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  • Travel Packing

The Best Ways to Pack Clothes for Travel: Rolling, Bundling & More

Last Updated: December 9, 2023 Fact Checked

Rolling Clothes

Wrapping clothes in a bundle, packing shoes, expert q&a.

This article was co-authored by Archana Ramamoorthy, MS and by wikiHow staff writer, Johnathan Fuentes . Archana Ramamoorthy is the Chief Technology Officer, North America at Workday. In 2019, she went on a three-month sabbatical from her work and solo traveled throughout Southeast Asia. She is a product ninja, security advocate, and on a quest to enable more inclusion in the tech industry. Archana received her BS from SRM University and MS from Duke University and has been working in product management for over 8 years. There are 14 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 529,352 times.

Got a big trip coming up? You better start packing! But before you do, you might be wondering: what’s the best way to fold your clothes so they fit in your bag and stay wrinkle-free? Savvy travelers like you have been asking this for ages—and luckily, we’ve got the answers. This article covers a few simple methods for packing clothes for travel. Keep reading to learn how to roll your clothes to prevent wrinkles, how to bundle items to fit neatly in your bag, and how to pack shoes to keep your clothes clean and your suitcase light.

Things You Should Know

  • Roll your clothes instead of folding them to reduce wrinkles and save space. When you reach your destination, hang the clothes to prevent wrinkles.
  • Bundle your clothes by first filling a small pouch with socks. Spread your clothes out flat, put the pouch in the middle, and wrap items around it to form a large bundle.
  • Wear your heaviest shoes, and pack other heavy pairs at the bottom of your suitcase. Place shoes in bags to keep them separate from your clothes.

Step 1 Roll casual clothes and synthetic fabrics to avoid wrinkles and save space.

  • Rolling isn’t recommended for items made from natural fabrics, like cotton or silk, since they’re likely to wrinkle.
  • Some prefer to vacuum pack their rolled clothes to save even more space. However, this produces bad wrinkles.
  • Store delicate items like lingerie and stockings in mesh laundry bags. That way, an airport inspector can see inside the mesh bag without handling these items.
  • Place rolled pajamas and a few pairs of underwear in an accessible spot, like the top of your bag, so you can access them easily when you get to your destination.
  • Use this method to roll dress pants as well.
  • As you roll, press and slide your hands across the fabric to smooth out any wrinkles.
  • Place your rolled T-shirts together in a plastic zip bag. This makes them easier to find when you’re unpacking and prevents them from getting mixed up with other clothing items.
  • Button up dress shirts before rolling them, including collar and cuff buttons.
  • Rolling works best for skirts made with synthetic fabrics like nylon or polyester, since these are wrinkle-resistant.

Step 6 Rolling dresses:

  • Fold your dress in thirds so that it looks like a narrow strip of fabric, then roll it up.
  • If you have an extra fold of fabric at the end of the roll, you can wrap this fabric around the roll to keep everything in place.
  • For instance, to roll a silk blouse, place the blouse in a plastic drycleaning bag and lay it on a flat surface. Fold the sleeves inward and gently roll the blouse from top to bottom.
  • Fold and roll the plastic as if it were part of the item.
  • Roll these items gently to avoid wrinkling. Some wrinkling may still be noticeable when you unpack.

Step 1 Fill an 8-inch (20cm) pouch with soft items like socks, and set it aside.

  • You can also fill the pouch with underwear or swimsuits.
  • If you don’t have a pouch, fold a towel or small blanket into an 8-inch (20 cm) wide pillow shape.
  • Repeat this process for other jackets and tops, alternating each layer’s orientation.
  • Start with the heaviest items first, like jackets and button-down shirts.
  • Add short-sleeve tops after layering your long-sleeves. Don’t layer T-shirts yet—those will come later.
  • When you finish stacking your pants, the pile will have a “+” shape with the pants in one orientation and the tops at 90 degrees to the pants.
  • Make the top third of each sweater overlap with the top third of the sweater below it.
  • Skip this step if you aren’t packing sweaters. Just make sure the next layer is perpendicular to the one below it.
  • Your stack of clothes may get pretty high at this stage. Layer each item carefully to prevent the pile from falling over.
  • Wrap each item tightly as you go. The tighter the wrap, the smaller the bundle will be.
  • For long-sleeved items like shirts and sweaters, fold the sleeves into an “X” pattern over the top of the bundle.
  • The last layer will be your heaviest item, like a jacket or thick hoodie.

Step 7 Place your bundle in a bag or suitcase.

  • While bundle packing is very efficient and helps prevent wrinkles, it takes a bit more time to pack.
  • Bundling also makes it harder for your bag to be inspected by airport security. If your bag is opened for inspection, your bundle may get undone.
  • Unpacking your clothes also makes it easier to find specific items while you’re on vacation. No one wants to dig through a suitcase for a single shirt.
  • Only pack the shoes you’ll really need for your trip. Bringing too many will make your bag heavy and leave less room for other items.
  • Avoid packing big, heavy shoes unless you know you’ll need them, such as for a hiking trip.
  • Conserve space by packing each pair with their tops facing each other, with one shoe turned 180 degrees so that they fit together like a yin-yang symbol.
  • Avoid packing shoes without bags, especially in the same suitcase as your clothes.

Step 3 Stuff your shoes with socks to save space in your bag.

  • Avoid doing this with dress shoes, heels, or expensive shoes. Fill these with tissue paper or wood shoe blocks to help maintain their shape.

Step 4 Pack heavier shoes at the bottom of your bag.

  • If you’re packing a backpack , place heavier items like shoes in the middle of your bag, not the bottom. This keeps your backpack’s center of gravity near your torso, making it easier to carry.

Archana Ramamoorthy, MS

  • If you’re checking luggage on a plane, bring a separate carry-on bag with 1-2 days’ worth of clothes, plus all essentials like medicine, toiletries, and travel documents. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 1
  • If items get wrinkled in your bag, you can remove the wrinkles without an iron by hanging your items in a bathroom and running a hot shower. The steam will smooth out the wrinkles. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 1
  • If you’re traveling with another person, divide both of your belongings between both bags. That way you’ll each have some of your belongings if one bag goes missing. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

packing pants for travel

  • Avoid using rubber bands to keep rolled items tightly packed. They will leave visible lines or creases in your items. Use plastic bags or packing cubes instead. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
  • If possible, avoid bringing heavy clothing. Layer your clothes to stay warm and wear thermal underwear in colder climates. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
  • Use caution when lifting heavy bags. Rolling and bundling help you fit more items in one bag, which could make it weigh more. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 1

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packing pants for travel

  • ↑ https://www.explore.com/1123692/the-game-changing-tip-that-will-keep-your-clothes-wrinkle-free-in-your-suitcase/
  • ↑ https://youtu.be/Em4lbLf09M0?t=56
  • ↑ https://youtu.be/Em4lbLf09M0?t=5
  • ↑ https://youtu.be/Em4lbLf09M0?t=162
  • ↑ https://youtu.be/U6USaYIDQMQ?t=271
  • ↑ https://youtu.be/m8mGEHg5ZlA?t=108
  • ↑ https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-tips/packing-tips/how-to-pack-without-wrinkles
  • ↑ https://youtu.be/-ftGDLEzmTo?t=49
  • ↑ https://youtu.be/mdqtdPjjJlM?t=107
  • ↑ https://youtu.be/mdqtdPjjJlM?t=109
  • ↑ https://youtu.be/mdqtdPjjJlM?t=113
  • ↑ https://youtu.be/mdqtdPjjJlM?t=126
  • ↑ https://youtu.be/mdqtdPjjJlM?t=143
  • ↑ https://travelinglight.com/how-to-pack-shoes-in-a-suitcase/

About This Article

Archana Ramamoorthy, MS

To fold your clothes for travel, start by putting bulky items like shoes at the bottom of your suitcase, using the inside of your shoes as storage space for socks or other small items. Then, since rolled-up clothes take up less space than traditional folding, fold pants and skirts in half lengthwise, then roll them up, starting at the cuff and smoothing the fabric as you roll. Fold shirts by laying them face down, folding the sleeves in, then rolling down from the top. Since bulky items like winter jackets can be a little tricky, use a rubber band to secure them after you roll. For tips on how to minimize wrinkles, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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9 essential rules for packing a carry-on

How to do more with less, according to crew members and frequent fliers.

packing pants for travel

United Airlines pilot Carole Hopson spent years honing her craft while taking countless trips around the globe. Eventually, she realized she’d mastered it. Not flying the 747 (she does that, too), but packing.

Before a recent flight to the Caribbean , Hopson dropped her bag on a luggage scale. “My suitcase was 13 pounds,” she said.

Years of discipline and sacrifice had brought her to this point: no throwing in another outfit at the last minute, no bulky hardcover beach reads.

“I’m so proud of myself. I didn’t start out that way,” Hopson said. “I’ve evolved to smaller — I find that the less I carry, the better.”

Over nearly a decade of travel writing, I’ve learned the same. Less stuff means less time wasted checking a suitcase at the airport and picking it up at baggage claim (or tracking down lost luggage ). There’s also less money to spend on checked bag fees and less weight to heave into the overhead compartment .

We don’t have to match Hopson’s 13-pound achievement. But we can learn from her and other experts to become happier, more nimble travelers.

Be ruthless about nonessentials

The easiest way to go overboard is to start packing without a plan. How long is the trip? What’s the climate? Are you going to Michelin 3-star restaurants or sticking to street food? How many pairs of underwear is reasonable?

The world’s most frequent flier is Tom Stuker, a New Jersey car dealership consultant who has clocked more than 23 million miles. He has a simple method: Instead of packing for the millions of “what if” scenarios, pack only what you absolutely need plus one backup, and make sure it’s easy to clean.

As you calculate those needs, be straight with yourself, says Yolanda Edwards, founder of the luxury travel magazine Yolo Journal . If you don’t actually like working out on vacation , skip the exercise clothes. While you’re doing that soul-searching, reflect on your past trips; what were items you definitely needed, and what could you have left behind?

“You’re going to be the one who, when you get home, you’re like, ‘I didn’t wear eight of those things, but I swore I needed them,'” Edwards said. “Try and remember all of those packing mistakes and try not to repeat them.”

Factor in a laundry day

Hopson usually travels with two T-shirts. This minimalist approach works because she stays in hotels with laundry facilities.

If your hotel doesn’t have that amenity, you can still do a decent wash in a sink , or venture to laundromats. I’ve loved my many side quests finding detergent and open laundromats everywhere from Tokyo to Berlin. Sure, it’ll suck up a few hours of your trip, but it’s a great opportunity for people-watching, post-card-writing or appreciating ordinary facets of local life.

Choose versatility over volume

Packing less doesn’t have to mean wearing the same outfit every day (although we do recommend locking in a travel uniform ). Think back to the era of the fashion magazine Lucky ( RIP ), when we used to be constantly reminded of ways to mix and match your wardrobe to create more looks with less.

“I know a lot of people don’t like to repeat outfits, but … you don’t have to wear it the same exact way,” flight attendant Ashlee Loree said. “Versatility is everything when it comes to fashion and traveling, and making sure it’s comfortable, too.”

Jumpsuits, dresses and scarves are particularly flexible contenders, Loree says, as well as matching sets in different colors.

Edwards is a mega-fan of the Faye Flare Cropped Pant from Ann Mashburn . They can be dressed up with a blazer but are comfortable enough to wear on long flights.

Stuker said that “Lululemon pants are very comfortable and versatile for business and pleasure.”

Find your folding style

To roll or fold? That is the question, particularly as some travelers swear that rolling your clothing saves more space and causes fewer wrinkles than “flat packing.” That’s not always accurate, though. T-shirts and underwear do great with a tight roll; formal wear and chunky sweaters? Not so much.

Edwards prefers a hybrid. “I like to roll all the things that can handle rolling, and then I fold my nicer things I don’t want to have to iron and put that on top,” she said. That means items like her workout clothes get rolled while blazers or pants get folded flat.

Stuker uses leftover dry-cleaner hangers and plastic coverings to pack some clothing, and rolls the rest. Loree is also a roller, but her duffel doubles as a garment bag , so she can hang a few items, too.

Loree believes the roll method takes up less space but said travelers should make their own decision. “If it’s easier for you to fold and that takes up less space, do what works for you,” she said.

Use packing cubes and compression bags

Bags within bags are crucial for staying organized during a trip. Loree travels with packing cubes to separate her dirty laundry and shoes from her clean clothes, as well as a toiletry bag that hangs up in the bathroom.

I, too, love packing cubes, but my secret weapons are easy-to-use compression bags . I use them to divide categories of clothing — underwear and socks in one, workout clothes in another — then toss them into a larger compression bag that can shrink the load to about half its original size.

Keep essentials in your personal item

If you’re traveling with a rollaboard bag, you run the risk of it getting gate-checked . Prepare for that unfortunate fate by keeping critical items — medications, valuables — in your “ personal item ,” the backpack, purse or other bag small enough to stash under the seat.

It doesn’t hurt to keep other essentials close: a change of clothes, snacks , a portable power pack and a reusable water bottle.

Wear your bulkiest shoes and coats

Like all bulky items, shoes are a light packer’s biggest obstacle.

Loree uses a duffel bag with a shoe pouch to store strappy black sandals and a pair of lightweight tennis shoes (you might have a harder time stuffing multiple pairs if they are super-padded sneakers or boots). If she’s not using the duffel, she finds it most efficient to start packing her carry-on with shoes at the bottom and the rest of her items on top.

Edwards recommends saving your carry-on space by wearing bigger items — like big coats or clunky boots — on your travel day.

“Whatever’s my heaviest shoe will be what I wear on the airplane,” she said.

Pare down toiletries

Depending on your beauty routine , toiletry bags can get very full very fast. Be cutthroat about what you can take out or use travel-friendly containers that meet Transportation Security Administration carry-on requirements .

Loree buys travel-size containers for her favorite products. Edwards skips makeup and brings about eight toiletry items in a Muji case . Hopson has whittled down her regimen: “I’ve got my little makeup bag down to about the size of my hand,” she said.

Stuker’s reminder: Most basic toiletry items can easily be replaced on the road.

Bring a collapsible backup bag

If you’ve packed to the limits of your carry-on, you’ll be out of luck if you want to bring home a new suit from Hong Kong or a few bottles of wine from Tuscany. So carry a backup bag for such retail emergencies.

Loree always travels with a collapsible tote bag. For years, I’ve used Paravel’s nylon “ Fold-Up Bag ,” which zips up into the size of a Kindle and unfurls into a proper carry-on. It’s so small, there’s no downside of bringing it along.

More travel tips

Vacation planning: Start with a strategy to maximize days off by taking PTO around holidays. Experts recommend taking multiple short trips for peak happiness . Want to take an ambitious trip? Here are 12 destinations to try this year — without crowds.

Cheap flights: Follow our best advice for scoring low airfare , including setting flight price alerts and subscribing to deal newsletters. If you’re set on an expensive getaway, here’s a plan to save up without straining your credit limit.

Airport chaos: We’ve got advice for every scenario , from canceled flights to lost luggage . Stuck at the rental car counter? These tips can speed up the process. And following these 52 rules of flying should make the experience better for everyone.

Expert advice: Our By The Way Concierge solves readers’ dilemmas , including whether it’s okay to ditch a partner at security, or what happens if you get caught flying with weed . Submit your question here . Or you could look to the gurus: Lonely Planet and Rick Steves .

packing pants for travel

How to Pack: Tips from the Experts on Maximizing Space

By Rachel Chang

The Best Packing Tips for Every Type of Trip 2021

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

As I dusted off my suitcase for my first trip during the pandemic last month, a familiar dread came over me. Despite my track record of packing for two-week vacations in a carry-on suitcase , the process always takes me days of agonizing over every. single. item . Still, as soon as I get out the door, inevitably there’s that one item I wish I had packed that I end up thinking about the rest of the trip.

Before I sunk back into old habits, I reached out to organization experts and flight attendants—the ultimate frequent travelers—to learn the tricks of the trade. Below, 10 of their best packing tips.

1. Use the right suitcase for the occasion

Often, our instincts are to choose luggage based on the length of the trip. While it’s a definite factor, what matters more is the kind of trip. “A compact or medium-sized suitcase is ideal for a city break or beach holiday because you can easily pack a lot of light garments, which you'll need for daily outfit changes when the weather is hot and you've been walking all day,” says Etihad Airways flight attendant Adina Elena Beldie. Hard-sides like Away’s The Bigger Carry-On and Monos’ Hybrid Carry-On , as well as soft-sides like Samsonite’s NuRoad Carry-On Spinner fit the bill.

“On the contrary, an outdoor adventure trip would require a larger suitcase for all of your hiking gear, like thick clothes and bulky footwear,” Beldie adds. Top choices in the category include the REI Co-Op Big Haul Recycled Rolling Duffel or Osprey’s Shuttle Wheeled 130L bag . “Lastly, in my experience, a business trip usually means packing light, although this can vary depending on the duration of the trip,” she says. No matter the size, Travelpro’s Platinum Elite Hardside Luggage fits the chicness and practicality factors with its Compact Carry-On or Medium Check-In .

Image may contain: Luggage, and Suitcase

2. Take the weight off of you

There’s no need for you (or your back) to bear the burden. “If you’re flying to your destination, spinners are a must-have,” travel packing expert Anne McAlpin of Pack It Up says. It’s not just about the luggage itself—it also serves as a way for your carry-on tote to slip over the handle. “The weight of the bag is carried by the spinner, not your shoulders, making traveling through long airport terminals a breeze,” she says.

Though many totes can slip right over the handles of carry-on luggage or a checked bag, sets complete the look, like Delsey’s Chatelet Hard+ two-piece set or Kenneth Cole Reaction’s Chevron Spinner with a Tote .

3. Make a list and check it twice

As with so many essential life tasks, writing out what you need is never a bad idea. “Create a packing list that includes all of your essentials, and then separate ones that are customized to your [trip's] relevant needs,” say the women of The Home Edit , Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin. One of the biggest mistakes people make, they say, is “just throwing things in a suitcase without a system in mind.”

A list can help you take note of if you’re over or underpacking, Beldie says, adding that, “Proper packing requires time.”

“I recommend adding items to your suitcase about a week in advance—not earlier than that as it’s important to check weather conditions at the destination, which will be more accurate closer to the trip,” she says.

If a handwritten list isn’t your speed, let your items be your visual list. “Lay everything out and start editing,” McAlpin says. “Hang outfits together, so you don’t forget anything.” She says to start two weeks ahead of time and to try everything on. “Part of the stress of packing is deciding what to take and what fits,” she says.

4. Find your own formula 

McAlpin says she’s been recommending her packing ratio—three to one, with three tops for every bottom—for more than 25 years. Most trips work with nine tops and three bottoms, especially when they’re in basic colors that mix and match. She also says not to exceed three pairs of shoes: running or exercise shoes, walking shoes, and a pair of sandals or flip-flops.

On the other hand, Beldie is about the twos. For each day of the trip, she says to think of two tops, two shorts, two T-shirts, two pants, and two undergarments . “For a business trip, packing two shirts per day is a good idea—one for meetings during the day, the other for dinner and night events,” she says.

For organizing guru Marie Kondo , it’s less about numbers and more about categories. “I recommend that you lay everything out first and categorize by type of item to give you a comprehensive look at how many items you have for each category,” she says. “Then fold everything into its smallest possible size. At that point, before you start filling the suitcase, pare down and be honest with yourself about what you really need for the trip.”

The most important aspect of the equation is simplicity: “What do you really need to have a joy-sparking trip? If your trip is for leisure, this is the opportunity to free yourself from everyday decision making and perhaps experience a simpler lifestyle. The fewer clothing options to choose from, the more you can focus on the joyful experience ahead,” she says. But there is one number she says to follow, “Leave 10 or 20 percent empty space so you can buy souvenirs and pack them for your return trip!”

Image may contain Clothing Apparel Pants Shorts Human Person and Skirt

Experts recommend laying everything out before packing your bag.

5. Consider clothing material and colors 

Eva Air senior assistant purser Jennifer Liao says to select the most packable clothing so you’re not constantly thinking about ironing. “Most flight attendants travel with clothes made from wrinkle-free fabrics such as synthetics, wool, denim, and knit—we don’t pack linen because it wrinkles so easily,” she says. Hues can also make a big difference. “The colors we pack are important. The darker the color, the fewer visible wrinkles,” Liao adds.

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Tifsit Teferra, a Delta Air Lines flight attendant, says to focus on a wide range of choices, too. She avoids packing too many of the same thing: “Why take up space with six tees when you can bring a variety of tops—variety is the spice of packing!”

6. Less is more

McAlpin’s packing motto is: “Less stuff, less stress.” She once traveled 21 days in a 21-inch carry-on that was less than 21 pounds—covering diverse climates from India and Jordan to New York City. That pack light mentality is echoed across the board.

“People tend to, quite literally, weigh themselves down when traveling,” Kondo says. “Remind yourself that traveling is temporary and should be about the actual trip itself rather than extensive wardrobe selections. Packing just a few outfits that you absolutely love will make getting ready each day a breeze. Select clothes that are comfortable, do not wrinkle easily , and that make you feel good about yourself.”

“Not all items will apply to all people, and not all items will apply to all trips,” Shearer and Teplin say. “So if you absolutely, without a doubt, cannot live without an item, then by all means, bring it! Just remember: You get the item or you get the space, but you don't get both.”

7. Organize your clothes vertically and tightly

Though some packers prefer laying clothes flat, the experts we talked to agree that rolling is key to save space. “Clothes should be folded into their smallest possible size,” Kondo says. “Thin fabrics are best to roll to prevent wrinkles. Another tidy trick is to tuck your folded underwear into bra cups within your suitcase—it keeps the undergarment category together and saves space.”

Think of your suitcase as a table of contents of sorts—you want to be able take one look and know everything inside. “The key here is to pack your items vertically so you can see them all at one glance,” Kondo says. “That way, you don’t have to take out everything to find the one item you are looking for.”

8. Categorize your contents

Take that idea one step further with packing cubes. “They will help use vertical space and adhere to a tidy routine while on the road,” Kondo says. KonMari partnered with Paravel on the Packing Cube Quad, a set of four that makes categorizing easy on the go. Kondo suggests using the smallest one for underwear, the largest for bulky items like outerwear and towels, one of the middle ones for clean clothes, and the other for dirty ones. “What’s great about the packing cubes is that you can place your vertically folded clothes into the cube from your drawer at home, then transfer them straight into the drawers at the hotel, so it’s easy to unpack at the destination,” she says.

The Home Edit team put a different spin on them in the form of pouches. “Packing squares are the real game-changer,” they say of their Zipper Pouch Set . “They are so versatile, which is key when you're needing to pack different items for every trip. The trick is finding packing squares that fit what you regularly pack. We designed our own set with Calpak because we wanted a version that was large enough for storing shoes as well!”

If you want to give your items an extra squeeze, McAlpin suggests Baggallini’s long compression packing cubes , which fit right into that awkward space between the handles of most luggage to maximize space.

Tech cords and chargers might need a slightly different method to remain neat. Kondo’s shop sells a Bellroy Tidy Tech Kit , while Teferra goes more homemade: “I fold cords and then use Velcro tape to secure them.”

Image may contain: Adapter

9. Wear your bulkiest clothing

Though we’ve heard those infamous stories of people layering on clothes to save on baggage fees, there is a time and place for wearing some of your essential needs on your back. “If you are going to a cold weather location, I suggest wearing your bulkier items like a coat and boots, and always carry your water bottle,” Teferra says. If you do need to put them in your suitcase, Teferra says, “Bulky items should always go at the bottom of your suitcase, and it’s best to layer them flat—never fold or roll them.”

10. Keep travel essentials packed

“We always say, if you stay ready, you won't have to get ready,” The Home Edit women say. Especially for frequent travelers, instead of constantly packing and unpacking, keep the items that you always take with you packed. “It helps to organize your travel toiletries and accessories ahead of time so your packing routine is essentially grab-and-go,” they add.

Liao agrees, admitting that the Eva Air team travels so much that “some of us keep essential items that we never unpack in our luggage.” The advantage can shave tremendous time on packing for your next trip. “All we need to do before each flight is pack clothes.”

Travel Fashion Girl

Packing Clothes for Travel: How to Organize like a Pro

Packing , Packing Tips

packing pants for travel

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Packing clothes for travel doesn’t have to be a nightmare. Learn how to organize efficiently and save space, too. You’ll be packing like a pro in no time!

How to Organize with Travel Packing Cubes

While there are many benefits to traveling with packing cubes , one of my favorite reasons is that they help you organize. After all, when you’re on the go the last thing you want to do is waste valuable time searching for clothing.

Start by reading these general tips on how to pack light:

  • Packing Cubes: This Video Will Change the Way You Travel
  • How to Use Packing Cubes: 8 Step Strategy to Travel Carry-on Only
  • Packing Organizers: These Luggage Accessories Help You Travel Carry-on
  • Alternate Uses for Packing Cubes – Organize your Closet Space!

Packing clothes for travel doesn’t have to be a nightmare – read these tips and learn how to organize like a pro!

packing-clothes-for-travel

Compass Rose Compression Packing Cubes

Organize Clothing Categories

The easiest way to pack your clothes for travel is to use a different packing cube for tops, bottoms, and other. Here are two examples, one for winter and one for summer.

Winter Travel Packing Cube

Packing for cold weather travel can be quite daunting especially if you want to travel carry-on only.

To help you make the most of your winter gear and limited luggage space, s tart by reading these general tips on packing for winter travel:

  • Capsule Wardrobe for Winter
  • How to Pack for Cold Weather
  • How to Stay Warm in Cold Weather
  • Extreme Cold Weather Clothing Strategies
  • The Secret to Packing Light in Winter
  • The Best Travel Shoes for Winter

packing-clothes-for-travel

1.  Tops | Dresses    2.  Bottoms    3.  Outerwear

Summer  Travel Packing Cube

Traveling in summer is wonderful – the absolute vacation of vacations. To help you pack more items and make it lighter,  start by reading these general tips on packing for summer travel:

  • Capsule Wardrobe for Summer
  • Lightweight Jackets for Easy Layers
  • 23 Best One-Piece Swimsuits
  • Best Beach Bags and Totes for Vacation
  • Versatile Beach Dresses
  • 11 Beach Sandals 
  • Comfortable Walking Sandals

packing-clothes-for-travel

1.  Tops | Dresses   2.  Bottoms   3.  Accessories

This is the organizational method I recommend for longer term travel, trips over 2 weeks, or round-the-world journeys.

Figuring out a packing list for long term travel is no longer a challenge with these tips!

Organize Travel Outfits

Packing clothes for travel with organizers can also help separate travel outfits. Coordinate the first few days in advance then mix and match as you go.

Want to create best travel outfits for women? Plan the perfect travel wardrobe with our packing tips!

  • Versatile Dresses: How to Wear One Dress, Many Ways
  • 5 Sundress Outfits: How to Transform an Everyday Summer Dress
  • 4 Rainy Day Outfits to Ensure Rain Never Ruins Your Travels
  • Maximize Your Travel Clothing with These Tips on Mixing Prints

Outfit Travel Packing Cube

packing-clothes-for-travel

1.  Week One  2.  Week Two   3.  Accessories or Outerwear

This organizational method works best for trips under 2 weeks because you have your travel outfits planned in advance to save time. For longer trips, you’ll need to mix and match your clothing more to create unique outfits.

Please read this post to learn how to mix and match 8 pieces of clothing to create 3 weeks of outfits using the Essentials Packing List !

Packing clothes for travel to destinations with different weather can be done efficiently by separating clothes based on hot vs cold climates.

Start by reading these general tips on traveling from cold to hot climate:

  • 10 Step Packing Guide for Trips with Different Climates
  • How to Pack for Cold and Warm Weather Travel
  • Arctic Clothing: Extreme Cold Weather Gear for Women
  • Traveling from Cold to Hot Climates: My Layering Strategy

Use one packing cube to store the clothing for your hot weather destination and use the other for your cold weather destination. The third can be used for layering pieces.

Create mini capsule wardrobes for each weather system!

packing-clothes-for-travel

1.  Hot Weather  2.  Cold Weather   3. Layers

When traveling for different climates on the same trip, think of this as a math equation. What percentage of your trip will be cold?

Pack that same percentage of clothing for cooler weather or use these layering tips to transition warm weather clothing to cold.

This is my recommended set of packing cubes . Watch this packing video  and find out how they’ve helped millions of women travel carry-on only!

What are your tips for efficiently packing clothes for travel?

For more tips on packing clothes for travel, please read:

  • Packing Cubes: 8 Step Packing Strategy
  • Packing Hacks: Instantly Downsize your Suitcase
  • Packing Tips and Travel Clothing for Multi-Season Trips
  • The Best Packing Organizers

Hope you enjoyed these tips on packing clothes for travel. Please share it with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest. Thanks for reading!

Tiffany H.

When I first saw packing cubes, I thought they were unnecessary, but they truly help SO MUCH with packing and staying organized!

alex

YAY!!! Love it 🙂

Pat Cox

Amazing tips, Alex! My packing is such a mess. Thank you so much for sharing your way to organize my bags!

Happy to help Pat!

Brooke Vlasich

I had always put my clothes out on the bed to figure out what to coordinate and what I still needed, but I never thought about using cubes to differentiate between weeks and weather conditions. It looks like it saves lots of space and lots of headaches and time over figuring out where to put your stuff. Thanks for the great advice!

Thanks Brooke! I’m glad to inspire some new packing ideas 🙂

Phebe Schwartz

I find it easiest to pack by weather/climate – that way I just pull out the cube or two for the location we’re in, and leave the rest in the luggage. SO much easier and faster!

nice! love how organized you are 🙂

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MyLuggage

How to fold clothes before travel - packing techniques

11 August 2021

Main blog image

There are plenty of folding methods and packing techniques for your clothes. They differ depending on whether we choose a backpack, a suitcase or a bag. Rolling your clothes, laying them flat, laying them in layers or packing them vertically. It is worth testing which clothes easily crease and how they react when packed differently. The following methods have some advantages and disadvantages but this article will help you choose the best technique for you and it will show you, step by step, how to pack your luggage properly.

Packing techniques

Folded back-to-front, vacuum packing.

This is one of the best techniques when we need to save a lot of space. It means tightly rolling the clothes and putting them in a suitcase in the form of rolls. 

✅ Type of baggage: Backpack | Suitcase

👍 Pros of rolling: 

  • A great technique when you need to pack a lot of clothes - for example tshirts. You will save a lot of space.
  • Works perfectly with packing a backpack or when you use packing cubes.

👎 The downsides of rolling:  

Creases can appear on more delicate clothes.

How to roll the clothes?

  • Fold the sleeves
  • Turn the bottom of the jacket inside out
  • Fold the jacket three times, equally
  • Flip it over and roll the jacket very tight
  • Attach folded part to a roll
  • Turn the top of the trousers inside out
  • Watch out: thougher materials are harder to roll
  • Put the trouser legs on each other 
  • Flipt the trousers over and roll them tightly
  • Attach the folded part to a roll
  • Turn the bottom of the t-shirt inside out
  • Fold it three times, equally
  • Flip the t-shrit over and roll it tightly
  • Turn the bottom of a shirt inside out
  • Fold the shirt three times, equally
  • Flip it over and roll it tightly
  • Slightly roll the top of the towel
  • Fold the towel from both sides
  • Flip the towel over and roll it tightly

Bundling 

If you plan to take a lot of clothes which may crease easily, then this method is for you. It is putting all the clothes on top of each other and then folding them, one after another.

✅ Type of baggage: Suitcase

👍 Pros of bundling

  • Allows you to save a lot of space in your suitcase.
  • It it a good choice when you pack a lot of clothes in different sizes - this way, the smaller ones can be wrapped with bigger parts of clothes, like jackets or hoodies.
  • Small number of creases on dresses and shirts.

👎 The downsides of bundling

  • It is time-consuming and not convenient whenever you try to reach for certain element in your suitcase.
  • This technique requires some skill and careful planning of the packing order.

How to pack clothes using "bundle" technique

General packing tips

  • Add another layers in front of each other
  • Slevees should cover each other
  • Fold them in half - they will fit perfectly
  • Pack them alternately
  • A bag with underwear or accessories will assure that there will not be any kinds of creases
  • Successively roll every layer until all the clothes are rolled

Packing order

  • Long slevees

packing pants for travel

By far the most popular packaging technique. It means folding clothes in the same way as we do when folding clothes in the wardrobe after laundry. It's common, but not necessarily the most cost-effective in terms of saving space. Our luggage then consists of many larger and smaller rectangles arranged on top of each other. 

✅ Type of baggage:  Suitcase

👍 Pros of folding: 

  • If you plan to take your clothes out of the suitcase and put them in a wardrobe immediately after arriving at your vacation destination - this is a good technique for you. 
  • This way, you can conveniently plan and pack the outfits that you will wear every day. Just choose underwear, T-shirt and pants for the day and put them together in one set. 
  • This is a good technique when we take clothes similar to each other, for example during a summer trip, because our rectangles will then be one sized and we will not waste much space. 

👎 The downsides of folding:

  • Unfortunately, folding doesn't save too much space - especially when we have clothes of different sizes. 
  • Creases appear on shirts, dresses or trousers folded with this method.

How to fold clothes?

  • Fasten all the buttons
  • Fold the slevees and then fold them again in the middle
  • Fold both sides of a shirt
  • Fold the bottom of the shirt this way so you can fold the whole shirt three times in total
  • Fold the shirt in half
  • Lay the trousers evenly
  • Put the trouser legs on each other
  • Fold the trousers in half
  • Fold them again - that's it

This is a type of folding, where the clothes are folded into rectangles andare arranged vertically, not horizontally.

👍 Pros of back-to-front method: 

This way we can easily see the clothes we’ve packed without having to go  through the horizontally arranged layers. 

This method saves a lot of space, especially when we pack a lot of clothes such as t-shirts. 

👎 The downsides of back-to-front method: 

Creases are an issue that also occurs with this packaging method.

If you need to pack a lot of irregular, space-consuming items, such as sweaters - vacuum packing with special bags is a great idea for you. It consists in "squeezing" air out of luggage, thanks to which you gain up to three times more space.

✅ Types of baggage: Suitcase

👍 Pros of vacuum packing:

The space savings are huge!

👎 The downsides of vacuum packing:

  • Requires investment in special accessories.
  • Packing is a bit more time consuming.

Next steps of planning your journey

Here you will find some additional, free material which may help you organize your trip:

  • Pick the right type of baggage - depending on the type of your trip we have prepared a guide on how to properly pack a backpack and a suitcase .
  • Lower the costs of your trip - we’ve prepared 16 ways to both prevent you from spending too much money and allow you to enjoy your stay. See how to do this in this article .
  • Use travelling gadgets - there are plenty of useful accessories which may ease and improve your packing process. You can find this article here.
  • Pack in a right order -  see the six-step guide which will tell you about the correct order you should pack the items.
  • See how to travel during the pandemics - 8 verified methods on how to protect yourself from coronavirus while travelling. Check what can you do and what you should avoid.

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Ingenious Packing Tips Every Traveler Should Know

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The Editors

We are the editors of SmarterTravel! Together we have appeared in countless travel publications including ABC News, Huffington Post, Travel + Leisure, USA Today, and more. We dedicate our days to creating and producing expert travel content, including packing tips, general travel advice, destination inspiration, and helpful videos. Follow us across social media on YouTube , Pinterest , Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter or drop us a line to say hi at [email protected]!

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Some travelers jam two weeks’ worth of gear into their bags for a long weekend. Others pack a bit too lightly and forget important things like medicine or passports. Savvy travelers strike the perfect balance and bring just what they need—with a little help from this list of road-tested travel packing tips. Read on to become a packing expert.

Before You Start: Make a Packing List

When it comes to packing, procrastinators fall short. Start your packing process days or even weeks ahead of your departure date; this gives you time to craft a packing list, plus purchase any additional items you might need for your vacation. Creating a packing list is a fail-safe way to ensure that you never, ever forget to bring something important.

SmarterTravel’s ultimate packing list is the best place to start. You can also consider the following lists for specific trips:

  • The Essential Beach Packing List
  • The Essential Carry-on Bag Packing List
  • The Ultimate Holiday Packing List
  • The Ultimate Cruise Packing List
  • The Essential International Packing List
  • How to Pack for an African Safari
  • The Ultimate Ski Trip Packing List

Packing Tips to Avoid Wrinkles

When packing your clothes, in many cases you don’t want to neatly fold them individually as you would in a dresser. If you do, they will often crease when compressed. Here are a few alternatives.

Rolling Clothes

Backpackers swear by this method. Rolling works well with pants, skirts, and sports shirts. Lay the item face down, fold back the sleeves (if applicable), and then roll from the bottom up.

Folding Clothes Together

Take two or more garments, for example a couple of pairs of jeans, and lay half of one pair on top of the other. Fold the one on the bottom over the pair on the top. Then take the other and fold it on the top. This gives each pair some cushion where you’ve folded it so it’s less likely to crease or wrinkle in the folds.

The Bundle Approach

We learned this ingenious method of packing from Judith Gilford, author of The Packing Book . It’s a bit difficult to explain without a demonstration, but we’ll do our best. You need luggage that opens up and lies flat to do this. You will also need a flat, soft, pouch-like rectangular “core” with dimensions that are at least 1/2 to 3/4 the size of your luggage compartment. This can be a packing cube filled with underwear or something similar.

Start with a sports jacket, dress, or the longest, most wrinkle-prone item you have. With the collar or waistband flat, place it against the bottom edge of the bag and drape the rest of the garment over the opposite side of the bag. Take another garment and place it in the opposite direction, flattening and smoothing out both garments in the bag and draping the remainder over the side. If you have pants or other narrow items, do the same with them in the narrow direction of the bag. Keep alternating your items, ending up with the most wrinkle-resistant clothes you have.

When you finish, place your “core” in the middle. Now you’re going to start folding the garments over the core and each other in the reverse order you put them in. If you fold something over and there’s excess draping over the sides of the bag, tuck it underneath the bundle you are creating.

What you will end up with is a bundle of all of your clothes that looks like a pillow. You can pick it up in one piece. It’s compactly packed and doesn’t waste any available space in your luggage. Plus, because of the way things are folded, your clothes will wrinkle less.

To find something in the bundle, lay it flat and unwrap until you reach the layer you want. Take the item out and refold the remainder. If done properly each layer should result in a self-contained bundle at each layer.

Tissue Paper

For delicate items, consider using tissue paper. Lay the item face down and place tissue paper on top. Fold it up with the tissue paper inside. Use additional layers of paper as you fold the garment so it is completely wrapped in and around paper. This is easy enough the first time you pack, but becomes a pain if you have to keep repacking. For that reason, it’s best to use this approach only for evening clothes you don’t want to crush.

For more tips, see  How to Avoid and Remove Clothing Wrinkles While Traveling from What to Pack, SmarterTravel’s sister site.

Space-Saving Packing Tips

To avoid baggage fees and make your luggage easier to carry, use the following packing tips to organize and cut down your load.

Use Packing Aids

Use Eagle Creek Compression Sacs to shrivel your clothes into a vacuum-packed, tiny, tight bundle that takes up minimal suitcase space. Other packing aids that can help you organize better and fit more into your bag include garment folders and packing cubes . A cheaper alternative? Ziploc bags .

Layer and Pack Dual-Purpose Garments

This space-saving advice is twofold: Wear layers and pack in layers. First, your on-the-road wardrobe should feature plenty of layers, which will help you jetset through multiple climates in style and comfort. Second, the items in your bag should be packed in neat layers for easy screening. According to the TSA , “Pack items in layers (shoes one layer, clothes one layer, electronics one layer, etc.)” so that the security agent screening your bag can get a clear picture of what’s inside. The faster the TSA agent can screen your stuff, the faster you’ll get through the security line.

If it’s two-in-one, it’s one less thing to pack. Convertible clothing , such as pants that turn into shorts or dresses that can be worn multiple ways, is worth its weight in airline baggage fees.

Wash Your Clothes on the Road

Laundry facilities are one of the best parts about staying in vacation rentals . If you know your accommodations will have free laundry facilities, you’re golden. You can wash and wear just a handful of outfits for the duration of even very long trips.

If you’re staying in a hotel, check in advance to see if laundry services are available and how much they cost. Travelers staying in properties without laundry facilities or taking cruises—cruise lines are notorious for charging an arm and a pant leg for laundry services—can wash clothing in sinks and hang them to dry. Consider bringing a travel clothesline , a small packet of laundry detergent , and a universal sink stopper to make your own travel laundry kit. You can also consider packing the Allurette wash bag for delicates.

Air Travel Packing Tips

To keep from running afoul of security regulations, keep this essential packing advice in mind.

Follow The 3-1-1 Rule

What happens if you don’t follow the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) 3-1-1 rule for carry-on luggage? Attempt to bring a large bottle of shampoo or a full-size gel deodorant through the security line and the TSA will likely confiscate your stuff, holding you up in line in the process.

You may not pack liquid or gel substances in your carry-on unless they are in individual containers of 3.4 ounces (100 ml) or less and enclosed in one clear, quart-size, plastic, zip-top bag per passenger. Any larger containers of liquids and gels must be packed in your checked luggage. For more information, see Airport Security Frequently Asked Questions .

It also helps to know which items are considered liquids or gels and thereby subject to the 3-1-1 rule. This isn’t as simple as it sounds. Foods such as peanut butter, pudding, mashed potatoes, and icing are classified as gels. Mascara, lip gloss, and aerosol items are also classified as liquids or gels. But keep in mind that liquid prescription medication is exempt. Check whether certain items are allowed on the TSA website .

Know Your Airline’s Baggage Fee Policy

Figuring out the airlines’ often-befuddling baggage fee policies is key to any budget-minded packing strategy. While most airlines permit travelers to check at least one bag on international flights, the majority of U.S. carriers charge fees for bags checked on domestic flights—and some even charge for carry-on bags as well.

Before you begin packing, take a peek at your airline’s website and read its baggage policy. This is something you might even want to do prior to buying your plane ticket, especially if you’re set on bringing a checked bag or two. Consider flying on Southwest, which still permits up to two free bags. (For help packing lighter, see Ultralight Travel: How to Pack Light Every Time .)

It’s standard for airlines to permit each traveler to bring one carry-on bag and one personal item onboard planes. This personal item is subject to specific size requirements (these vary by airline), but something like a purse, laptop bag, or backpack is generally acceptable. Consider bringing a personal item that’s on the larger side to maximize space (though it should still fit under the seat in front of you).

Never Check Essential Items

It’s important to keep your valuable and essential belongings in your carry-on bag, not in your checked luggage. Your passport, identification, money, credit cards, jewelry, electronics, and other valuables should always be brought onto the plane with you. If the airline loses your luggage (or if a TSA agent gets sticky fingers ), you’ll regret stowing your expensive watch in a checked bag.

If you’re inclined to secure your bag against unwanted intruders, use only TSA-approved locks ; otherwise, if your bag is selected for random screening, agents will have to break the lock to get inside. Do not stack books and other documents on top of each other; instead, spread them out throughout your bag.

Readers’ Best Travel Packing Tips

Over the years, our well-traveled readers have shared their own packing tips and tricks.

It’s in the Bag

“I buy two-gallon Ziploc bags to use when packing. I pick out a complete outfit (shirt, pants or skirt, underwear and socks to match—all wrinkle-free materials) and pack them in the large bag, removing as much air as possible. This prevents having to rummage through the clothes to find coordinating items and messing up the suitcase. I make sure that I have one bag per day or event, then just pull out a bag and get ready!” —Debbi G.

“Being ‘of a certain age,’ I take quite a few daily medications. Rather than take bulky hard plastic containers, I pack all my pills in miniature zip-lock bags . I label these with permanent marker and put them all in a sandwich bag . They take up no room at all!” —hari

“I went to Japan last year, and took one of the extra huge zip-top bags with me and used it as a washing machine! I was able to get a LOT of clothes into it at once. I just put in the clothes, poured in the soap, filled it with water, and then agitated it around in the tub until the clothes were all clean. It made the washing and rinsing a breeze, and my clothes got much cleaner than if I was just washing in the sink.” —USRoadTripper

“Instead of packing toner or astringent for the face, I put cotton balls in a heavy zip-lock bag and pour toner or astringent on it—one ball or two per day. That is one less plastic bottle to pack. Same format for moisturizing lotion: Buy a cheaper quality lotion just for the trip. Put it in a heavy-duty plastic bag and use it from this bag morning or night while on the trip—one less container.” —Carolyn S.

Make a List and Check It Twice

“Create a master packing list that includes everything you might need for any trip, and then highlight the items you will need for a particular trip. My list has been invaluable and helps me to remember things that don’t readily come to mind.” —Tim H.

“My best packing tip is to tuck your packing list into your carry-on when you are done packing. If your suitcase gets lost, you have a list of everything that was in it. On a more positive note, I also carry a photo of our suitcases. That is invaluable when trying to answer the question, ‘And what do your suitcases look like?’” —BonnieC

Reduce and Reuse

“I ask my older relatives to save for me the plastic bottles where their prescription pills come. These usually have childproof caps which means that you can put liquids in them and they won’t spill. So I use them for all liquids I need to pack. The small ones are good for one-time use of shampoo, cough medicine, liquid laundry soap, etc. The medium and larger sizes I use for longer trips, because I can put enough liquid in them to last for a few uses. When they empty, I just throw them away. And when I return home my relatives have a few more bottles waiting.” —Conchy

“Preparing for a three-week cruise, I decided to go to the back of my closet and pull out the clothes that I would not necessarily have chosen as ‘the pick of the day.’ They were all right, but not my favorites. I chose either to donate to charity along the way or to chuck the items. WAHOO! Loads and loads of weight reduction, not to speak of extra space for shopping and/or souvenirs.” —Joko

“My tried and true trick for keeping special fabrics and/or items of clothing wrinkle-free is to use the plastic from your dry cleaning (save those plastic wraps). Lay it out flat on the bed, place your item of clothing on top of the plastic (use two pieces if you must, but the longer pieces of dry cleaning plastic, like the kind for coats and dresses, always work), and begin to carefully fold your clothing so that each fold is wrapped, i.e., every bend has a piece of plastic in it. Once done, carefully place the clothes in the part of your suitcase that has those ‘X’ straps on one side—OR, if you don’t have that, put the wrapped pieces on the bottom of your suitcase. THIS WORKS!” —Host Bonjour

“I always work out how many days it takes to go through my favorite shampoo, conditioner, and deodorant and then take half-filled bottles because I know that I will run out on the last day of my trip. I can always use the hotel-provided ones for one or two days if required.” —pookyandjo

“Have a ‘travel’ bag filled with duplicate lotions, shampoo/conditioner, slippers, etc. put away for trips. I keep mine in a small shopping bag so when my next trip comes up, all I have to do is reach in, pack what I need (seasonal items like suntan lotion don’t always go), and I’m ready! When you return from each trip, refill or purchase what has been used. It saves so much time.” —Sallie J.

Outsmart the Airlines

“With the airlines weighing bags to increase their fees, you can put many heavy items in your pockets. You could even sew extra large pockets inside of your jacket to carry more onto the plane and transfer them back into your carry-on later.” —hbuhr

“After having checked luggage go missing on a trip, my partner and I always mix items in the bags. Day and evening wear, underclothes, and footwear for each of us in both bags, that way we each have something to wear until the lost luggage turns up!” —Vee

“I always pack my carry-on as if it’s the only bag I’m taking. I know all my essentials are there, including a change of clothes. Then I pack my checked bag. It’s a bonus when it arrives with me.” —Wendy

Everything in Its Place

“I like to pack a foldable suitcase inside my regular suitcase. My husband and I can’t stand having our dirty clothes mixed in with our clean clothes. The second suitcase works great; we just dump our dirty clothes into the second bag and don’t have to worry about odor or remembering which layer is the dirty layer. It also gives you more room for souvenirs.” —traveljunkie6987

“I have two absolute favorite jewelry tips. For necklaces and bracelets, INDEX CARDS! Tape the end to an index card and wrap it around the card, then secure with a hair tie. For earrings, safety pins, bobby pins, and other random items, wash out an Altoids tin. They are metal, snap securely shut, and pack just about anywhere in a suitcase. (Also worth doing: Make a sewing kit and pack it in an Altoids tin.) —gotsparkly

“I always bring a sheet of bubble wrap—small bubbles—for any breakable items I might buy along the way. I am sure it’s saved more than one treasure I have gotten home safely, and it takes up no space at all.” –sunnyflies

It’s Good to Have Options

“I always pack two different pairs of comfortable walking shoes , because no matter how comfortable the shoes are, after a full day of walking, your feet will hurt somewhere. By alternating the shoes, you never get to the point where your feet are hurting so much you can’t enjoy the trip.” —chrisnjeanne

“I make sure all my tops go with all my bottoms, so I can mix and match them. I also avoid prints and try to stick with solid colors … if I want to add some color, I add a scarf or some inexpensive local jewelry. I also try to bring lightweight layers, so I can add or subtract them depending on the weather.” —gypsychick

Can’t get enough packing tips? Check out The 101 Best Packing Tips from SmarterTravel’s sister site, What to Pack.

Make Packing a Little Easier

Shop the look.

packing pants for travel

Packing Cubes

packing pants for travel

TSA Luggage Combination Lock

packing pants for travel

Compression Sack Set

packing pants for travel

Storage Bags

More from smartertravel:.

  • 10 Things Not to Do When Checking a Bag
  • 3 Genius Packing Hacks for Plastic Wrap
  • 7 Things Not to Do When Packing a Carry-on Bag

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2017. It has been updated to reflect the most current information. Sarah Schlichter, Caroline Costello, and Margaret Leahy contributed to this story.

We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.

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14 Best Travel Packing Tips, According to Frequent Flyers

Just in time for your summer vacation plans.

packing tips

We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.

Keep reading to learn how to pack faster and smarter — without the stress.

1. Roll clothes and pack them first.

The best way to prevent creases and make the most of your space is to use the roll method. Lay tops facedown, fold in the sleeves and roll from the bottom up. For pants, put the legs together and roll from the waist down. Once you’ve rolled everything, place pants and tops in your suitcase before walking shoes and accessories; then, fit in other oddly shaped items, like hair tools .

2. Choose travel-friendly fabrics.

We always recommend opting for knits and stretchy fabrics while traveling. Even when these fabrics wrinkle, the creases will fall out when you hang them up. Woven fabrics (like linen or cotton twill) are more prone to wrinkling.

3. Pack the first outfit you'll want to wear on top.

If you know you’re getting off the plane and going straight to dinner or a meeting, plan your outfit and put it into your suitcase last. That way, when you arrive, you won’t have to dig through everything else to find it (plus, it will be less likely to wrinkle). This strategy is a great excuse to think about what you’ll wear in advance so you don’t make one of the biggest packing mistakes: waiting until the last minute to pack.

Expert Tip: Have trouble making a packing list and sticking to it? Check out this useful planner from Erin Condren .

4. Place heavy items at the base.

Keep weightier things like shoes and books by the wheeled end of your suitcase. This placement helps your bag stay stable when upright, and stops other items from getting smushed. (We like Away’s The Carry-On — it topped our carry-on luggage test and has a 100-day trial period.)

5. Layer plastic dry cleaning bags between clothes.

The next time you pick up your dry cleaning, save the plastic bags. You can use them to protect delicate items from accidental pulls by layering them between your clothes. They help your clothing slide (not snag) when your bag gets jostled (and they help reduce wrinkling!).

6. Use packing cubes.

Our pros like Eagle Creek’s set . These blocks keep your suitcase organized and stack together easily — no more trying to fit in oddly shaped items like a puzzle. Plus, the best packing cubes are lightweight and thin so you won’t lose any precious suitcase space.

7. Avoid over- or under-packing.

While you might be tempted to leave space for souvenirs, extra room means items can shift and crumple or break. Fill empty spaces with dry cleaner bags (and fill them later with mementos from your trip). It’s important not to over-pack either (especially if you’re only bringing a carry-on), since that’s a surefire way to create crease marks and can make it extra tricky to repack when you're going home — or heading off to another spot.

8. Get an extra tote for souvenirs.

You're going to want to shop so bring a foldable tote bag or travel backpack . It won’t take up much space on the way to your destination (many fold into a small pouch!) and you can fill it with (almost) anything you buy on your travels.

9. Take a mini iron.

Despite your best packing efforts, some wrinkles and creases are inevitable. That's where a pint-size steam iron or garment steamer comes in. Most are under two pounds, meaning they take up very little space and are perfect for quick touch-ups anywhere — just don’t expect it to de-wrinkle a full garment in record time.

10. Bring two small laundry bags.

Use one for lights and one for darks. If you forget, grab plastic bags from your hotel room’s closet. When you get home, throw the presorted loads in the wash. Other must-haves: two-gallon resealable bags for wet bathing suits and an instant stain remover like Shout Wipe & Go .

11. Organize your liquids bags.

You know the drill: Stash any liquids you want to keep in your carry-on bag in a separate, clear bag so you can easily pass through security. Our must-haves: a do-it-all hydrating balm , cleansing wipes for your face or hands (or the seat) and a lightly scented hand sanitizer . Not sure which liquids you can bring on the plane? Remember TSA's 3-1-1 liquids rule : Products must be 3.4 ounces or less and they all must fit in a one quart-size bag.

12. Keep important medications in your purse.

Even if you plan to carry on your bag, there's still a risk you could have to check it at the gate. If your meds are in your purse, you’ll have what you need even if the overhead bin space fills up and you end up having to check your bag.

13. Bring a scarf for the plane in your carry-on.

No matter what season it is, planes are often on the chilly side. Bring a pretty, warm wrap that you can bundle up in if the temp doesn’t feel comfortable. Bonus: You can also fold it and use it as a pillow.

14. Carry a reusable water bottle.

As long as it’s empty, it’s okay to bring a water bottle through airport security. Once you’re inside the terminal, fill it up at an airport cafe or water station. You'll stay hydrated, and it’s greener than having to buy plastic water bottles while site-seeing.

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Packing Hacks The Best Travel Hacks for Packing by JetSettingFools.com

37 Packing Hacks: The Best Travel Hacks For Packing

Welcome to JetSetting Fools, here you will find our best travel tips for destinations worldwide. Some of the links on this site are Affiliate Links and if you use them to make a purchase, we may earn a commission. For more information, read our Disclosure Policy .

Packing hacks are the best way to take your travel game to the next level. We have rounded up the top travel packing hacks designed to save you space, time and money – so you can focus your energy on enjoying your trip. Clever and inventive, packing hacks for traveling will enhance your packing skills and overall travel savviness.

37 Best Travel Packing Hacks

I used to be terrible at packing for trips; first I was an over-packer, then an under-packer. Now, as a full-time world traveler, I rely on packing hacks for travel to keep me organized and efficient on travel days. Some hacks for packing have become so ingrained in our travel routine that packing without them is unimaginable.

Our Travel Hacks For Packing

Our list of packing hacks ranges from absolute game changers to creative tricks. Some are tried-and-true traveling hacks for packing, while others are insider tips we gleaned from expert travelers. These packing hacks will work for all travelers – so whether you are seeking backpack hacks or cruise packing hacks, you will surely find a few gems on our list.

We have categorized our list into three sections: Hacks for Packing Clothes, Toiletry Hacks, Carry On Hacks and a few miscellaneous tips, too. This is a mega list of the best packing life hacks – so grab your coffee and settle in.

Get started now with your FREE Packing Checklist !

packing pants for travel

Clothing Packing Hacks

Because clothing is the main component to packing, we are kicking off our list with hacks for packing clothes.

#1 Packing Cubes Hacks

Of all luggage packing hacks, packing with Packing Cubes ranks most supreme. Providing organization and structure to your suitcase or backpack, Packing Cubes are space-saving superstars. The cubes come in a variety of sizes, styles and materials – all of which need to be considered in order to attain your ultimate packing goal.

Pro Tip : We discuss the different kinds of cubes – and the best packing cube hacks – in detail in our post: Ways Packing Cubes make Travel Easier . 

#2 Cheap Packing Travel Hacks

While Packing Cubes are – hands down – one of the best packing hacks that we use, Packing Cubes are pricey! Personally, we think they are worth every single cent. However, if you are not ready to take the plunge and buy some, rather than packing using Packing Cubes, try Ziplock Bags. This is one of the top travel organization hacks that will save space in your suitcase. 

Gallon-size bags are ideal for organization and compression; however, unlike the quality Packing Cubes we use, Ziplocks have an incredibly short lifespan.

Pro Tip : I used to pack using Ziplocks (before I learned how incredible actual Packing Cubes are!). I would pack one complete outfit in each gallon bag and label it so I could easily find the outfit I was looking for. On the way home from vacation, I used the zip-top bags for my dirty laundry, too!

#3 Clothes-Rolling, Space-Saving Packing Hacks

Rolling clothes – rather than folding them – has long been one of the best suitcase packing hacks for saving space. Travelers can either roll each item individually – or, take it up a notch, and roll an entire outfit (pants, shirt, socks and underwear) together. By rolling a complete outfit, your suitcase becomes a grab-and-go destination when getting ready for the day’s adventure.

Pro Tip : For a tighter roll that stays together, use a ‘military roll’ or hair ties to secure the rolled clothing. If you use hair ties, you will also have backups if you lose or break one on your trip. (Plain rubber bands can be used, too, if you don’t use hair elastics.)

Roll vs Fold Debate

While many travelers rave about the benefits of rolling, it is not one of the packing luggage hacks that we use for our shirts and pants. We find that rolling is time consuming – and although many travelers claim that it can save even more space to pack rolled clothes in Packing Cubes, we have not found that to be true.

That said, the one item of clothing I do roll is my bikini underwear . I start by folding the underwear into thirds – folding each side in to the width of my small Packing Cube. Then, starting at the bottom, I roll up to the waistline. This is actually one of my airport hacks, as much as it is a packing hack, because this way, if my undergarment Packing Cube gets tagged for inspection, the agent rifling through my clothes will be less likely to touch the part of the panties that goes against my skin.

Pro Tip : Another clothes packing hack for underwear is to pack quick drying underwear that will be easy to wash in the sink and dry fast – if need be. A brand that fellow travelers love is Ex-Officio , but I prefer inexpensive and functional Fruit of the Loom . We talk more about clothing materials in a minute!

#4 Folding Hacks for Packing

If you are like us and decide to fold your clothes (instead of roll), then it is key to fold all of your clothing to the exact same size. After spending 10 years working in retail, I am fairly skilled at folding random sized clothing into neat stacks. However, for travelers who find it challenging, one of the packing folding hacks is to use a Folding Board , which will ensure you get a perfect fold on every piece of clothing.

Pro Tip: One of the great business travel packing hacks is to fold your delicate work clothes in dry cleaning bags as it will help eliminate wrinkles on arrival!

#5 Packing Hacks: Travel Clothing

One of the top packing clothes hacks for traveling is to only pack clothing that travels well. There are numerous clothing lines that are designed specifically for traveling, but most travelers don’t need to get that technical – and many items you already own might fit the bill.

The features of clothing that are most important when it comes to packing are moisture-wicking, quick-drying, odor-eliminating, wrinkle-resistant and washable clothing items.

That said, if you do pack clothing that wrinkles, bring travel-size Wrinkle Release Spray  to avoid having to iron on vacation.

Pro Tip : While the right clothing material is essential for travelers, it is equally important to pack clothing that you like and are comfortable wearing…because if it is not comfortable, it will likely stay folded in your suitcase. I share more tips about my packing experience for full-time travel in My Long-Term Travel Packing List: What I Pack To Travel the World .

The Best Traevel Packing Hacks by JetSettingFools.com

#6 Pack Multi-Functional Clothing

There are no better packing hacks for traveling light than packing versatile and multi-functional clothing. One of the most useful items I have in my backpack is my wrap – and it has about a million uses.

I have used it as a scarf, a beach cover up, a bath towel, a picnic blanket, a pillow cover, a bedsheet, a head cover, an ear cover, an eye cover, a curtain and a bus seat cover…just to name a few. As long as the wrap is lightweight, dark and washable, the possibilities are endless.

Convertible clothing – like this dress/skirt combo – are awesome packing hacks to save space. Other clothing that can be multi-function are yoga pants (which can double as sleepwear), leggings (which can be layered in cool weather), a casual dress (which can be a beach cover up) and bikini tops (which can be worn as a bra).

Pro Tip : A pillowcase is another good item to pack that is multi-functional. Use it to cover the pillow you sleep on in your accommodations, then fill it with dirty clothes for the trip home.

#7 Capsule Clothing Packing Travel Hacks

Packing a capsule wardrobe is one of the smart packing hacks used by travelers. 

To assemble a capsule wardrobe, first, choose a color scheme of similar shades – like black, dark blue and shades of purple – and only pack clothing that falls into the color palette. Each item – tops and bottoms – need to be able to be mixed, matched and layered with all other items. Outfits can be accessorized with colorful scarves and jewelry.

By using this trip hack, you can pack minimal pieces of clothing that can be combined to make numerous different outfits. Done right, it is one of the space saving packing hacks that allows travelers to pack carry-on luggage only. 

In addition to coordinating my entire wardrobe, one item that I always like to pack is a black skirt . It is something that is comfortable and casual for sightseeing, but can be dressed up with a nicer shirt and a scarf for going out in the evening.

Pro Tip : A life hack for packing clothes for a vacation is to use the Countdown Rule. For example, if you are taking a 5-day trip, pack 5 shirts, 4 pants (or shorts/skirts), 3 dresses, 2 pairs of shoes and 1 colorful scarf (or bold piece of jewelry). Additionally, pack one pair of underwear for every day of the trip, but only one set of pajamas.

#8 Clothes Packing Hacks for Vacation

One of the simple traveling packing hacks that is often overlooked is Destination Research. What I mean by this is that, before you start packing and choosing clothes for your trip, first check the weather forecast for your destination. Also, gain some insight to the destination’s clothing culture and have a basic understanding of what apparel is acceptable at tourist destinations, religious sites, restaurants and clubs.

Pro Tip : Use your itinerary to help decide what clothes to bring. How the Packing Hacks Travel Itinerary works is that, based on your planned activities that you select in advance of your trip, you determine which outfit to wear for each day of your trip. (To book your activities in advance, we use Viator !)

Travel Packing Hacks by JetSettingFools.com

#9 Clever Packing Hacks for Clothing

One of the life hacks for packing that we have long used – and is commonly used by fellow travelers – is to pack clothing items for a trip that you no longer want to keep. After you wear them on your trip, you can donate the clothing at your destination (or, if there is really no life left in the item, just toss it!). This is an especially good tip for families traveling with growing kids.

Pro Tip : One of the truly Travel Light hacks is to reverse this idea slightly. When you leave for vacation, only pack personal items – like undergarments and toiletries. On arrival at your destination, make your first stop a thrift shop and buy new-to-me clothes for the entire trip. On the last day of the vacation, return to the thrift shop and donate all of the clothing back to the store. We have never personally used this hack – but heard about it from a fellow traveler and love the concept!

#10 Travel Hacks for Packing Shoes

To save suitcase space, on any trip, for any length of time, only ever pack three pairs of shoes – I even follow this rule as a full-time traveler! All shoes should be comfortable to wear for long days of sightseeing and, more importantly, they need to go with all the outfits that you are packing. (This idea goes back to the capsule wardrobe method!)

For more travel shoe tips, read our blog post, The Best Shoes for Traveling .

Pro Tip : A good way to keep grimy shoes from dirtying up the inside of your luggage and one of the little genius packing hacks is to fit disposable shower caps (the kind that are free at many hotels) over the sole of the shoe before you put them in your bag. The empty space inside your shoes can also be used to store items – like deodorant and shaving cream, just put it in a resealable bag first.

Resealable bags are one of our essentials for packing. They come in handy for everything from an open bag of snacks to your wet bathing suit on a travel day. Find out more tips in our blog post, Everyday Items for Traveling . 

#11 Clothing Airport Hacks

One of the ingenious suitcase packing hacks to save space is to actually wear your bulkiest items, especially on long travel days . In fact, this is one of the top Carry On Only travel hacks. Rather than using valuable luggage space to pack your coat and boots, wear them on the plane! Tie a sweatshirt around your waist or wear layers that can easily be removed once seated on the plane.

Pro Tip : Another one of the travel packing hacks that can save space inside your luggage is tying your shoes or flip flops to the outside of your carry on bag. This also applies if you carry a water bottle…simply clip it to the exterior of your bag if possible…or better yet, travel with a collapsible water bottle .

#12 Hacks for Packing a Suitcase…Without Over-Packing

Over-packing is a downfall for many travelers – it certainly was for me when I was a novice traveler. But I have learned what an absolute drag over-packing can be. It can weigh you down (literally) when lugging your suitcase through an airport, down a cobblestone street and up the stairs of a boutique hotel.

One of the best life hacks for traveling and packing – or rather not over-packing – is to simply commit to packing in a carry on size suitcase. By limiting the amount of room you have, you will be less tempted to over pack, which is much more sensible! We discuss more specific carry on packing hacks later in the post!

Pro Tip: If you are checking luggage, invest in an affordable luggage scale to ensure you don’t go over the weight limit. You don’t want to be surprised at the beginning of your trip with an extra charge!

Everything we pack for world travel fits in a Carry On size backpack! Find out what we pack: The Ultimate Packing List .

#13 Packing Suitcase Hacks

We pack in backpacks, but one of the best suitcase hacks I ever heard was to shift your perspective of your suitcase. Rather than packing stacks of clothing horizontally into the suitcase, pack vertically, from the wheels up.

Another one of the best Packing a Suitcase hacks is to take this idea one step further. Pack vertically, but pack complete outfits and stack them in the order that you plan to wear them (according to your itinerary!). This way, when you get ready each day, all you need to do is grab the outfit from the top!

Pro Tip : Don’t let any space go unused! One of the long time travel hacks packing tips is to take advantage of small crevices in your suitcase to slip in things like a comb or other small miscellaneous items.

#14 Luggage Hacks

Day packs and purses can take up a lot of room in luggage. Minimize how many items you carry by selecting one purse that will work for all occasions. It is even better if you pack a purse or bag that can double as a day pack.

One of our favorite packing for travel hacks is to pack a lightweight  foldable shopping bag , which unfolds to a bigger bag for going to the beach or shopping during your trip.

Pro Tip : Read more about day bags in our blog post, The Best Day Packs for Traveling .

#15 Packing a Suitcase: Hacks for Fresh Clothing

One way to keep your clothes smelling fresh during your trip is to layer each clothing item with a dryer sheet. This is one of the double-dip packing travel hacks because later, if you need to do laundry while on your trip, you will have dryer sheets to use!

Pro Tip : Another way to keep clothes fresh is with Fabreeze. Pack a travel-size Fabreeze with your toiletries! And, don’t worry, we are getting to our toiletry packing hacks in a minute!

#16 Holiday Packing Hacks for Souvenirs

If you anticipate collecting breakable souvenirs during your trip, a good suitcase hack is to use bubble wrap in between your clothes or outfits. Then, use the bubble wrap to protect souvenirs that you are bringing home.

Other travel hacks for packing souvenirs (and some of the creative ways to better ensure breakables make the trip home undamaged) is to pack them inside Pringles cans or even use the free hotel slippers as cushioning. On the other hand, if you are  buying wine, actual wine protectors are the best.

Pro Tip : In many cases, the best and safest way to transport fragile souvenirs is to ship them home…rather than trying to jam them into your suitcase. 

#17 Packing hacks for Traveling: Laundry

One of the best space-saving travel hacks is simply to plan on doing laundry during your trip. By planning to do laundry while you travel, you will only need to pack one week’s worth of clothing – or less! – even if you are on a 2-week – or longer! – trip.

We recommend booking accommodations with a washer and (maybe) a dryer ( Airbnb is our go-to resource for finding the best places to stay). It is a good idea to pack a few individual packages of liquid laundry detergent , just in case they do not provide any. 

Pro Tip : If your accommodation does not have a washer, there is likely a nearby laundromat – or even laundry service. Just remember to bring a packable laundry bag so that you have something to carry your dirty clothes in.

#18 Sink Laundry: Packing Tips and Hacks

Learning how to efficiently do sink laundry is one of the packing hacks for long trips, when you will inevitably need to wash at least a few undergarments. Sink laundry is as simple as it sounds: It’s when you hand wash your clothes in the sink, bathtub or shower.

The most important thing to keep in mind when washing items in the sink is allowing enough time for clothes to dry (and, again, why it is so important to pack quick-dry clothing).

Many travelers wash clothes at night, before going to bed, to ensure they will dry. We like to take advantage of the sunshine (if possible) and wash them in the morning (but never the morning of a travel day!).

Sometimes we just use a bar of soap to clean our clothes, but Sink Laundry detergent is probably better. A sink stopper will help for scrubbing and rinsing in the sink – and a travel clothesline is ideal to hang up wet clothes. That said, draping socks over a heater or in front of a fan can help speed drying times…and a hair dryer works, too.

Pro Tip : A Scrubba Wash Bag is often touted by fellow travelers as one of the top packing hacks for backpacking, but we have yet to use one personally!

Best Packing Hacks for Travel by JetSettingFools.com

Packing Hacks For Toiletries

Our list of packing toiletries hacks is full of ideas that will help you pack better for your next trip! These travel hacks for packing toiletries will hopefully help you avoid spills in your luggage…and save you some space in your bag, too.

#19 Travel Toiletry Hacks for Shampoo and Conditioner

One way to avoid any liquid shampoo and conditioner luggage incidents is to simply not pack it! Many hotels and Airbnb apartments provide shampoo and conditioner. And, if they don’t, you can always buy some at a local store when you get there.

That said, did you know that shampoo and condition come in bars just like soap? Well, you are now in on the secret! Using shampoo and conditioner bars – rather than packing bottled liquids – is an excellent travel packing hack that will ensure you don’t have spilled shampoo in your bag on arrival at your destination.

Pro Tip : Shampoo and conditioner are just one of the solid toiletries you can use on your trip. Other packings hacks for traveling without liquids are using toothpaste tabs and solid perfumes !

#20 All-in-One Toiletry Travel and Packing Hacks

What better way to save space than to use products with multiple uses? The all-in-one Dr. Bronner’s soaps are organic and certified Fair Trade products that are designed for multiple purposes. The soap can be used on body, face, hair and teeth…and also to clean dishes, clothes, floors, windows – and even the toilet – making it one of the best travel packing hacks of all!

Pro Tip : The Castille soap collection comes in a variety of scents and is available in liquid or bars .

#21 Liquids: The Best Packing Hacks for Travel

While eliminating liquids from your luggage is one of the top packing hacks for travel, if you are bringing liquids in your bag, we have a few travel hacks and tips on how to keep liquids from spilling inside your bag.

The best travel hacks for liquids is a 3-part process that includes plastic wrap, tape and a resealable bag. First, unscrew the top off the bottle and place a piece of plastic wrap over the top, then screw the top back on (over the top of the plastic wrap). Next, take a piece of tape and tape the flip lid shut. Finally, secure the bottles in resealable bags. By using the three-step method, suitcase spillage is highly unlikely!

Pro Tip : The bottles you pack in can make all of the difference! Liquid travel containers is not where you want to skimp on quality. Therefore, one of the best travel hacks for toiletries is to use refillable GoToob bottles that are specifically engineered for travel – and promise a spill-proof journey!

#22 Save Space in your Toiletry Bag when A Little Dab Will Do

One of the phenomenal travel hacks to save space in your toiletries case is to only bring as much product as you will actually use on your trip. Rather than packing larger bottles of face creams and foundation, pour a small amount into a contact lens case. Use more than one case if you need to…but just remember to use a contact case with screw top lids.

Pro Tip : Small 10ml bottles also work great for liquids that you will only need a little dab of during your vacation. They are inexpensive and reusable, too, making them one of the best travel hacks!

#23 Travel Size Items

When it comes to transporting liquids, one of the travel packing life hacks is to use refillable travel-size bottles. In fact, we think travel-size toiletries are the way to go in general when it comes to packing and carry-on hacks.

It is amazing how many products are made in a smaller, space-saving size. Some favorites are a travel-size hairbrush , travel-size toothpaste , travel-size deodorant and travel-size shaving cream . Products we don’t use – but that other travelers do – are mini-magnifying mirrors , travel-size hair straighteners and travel towels .

Pro Tip : Want one of our top travel hacks that saves money in the long run? When your travel-size toothpaste runs out, don’t throw it away! The tube can actually be refilled from a regular-size toothpaste tube. Just securely hold the openings together and squeeze from the larger tube into the travel sized tube!

#24 Travel Tips for Shaving Cream Alternatives

Using a travel-size shaving cream is not the only way to save space in your suitcase. One of the best travel packing tips and hacks is to not bring shaving cream at all! Instead, just lather up soap or use hair conditioner in place of shaving cream.

Pro Tip : The Schick Intuition razor is another travel gem – in that the shaving cream is right on the razor!

#25 Minimal Hair Products

While we love the innovative travel-size products that are available to travelers, the fewer you bring, the lighter your luggage. It can be tempting to pack a hair dryer, curling iron and straightener, but we don’t recommend it…even if they are all travel size!

First, check to see if your accommodations provide a hair dryer. Second, choose one low-maintenance hairstyle. This way, you can limit the number of hair tools and products you bring on your trip!

Pro Tip : In the case that your accommodations don’t have a blow dryer, rather than succumbing to packing a hairdryer, one of the travel life hacks is to pack a microfiber towel that can be used to help dry your hair more quickly. 

#26 Makeup: Packing for Vacation Hacks

Many minimalist travelers recommend leaving all makeup at home when taking a trip. While I have never been a heavy makeup wearer, I still travel with makeup – but I limit it to essentials only.

I pack one powder, two small brushes, a travel eyelash curler and mascara…and that is it. At the very least, limit your makeup bag to only one eyeliner, one eyeshadow, one mascara and one lipstick (and make sure they go with your capsule wardrobe color scheme!).

Pro Tip : Using makeup samples is one of the great traveling life hacks for trips! If you have collected any sample-size makeup in the months prior to your trip, select a few to use on your vacation!

#27 The Almighty Pill Box as a First Aid Kit

While a Weekly Pill Box is excellent for its intended purpose, it is also a great space-saving travel organizer! Instead of packing bottles of Just-in-Case medications, store each of the assorted meds in a different day of the week. For example, store pain reliever in Sunday, vitamins in Monday, cold meds in Tuesday and belly meds in Wednesday. Pill boxes are also one of the fantastic travel pack hacks for storing and organizing jewelry for your trip!

Pro Tip : For something a little more flexible than a pill box, use individual travel jars  and small 2×3-inch plastic resealable baggies to pack medications…and jewelry, too! Read more about what we pack in our first aid travel kit in our post, Ways to Stay Healthy While Traveling .

#28 Toiletry Life Hacks for Packing a Suitcase

One way to make packing toiletries so much easier is to invest in a Travel Toiletry Case that stays packed all the time! With a pre-packed toiletry case, all you need to do when it comes time to pack is grab the bag and go! Just starting out with traveling? This packaged toiletry case is great for beginners!

Pro Tip : Just remember to refill any used items when you return from each trip!

Top Travel Packing Hacks by JetSettingFools.com

Carry On Hacks

On travel days, we seldom check bags – we each have carry-on-size travel backpacks and a day pack. To stay organized and efficient in airports, carry on luggage hacks are essential!

#29 Carry On Travel Hacks: Airport Security

No one likes a traveler who holds up the line at security, but there are a few packing hacks for carry on luggage that will get you through checkpoints in a flash.

First, if you are carrying liquids onto the plane, make sure they are in 3.4-ounce bottles (100ml) or smaller…and that they all fit into one quart-size resealable plastic bag. Next – and a key to being quick at security – when you pack your bag, place the bag of liquids in an easy to reach spot.

Electronics – especially laptops, but sometimes larger cameras and phones, which sometimes have to be removed when going through security – should also be placed in an easy-to-access part of your carry on luggage.

Pro Tip : Shoes often need to be removed, which is why I like to wear Slip On shoes or flip flops on travel days. However, if you are bringing boots on your trip, you will need to decide whether it is better to wear them to save space in your suitcase or pack them for a swifter pass through security.

#30 Packing Hacks: Carry On Entertainment

The best way to pass time on an airplane is with on-board entertainment, which is why planning your entertainment in advance is one of the best packing hacks for flying. Headphones and portable chargers are a must! 

Once I get settled in my seat, the first thing I do is create a list of movies to watch in-flight. Headphones , however, are essential to enjoying the flicks…so I always bring two pairs (just in case one fails me or gets lost).

On flights where there is no seat-back entertainment, be sure to bring your own entertainment. Make sure your phone is fully charged…and make a few song playlists or download apps in advance. Bring your charging cord (most seats now have USB ports) and a Portable Charger . 

If you like to read on planes (or trains or buses) a Kindle can be a real space-saver and one of the top vacation packing hacks. However, if you are like me and prefer the feel of paper books, then pick up one or two at a used bookstore or free community library…and then pass them along when you’re finished.

Pro Tip : Find out more of the specifics of what should be in your carry on luggage and our other in-flight tips in our blog post, Long Haul Flight Essentials .

#31 Only Hand Luggage Hacks

If you are trying to squeeze all of your items for your entire trip into a carry on, then one way to make a bit more room is to wear a fanny pack onto the plane. What makes it one of the best carry on packing hacks is that your fanny pack shouldn’t count as an extra bag – plus it keeps you hands-free! Besides that, it is a great place to store valuable items (like your passport and wallet), as well as items you want easy access to during the flight (like an lip balm , sleep mask and earplugs).

Pro Tip : Using a backpack instead of a suitcase will also keep you hands-free on travel days! Read more of the pros and cons of each style of luggage in our blog post, Backpack vs Suitcase . 

#32 Organizational Hand Luggage Packing Hacks

There is nothing more frustrating than when the plane is ready for take off…and you realize that your headphones and kindle are stowed in the overhead compartment (which now cannot be accessed until the captain has turned off the seatbelt sign).

To avoid the inconvenience, prepare ahead and pack a small on-board tote that contains your flight essentials, which can fit under the seat in front of you. Items I make sure to have close at hand are sanitizer , wet wipes , water, snacks, phone, headphones, sleep mask, earplugs and compression socks .

Pro Tip : One of the top carry on luggage packing hacks to use if you are checking luggage is to travel on board with a complete change of clothes…just in case your luggage (and clothing) gets lost en route to your destination . I also like to pack a fresh pair of underwear (that I can change into in the airport bathroom to start my trip off feeling fresh!) – as well as a toothbrush and toothpaste to use to freshen up after a long flight.

Miscellaneous Packing Hacks

Our final travel packing tips and hacks are some tricks that we have picked up over the years that make packing so much easier!

#33 Electronic Device Cable Organization

One of our suitcase life hacks is keeping our cables organized. Some of the essential electronics that we travel with are a mini extension cord (because the outlets are not always in convenient places!), a multi-port adapter (because there are multiple things to be charged!) and a portable charger that we carry with us while we are out exploring.

A good way to keep all these cords and electronics organized is with a Grid It board that keeps everything in place and easy to find! 

Pro Tip : For travelers who make frequent trips, an even easier way to stay organized is to purchase duplicate chargers and cables for all of your devices. Secure them on the Grid It – and always keep them packed so they are ready to go when you are ready to go!

#34 Cooking on Vacation

One of the reasons we love staying in Airbnb apartments is that we have access to our own kitchen where we can cook simple meals. That said, not all kitchens come fully equipped. If you plan on cooking during your trip, consider investing in a collapsible colander , a flexible cutting board and an multi-functional knife (but only if you are checking luggage). 

Pro Tip : In our travels, we have found that it is best to pack the spices that we love! To easily pack our spices, we use small resealable bags (the 2×3-inch baggies are the best!) rather than carrying bottles.

#35 Packing Hacks for Traveling as a Couple or with Friends

One thing that we have learned as a traveling couple is to communicate about our packing list. All of the items that can be shared – from lotion to a travel umbrella to a portable Wifi device – are divvied up evenly between us so that we are not carrying duplicates. Whether traveling as couples, friends or families, find out what items might be unnecessary and determine who will carry what.

Pro Tip : Packing Lists are gold! Keep a list of all the items you pack for a trip. When you return, take a few minutes to jot down notes on what you used and what you didn’t and adjust accordingly to make packing easier for future trips!

#36 Packing Hacks for International Travel

As we spend most of our time overseas, we have quite a few international travel hacks for packing. These tips aren’t necessarily travel hacks for packing light, but rather what to pack to make international travel a little bit easier. 

First, make sure you pack your passport and other travel documents in a safe place. We use a Passport Organizer that fits inside a zippered pocket inside our under-the-seat carry on luggage. 

We also think it is important to invest in a Mobile WiFi Hotspot so that you will have an internet connection from the moment you land. We use the GlocalMe device – which can be fitted with a SIM card or you can purchase data online ahead of your trip (the better way to go in our opinion!). 

Next, make sure that you have the right travel apps. Google Translate, Uber (or whatever ride hailing app is popular in the country you are visiting), Booking.com and Google Maps are the basic essentials. 

Bring (and use) a credit card that does not charge international transaction fees (we prefer the Chase Sapphire credit card). 

Pro Tip: We share heaps of tips for traveling from the United States to Europe in this article, How To Plan a Trip To Europe . 

#37 Best Packing Hack for Travel – Make a List! 

We have already touched on making a list as one of the top packing hacks for travel – but it is truly one of the easiest and most often overlooked hacks for organizing your suitcase. 

Start by making a list of what to pack for your next trip. Then, after the trip, reanalyze the list, eliminating the things you didn’t use – and then make a Master Packing List. For future travels, use your Master Packing List as a base for all of your trips. 

However, as each trip is unique with different climates and activities, it is best to take your list one step further and make an Itinerary of Outfits. On this list, note what outfit (or outfits) you will wear on each day of your trip based on your outlined trip itinerary. This way, you can be certain that you only pack clothes you intend to actually wear – saving you from over packing! 

Pro Tip : Our T rip Planning Printables Kit includes itinerary templates and everything you need to organize your trip! 

Travel Planner Printables by JetSettingFools.com

More Travel Tips and Hacks

Above, we featured our top travel tips for creative and easy packing hacks – but we have so many more travel hacks to save money! 

Cheap Flights

We use a combination of tricks to find the best fares on flights – and we share them all in our article How To Find Cheap Flights .

Best Hotels

Want to find the best hotels at the best prices? Don’t we all! Get there by using our travel hacks for Booking Cheap Hotels . 

Free Packing Checklist 

With our packing hacks for travel, you will be a packing pro in no time! Get started right away with your  FREE Packing Checklist!

Start planning your next trip ! Search for the lowest airfares , the best accommodations and fun things to do …then start packing !   Want more travel advice? Head over to our Travel Planning Page for more tips on traveling – and for country-specific information, take a look at our Travel Guides Page !

We Want To Know: What are your best travel packing hacks? Give us your tips and advice in the comments below!

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The 8 Best Packing Cubes of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

We love space-saving packing cubes for long and short trips, and these are the best out there.

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In This Article

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  • Our top picks
  • Others We Liked

Our Testing Process

  • Tips for Buying
  • Why Trust T+L

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Travel + Leisure / Vicky Wasik

Packing cubes are hands down one the best travel hacks out there. Whether you’re a meticulous list-maker or planning procrastinator, investing in a set of packing cubes is a game changer for staying organized and saving space without having to put in too much effort. 

At Travel + Leisure , we take our travel hacks seriously so we put 23 sets of regular and compression packing cubes to the test both in our New York City lab and out during real travels to find the best ones on the market.Our top pick is a set of four Gonex Compression Packing Cubes that thoroughly impressed us with the space saved thanks to the compression zippers on each cube. We understand that everyone has unique preferences so we also found picks for travelers embarking on long trips, outdoor adventurers, and minimalist packers looking for one single cube to do the trick.

Best Overall

Gonex compression packing cubes.

  • Capacity 5 /5
  • Design 5 /5
  • Quality 5 /5

The lightweight cubes easily compress clothing down to save space in a suitcase. 

They repel some water but are not waterproof. 

We love the Gonex Compression Packing Cubes thanks to their impressive space-saving ability. During six months of tests, we found these cubes to be monumentally helpful when it comes to consolidating and organizing clothing items between the different-sized cubes. The compression cubes help you get more items packed than a regular version of a packing cube and the sturdy zippers made compressing the packed cubes easy, leading us to believe that these cubes will last over time with the durable zippers and stitchwork. 

Although the nylon material isn’t waterproof, we splashed a little water on the outside and found that the material repels some water (but the clothing should remain dry with the extra protection of a suitcase, too). Plus, the handles on the top of each cube make it easy to grab the bags for packing and unpacking, and we love that the set includes an extra-large, large, medium, and small bag for variety.

The Details: 3 or 4 bags included | 17.3 x 13 x 3.54 inches (extra large), 14.5 x 10.6 x 3.54 inches (large), 11.8 x 8.9 x 3.54 inches (medium), and 9.8 x 7.5 x 3.54 inches (small) | Ripstop nylon

Travel + Leisure / Vicky Wasik

Travel + Leisure / Jessica Juliao

Shacke Pak 5 Set Packing Cubes

 Amazon

  • Design 4 /5
  • Quality 4 /5

The set includes four cubes and a laundry bag. 

The mesh tops aren’t waterproof or resistant.

Whether you’re traveling with family or heading on a solo trip , these Shacke packing cubes are a steal of a deal. The set includes extra-large, large, medium, and small packing cubes, as well as a laundry bag for dirty clothes. Designed for up to 14 days of traveling, we found that the cubes lived up to their promise of providing plenty of space for a variety of types of clothing like pants, toiletries, shirts, and jackets. The cubes easily fit in the carry-on suitcase we used and with the various sizes, you can customize how many cubes you want to pack depending on the type of suitcase you have. 

While the cubes likely won’t prevent water from seeping through due to the mesh tops, you can easily see what you packed inside so you won’t have to unpack everything to find a piece of clothing. During our tests, we felt the durable nylon material and zippers will hold up well with prolonged use, and you can't beat the price for the full set either. 

The Details: 5 bags included | 17.5 x 12.75 x 4 inches (extra large), 13.75 x 12.75 x 4 inches (large), 3.75 x 9.75 x 4 inches (medium), 11 x 6.75 x 4 inches (small), and 20.5 x 15.75 inches (laundry bag) | Nylon

Watch How We Test Travel Products

Best for long trips, veken packing cubes with laundry and shoe bag.

The set includes four packing cubes, a shoe bag, and a laundry bag. 

These have to be hand-washed and air-dried. 

If you’re traveling internationally or taking an extended vacation, consider picking up a set of these Veken packing cubes from Amazon. The four packing cubes are thoughtfully designed with a clear strip on the top so travelers can easily see what they packed, and there are small graphics printed onto each cube recommending what type of clothing item could be stored inside. This set also includes a shoe bag and a laundry bag so you can keep your items separated and organized. We like that there are several different sizes so you don't have small items moving around in a cube thats too big or trying to cram a larger sweatshirt into something too small.

We think these nylon and polyester packing cubes are made to last with a thick fabric exterior and sturdy zippers and stitchwork. After six months of use, there is no sign of wear and the zippers are holding up well. Although, we found the cubes to be slightly heavier than others we tested so keep that in mind if you’re an overpacker or striving to stay under the standard 50-pound limit for checked luggage. 

The Details: 6 bags included | 17.5 x 12.15 x 4 (extra large), 13.75 x 12.75 x 4 inches (large), 3.75 x 9.75 x 4 inches (medium), 11 x 6.75 x 4 inches (small), 16.96 x 9.06 x 4.72 (shoe bag), and 20 x 14 inches (laundry bag) | Nylon, ethylene vinyl acetate, and polyester 

Best Single Cube

Ebags classic medium compression cube.

It’s a compression packing cube that makes room for other items like shoes or a toiletry bag. 

The compression zipper could snag a bit.

For travelers looking for a simple hack to make room in a suitcase, a single compression packing cube is the best bet. This option from eBags will save you nearly four inches of height thanks to a compression zipper that condenses the clothing packed inside the cube. In testing, we were thoroughly impressed with the cube’s ability to fit five clothing items and a bulky winter jacket. We love the size and versatility plus the lightweight material and handles makes it effortless to carry.

After six months of regularly using the bag, we noticed that the zipper sometimes snags if the cube isn’t packed full so you might find it easier to zip if you pack the cube to its maximum capacity. While most of the packing cubes we tested didn’t repel water, this one is made with a nylon material that proved to be water-resistant after splashing a bit of water on it. This single packing cube is ideal for frequent fliers or travelers simply looking to save space without investing in a set of packing cubes.

The Details: 14 x 10 x 1.5 inches | Nylon

Best for Camping

Rei co-op expandable packing cube set.

The tent-like material is lightweight and has a rugged look.

The mesh top doesn’t feel as durable as we hoped and these bags lose their shape when fully packed.

Outdoor enthusiasts should consider REI Co-op’s lightweight packing cubes for upcoming camping trips. The set of two comes with large and medium packing cubes that remain at the standard three-inch height or they can be expanded another three inches to double the capacity. After six months of regularly using the packing cubes, we found that all seams and zippers are holding up extremely well, even after packing heavy winter clothing.

In testing, the tent-like nylon proved to be water-resistant as advertised, however, the top of the cubes are made of a breathable mesh that doesn’t repel water and felt a little less sturdy than the nylon portion. Though the mesh top isn’t ideal for waterproofness, we like how easy it is to see what we packed through the little mesh holes. Plus, the lightweight materials are ideal for campers or backpackers looking to stay organized without sacrificing weight. 

The Details: 2 bags included | 14.5 x 10.5 x 3 inches (large) and 12 x 8 x 3 inches (medium) | Ripstop nylon and polyester

Best Sustainable

Peak design packing cubes.

Peak Design

Peak Design uses 100 percent recycled materials to make the cubes.

The easy access zippers were finicky to use.

San Francisco-based Peak Design is known for its slew of sustainable outdoor gear made with carbon neutral and recycled materials, including their expandable packing cubes. We tried the small- and medium-sized cubes and found them to be spacious, well-built, and resistant to water after splashing a bit on the exterior. After regularly using the cubes for six months, we loved the capacity of the medium cube and found the smaller option to be good for packing undergarments or even toiletries. We especially love that the cubes are made from 100 percent recycled nylon that is solution-dyed to prevent excessive water use following the brand’s carbon neutral footprint, plus each bag expands to fit even more items.

The cubes can compress down to a height of 3.1 inches, but we found that they function best as an expandable packing cube that can increase in size, rather than a compression cube that is designed to heavily consolidate clothes. Additionally, the cubes feature an “easy access” zipper so travelers can reach inside the bag without opening the whole thing, but we think this feature is unnecessary to use due to the zipper getting snagged. 

The Details: 1 bag included | Various sizes | Ripstop nylon

Best Personalized

Paravel packing cube quad.

  • Design 4.5 /5

The cubes can be monogrammed with up to three letters for an additional $25. 

The large cube is so big it takes up most of the space of a carry-on bag.

Indulge your love for matching with this set of personalized packing cubes from Paravel. Although it costs an extra $25, you can get up to three letters embroidered onto the set of four packing cubes with 11 color options. If you're shopping for a stylish, functional personalized travel gift , this is a wonderful option. The set comes with one large, one medium, and two small-sized packing cubes that can hold an impressive amount of clothing and still fit in most carry-on bags. These cubes are great for any type of traveler, but especially for those looking for water-resistant cubes for checked bags that will be handled outside in different weather conditions. After six months of use, we found that these cubes provide exceptional organization with room to pack bulkier items in the larger bags and toiletries or undergarments between the two smaller cubes.

As an added bonus, these cubes won't take up much space in between trips. They're easy to store and stack right inside one another. The size variety is also convenient for different types of trips and we love having the option to use one, two, three, or all four bags in a checked bag if needed.

The Details: 4 bags included | 18 x 3.75 x 12 inches (large), 12.75 x 3.75 x 10 inches (medium), and 8.2 x. 3.75 x 6.25 inches (small) | Nylon

Calpak Packing Cubes 5-piece Set

There are 14 designs to choose from including groovy blue, retro sunset, and cheetah prints. 

The set might be better suited for frequent fliers.

If you travel often and are looking to invest in a splurge-worthy set of packing cubes, you can’t go wrong with these from Calpak. We love the unique design options with 14 colors and patterns to choose from including classics like solid pink and gold marble, or limited-edition prints like a wavy retro sunset and groovy blue picks. The set includes one large, one medium, and two small cubes, as well as a water-resistant envelope for cosmetics.

After six months of using these packing cubes during international trips, we found that all the bags were spacious enough to fit a variety of clothing options for organized and efficient packing. We love the diversity of sizes to hold things like undergarments as well as shoes if needed. We also love the option to bring a folded large cube to keep dirty clothes separate. The polyester material feels well-made and built to last, and the zippers zipped without any issues which helps justify the higher price point for this set. And, if you’re traveling with your family, we think the set would be great for separating and organizing clothing for several travelers thanks to the removable identification tags where you can write what clothing went into each cube. 

The Details: 5 bags included | 17 x 12 x 3 inches (large), 15 x 11 x 3 inches (medium), 12 x 8.8 x 3 inches (small), and 13 x 10 x 1.5 inches (envelope) | Polyester

Other Packing Cubes We Liked

There were several sets of packing cubes we highlighted below that almost made our list of best packing cubes, but they fell short during testing due some minor flaws we noticed. 

Well Traveled Compression Packing Cubes : This set of compression packing cubes is great for budget-friendly travelers but our top pick is also a compression set that had a better overall performance in testing. 

Lean Travel Premium Compression Packing Cubes : The set of three cubes is made with thick polyester that still feels lightweight, but besides that, there weren’t any standout features compared to our other top performers. 

Briggs & Riley Packing Cubes : These cubes were spacious and water-resistant, but for $59, we expected a higher performance to match the price for three standard packing cubes.

Our testing experts spent a day in our New York City lab evaluating 23 sets of both compression and regular packings cubes based on traits like capacity, design, quality, and value using a rating scale of one to five.

First, we unpackaged the sets of packing cubes and examined the quality of the bags by twisting and pulling them to check the stitchwork, and using the zippers to see if they snagged or glided smoothly. The cubes with the highest quality ratings left us confident that the materials and stitching are built to last and withstand use over time. After packing the cubes with a variety of clothing items like pants, jackets, undergarments, and shirts, we placed the cubes in a carry-on suitcase to see how well they fit in a piece of luggage. Our top contenders for capacity and design provided plenty of space for a range of clothing items with useful and thoughtful features that made packing easier and more organized.

For compression-specific packing cubes, we paid close attention to how much space the packing cube saved once we zipped the compression zippers. And for all cubes, we splashed a bit of water on the exterior and felt the inside to see if any of the packed contents were damp or wet. Lastly, we were unaware of the price and only saw after testing was complete where they judged the value of each packing cube set. The sets with the highest values performed as advertised or better, and left our testers satisfied with the cost or willingness to pay even more for the cubes. 

After testing each set of cubes in our lab, we sent them home to be tested during real travels around the world for a period of six months. We regularly collected insights on durability, functionality, and overall quality during this period to ensure each cube continued to impress.

Tips for Buying Packing Cubes

Compare compression versus regular packing cubes.

Compression packing cubes are designed to condense clothing by using the compression zipper to pack down the clothes in order to save space in a suitcase. Regular packing cubes are mainly for organizing clothes efficiently rather than consolidating clothing to make more room in a piece of luggage. Compression packing cubes can usually be expanded or compressed which gives travelers the best of both worlds.

Consider the type of luggage you use

For travelers who usually use checked luggage, consider purchasing a set with five or six cubes included so you can maximize space in each suitcase. And, if you’re a carry-on-only type of traveler, one or two packing cubes in small or medium sizes could be better suited for your needs, and you won’t have to worry about storing of a large set either. Backpackers or campers should consider getting just one or two compression or regular cubes that can fit in a backpack or weekender bag for lighter packing .

Look for sets that include multiple sizes

One of the best parts about packing cubes is staying organized on the go with little effort. To help you keep like items together, consider buying a set of multiple packing cubes with different sizes. That way, you can know without opening the case what cube holds your pants, your shirts, your undergarments, and more. The various size options also let you mix and match the cubes to fit whatever luggage you're bringing from weekender duffles to large checked bags.

Flexible fabrics like nylon or polyester are best for packing cubes as they'll allow you to pack the most items. These materials also tend to be water-resistant, keeping your items extra safe throughout your travels.

When it comes to saving space, experts say you can fold your clothes or roll them — it ultimately doesn’t matter. The most important thing is maximizing your space, and packing cubes are great for doing just that. Besides saving space, packing cubes can help you stay organized before and during your trip making them a must-have travel organizer .

To choose the right amount of packing cubes in a set, consider several factors like how often you travel, what kind of suitcase you use, and how organized you prefer to be. Some travelers might like sets that include four packing cubes plus laundry and shoe bags, and others might prefer just one or two cubes for a carry-on or weekender bag. 

Why Trust Travel + Leisure

Anna Popp is a commerce writer at Travel + Leisure , where she writes and reviews travel products. She has been travel writing since 2018 and product testing since 2021. Anna worked with travel editors to determine the results for the best packing cubes based on a series of tests completed by our testers in our New York City lab and she is currently participating in long-term testing a set of packing cubes included in this roundup. 

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' class=

Final days of may?

Sorry. I meant march. I arrive in a few days. But 15 degrees sounds more than pleasant. I assume all the snow has come and gone?

// I meant march

Oh! It's another story. Yes, all the snow has gone and even most of melting snow's mud has gone, but the forecast for the last days of March isn't so pleasant like actual weather - +6º C - +10º C

http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/RSXX0063

> He said he felt stupid having packed so many winter clothes :-)

If he stays until the weekend he might well need them!

Nope, Marassa, he's heading for Saint Petersburg now where, according to the weather forecasts, he might very well use those winter clothes...

This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity.

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8 Deals Just in Time for Spring Cleaning, Travel, and More

A collage including a robot vacuum, a lawn mower and someone wearing a Bonobos Soft Everyday Tee.

Just as the groundhog predicted, spring has sprung—and so have seasonal sales. But not every spring sale event is worth the hype. These expert-vetted deals can help you stay prepped and ready for whatever the change of season throws at you, whether you’re giving your space a long-overdue deep clean or emerging from winter hibernation to pursue outdoor adventures.

Here’s the deal

Coway airmega 400 air purifier, spacesaver vacuum storage bags (medium, pack of 10), bissell little green portable carpet cleaner 3369, roborock q5+ robot vacuum, ego st1511t power+ 15″ powerload string trimmer, ego lm2135sp power+ 21″ select cut lawn mower, bonobos soft everyday tee (pack of two), l.l.bean bean boots (8-inch).

The Coway Airmega 400 air purifier, our former upgrade pick for the best air purifier, in a living room.

Coway Airmega 400

An air purifier we like for large spaces.

We still like our former upgrade if you can find it on sale (like right now). It offers exceptional air purification for spaces around 500 square feet, reducing particulates by 99.9% on high and 99.7% on medium, even with year-old filters running 24/7.

Buying Options

You save $120 (26%)

Other things to know: Demoted because our current upgrade pick typically costs less. Rarely goes on sale and this sale makes it comparable in price to our upgrade pick.

Read our review of the best air purifier .

A SpaceSaver Vacuum Storage Bag with clothing in it.

SpaceSaver Vacuum Storage Bags

Our vacuum-sealed storage-bag pick.

We love these vacuum-sealed bags for neatly packing away seasonal clothes and bedding. They shrank down significantly faster and looked flatter than other options we tested, and they held their seal even after repeated use.

You save $5 (20%)

Other things to know: We generally prefer plastic bins or blanket bags for storing clothes and bedding, but vacuum bags are a decent option if storage space is tight. Deal is for 10 medium storage bags with a travel pump.

Read our review of the best closet organizing ideas .

Someone using a Bissell Little Green Portable Carpet Cleaner 3369.

A nearly identical variant of our top-pick portable carpet cleaner

A favorite among neat freaks and casual cleaners alike, this Walmart-exclusive version of our longtime favorite portable carpet and upholstery cleaner gets the job done. It’s a game changer for small messes, particularly if you have pets or young kids.

You save $21 (19%)

Other things to know: Negligible differences between this model and our pick, primarily a different color. Completely removed wine and chocolate stains with its handheld suction brush, hot tap water, and cleaning formula. Designed to tackle small areas only. Water tank is difficult to clean. One-year warranty is shorter than that of the competition.

Read our review of the best portable carpet and upholstery cleaner .

A Roborock Q5+ Robot Vacuum.

Roborock Q5+

The best self-emptying robot vacuum.

Better mapping, easier app navigation, a longer battery life, and more-reliable voice commands are just some of the attributes that give this super-smart robot vacuum an edge over its competition. It excels on hard floors and low- and medium-pile carpets, making spring cleaning a breeze.

Use promo code ROBOROCKS

Use promo code SPRINGSAVE20

Other things to know: Comes with a charging station that empties debris into a disposable bag. Struggles with debris near thresholds and baseboards, like nearly all models we tested. Compatible with Siri, Alexa, and Google Home. Use code ROBOROCKS to buy new directly from Roborock. Use code SPRINGSAVE20 to buy a certified manufacturer-refurbished model from eBay, which includes a two-year Allstate warranty.

Read our review of the best robot vacuums .

The Ego ST1511T Power+ 15″ Powerload String Trimmer.

The best string trimmer

Having perfectly manicured flower beds is a breeze with our favorite string trimmer, which outperformed the other trimmers we tested in terms of run time and sheer power. A telescoping shaft and handle make this tool easy to adjust and comfortable to use.

With delayed shipping

You save $40 (18%)

Other things to know: The charger can deliver a full battery in about 40 minutes. The deal from Lowe’s includes a free extra battery that’s helpful for larger lawns or use as a backup.

Read our review of the best string trimmers .

An Ego LM2135SP Power+ 21″ Select Cut Lawn Mower.

Ego LM2135SP Power+ 21″ Select Cut Mower

Our runner-up for the best lawn mower.

Forgo the noise, emissions, and maintenance of a typical gas mower. This battery-powered, self-propelled mower is considerably quieter than its gas counterparts, and it can run for about an hour on a single charge.

With store pickup - includes bonus battery

Other things to know: Minimal maintenance compared with gas models. A little less powerful and has a shorter runtime than our top pick, but a fine trade-off for the lower price if you don ’ t have a huge lawn. First deal we ’ ve seen since Black Friday.

Read our review of the best lawn mower .

Someone wearing a Bonobos Soft Everyday Tee.

Bonobos Soft Everyday Tee

Our boxier, more relaxed white t-shirt pick.

Swap out your bulky winter sweaters in favor of something lighter—namely, these extremely soft 100% cotton tees. Their quality, fit, and comfort make them a hit among our staff, especially our plus-size testers.

Add 2 to cart

Other things to know: Generous fit may not work for people with smaller frames. Available in a variety of colors and sizes. Choose between crew neck or V-neck and slim or standard cut. Add two shirts to your cart to get the deal price; discount applies automatically.

Read our review of the best men’s white T-shirts .

Two pairs of L.L.Bean Bean Boots.

L.L.Bean Women’s Bean Boots (8-inch)

Our duck-boot pick for mixed terrain (women's sizes).

Half rain boot, half traditional boot, these are the de-facto stylish boots for those April showers. Their comfort, durability, and versatility make them among the most thoughtfully designed pieces of outdoor gear we’ve tried.

(select colors and sizes)

packing pants for travel

L.L.Bean Men’s Bean Boots (8-inch)

Our duck-boot pick for mixed terrain (men’s sizes).

Deftly balancing fashion and function, these duck boots are great for wet and muddy weather. They’re laced tighter to the foot than rubber boots, so they don’t slip on and off as easily as others, but they’re some of the most thoughtfully designed pieces of outdoor gear we’ve tried.

Other things to know: We like that these boots are unlined since it keeps the shoe true to its nature as a multi-seasonal, versatile piece of your outdoor kit. The leather upper and the coated laces require some breaking in.

Read our review of the best rain boots for women and men .

Editor’s note: The photo at the top of this article may reflect previous deals that are no longer valid and have been removed. Check out our Deals page for more great discounts on Wirecutter’s expert-approved picks.

This article was edited by Janie Campbell and Nathan Burrow.

Meet your guide

packing pants for travel

Kaitlin Mahar

Kaitlin Mahar is a staff writer for Wirecutter’s Deals team. Her byline has appeared in Delish, Esquire, and Town & Country. When she’s not hunting for deals and fiercely defending the Oxford comma, she’s a proud cat parent, an avid yogi, and a co-producer and co-host of the podcast Crime Culture . Please tell your pets and grandparents she says hi.

IMAGES

  1. How to Roll Pants for Travel and Maximize Luggage Space

    packing pants for travel

  2. How to Pack Your Jeans to Save Space

    packing pants for travel

  3. 3 Ways to Pack Pants

    packing pants for travel

  4. Let's take a look at the best pants for travel to various destinations

    packing pants for travel

  5. Men’s Wrinkle-Resistant Linen Travel Pants

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  6. The ONLY pants you'll need

    packing pants for travel

VIDEO

  1. Bags Made By Using Used Pants

  2. 3 ways to style cargo pants

  3. Pant shirt packing 💫

  4. Travel packing a hoodie

  5. TS MPCY NEW PACKING

  6. The BEST Travel pants EVER!

COMMENTS

  1. 3 Ways to Pack Pants

    2. Lay the pants on a flat surface. Start with ironed pants if you want to keep them as wrinkle-free as possible. Lay them out and smooth your hands over the legs to remove any creases. 3. Fold the pants in half. Place one leg over the other leg to fold them perfectly in half. Smooth out the creases with your hands.

  2. How to Fold Clothes for Travel: 3 Easy Packing Methods

    Turn the bottom 3 inches (7.5) cm of the shirt inside out to create a cuff. Fold the shirt in thirds by folding the right side inward, followed by the left. Spin your shirt upside down and roll it tightly from the collar to the end of the shirt. Wrap the cuff around the roll to keep it from unrolling.

  3. The Ultimate Packing List

    For a longer trip (over a week), you can manage with one pair of underwear and socks per day, two pairs of pajamas, three dressier outfits, three to four casual outfits, two pairs of shoes, and ...

  4. 18 Top Travel Packing Tips, According to Travel + Leisure Editors

    Separate Jewelry With Snack Size Bags. Bob Chamberlin/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images. "Buy 'snack size' plastic bags for packing necklaces. To prevent tangling, give each one its own bag and ...

  5. 9 essential rules for packing a carry-on

    United Airlines pilot Carole Hopson spent years honing her craft while taking countless trips around the globe. Eventually, she realized she'd mastered it. Not flying the 747 (she does that, too ...

  6. How to Pack: Tips from the Experts on Maximizing Space

    If you do need to put them in your suitcase, Teferra says, "Bulky items should always go at the bottom of your suitcase, and it's best to layer them flat—never fold or roll them.". 10 ...

  7. How to Roll Clothes for Packing

    To properly roll your clothes, lay the item of clothing out flat. Then fold the bottom two inches of the item inside out so it creates a type of pocket along one side of the clothing. From the ...

  8. 60 Travel Packing Tips from the Experts

    Packing Cubes . Packing Tips for Travel Organizers & Travel Bags . Use colored packing cubes to organize your clothes. That way, you can pull out the "shirts" bag quickly without searching and dumping out an entire backpack. Around the World in 80 Jobs. Don't bother with those fancy, expensive travel towels. Instead, get a sarong.

  9. How to Pack Clothes for Traveling

    When traveling, it's important to pack efficiently, be organized, and be smart. This video demonstrates a method to roll your clothing into a tight bundle, m...

  10. Packing Clothes for Travel: How to Organize like a Pro

    Traveling from Cold to Hot Climates: My Layering Strategy. Use one packing cube to store the clothing for your hot weather destination and use the other for your cold weather destination. The third can be used for layering pieces. Create mini capsule wardrobes for each weather system! 1. Hot Weather 2. Cold Weather 3.

  11. How to fold clothes before travel

    General packing tips. Start with the most heavy things like jackets or coats. Add another layers in front of each other. Add long-sleveed clothes like shirts and sweaters. Slevees should cover each other. Put the trousers alongside the slevees. Fold them in half - they will fit perfectly. Pack t-shirts and trousers.

  12. Essential Travel Packing Tips Everyone Needs to Know

    The Wrinkle-Free Travel Clothes You Need to Pack. The Bundle Approach. We learned this ingenious method of packing from Judith Gilford, author of The Packing Book. It's a bit difficult to ...

  13. How to Fold Clothes for Travel: Pack Right & Enjoy the Trip

    Step 1: Fold up the bottom of the shirt and fold the sleeves in. First, find a flat surface and spread your shirt across it. Make sure to spread it out as far as possible and get any wrinkles out. This ensures your shirt stays wrinkle-resistant while it's packed. Next, fold the bottom of the shirt up about 6-8 inches.

  14. 14 Travel Packing Tips Frequent Flyers Know

    2. Choose travel-friendly fabrics. We always recommend opting for knits and stretchy fabrics while traveling. Even when these fabrics wrinkle, the creases will fall out when you hang them up ...

  15. 2 Ways to Fold Pants for Travel (and Save Space)

    Folding Clothes Course: https://organizing.tv/smallFolding pants printable cheat sheet: https://organizing.tv/fold-pants2 space-saving methods to use when pa...

  16. A Professional Packer's 12 Spring Break Hacks

    A professional packer shares their go-to packing tips and travel essentials for spring break. From multi-tasking travel bags and vacation outfits to protective accessories, here are the 12 items ...

  17. 37 Packing Hacks: The Best Travel Hacks For Packing

    #7 Capsule Clothing Packing Travel Hacks. Packing a capsule wardrobe is one of the smart packing hacks used by travelers. To assemble a capsule wardrobe, first, choose a color scheme of similar shades - like black, dark blue and shades of purple - and only pack clothing that falls into the color palette. Each item - tops and bottoms ...

  18. Packing Tips: Clothes by Rick Steves

    Pack with color coordination in mind. Neutral colors (black, navy, khaki) dress up easily and can be extremely versatile. To extend your wardrobe, plan to spend 10 minutes doing a little wash every few nights, or consider a visit to a local launderette, which is in itself a Back Door experience. Choose fabrics that resist wrinkling or look good ...

  19. How to Pack Clothing for Travel

    Step 1. Make a list of every item you will need for your trip. Include basic items that may seem obvious, such a toothbrushes and combs, and special clothing or toiletry items you will need for ...

  20. How to Roll-Pack Your Dress Pants : Travel Solutions

    Subscribe Now:http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=EhowWatch More:http://www.youtube.com/EhowRoll packing your dress pants is a great way to p...

  21. Visiting next week for 4 days: Packing advice

    Answer 1 of 10: Hello, I will be visiting Moscow next week for a 4-day trip. I looked at the weather forecast, the weather appears to be quite pleasant. I am looking for suggestions on what (clothes) I should pack for my trip (I am a 29 year old male). Thanks...

  22. The Best Packing Cubes of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

    This single packing cube is ideal for frequent fliers or travelers simply looking to save space without investing in a set of packing cubes. The Details: 14 x 10 x 1.5 inches | Nylon. Travel ...

  23. Packing List for a business trip to Moscow??

    Does anyone have any packing list secrets? We are traveling in early December, brrrrrr. Thanks for the advice. Moscow. Moscow Tourism Moscow Hotels Moscow Bed and Breakfast Moscow Vacation Rentals Flights to Moscow Moscow Restaurants Things to Do in Moscow Moscow Travel Forum Moscow Photos

  24. What I Wore Moscow Edition/ How to Pack A Carry On For 1 Week ...

    Hi loves, will have my first part Russia vlog up in a couple of days but for now wanted to share my packing tricks and what I wore while here (some of it at ...

  25. Packing for the weather.

    Answer 1 of 7: I'm in Beijing right now and, in one of those spur of the moment decisions, booked a flight to spend a few days in Moscow an St Petersburg. Now I wonder if I bit more than I can chew, seeing as I'm travelling on too limited a budget to...

  26. 8 Deals Just in Time for Spring Cleaning, Travel, and More

    Spring has sprung—and so have seasonal sales on gear for spring cleaning, gardening, and travel. Our experts share what's actually worth buying.