Anyone that frequently travels can relate to the often dreaded task of packing. Packing can be difficult for any length trip. Other factors like luggage size, type, neatness, and how wrinkle-free you want your clothes to be determine how you should pack. Whether you choose folding or rolling, each method has situational benefits and setbacks.
Benefits of folding
Folding takes up a bit more room, but is better for natural materials like cotton. They make for neater clothing and fit well into square and rectangle-shaped luggage. It’s also the quickest packing method. You may need designated time for ironing, as folding may leave creases areas. A great way to minimize creases is to unpack as soon as you reach your location.
To start, fold your garment in half. If you’re folding a shirt, fold your sleeves into the torso portion of your shirt before folding that portion in half. You should have a perfect square or rectangle depending on the length of your garment. Folding pants or jeans are the same as folding shirts minus tucking the sleeves.
Benefits of rolling
Rolling isn’t as neat as folding, however this is the most compact method of packing. If you’re packing a lot of items and have time to steam or iron your clothes, rolling is for you. While you won’t get many creases, certain items are more prone to wrinkles. Items like socks, shorts, and tank tops are better packed using this method.
To roll clothing, simply fold the garment in half and roll as tightly as you can. Once finished, it’ll look like a stretched cinnamon bun. A rolling hack that eliminates creases and fits perfectly into your luggage is called bundle wrapping. Bundle wrapping involves putting the smaller items in the middle and wrapping the larger items around them. This creates one big bundle. If you prefer smaller versions, you can separate each outfit and bundle those together.
Bundle wrapping is also great for carry-on bags. Due to high pricing, some people choose to only pack what can fit in a carry-on bag. If you only plan on taking a few outfits, bundle them up and put them in a backpack.
Typically, you’ll have a bit of room despite your choice packing method. If you prefer folding, you’re likely to experience excess pockets of space on the sides of your luggage. In the instances you decide to roll your clothes, you’re more likely to have extra space toward the top of your luggage. Either way, your items should fit.
Alternative packing methods
If you’d like, you can fold certain items and roll others. Flat items will naturally take up less space than bulkier items despite how you pack them. If you still find yourself struggling to make everything fit with either of these packing methods, there are alternatives that allow you to successfully bring everything you need.
To truly maximize your luggage space, invest in a compression bag. To start, fold your clothes as flat as possible. Leave enough room to close your bag. Once secure, tighten the bag. This eliminates excess air that takes up unnecessary space.
The greatest hack to packing is making smart decisions on what to bring. For instance, if you’re going on a two-day trip, you probably won’t need five outfits. Packing what you need allows you to bring smaller luggage, meaning less weight and costs.
Going on trips are meant for enjoyment. Therefore, use whichever method best gets your clothes into your luggage.
