How to Pack

This post, How to Pack, was originally published in 2019 and has been completely updated in May 2022.

Packing…something I think we all dread, to some degree or another.

You don’t know where to start.

How much should I bring?

Do I really need to bring x,y,z?

Or are you one of those blessed people who don’t really care?

You throw some clothes in a bag with your toothbrush and you’re off.

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If you’re not, and you’re like me and want a little more structure to your packing well you’ve come to the right spot.

Because that’s what we’re going to talk about throughout this post!

Note: This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase something through the links I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks! For more information, please see my disclosure policy.

Tips, Tricks, and Hacks!

How to pack a suitcase efficiently.

How to pack a suitcase for a week.

How to pack a suitcase for airline travel.

Whether it’s for an international or domestic trip, a quick weekender or a long two-plus weeker.

By the end of you reading this, you will feel more prepared to start packing.

Not only that, I’m providing you with my Never Forget Anything Again packing list. The last packing list you’ll need (at least as a non-parent 🙂 )

And if you happen to be a parent, don’t worry! I have you covered too. Grab my Toddler Travel Checklist that will actually work for babies and preschoolers too!

Related Post: Easily Travel with a Toddler

Now, before we begin, let me let you know that I have been flying and traveling internationally since I was 8.

That’s over 30 years of packing and traveling.

No, you’re right 🙂 I did not do the packing when I was that young but throughout the years I have learned some great tips, tricks and hacks to follow to make for better packing.

One of those years happened to be a one-year-long trip where I was only allowed to bring one large suitcase.

Let me tell you, you learn how to pack well when you’re in that situation!

Note: This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase something through the links, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support. For more information, please see my disclosure policy.

So are you ready? Let’s pack!

Clothing

What to wear, what to wear?

This is almost always the first thing I think about when I’m planning on packing.

And it’s not necessarily because I’m a girl, although I’m sure that’s part of it (but I don’t consider myself girly when it comes to clothes but then sometimes…)

I just want to make sure I have all possible options, enough clothes, etc. for the trip.

With that in mind, let me introduce you to my first trick: my Halving Technique.

The basics of which are, put out what you want to bring, what you need to bring, what you should bring (you get the idea) and then half it!

You heard me correctly. Half it!

Half it!

Do you always find yourself wearing everything you brought with you? Because I don’t.

Have you ever come back from a trip not having worn some of the clothes you’ve packed? Yup, I have.

Hence the Halving Technique was born! 🙂

Travel hack: Always have and use a packing list!

Now, we’re not talking about just putting half the clothes back.

Look at what you’ve put out first.

Do you have several bottoms that will go with a top or two? Do you have several tops that will go with one or two bottoms?

Try to do your best to mix and match things.

In that way, you will still have plenty of outfits for the trip without lugging along several outfits which you probably won’t ever wear.

Related Post: Helpful and Practical Travel Accessories

Bottoms are where I would start first.

Maybe it’s just me but I wear my bottoms more times before a wash than my tops.

Plus, they have a tendency to be much more multi-functional than tops.

Do this technique with your accessories too (belts, shoes, sandals, ties, jewelry).

Granted, these don’t take up much space and most don’t add up to much weight but if you really don’t need them why risk losing them or getting them stolen.

I do think you should bring one extra outfit, just in case.

I’m a just in case kinda gal!

And to be clearer, I think you should have one extra outfit in your carry-on with you on the plane; and an extra one in your checked luggage.

So, that’s not too harsh, is it?

Toiletries

Think about your day and night routines and jot down everything you normally use.

You know deodorant, toothbrush, soap, etc.

And yet, there might still be something you’ll miss.

For me, it always seems to be q-tips.  

I’m always forgetting my q-tips. Not life or death but it does get annoying if you don’t have them!

Needless to say, that’s why I’ve come up with my Never Forget Anything Again packing list, to help us all out! No more sitting down to think about what I need to bring. Just simply print out the list and be prepared.

And feel free to make lots of copies!!!

Travel hack: Always have and use a packing list!

It’s amazing how having a packing list will lessen your stress!

Don’t forget I’ve got a great

Trick: Use travel size bottles as much as possible.

Most things can be transferred to travel size bottles and should be. You’ll be able to manage with the travel size bottles – trust me!

And here’s what I’m referring to:

Shampoo, conditioner, hair gel, moisturizer, lotion, aloe vera gel, contact solution, face wash, body wash, other facial needs. You get the idea.

Travel hack: Use containers you already have at home as your travel size bottles. For example, I have old contact cases I’ve kept so I’ve used them when we’ve traveled to hold soap, lotion, moisturizer, night cream, etc.

Also, remember this rule (if flying): any liquids carried onto the plane must be 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters or smaller and placed in a quart-sized bag. (as of March 2020 per TSA).

I have a tendency to always carry my liquids in my carry-on, that way I know I will have them when I arrive at my destination.

If you’re like me, sometimes you have too many to fit into the quart-sized bag then you can put the additional bottles in your checked luggage.

If you have bottles that aren’t that small and/or you can’t transfer them to smaller bottles then put them in your checked luggage.

Tip: Just because you’re putting them in your checked luggage doesn’t mean you should bring the bigger bottle! Still try to transfer only what you need into smaller bottles.

If you don’t have checked luggage then you’ll either need to figure out how to pare down even more or decide which things you can purchase once you’re at your destination.

Trick: Remember, if you’re putting any liquids in your checked luggage make sure you put them into some type of sealed bag (like a Ziploc bag). Or make your own with something like a grocery bag that you can then tie off or tape up so if they leak they don’t ruin things.

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Electronics

Depending on what type of trip you’ll be taking: business or pleasure or will it be a little of both, will help determine how much of these you’ll really need to take.

I guess you could either call me old-fashioned or out of touch but I think that going on a trip, especially a pleasure one should not be about being on your (fill in the blank here with your electronic of choice – cellphone, tablet) 24/7.

Yes, I think you should definitely take pictures, and yes, we all want to share them with friends and family but, it’s important to remember to be present. For yourself, your family or even your work.

Tip: If you really don’t need it, don’t take it. Save yourself the space, weight, and distraction.

Snacks

The thought of spending a small fortune to buy something at the airport is just too much for me.

Plus, food can get through security without any problem.

My favorite: a mixture of almonds and dried cranberries.

Travel hack: Always bring your own snacks.

I figure some healthy protein and sugar can always be on the menu. Plus, I just put them in little baggies so I can eat as much or as little whenever I want without it going bad, etc.

I’ve seen people bring full homemade meals on the plane.

Just be aware of what kind of container it’s in.

Try to make sure it’s something that won’t spill easily and preferably will be collapsible.

If it’s big and bulky, that might be great initially for the food it’s holding but when it’s empty do you really want to be lugging empty space around?

Space-Saving Techniques

I have two tips here: space bags and rolling.

First, have you heard of Space bags?

Do you think they are just those crazy infomercial products that would be great if they worked because it looks super cool but they probably don’t so why bother?

Well, let me tell you, they work!!! I’ve been using them for years! Maybe around 10 if not more. And they work fantastically.

You put your clothes in the bag, seal it, then roll the air out. Easy-peasy!

They do offer vacuum seal ones which sound great until you realize you might not always have a vacuum cleaner to use, especially one with a hose. So, stick to the roll-up kind.

Hack: Get the roll-up kind of space bags! You won’t always have a vacuum cleaner.

Second, rolling.

You’ve probably heard of this one.

I feel like it’s become the very popular thing to do and I definitely use it in my packing.

Nothing difficult here, simply roll your clothes.

No, not into a ball but more like, fold your shirt like you would to put it in a drawer then roll from the top down.

I feel like that will keep the collar (if there is a collar)  more protected. Pants you can fold before rolling or just fold in half then roll.

Both these options help in keeping your clothes nicer during the trip and can help keep things organized a bit.

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The space bags can even hold wet stuff, just in case. (just remember to get the wet stuff out as soon as your home or to your destination to keep things from getting moldy, etc.)

Now onto how all this comes together

Organization

So now that you know several different tips, tricks, and hacks on how to pack a suitcase, whether it’s packing for a week or for an airline trip, let’s look at how it actually goes into that suitcase 🙂

First, we want to figure out what are the heaviest items you’re taking with you.

Typically shoes, maybe diapers.

If it’s shoes you’ve got lots of empty space inside of them to fill with smaller items.

I recommend using things like socks, underwear, hosiery, bathing suits, anything smallish and/or extremely flexible items.

I use two plastic bags, like the kind you get from retail/grocery stores.

One to protect the clothes going inside the shoes 😉 and the other to protect items outside the shoe.

It’s simply a matter of rolling up the item and stuffing them into the shoe.

If you’d rather not put clothes in your shoes then think about those extra travel size bottles or other small items that you might want to protect.

Tip: It works with sandals too! The bag will help keep the items situated and packing the sandal will help keep its shape.

You can then place them at the bottom of your suitcase. And by bottom I mean the space closest to the wheel end.

Then I try to place clothing or other ‘cushiony’ items around the suitcase as a buffer.

If you have breakables, make sure they are surrounded by items that will protect them.

After that, it’s a matter of seeing how things will fit with each other.

Those items that are not flexible, I always place them as much in the middle middle of the suitcase and fill in the extra spaces with clothes.

In Conclusion

There you have it.

Easy tips on how to pack a suitcase efficiently and will work for any length of trip.

I hope the tips, tricks, and hacks help you pack easier, better and with less stress.

And if you need help with what exactly to pack, get my free printable – Never Forget Anything Again packing list. And/or my Toddler Travel Checklist. It even comes with a bonus list I promise you’ll be grateful for!

And here’s a little fun challenge to leave you with:

The next time you travel try one of these:

The halving technique.

One of the space-saving techniques.

Then go to my Facebook page or my Twitter and share with all of us which one you tried and whether it worked or not!

Do you use any of these now? Which one would you use on your next trip? Please share with us in the comments below and Happy and Safe travels!