Packing is one of the most exciting parts of every trip, well, that’s me speaking. But for most travelers, they dread packing especially if they don’t have enough baggage allowance to bring everything that they need to.
There’s a certain magic in learning how to pack efficiently. All you have to do is trust the process—and don’t put anything that isn’t important. You can begin by identifying what carry-on size you need to bring to ensure that you are able to maximize the space.
But if you’re one of those who are really having a hard time packing all the essentials in one carry-on, then here are some tips for you.
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1. Rolling Your Clothes
Compared to folding, rolling your clothes is a more efficient way to save space inside your luggage. Folding compresses the clothes making it tinier. When you fold and stack them together, it consumes more space thus leaving you with no room for your other necessities.
To be honest, rolling your clothes also does look neat and tidy once you open your suitcase. I don’t know if it’s a plus point for you, but it definitely is for an obsessive-compulsive person like me.
2. Stuff Items On Your Shoes
The space inside your shoes is also a nice place to stuff your items. Don’t waste that space and make sure to maximize it so you can pack light.
You can store your rolled socks inside shoes, a small pouch of accessories, or other little items that can fit inside.
Stuffing items inside your shoes is also one great way to organize your things without stressing out about losing these small items inside your luggage. At least when they are right inside your shoes, you would know where to find them.
3. Wear Bulky Items
Bulky clothes can take up too much space inside your luggage, so the trick is to wear them instead. Jackets, baggy pants, sweaters, you name it. Wearing them can lessen the load inside your luggage.
If there’s no need for you to bring bulky items like those, then, just leave them at home. Trust me, you would probably just leave them inside your hotel rooms especially if it’s scorching hot outside.
4. Travel-Sized Toiletries
Pack your toiletries in small packages to avoid having to carry large bottles of shampoo, lotion, and sometimes even conditioner. There are tiny bottles available in the market where you can transfer these essentials.
We often overlook this specific tip just because transferring from one bottle to another takes up too much time but believe me, it’s a space-saving hack that we should apply. You wouldn’t want to go over with your baggage weight because of these items.
5. Bring Multipurpose Products
Multipurpose products are the best ones for traveling. They are not only useful for functional reasons, but they are also very handy when it comes to packing.
The flexibility of these multipurpose products means more space inside your luggage since one product can be used for plenty of reasons. The beauty of having one item in your pack that can be used for a lot of things is such an innovative idea.
Makers and developers of these items were probably travelers as well who had trouble finding a way to fit everything together in one bag thus the conception of multipurpose products!
6. Avoid Packing The Last Minute
Packing the last minute is a nightmare. Either you forget a lot of things or you overpack. And when you pack the very last minute before your flight, you won’t have time to plan your suitcase accordingly.
If you plan ahead of time, you have enough room to rethink your choices when it comes to items to bring during your trip, therefore, allowing you to choreograph the insides of your luggage.
It doesn’t have to be over-the-top planning where it feels like you’re solving an extremely difficult puzzle, it’s fairly easy only if you know what to do and how to go about these space-saving tricks.
7. Choose Soft Case Luggage
Hard case luggage may mean extra support and protection for all your valuables, but it also means not being flexible enough for possible storage expansion. However, a soft case suitcase can give you that feature.
Because they are mostly made of cloth and other stretchable material, soft case luggage will easily become your best friend if you’re looking for a piece of luggage that can squeeze in more items without having to change the size of your suitcase.
Your small luggage, as long as it has a soft shell, can carry more of your stuff. Don’t worry about not having enough protection, there are soft case suitcases that are also sturdy.
Trying these tips out on your own trips might actually change the way you think about packing. It’s a fun and challenging activity to go through but definitely a fulfilling one, once you’ve figured out how to fit everything together in one carry-on.