It’s a pretty know fact that packing is an unavoidable part of travel. And trust me, I totally get the gripe about packing, especially when flying is involved. There are a lot of limitations on space and the items you are allowed to bring.
But… it’s not as bad as it seems. You just have to understand what your priorities are and work with them to stay within travel regulations.
I’m not claiming to be a genus at packing, but I have learned a thing or two on how to pack everything I need while utilizing all the space in my suitcase.
So in this post, I’m sharing my 7 BEST space saving packing tips that will have you packing like a pro.
1. Pack items that take up the most space first.
When I pack, I like to have a plan in mind. This will vary depending on where I’m going, how long I’ll be gone, and the necessities I’ll be packing.
Part one of my plan is usually to pack items that take up the most space first. This helps give me a visual on how much space is left for other items that need to be packed.
Often times, bigger and more bulky items can’t be folded small or made more compact.
For example, a denim jacket will need to be packed before a shirt. Generally, a shirt can be folded smaller and can fit in between other items in your suitcase. Whereas it would be more difficult to fold a denim jacket very small or to fit it in between other items.
In my experience, the items that take up the most space are things like, denim, jackets and coats, shoes (especially boots), and dresses. When I pack these items first, it helps me see how to utilize the remaining space effectively.
2. Fold your clothes to lay flat.
I am all too familiar with the “folding vs. rolling” debate amongst travelers. I have seen so many people swear by rolling their clothes. But as a seemingly unpopular opinion, I’ll have to disagree.
In theory, I can see why it’s such a popular packing method. But in practice, I find rolling my clothes just makes my suitcase bulky and sometimes harder to close.
However, if you aren’t packing very much or have plenty of space, rolling would be a great option. I also think it would work well on saving space in a duffle bag. But when it comes to packing a suitcase to utilize all the space effectively, I’d stick with folding clothes to lay as flat as possible even if other items overlap. This is a lifesaver when it comes to packing items on top of each other as this method will help reduce bulk and height.
So if you’re like me and the rolling method just doesn’t work, try this. It’s a total game changer especially for airport travel.
3. The good, the bad, and the ugly of packing cubes.
Lets take a minute and discuss packing cubes.
Packing cubes can make your suitcase look and feel more organized. They can also compress items which makes it easier to close your suitcase. And that is a huge bonus for me as I have had issues with this in the past.
BUT…
Not all packing cubes are created equal. The quality matters… A LOT. They don’t have to be expensive, but they do need to be good enough quality to hold its shape when packed, which helps you utilize more space in your suitcase.
What do I mean by packing cubes that hold their shape?
Well, in the past I have used flimsy packing cubes made from very thin material. So when filled and packed in my suitcase, they had a weird shape that actually ended up taking up additional space.
So as a rule of thumb, go with packing cubes that have some type of compression ability. These save the most space because the compression effect will free up space in your suitcase.
Now, I don’t think packing cubes are necessary. I included them on this list because they are a popular item amongst travelers and I do think they can help save space. I use them myself sometimes, but you can organize and make your suitcase look neat without them.
4. Use your suitcases built in pocket and pouches.
I’m kinda ashamed to admit this, but I use to completely ignore my suitcases built in pockets. I also have the strange feeling I’m not alone in ignoring these spaces.
These built in spaces can seem small and insignificant. But they are a huge asset when needing to utilize space for packing.
These little nooks and crannies are perfect for smaller items like underwear, socks, jewelry, and swimsuits. However, using these spaces can add a bit of bulk to your suitcase which is where the folding method listed at #2 comes in handy. If you can eliminate as much bulk as possible in other areas; a little bulk in these pockets won’t make much difference.
You may have to play around with how to use these spaces effectively, but with a little effort, you will find the best ways to utilize them.
5. Limit the amount of toiletry bags you pack.
Toiletry bags are a great and easy way to pack toiletries, skincare, makeup, and other beauty items. But just as they are a great tool to use when packing, they are also excellent at taking up space. And it is very easy to go over board with using them.
To be clear, I do consider myself to be a “minimalist” traveler. So my take on toiletry bags is that most of the time, people stuff them with things they don’t actually need. They are often looked at as additional space or a tool where multiply things can be stuffed in one place.
But this is a bad idea and a recipe for over packing.
Try to stick to one bigger toiletry bag that will hold all the items you need. This may sound impossible, but I did find the perfect size toiletry bag that holds all the items I need. It takes up a lot less space than packing 2 or 3 smaller toiletry bags and it makes unpacking a lot easier.
6. Wear multi use clothes on travel days.
One huge way I save space in my suitcase it to wear multi use travel day clothes. These are items like denim, dresses, and button up tops. Also try to wear clothes that won’t stretch out and loose it’s shape during traveling.
Essentially, this will be part of or a whole outfit that never has to go inside your luggage.
And don’t get me wrong. Travel days can be long, and it highly likely you will feel icky by the time you get to the hotel. But the key to making this work comfortably is to hang your travel day clothes for a few days to let them air out and give them a good iron before departure. Ironing will your clothes a crisp and fresh feeling before rewearing.
7. Give yourself plenty of time to pack.
It’s never a good idea to do anything last minute. And packing is no exception. You should have a designated time to start packing to make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible.
It is not uncommon for me rearrange my suitcase several times or even unpack and repack it. Sometimes it takes me a few tries to get everything I need in good positions in my suitcase.
You definitely don’t have to go to these extremes, but giving yourself enough time to pack will most likely save you space in the long run as it will allow you to give more thought while packing.
Space saving packing tips.
Ok, now you have my 7 best space saving packing tips. All you need to do is figure out what your necessities are and utilize as many of these packing tips to help you pack as efficient as possible.