Guide

No room in your suitcase? How to pack properly

9.7.2020

Translation: machine translated

Is your suitcase bursting at the seams every time you travel? Then you have two options: Either pack less or pack smarter.

Normally, I learn quickly from my mistakes. When it comes to packing my suitcase, however, I was unteachable for a long time, as I don't like to keep my clothes to a minimum. That's why I had to come up with a compromise that I've learnt over the last few years: Instead of packing less, I pack smarter with these five tips.

Tip #1 Organisation is the be-all and end-all

Think in advance about how many outfits you will need. Take into account the weather forecast and the type of activities you are planning to do on site. Ask yourself whether you can combine a top with at least two bottoms - or vice versa - to create several outfits. This will help you avoid excess. Camping holidays and high heels? Oh well. Holidays in the Maldives? On a barefoot island, a pair of trainers and flip-flops are enough to wear on arrival and departure.

Don't mix and match your clothes, but think about a colour scheme. Pack things that match in colour. Black may be boring, but it's a safe bet as it's easy to combine. The same applies to jewellery. Concentrate on yellow gold or silver.

Tip #2 Avoid wrinkles

As soon as you arrive in your hotel room, you have other things on your mind than unpacking your suitcase. Jump over your shadow and do it quickly before jumping into the pool or exploring the neighbourhood. Your clothes will be less (heavily) creased this way. You'll do the most groundwork if you do a clean job when packing. Smooth out all folded items of clothing again before you put them in the suitcase. You can use tissue paper for other purposes and place it between your clothes to prevent creasing. This will prevent creases caused by rubbing textiles together.

If you roll easy-care items such as T-shirts, you have additional storage space available. Place your clothes in a large area in the suitcase. You can put skirts and shorts in without folding them. For long trousers, it is sufficient to fold them once. When stacking, place the waistband alternately once on the left and once on the right side.

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Tip #3 Stack high

Heavy items such as toiletries, shoes, hairdryer (if the hotel doesn't provide one) and books (for travelling, I have a e-reader for travelling) go in the suitcase first, on the sides with the wheels. This way, as soon as you pull out your trolley, they are in the lower part of the suitcase and won't crush anything. You can use the inside of your shoes as additional storage space for socks (so your shoes stay in shape), belts or cosmetics such as shampoo. Then stack your clothes by weight. Lightweight items go at the top.

Tip #4 No courage to leave gaps

There is always a gap or two between the individual piles. Stuff them with socks, belts, curling tongs or other odds and ends. The corners of the case, which are usually rounded, are suitable for charging cables and adapters. To prevent my jewellery from getting tangled up and flying around loose in the suitcase, I bought a small travel case that can also be stowed between the individual piles of clothes. After all, the fuller the suitcase, the less risk there is of items of clothing sliding around and getting creased. However, this is not a free pass to overfill your suitcase. If you can't get it closed on your own, it's clearly too full. If it's half empty, I recommend a smaller suitcase model.

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Tip #5 Pack smart

Think about what you will really need. Shampoos, beach towels and a hairdryer are usually provided free of charge by the hotel.
Fragile items such as perfume bottles can be packed in socks. This will protect the glass when transporting the suitcase. Alternatively, you can transfer your perfume into a smaller perfume atomiser.
It's also worth storing your shoes in two bags instead of one. One large bag is less bulky than two small bags, which are easier to store in your suitcase. If you don't have shoe bags, you can use the disposable shower caps from your hotel room for a different purpose.
There are special packing bags that can be used to compress your clothes. This won't make your suitcase any lighter, but you will have more space in it.

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Vanessa Kim

Editor

vanessa.kim@digitecgalaxus.ch

When I’m not exploring the depths of the sea as an open water diver, I enjoy plunging into the world of fashion. On the streets of Paris, Milan and New York is where I keep my eyes peeled for the latest trends. And I’ll show you how to take them from the catwalk to your everyday life.

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