There's truly an art to packing well. Sure, you can carelessly toss shirts and pants into your suitcase any which way and then zipper your bulging bag shut by sitting on top of it, but that's not the best strategy, especially if you want to fit more stuff in your suitcase. Take that route and you'll end up with wrinkled (if not ripped) clothing that might even be stained from the soles of dirty sneakers or a spilled shampoo bottle. When you know how to perfectly organize your suitcase, things arrive neat and yes—you can even fit more in there!
If you think hard about which items you really need to bring, where to put them in your bag, and how to fold or roll them, your clothes will arrive at your destination clean and ready to wear.
Plus, as a bonus, you’re able to fit more items in your suitcase when your belongings are organized.
Whether you're traveling for business or pleasure, packing the perfect bag takes a little practice, but you can start by stealing the following tips from Eagle Creek packing experts, who not only know how to arrive wrinkle free, but if there is any group that knows how to optimize the space in your suitcase to fit more stuff, it’s this group!
For the Business Traveler
“During my business trips, I have needed a way to bring paperwork and catalogs that I didn’t want to get crunched in my carry-on luggage. So, I would put them inside the Medium Pack-it Folder, along with my nice pants and collared shirts. The structure board and folding board work amazingly for keeping my papers nice and crisp for presentations," says James Hebert, Product Developer at Eagle Creek.
This is a great example of making a versatile product perform double duty so that you can fit more unconventional items into your bag. Not only does the Pack-It Specter™ Garment Folder hold eight to 12 dress shirts or slacks, compressing the clothing and keeping wrinkles at a minimum, but garment folders also keep important papers smooth and professional-looking, as well.
For the Family Traveler
“I use color-coded packing sacs for small things, and color-coded cubes and half cubes for various clothes. It helps with organization," says Seth Neville, Product Brand Manager at Eagle Creek.
Traveling with multiple people, even if you’re not sharing a bag, can be an organizational nightmare where you really do look at your suitcase and pray you can fit in more stuff.
Factor in kids (whose socks are those? Where is that pink t-shirt that I know I packed?), and a simple weekend getaway can turn into a major exercise in planning. However, the Eagle Creek cubes and packing sacs are available in several different colors, allowing each member of the family to have his or her own assigned color. Roll shirts and pants before putting them into the cubes to fit more in less space. Use the larger cubes for bulkier clothing, like jackets or snow gear, and use the smaller cubes to easily fit things like t-shirts, skirts, and underwear in your suitcase.
A clean/dirty two-compartment cube can also help you keep your fresh clothes from your smelly clothes, or your wet stuff from your dry stuff. One side is breathable mesh and the other is water-repellent and traps any moisture and smells.
For the Adventurous Traveler
“For me, the medium Cargo Hauler is my go-to bag. I’ll use it sometimes when traveling via plane for all my checked clothes, but this duffel really shines when I’m playing outdoors. It’s a perfect rope bag when I’m out rock climbing, a beach bag for a long day filled with surf, or I’ll jam it full of camping gear when spending a weekend car camping," says Dan Funk, Former Marketing Coordinator.
Outdoor exploits require their own set of gear that can fit all the stuff you need for your chosen adventure. Having a durable, adaptable bag that can go from the woods to the shore is the best way to keep all that gear organized. Cargo Haulers have gear pockets, grab handles, and comfy shoulder straps in case you need to haul it like a backpack. Despite all those features, this entire collection is ultra-light so it won't weigh you down.
"The Pack-it Original Wallaby is perfect for all my toiletries and makeup. It's able to hold everything I need to bring on my weekend trips," says Cleydi Guitron, Web Coordinator.
The Wallaby is an excellent place to store toiletries, because it has plenty of pockets and compartments, including a removable 3-1-1 pouch so you can fly through TSA screenings at the airport. It also has a handy hook, so you can hang it from your hotel or hostel's bathroom door and save counter space in the bathroom.
No matter what drives you to travel, these three expert packing tips can help you streamline your preparation process, and even fit more stuff in your suitcase so you never have to leave behind the essentials on your next trip. You'll feel the difference from the moment you unzip your suitcase at your destination, because with a packing system and the right bag, you'll know exactly where all your items are, and that'll help you to de-stress and enjoy your time away.
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