Luggage Experts Guide To Packing A Suitcase

Packing a suitcase is an art form and can be a skill that takes years and many trips to master. If you get it just right, you can breeze through security and baggage checks at the airport, look cool in just the right outfit for every occasion abroad and enjoy a bag that’s light and easy to maneuver.

Get it wrong and your trip can be a hassle of queues for baggage checks, a hefty load of 13 pairs of shoes and 10 outfits for all occasions you’ll never wear and a few strained back muscles from carrying it all.

Most of us will just haphazardly throw items into an oversized suitcase at the last minute. Then take everything out and re-pack it again with even more stuff, before giving up and trying to close the suitcase finding it won’t even shut!

Next time you’re going away on holiday, avoid the overstuffed suitcase bursting at the seams with items you’ll probably never use, by reading through our luggage experts guide to packing a suitcase.

Half What You Think You Need

Whether you’re going for a week-long trip or a year long adventure, the chances are you’re going to get stuck wearing your comfortable flip-flops and favorite pair of cut off shorts. Those three different party dresses, five other pairs of shorts in different colors and four jumpers of varying thickness are probably not going to get worn.

Lay everything out on your bed which you think you would like to take, then half it. Be brutal and push those worries to the side that you will run out of clothes to wear. If anything, it gives you more space to buy an outfit while away!

Compress Your Clothes With Vacuum Bags

Vacuum bags are a constant traveller’s favorite, being cheap to purchase and a great space saver in the suitcase. Stuff all your clothes in them, seal them up and roll together. You can have separate ones for clean and dirty clothes to keep things fresh.

Use Ziplock Bags To Organize Small Items

I’m sure you’ve probably experienced that moment when you hurriedly want something from your suitcase and end up pulling everything out in a heap! Ziplock bags are a great way to separate small items like electrical, toiletries and travel accessories, allowing you to grab the small bag without having to mess up your packing.

Get Creative With Your Packing

Every inch of space should be utilized, including the inside of shoes! You can fit up to four pairs of socks per shoe so this should not be wasted. If you don’t have time to get vacuum bags, try rolling your clothes as this takes up far less space.

Cover your shoes to stop dirt transferring onto your clothes. Also make sure you turn light and white clothes inside out, ensuring you don’t get stains before you’ve even worn something.

Choose Interchangeable Clothes Items

Of course we all want to look like we stepped off a catwalk at all times, but to save on baggage fees and back pain, less is more. One pair of dress shoes, one pair of trainers and one pair of sandals is more than enough for any holiday. Pack a neutral pair of shorts and trousers and a few bright tops to interchange when you fancy.