Packing is pivotal. Forget an essential item and you're left
disappointed and scrambling to find the nearest store in your
destination. Pack too much and you end up disorganized, burdened with
heavy bags, and hemorrhaging money to pay for pricey airline baggage
fees. So we thought it best to revisit the most basic—and most
useful—packing rules. Here are 10 fundamental packing strategies that
every traveler should learn.
1. Roll, don't fold.
Many
travel experts—including backpackers, who must stuff months' worth of
clothing into a pack the size of a box of wine—agree that rolling is
superior to folding. Tightly rolled clothes take up less space than
folded ones. Plus, they're less prone to getting deep wrinkles from fold
creases.
2. Make a packing list
When it comes to
packing, procrastinators fall short. Start your packing process days or
even weeks ahead of your departure date; this gives you time to craft a
complete list, plus purchase any additional items you might need for
your vacation. Creating a packing list is a fail-safe way to ensure that
you never, ever forget to bring something important.
3. Know your airline's baggage-fee policy
Figuring
out the airlines' tricky and befuddling baggage-fee policies is key to
any budget-minded packing strategy. While most airlines permit travelers
to check at least one bag on international flights, the majority of
U.S. carriers charge big bucks for bags checked on domestic flights.
Spirit Airlines—that notoriously customer-unfriendly discounter—even charges as much as $100 for carry-on bags.
Before you begin packing, take a peek at your airline's website and
read its baggage policy. This is something you might even want to do
prior to buying your plane ticket, especially if you're set on bringing a
checked bag or two. Consider flying on Southwest or JetBlue, both of which permit at least one free checked bag on domestic flights.
4. Follow the 3-1-1 rule
What happens if you don't follow the Transportation Security Administration's
(TSA) 3-1-1 rule for carry-on luggage? Attempt to bring a large bottle
of shampoo or a full-size gel deodorant through the security line and
the TSA will likely confiscate your stuff, holding you up in line in the
process. So get familiar with the agency's rules: All liquids brought
onto planes must be in 3.4-ounce bottles or smaller and inside a single,
clear, quart-size zip-top bag.
It also helps to know which items
are, according to the TSA, considered liquids or gels and thereby
subject to the 3-1-1 rule. This isn't as simple as it sounds. Foods such
as peanut butter, pudding, mashed potatoes, and icing are classified as
gels. Mascara, lip gloss, and aerosol items are also classified as
liquids or gels. But keep in mind that liquid prescription medication is
exempt. (Read more on that on The TSA Blog.)
See a more complete list of liquids and gels that are not permitted in
carry-on luggage in quantities greater than 3.4 ounces here.
5. Use your personal item wisely
It's
standard for airlines to permit each traveler to bring one carry-on bag
and one personal item onboard planes. This personal item is subject to
specific size requirements (these vary by airline), but something like a
purse, laptop bag, or backpack is generally acceptable.
In Five Tips for Fitting it All in a Carry-on Bag,
Caroline Morse advises travelers to leverage their personal-item
allowance, suggesting, "Forget wasting my personal-item allowance with a
tiny purse. I'll bring a larger tote bag that I can stash under the
seat but will still give me extra storage space. This will come in handy
for keeping all of the things I'll need to be on hand during the flight
within arms' reach as well."
6. Wash your clothes on the road
Laundry
facilities are one of my favorite parts about staying in vacation
rentals. If you know your accommodations will have free laundry
facilities, you're golden. You can wash and wear just a handful of
outfits for the duration of even very long trips.
If you're staying in a hotel, call in advance to see if laundry
services are available and how much they cost. Travelers staying in
properties without laundry facilities or taking cruises—cruise lines are
notorious for charging an arm and a pant leg for laundry services—can
wash clothes in sinks and hang them to dry. I always make sure to pack a
travel-size packet of laundry detergent and a sink stopper to clean my
clothes on the road—it's my secret for fitting everything in a carry-on
bag. Portable laundry-drying lines that attach to showers via suction
cups are also a good choice; you can find them at many travel-supply
stores.
7. Pack dual-purpose garments
If it's
two-in-one, it's one less thing to pack. Dual-purpose items, such as
pants that turn into shorts or a jacket that turns into a travel pillow
(see these items here) are worth their weight in airline baggage fees.
8. Layer
This advice is twofold: Wear layers and pack in
layers. First, your on-the-road wardrobe should feature plenty of
layers, which will help you jetset through multiple climates in style
and comfort. Second, the items in your bag should be packed in neat
layers for easy screening. According to the TSA, "Pack items in layers
(shoes one layer, clothes one layer, electronics one layer, etc.)" so
that the security agent screening your bag can get a clear picture of
what's inside. The faster the TSA agent can screen your stuff, the
faster you'll get through the security line.
9. Never check essential items
It's
terribly important to keep your valuable and essential belongings in
your carry-on bag, not in your checked luggage. Your passport,
identification, money, credit cards, jewelry, electronics, and other
valuables should always be brought onto the plane with you. We probably
don't need to tell you why you need to keep your passport and wallet on
your person. But if the airline loses your luggage (or if a TSA agent
gets sticky fingers), you'll regret stowing your expensive watch in a
checked bag.
10. Use packing aids
My all-time
favorite packing aid: Eagle Creek Compression Sacs. Use them to shrivel
your clothes into a vacuum-packed, tiny, tight bundle that takes up
minimal suitcase space. Other packing aids that can help you organize
better and fit more into your bag include packing envelopes and packing
cubes.
