Are you off on a Christmas holiday, a weekend break with your partner, or perhaps a city break over New Year? You never know what to pack, and you always end up packing too much. You can buy the most expensive suitcase and draw up the most meticulously planned packing list in advance, but if your things aren’t packed properly, you’ll end up – as always – having to sit on top of the suitcase just to get it to close. Take on the challenge now and finally learn how to pack your weekend bag or suitcase so that it isn’t bulging, doesn’t get too heavy and doesn’t crease your clothes. We’ll give you the best ‘travel hacks’ for the perfectly packed bag for any trip.
At TEESHOPPEN, we know all about going away for the weekend or travelling, and you always end up packing too much – or at the very least, packing your clothes in such a way that they simply take up far too much space in your suitcase. This is, of course, a huge problem, as you naturally also need room to bring back a few souvenirs from your trip – and perhaps a little gift for your partner back home. So here are our 7 best tips on how to pack your bag efficiently, to save space and in no time at all.
1. Plan what you need to take
Get a clear idea of what clothes you need to take before you start packing. If you don’t do this, you risk packing far too much. After all, you don’t need five T-shirts for a three-day trip, or two pairs of trainers for a shopping trip to London.
Many people make the mistake of packing their clothes in outfits. By packing outfits, you risk, for example, taking two pairs of jeans when one pair would actually suffice, or several cardigans that could easily be replaced by a single cardigan in a basic colour. When packing, try instead to think in terms of individual items of clothing that can be used to create many different types of outfits. If you have the time, make a list in advance so that it’s quick and easy to find your clothes when it’s time to pack. If, on the other hand, you can’t be bothered to make a list, lay your clothes out on a table or on the floor to see how much you plan to pack before putting them in your bag or suitcase. Think through each day and every outfit, and put any extra clothes away again – you probably won’t end up wearing them on your trip anyway.
2. Check the weather forecast for your destination before you pack
It’s always a good idea to check the weather forecast for your destination so you can pack your clothes accordingly. If you don’t do this, you risk over-packing because you’ll be packing for all kinds of weather. If the forecast doesn’t show any sign of rain, there’s no point in packing your rain jacket or wellies. That way, you’ll at least save some space. And if it turns out that the forecast wasn’t quite as reliable as the meteorologists claim, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to buy a raincoat at your destination.
Besides, a bit of water won’t do you any harm…!
The fact is, you’ll need to cut down on what you take with you, because you can easily end up overpacking if you pack for every possible weather forecast, and that just makes things more of a hassle for yourself. So check the weather forecast beforehand so you have an idea of what clothes to pack.
3. Pack more tops than trousers
No matter where you’re going – whether it’s a beach holiday in Spain, a shopping trip to London or just a weekend visit to your parents – you should ALWAYS pack more tops than bottoms. Tops are always the items of clothing you’ll change most often, so you should automatically pack more of them than, say, trousers. Trousers can easily be worn for several days without being washed, so it’s important to take some fairly neutral trousers with you on your trip, which can be worn with several of your tops. Think basics – that way, you’ll get the most out of your clothes whilst travelling, as they can be mixed and matched in different ways.
Read also: The perfect T-shirt?
4. Pack the heaviest items at the bottom
Now that you’ve made the necessary preparations before you start putting things into your bag or suitcase, it’s time to actually pack. Packing your bag or suitcase should be as efficient as possible; your belongings should take up as little space as possible so that there’s also room to bring souvenirs home, and of course it should be as organised as possible so that you can easily find individual items when you arrive at your destination.
Always pack the heaviest items at the bottom in an even layer, so that the suitcase isn’t really heavy at one end and light at the other. These could be shoes and jackets, for example. If you’re taking two jackets on your trip, pack the lightest one and wear the heaviest one. It’s a good idea to wrap your shoes in plastic bags one at a time to stop them getting your clothes dirty. Packing them separately also means they take up less space. The next layer could be your trousers, for example, and finally a layer of jumpers. It’s a good idea to place your toiletries at the top so that your clothes don’t crush your shampoo bottles, for example.
5. Roll your clothes like a burrito
Rolling your clothes is one of the most popular packing methods out there, because it both saves space and reduces creasing. The method is quite simple: just roll up your clothes so they look like a little burrito before packing them into your suitcase. To make sure your rolled-up clothes stay rolled up, you can use a pair of your socks to help. What you need to do is lay your jumper or T-shirt flat on a table. Next, fold the sides and sleeves in towards the centre so that you end up with a long strip. Now here’s the trick: place your socks at one end with the toes facing inwards, then roll the top up around the socks so that the tops of the socks remain outside the roll. Finally, fold the tops of the socks down over the roll on each side, and you’ll have a roll of clothes that will stay rolled up throughout your journey.
The sock method is absolutely perfect if you’re going away for just one night and only need to take a single outfit with you. You can therefore roll a pair of trousers, a jumper and your underwear into the same roll by placing the items on top of one another before rolling them up and wrapping your socks around the roll of clothes. That way, you’ve got your outfit all together and can easily pop your roll into a bag, safe in the knowledge that you’ve got everything in one place.
See also: How to shop sustainably – a guide to organic clothing
6. Put socks and underwear into your shoes
I think we can all agree on the eternal problem that socks and underwear always cause when you’re packing a weekend bag or suitcase – they don’t have a natural place to go and so easily end up rolling around in the bag or suitcase, meaning you can never find what you need. We have the solution, which not only saves space but also ensures your shoes don’t get damaged whilst travelling.
Roll your socks up in pairs and tuck them into your shoes – that way, the socks won’t take up precious space in your bag, you’ll know exactly where they are, and you’ll also ensure your shoes don’t get squashed flat whilst travelling. You can also do the same with your underwear, provided there’s enough room. If you have several pairs of socks or items of underwear to take with you on your trip, you can pack them in a transparent zip-lock laundry bag – that way, you’ll know exactly where they are and they’ll never end up lying around loose in your bag.
7. Keep your bag tidy whilst travelling
Here’s the final – and perhaps most important – piece of advice: keep your bag tidy whilst you’re travelling. If you don’t keep your things reasonably organised once you’re at your destination and follow the packing advice, it’ll be a right nightmare for you when it’s time to head home again. So, as far as possible, try to keep your suitcase packed efficiently whilst you’re in your hotel room, to avoid ending up with a bag that won’t close when it’s time to head home again. By avoiding too much clutter in your suitcase, you’ll also have room for souvenirs or other items you’d like to bring home.
Wishing you a pleasant journey.
/TEESHOPPEN
P.S. Below, we’ve put together a selection of the best essential items for men and women, perfect for any trip.
