Tetris for travelers: how to pack a suitcase so that everything fits?

Any trip, especially a long one, can cause confusion for an inexperienced traveler: there seems to be much more stuff than a suitcase can accommodate. In addition, another question arises: how to make sure that nothing gets wrinkled, and also to be able to quickly get a specific item if necessary? How to compactly put things in a suitcase, taking into account these nuances?

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Nothing extra

If you have a trip ahead, it is better not to pack your suitcase at the last moment, a few hours before the train or plane: something will definitely be forgotten, and packing your luggage in a hurry will lead to the fact that you won’t be able to fit everything in. To avoid this and be able to compactly put all your things in a suitcase, it is important to remember the rule: we take only the essentials. This way you have a better chance of fitting everything in.

The following tips will be useful for novice travelers:

• Make a list of what you need to take with you in advance. Re-read it several times - you will definitely find something unnecessary or missing. Perhaps some items can be replaced with smaller analogues.
• Vary the combinations of things in the sets so that you can get by with the minimum (for example, take several different T-shirts with one pair of pants, or select trousers, a skirt and several blouses that go with both).
• Focus on weather conditions so that your wardrobe is practical (for example, stilettos are not needed at sea, and sandals are not needed in late autumn).
• There is no need to pack things “just in case”: there is a high risk that this case will never come, and things will simply take up precious space.
• Do not take what you can easily and inexpensively buy on the spot (soap, toothbrush and toothpaste or something else).
• It is better to pour gels, shampoos, and other hygiene products little by little into smaller containers. Surely 300 ml of tonic will not run out in a few days, but it will add significant weight to your luggage, and besides, such a bottle will take up more space than a jar of baby food.
• It is better to place heavy, bulky items or those that will not be needed soon at the very bottom, and essential items at the very top (slippers, night pajamas, toilet paper).

General rules

There are many tricks to making sure everything fits in a suitcase. This is not only compact folding of things, but also practical packaging.

If you plan to travel frequently, it makes sense to stock up on several special organizers: they will help save space in your suitcase and time spent searching for the right item. For example, there are organizers for cosmetics, bras, various cords, and hygiene items.

If you put things in each of them correctly, the useful volume of your travel bag will increase significantly.

There are two main ways to fold clothes:

1. Things are placed crosswise on top of each other, and then folded crosswise in the same way. At the same time, they form one fairly compact package. The disadvantage of this method is its impracticality: in order to get the desired item on the spot, you will have to dig out this entire structure in reverse order.Accordingly, the entire wardrobe will have to be hung up at once, which after an exhausting journey can turn out to be a real challenge.
2. If you roll each item separately and place it that way, then finding the one you need and getting it out won’t be difficult. In addition, things will not get too wrinkled. This is especially true if the trip involves camping, when there is no space or time to hang out your entire wardrobe.

So, the second method is more practical and economical, so further options for folding clothes will be considered according to it.

Socks and shoes

Closed shoes are a great travel container that it would be unwise not to use. Each pair of shoes can fit up to 8 pairs of socks. It is very easy to roll socks: just fold them in pairs lengthwise, shifting them along the length by a few centimeters. The elastic band of the sock that is higher needs to be turned out. Now the socks begin to twist, moving towards the elastic. At the end, the resulting roll is wrapped with an elastic band turned away.

The shoes themselves are placed in bags or special cases, and then placed along the edges of the suitcase.

Items with sleeves

Sleeves are placed on the front of a jacket, body shirt, women's dress or men's shirt, lengthwise or crosswise. The bottom edge of the clothing is folded outwards by 15 centimeters. Next, one side of the jacket is folded towards the midline and covered with the other side. Starting from the neck, the item is rolled up. Then the inverted section is wrapped around the resulting package. You can fold a jacket, cardigan or windbreaker in the same way. To save time and space, it is better to fold such wardrobe items several at a time (for example, a jacket, a body shirt and a couple of T-shirts).

Bulky warm clothes (woolen sweaters, jackets) are folded in the same way, but it is better to place them in vacuum bags to expel the air, significantly reducing the space occupied by the jacket.

Jeans, pants, skirts

Jeans and sweatpants are folded in the same roll. First, turn the top part about halfway, then fold it along the central seam and twist it, wrapping it with a flap at the end.

Sleeveless dresses or skirts are folded in half lengthwise and also rolled.

Try to avoid pleated or pleated items. It is unlikely that it will be possible to fold them carefully and transport them.

Packing a suitcase

Folding each item correctly is only half the battle. Now you need to pack it all wisely - optimally place it inside your travel bag.

• We place the shoes along the edges of the suitcase. Next, we arrange things according to the degree of need: those that will not be needed soon are placed at the bottom, and those that will be needed immediately are placed at the top.
• It is convenient to collect small items according to their purpose in organizers or small tight bags. This will save space, and you won’t have to look for something you need among all the things.
• The necks of jars and bottles with cosmetics must first be wrapped in cling film, and then screwed and collected all together in one container.
• We place the jewelry between two layers of cling film, expel the air, roll it up and put it in a small bag.
• Small belts or belts can be placed in shoes or folded into a bag and inserted into one of the rolls of clothing. Large ones can be wrapped around large clothes or placed around the perimeter of the bag.

Packing all your luggage compactly is a science. And not all the tricks and subtleties are given here.But if you choose your wardrobe wisely and follow these recommendations, the problem of tolls will cease to be a problem.