How to pack a suitcase? 8 tried and tested tips
If you’re preparing for a long holiday or a short trip, you have to face the challenge of packing a suitcase that may be too small to hold all the things you need to take with you. However, we do have ways to pack a suitcase efficiently, so we’ve put together 8 tried and tested rules that will make this task much easier.
Be it summer or winter, it’s always a good time to travel. Whether you’re going camping or flying overseas, thoughtful luggage organisation means better-managed space and less frustration for you on your trip. So, how do you pack a suitcase for a holiday?
1. Make a list of the things you need
Packing up for a longer trip without a list can end up with you forgetting something or taking unnecessary things. A checklist will save the situation – you can make one on your phone or computer and then use it again before new trips.
2. Prepare ready-to-wear garment sets for each day of your stay
It’s usually clothing that takes up the most space in your luggage. Therefore, before you leave, we suggest you check the weather forecast and consider what you’ll need. If you lay out clothes, shoes, and accessories on the floor or sofa, it will allow you to comfortably compose different sets for your trip.
3. Roll your clothes
It’s a way of making the most of free space – rolled clothes take up less space and don’t get crumpled.
4. Pack the grouped clothes in bags
“Packing ready-to-use sets of clothes or separate clothing categories into plastic bags has many advantages. Above all, using such organised luggage on holiday will mean convenience and save you time. All you need to do is take the clothes out of the bag and put them on, without going through the contents of all your luggage. What’s more, it will help you keep your suitcase tidy and allow you to easily find what you need whether it’s just the beginning or final days of the trip. Additionally, a zip-bag will protect its contents from unforeseen situations – e.g. a container filled with a cosmetic getting accidentally opened or a bottle of perfume becoming damaged. Also, consider taking a few spare bags – they will come in handy, especially for dirty underwear or a wet suit or swimming trunks,” suggests Paclan employee Marta Krokowicz, and adds: “We often spend a lot of time packing our suitcases for a trip, but when getting back home, we follow the principle of ‘no matter how it’s done, the suitcase must be closed’. Let’s remember that clothes grouped in bags will make unpacking easier, suggesting what can be immediately put away in the wardrobe and what needs to be washed. Once the trip is over, you should put your ‘traveller’s bags’ straight away in the suitcase so that you have them ready when you need to pack up for another trip.”
5. Make use of the non-obvious storage compartments in your suitcase
In fact, it’s not only the special compartments or pockets in your suitcase but also, for instance, your shoes, inside which you can hide rolled-up socks or underwear. Belts or ties, on the other hand, are best spread along the walls of a suitcase or bag, which will prevent them from taking up too much space.
6. Secure cosmetics in your hand luggage
Pour your cosmetics from their original full-size containers into small plastic bottles or just take cosmetic samples, which you still may have somewhere at home. As for perfume, adopt the same approach and choose practical miniature flasks. If you want to avoid accidental spills, place a piece of food wrap under the cap. Similarly, a cotton swab under the lid of eye shadow or rouge will work to protect coloured cosmetics from crumbling. It’s a good idea to put everything in a cosmetic bag or plastic bag.
“No matter whether you have a separate bag for your cosmetics, it’s a good idea to keep them extra secure. This is where small zip-lock bags come in handy again. Pay attention to the bag type, though – the best will be airtight, with a convenient zipper closure, which will make it easier to take items out. You should also match their sizes well to the sizes of the items being transported. For example, use the small ones for storing make-up products and the larger ones for clothes and bottles with cosmetics. If you look at our product range, it’s worth choosing zip-bags in both the 1L and 3L variants available. Additional support may also be provided by smaller zipper bags, which are useful for transporting tiny items. Such a set should be more than enough for every trip,” says Paclan employee Marta Krokowicz.
7. Protect your electronics
Chargers and headphones carelessly tossed around in luggage can get tangled, so it’s a good idea to fasten them together with a rubber band or special ties after rolling them up. To keep your electronics in one place and to make sure that the search for a charger doesn’t end up with you pulling out the entire contents of your suitcase, it’s again worth considering zip-bags.
8. From the largest to the smallest
When arranging things in your suitcase or travel bag, start with the largest and heaviest items, and place the smallest and most delicate items (such as cosmetics) on top. In this way, you’ll make the best use of the free space and won’t have the small items squashed.
Whether you’re packing for a short backpacking trip or preparing for a long holiday with a lot of luggage, it’s worth keeping these few rules in mind. They will make packing up much more efficient so that you take what you need without having to forcefully close the lid of the suitcase or test the zipper’s strength.
Valuable tips on the principles of tidying the wardrobe before autumn can be found here.