15 Tips on How to Pack Your Suitcase Like a Pro

Everyone is different when it comes to packing their suitcase for a trip. Some folks do everything last minute and cram whatever fits while others approach it like an art form.

Packing a suitcase can be an art. We all love bringing as much as possible on vacation, especially if we want to feel some of the comforts of home while away.

Learning how to pack your suitcase for vacation means you may be able to bring those extra items that might not have fit otherwise. For a week-long vacation, you might want to bring quite a lot of personal items. You might want different outfits throughout the day, plus all of your toiletries, shoes, clothes, and whatever else has to come along.

In this article, we will uncover 15 tips on how to pack your suitcase like a pro.
 

15 tips on how to pack your suitcase like a pro

1. Roll up your clothes

Rolling up your clothes is the best way to maximize space in a suitcase. If you were to place folded clothes up in your suitcase you will find it fills up really quickly. The roll-up method helps to compress clothing and makes it easier to fit into the suitcase.

2. Use packing cubes

Packing cubes are a great accessory for any traveler. This allows you to roll up clothes and better sort them before packing them in your suitcase. Packing cubes help you to easily pull whatever you want out of your suitcase without disturbing the other items you have in there.

3. Try vacuum sealing bags

When learning how to pack your suitcase like a pro, try vacuum sealing. Vacuum sealing is elite-level packing. Vacuum sealing your clothes sucks all the air out. Those air pockets in our clothing take up a lot of space. By eliminating that, you maximize where everything goes.

4. Carry essentials in your carry-on bag

Make sure you separate all essentials before you pack. Keep as many as you can in your carry-on so it’s easily accessible. If you have essentials you cannot take in your carry-on. Pack them in your suitcase last so they are easily accessible if you have to pull them out on short notice. Here are some packing tips for airport security.

5. Minimize non-essentials

Non-essentials can be anything you don’t absolutely need to bring on your trip. What is determined as non-essential is up to you to decide. Make a list of essentials and non-essentials and eliminate as many of the non-essentials as you can to save space. At the very least, pack them last and do a weight check before adding them. Don’t forget to bring some healthy snacks in your carry-on.

6. Do a “Mock” pack

Nothing beats a test run and that is also the case when it comes to packing your suitcase like a pro. Place everything out that you want to bring with you and then pack your suitcase. Does it all fit? Great! If not.. unpack everything and eliminate a few things you can do without then try again.

7. Weigh before you leave

Make sure you know what your checked baggage weight limits are before you go. If you have a scale handy try stepping on the scale and then picking up your bag to see if you are under the limit. If you are over the limit you will likely have to pay an overweight bag fee or even worse.. you may have to repack some things at the kiosk… nobody likes doing that.

8. Choose the best suitcase

Make sure you have the right suitcase for your needs! There is a wide variety available and your needs may differ from someone else’s. There are small, medium, and large size suitcases as well as soft or hard “shell” suitcases. If you have a lot of breakables in your check luggage, a hard shell might be the best option.

9. Leave extra space for the return trip

If you plan to do a little shopping while you are away then be sure not to overpack before you leave. Overpacking may make it hard to fit everything on your return flight. Failing to leave enough room for the things you buy when you’re away might mean having to leave a few things behind when you fly home.

10. Do not overpack

Overpacking for a long trip is a rookie move. Everyone is guilty at some level. Whether you’re going on a 6-month backpacking trip or a week-long all-inclusive vacation, it happens. Overpacking can mean having to dump a lot of things along the way, simply because your bag is too heavy, or not using half the things you brought with you. Here is a breakdown of what to bring on an overnight backpacking trip, to ensure you don’t overpack.

11. Get a small toiletries bag

A good toiletries bag is key to packing your suitcase like a pro. Toiletries include everything from your toothbrush to your razor… it is wise to keep it all together and compact in a nice toiletries bag. This will help you stay organized, make it harder to lose important items, and save you a ton of time.

12. Pack breakables carefully

Breakables are always precarious to travel with. Breakables should always be put in a hardcover, like a box. If you don’t have a box to place your breakables in, then try to wrap it up in your clothes, as the pros do. If your breakable is a mug, make sure to fill the inside with something, like clean socks. Then wrap the breakable up in a newspaper or a t-shirt to ensure a safe journey home.

13. Wrap liquids in zip lock bags

Sunscreen, tanning oil, shampoo, or contact solution… all things we can’t typically take on our carry-on with us. Well, these things have to go in our checked bags and there is a big risk of them opening up mid-flight. As cabin pressure changes the bottles run the risk of popping open, this will leave you with a big mess on your hands. Try to wrap them up in a plastic bag. A Ziploc bag is your best bet to ensure you’re not cleaning everything when you arrive.

14. Lay it all out, take a break

Grab all the things your heart desires to bring on your next trip. Organize it by type, like pants, t-shirts, etc.. after everything you could possibly want to pack is laid out before you… walk away. Go take a break and get your mind off traveling. After a short break, come back and re-evaluate everything. Pack only what you deem absolutely necessary.

15. Pack your shoes like a pro

Shoes take up a ton of space in our suitcase. Start by filling the inside of the shoes with something, like socks. Wrap your shoes in plastic bags and tighten them firmly. Place the shoes in the suitcase with the heel of each shoe facing the toe. This is the most efficient way to pack shoes to ensure that the final pair makes the cut.