Do you find yourself wishing you could take your entire home with you on holidays? If so, time to get real – it ain’t gonna happen. And to help you out, we’ve compiled our top tips to help you pack like a boss and end your overloading habits…
ALWAYS THINK YOUR ACTIONS THROUGH
Before you start filling your luggage, have a good think about what you will actually need. This will depend on the weather conditions at your destination, the total duration of your trip and the type of activities you’ll likely be doing. If you’re planning a long trip, remember it’s possible to clean your laundry everywhere in the world, so there’s no excuse to avoid packing light…
SEPARATE YOUR CLOTHES INTO TWO PILES
If you’re bad at making decisions and love your clothes too much, this trick might make packing a whole lot easier. Make one pile with clothes that you absolutely MUST take away with you. The second pile is then for all the “Hmmmm….why not” selections – the nice to have’s. Once you’ve finished your pile creations you’re only allowed to move one piece of clothing from the second pile to the first. If it helps, keep in mind that for 2-3 tops you’ll need 1 bottom part (which usually gets dirty less quickly).
ROLL IT LIKE A SUSHI
Rolling your clothes doesn’t just reduce creases, it also saves you precious space in your luggage. Plus, who knows where you master rolling skills will come in handy later in life – sushi making, pastry rolling, you name it. So just roll, roll on.
PACKING PRIORITIES
Start stuffing your luggage with heavy and large items first (coats, sweaters) and leave the small ones for last (underwear, sunglasses) to place in the gaps between your clothes. Avoid packing all your make-up together in one bag (which takes up more space), place each item individually in your luggage. Avoid shattering your powdered compacts or eye-shadows by placing a cotton ball on top before closing the lid.
MASTER THE ART OF STUFFING AND STACKING
Stuff your socks (or anything that fits) in your shoes to save space. For the ladies, place your bras on top of each other and compress them together. You can also use small containers (such as a clean contact case or empty eye dropper) to decant your liquids into so you only take the necessary amount.
LIQUIDS, YOU LEAKING NIGHTMARES
To avoid bad surprises that could ruin all your hard work, there’s one important thing to take care of: liquids. Tape the caps of each container or place a plastic wrap underneath the cap so nothing comes out. If that seems like a faff, simply place all your liquids together in one bag and MAKE SURE it’s tightly closed. That way, if anything starts to leak, it won’t damage the rest of whatever’s inside your luggage.
INSIDE OUT
No, this is not a promotion for Pixar’s new film but the folding method you should apply when packing. If you want to avoid wrinkled outfits then we suggest you place many of your clothes inside-out, especially shirts.
TAKE AN EXTRA BAG
To separate your dirty or wet clothes from the rest, it’s always good to take an extra bag. Not only will it prevent any nasty smells from spreading on your clean stack, it will also speed up the unpacking process once the holidays are over.
MULTIFUNCTIONAL ITEMS
It’s always smart and space-friendly to use the same object for various functions. If you can, invest in a large yet thin scarf that could serve as a towel, a cloth to sit on or lay down, a pillow for the plane or a cosy wraparound around on chilly nights. Don’t be afraid to use your imagination, it’ll make you look like a bad-ass rough traveler full of creative ideas.
WEAR THE WEIGHT
Leave your heaviest pair of shoes and biggest coat out of your luggage so you can wear them on the day of departure. You can always change once you’ve arrived but by doing this you will be sure to maximize the space as much as possible and avoid an excess baggage fee. If you’re not rushing to get on your plane, bus etc., pack a small snack to munch on during the trip and a refillable bottle of water.
Clued up on how to pack smart for your next adventure? Good, best get booking then…