Travel Tips
Pack with Purpose: Simplify travel with a packing strategy!
There seem to be two types of packers in this world:
1. Open suitcase and stuff with stuff.
2. Pack with Purpose!
We’ve all had to pack in a hurry and ended up tossing whatever looked useful into a bag. Then, when we get where we’re going, the trouble starts: You can’t find anything in that mess! If it’s happened once, you know that’s enough. From here on out, let’s pack with purpose!
We have a lot of travel tips that deal with packing. This time, we are going to focus on the strategy of packing, and how that can help you travel easy.
Strategy 1: First In – Last Out
Think about how some airlines board: The people in the back are the first ones in, and the last ones out. Hardly seems fair, keeping some people on the plane longer than others, but it makes the whole process much easier. You can pack the same way!
To do this, you need to be organized, and think chronologically. Whatever you’re going to wear first, gets packed last. When we unzip our suitcases at our destination, our PJs for that night are right on top, with the next day’s outfit right underneath. Pack in layers by day; at the bottom of the stack are the clothes you’ll wear home. Every morning, you can just grab the outfit on top!
Strategy 2: A Place for Everything
Chronological layers don’t work for everyone or every occasion. Sometimes, you just don’t know which outfit you’ll need to wear on a which day. This is particularly true in places where the weather changes frequently. Instead, pack by garment type: All of your pants and slacks go together, all of your shirts go together, etcetera. It may take a little longer to get dressed, but you know where to find just what you need, without having to unpack everything to complete your wardrobe.
Packing cubes are ideal for sorting the contents of your suitcase. Use the large size for pants and shirts or blouses. Medium size for swimwear, light jackets, and similar items. Accessories and “unmentionables” can go in the smaller cubes. Different color cubes can help you keep track of what’s where at a glance.
Strategy 3: Maximum Packing
Are you on Team Roll or Team Fold? Fans of each method swear it saves room and reduces wrinkles. We tend to blend: some things get folded, others can be rolled. Whichever you like, the trick is to put each day’s outfit into one neat bundle. Watch our short video below for examples of each, and a side-by-side comparison to see if either method saves space.
Regardless of how you pack, if you really want to squeeze the most into your suitcase, invest in compression bags. Even something as simple as a large Ziploc bag will do the trick. Essentially, it’s vacuum packing, and it works wonders for increasing how much you can fit in any space. The only downside is that clothes tend to wrinkle more.
We’d love to hear your tips to pack like a pro! Please share them in the comments below! We’ll re-post the best, so be sure to include your Twitter handle and a link to your blog, if you have one. Or click for more #Travel140 Travel Tips!
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