liquids include moisturisers, toothpastes, mascaras, aerosols, gels, canned fruit, fish and meat, frozen foods, butters, cream cheeses, yoghurts, etc.
A good rule of thumb is that if you can spread it, it’s liquid.
Liquid baby food, formula milk and special dietary products are an exception to the above. You may carry the amount you will need during the flight in your hand baggage. A b aby is considered to be a child under 2 years of age who travels with a so-called infant ticket and does not have its own seating.
Medications with a prescription may be taken into the cabin in their original packaging which has the passenger’s name on it. On international flights, be sure to check the rules applicable in the country of destination.
Note! Hairspray containers of more than 500 ml are prohibited on the aircraft and may not be carried as hand baggage or checked hold baggage.
Pack any alcoholic beverages into your hold baggage, except those purchased at airports or on aircrafts. Please note that alcohol in excess of 70% is not allowed on aircraft. Remember to check the customs regulations of each country before your flight.
Duty free liquids purchased at airports and on aircrafts may be taken into the cabin of the aircraft. Transfer passengers may carry duty free products through the security control. The products must be packed in a sealed, transparent security bag, as illustrated in the image, and the receipt must be clearly visible.
Instructions for scissors, knives, matches, cigarette lighters and electronic tobacco
Scissors, knives, multi-purpose tools, wine bottle openers etc., belong to the hold baggage. Small nail clippers with a blade shorter than six centimetres, as well as knitting needles, may be taken into the cabin as hand baggage.
You may carry one box of matches or cigarette lighter onboard, and you must place it in your pocket. Such items must not be packed in your hand baggage or hold baggage. Make sure that the lighter does not contain any prohibited lighter fluids. On flights to the United States, matches and lighters are completely forbidden.
Electronic cigarettes, e-cigars, e-pipes and corresponding devices that produce vapour must be packed in hand luggage or transported in a pocket or a handbag. They may not be packed in cargo hold luggage.
Carrying electronic equipment and batteries
Consumer devices, such as watches, calculators, cameras, telephones and computers may be carried either as hand baggage or as checked hold baggage. We recommend to pack them in your hand baggage.
Spare batteries and power banks may only be carried in hand baggage.
More information about carrying electronic devices is available here.
How to pack fishing, camping, hunting and skiing equipment
Skis and ice hockey sticks are stored in the cargo hold during the flight. The packing instructions for ice skates and golf clubs vary according to carrier. Some carriers allow transporting them as hand baggage, some do not. We recommend checking this with your carrier before your flight.
These items are not allowed on aircrafts
Highly flammable, toxic or corrosive substances, such as lighter fluids and fireworks, are completely forbidden onboard. In most cases, such products have a warning symbol on the side of the product package.
Further information
Carrying electronic appliances
Always pack power banks and batteries in your hand baggage. It is prohibited to carry them in the hold. Incorrectly packed batteries are a fire hazard.
Check the energy content of the batteries. The energy content of a single battery must not exceed 100 Wh. If the energy content is 100–160 Wh, seek permission from the airline prior to departure. Even with permission, you may not carry more than two batteries.
How To Pack Your Luggage? Complete Packing Guide
Clothes do not fit in a suitcase? Have you ever forgotten something? Previously folded clothes are creased after arrival? For many people, packing a suitcase or a backpack is one of the less pleasant elements of travel. Fortunately, there are many handy techniques that can improve the packaging process. In this article you will learn the best tips and tricks that will help you save time and space in your suitcase.
The tips you’ll learn here are so universal that you can easily apply them to all your travels. You will learn what to put on the bottom, what should be easily accessible on top, and how to ensure the stability of the suitcase and relieve your back.
Why are packing techniques worth learning?
Proper packing order
Before you start packing, keep in mind the following rules:
Here you can read a complete guide which includes all the necessary steps in the right order. You can choose any step here to immediately proceed there.
Clothes
Choosing the proper packing technique
See the full guide with step by step tutorial and video explanation of each packing technique
Definitely the most popular technique. It works similar to the way how we fold our clothes into the closet right after washing them. It is common but not necessarily useful if we want to save space.This way, our baggage consists of clothes folded into small and bigger squares stacked on each other. See the full guide with video explanation
Best technique if we want to save some space. It is tight rolling your clothes and putting them in the suitcase in a form of rolls.
If you are to take a lot of clothes that are easy to create, then this method is for you. It is stacking all the clothes on each other and then wrapping them, one by one.
It is similar to folding, basically, you put your folded clothes vertically, not horizontally.
Packing order
Step 1: Heavy items, like boots or shoes, should be put at the bottom of your suitcase. They will make a solid base for other things in your baggage, as well as they will balance it properly. Good thing is to wear the biggest or the heaviest clothes on you and the rest to pack in your luggage. Additionally, take an extra plastic bag for your shoes so the footing would not dirty the whole baggage.
Step 3: While packing sweaters, which are mostly heavier parts of clothes, pack them right after the shoes, making the first layer of clothes.
Step 4: It is better to pack your underwear in a small bag and then put them into gaps between shoes and sweaters. You will save plenty of space and you will prevent shoes from moving during transport.
Step 5: We recommend packing a t-shirt for each day and the right amount of trousers, so you can change them every two-three days.
Step 6: All the remaining clothes such as dresses or shirts fold into cubes and place them on the rolled t-shirts and trousers.
Packing everyday items
Cosmetics
Towels
This is one of the most space-consuming items.
Fragile items
Save space
Packing the carry-on bag
Clothes for a carry-on bag
Cosmetics for a carry-on bag
Think about what will be useful for us when traveling and pack only the absolute minimum, but let’s not forget about a few important details.
Electronics
One of the most delicate elements of our carry-on luggage.
Accessories
Documents
Other ways to improve your stay
We have prepared a comprehensive list of articles which will help you during your trip:
Releated articles
Useful Packing Accessories and Gadgets
Read about the importance of using packing accessories and gadgets to better organize your trip.
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Tired of packing?
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How to Pack a Suitcase
By Shivani Vora and Michelle Higgins
Illustrations by Julia Rothman
Packing may seem simple, but it is a science with rules that travelers often learn the hard way over thousands of miles on the road. Doing it strategically can be the difference between a harried vacation with countless detours to local drugstores and a streamlined one with everything you need at your fingertips. Here’s our shortcut to packing the right way: how to find the best suitcase, minimize your load, pack what you need on a beach trip or a business trip and cut down on wrinkles.
6 Packing Tips
Follow these basic tips to pack efficiently and effectively for any trip.
1. The bigger your suitcase, the more you will put into it: The simplest way to avoid bringing too many things is to buy a hard-sided suitcase, no more than 22 inches tall (so it can work as a carry-on) with a structured shell so you can’t squeeze in any extras.
2. Do the clothing countdown: If you need a mantra to help streamline your wardrobe, use the 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 rule for a weeklong trip: Limit yourself to no more than five sets of socks and underwear, four tops, three bottoms, two pairs of shoes and one hat. The list should be adjusted to suit your needs. Throw in a swimsuit and exercise gear or a suit jacket and dress if you’ll need them.
4. Think Tetris: The best way to fit everything into one bag: Fill every inch of space. For example, footwear should be stuffed with socks. Then lay your shoes together heel to toe at the bottom of your suitcase in a plastic shopping bag to protect clothes from dirt.How exactly you arrange everything in your suitcase is a matter of personal preference.Here are some popular strategies:
6. Never unpack your toiletries: “I recommend keeping a separate toiletry kit for traveling,” said Marie Kondo, author of “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing.” Keeping a set of bathroom products already packed also ensures that you don’t forget a toothbrush or contact lens case that you might use the morning of takeoff, she said. “Keep these items in a small pouch or box in the corner of a cabinet or drawer for easy access when packing for a trip.” To streamline what you need, consider all-in-one options like BB creams, which combine foundation, moisturizer and sunblock. To prevent leakage, double up that plastic bag.
For more on packing strategies, read ” ”
The Best Toiletry Bag
Eagle Creek Pack-It Specter Wallaby Small
This bag’s large hook and simple, effective interior organization make it particularly easy to pack, hang and access a week’s worth of toiletries.
Moew Wirecutter toiletry bag picks. Right Arrow Icon
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Genius Luggage Packing Tips You Wish You Knew Earlier
Are you excited about your upcoming trip? Shay Mitchell and the rest of the BÈIS team put together the ultimate list of packing tips!
This article was updated for accuracy and relevance on December 24th, 2021.
Whether you travel once a week or once a year, it feels like packing travel luggage never gets easier. Chances are, you’re one of two types of travelers: the chronic over-packer who gets ready way in advance, or the last-minute packer who throws whatever’s clean in a bag an hour before boarding your plane.
Either way, you’re causing yourself unnecessary stress. Believe it or not, you can actually enjoy packing for vacation, you just need to learn how to do it well. Let us share some pro luggage packing tips!
What Are Some Travel Packing Tips and Tricks?
Hopping from flight to flight year-round makes you pretty great at packing a bag. If you watch Harper’s Bazaar’s Little Black Book series, you know Shay’s a self-proclaimed professional packer. Trust us, we’ve seen it go down and it is impressive. Check out this video to see Shay show how to pack for a trip and share her travel essentials and travel bags for women.
Keep reading for some packing tips inspired by the expert herself—starting with packing checklists.
Packing Checklist: Carry-On Travel Bag
Then, the rest goes in the main compartment. In case you’re wondering, “ What should I start packing first?” we broke the packing down into two smaller steps.
Important travel tip: always remember to put your heavy items on the bottom and more fragile items, or lighter items on the top. We know that seems self-explanatory, but you’d be surprised how easy that tip is to forget when packing.
Packing Method: Bags Within Bags
Resist the urge to throw everything into the main compartment and create an organized system that’ll keep everything clean and easy to find, and save extra space. In fact, don’t be afraid to bring extra bags if you’re going on a big trip. Hardside luggage sets are a great, easy way to keep all your belongings organized.
Here are the items that should either have a designated place in your bag, or that you should group together into smaller bags yourself:
Throw the Rest in
Okay, now here are the things you throw in:
Packing Checklist: Checked Luggage
Essentially, you’re following the bags within bags concept for the carry-on, except each type of clothing goes together in whatever size cube you need (shirts with shirts, pants with pants. you get the idea). And that’s it.
How’s that for an easy packing list?
How to Use Packing Cubes
Packing cubes are the best way to pack a suitcase so you can kiss your years of folding goodbye (and wearing crunchy-looking blouses to dinner) and say hello to rolling clothes. Seriously. Choose the size of the packing cube you’ll need and then roll each item, packing them tightly side by side, but not overcrowding. This will keep your clothes from moving around too much when your bag is inevitably tossed around during travel (which will help prevent wrinkles).
How Do You Save Space When Packing? (Besides Packing Cubes)
Saving suitcase space is the name of the game when it comes to packing a travel bag, especially if you’re planning on shopping.
And honestly, who isn’t?
Here are some packing tips that’ll make your trip a whole lot less stressful:
How Should I Pack for 60 Days?
There are laundry facilities at most hotels, rentals, and even hostels. You can easily find a local dry cleaner too. If you’re worried about something happening to an expensive, one-of-a-kind, or sentimental piece during the away-from-home laundry process, don’t wash those items until you’re back. Just make sure to bring clothes you do feel comfortable washing, that way you have something to re-wear.
Here are some traveling tips for doing laundry on a trip:
How to Stop Overpacking
We’ve been taught that if we’re going into the unknown, we have to be prepared for absolutely everything. But in your day-to-day life, are you ever prepared for everything? Who hasn’t been stuck in unexpected traffic, or showed up to a party underdressed, or spilled red wine on literally anything? And we all lived to tell the story.