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Four in ten Americans take at least one vacation a year, and the global tourism and travel market is expected to reach $12.6 billion during 2023. Ergo, a lot of people love to travel, but not everyone knows how to pack efficiently.
Consider this list your how-to guide on packing successfully. These hacks range from helpful to brilliant, and they’re sure to keep your luggage safe, secure, and not over your airline’s baggage weight limit. Read through this list for a dose of packing inspiration!
Materials Needed: Powders, not liquids
Est. Cost: $1-$3 cheaper per item, usually*
This packing hack not only will save you space and weight, it could also save you money. When traveling on a long trip, it’s likely that you’ll need to take toiletries, laundry detergent, and other liquid items with you.
Switch out these liquids for powders. For example, pack powdered laundry detergent, not liquid. Avoiding liquids will save you weight, and these accouterments are also often $1 to $3 cheaper in powder or sheet form.
Materials Needed: Travel-size toiletries
Est. Cost: $1-$3 per toiletry*
Overpacking is a common hazard for those of us who are paranoid about not being prepared. There are plenty of hacks to stifle your need to overpack, and that includes bringing travel-size toiletries, not full-size ones.
You don’t need a full-size tube of toothpaste for a short trip; you can make do with a travel-size one. The same goes for shampoos, conditioners, body washes, and more. Unless you have to have a specific product, save space in your suitcase by taking only miniature toiletries with you.
Materials Needed: Contact lens case/pill organizer
Est. Cost: $5-$8*
Tiny earrings just love to go missing, even when you swear you stored them in an obvious place in your suitcase. Our advice? Don’t pack these small earrings (and other tiny, easy-to-lose pieces of jewelry) loosely.
Store them in a pill organizer or contact lens case, items which you likely already have. If you don’t, you can pick them up from your local dollar store or Target for cheap. This hack will keep your earrings in place, saving you a lot of frustration when you get to your destination.
Materials Needed: Socks, underwear, etc.
Est. Cost: N/A
Hats can be delicate to pack, particularly if they are felt or straw sun hats. The last thing you want is to pull your beloved hat out of your suitcase, only to find that it has been smashed during travel and turned misshapen.
To make sure your hat keeps its shape while traveling, stash socks and other items inside it, filling out the hat completely. Not only will this hack maximize your use of space while traveling, it will ensure your hat doesn’t get squished, no matter how rough the airline baggage handlers are with your luggage.
Materials Needed: Sunglasses case
Est. Cost: $2-$7*
Even if you are heading to a stormy, rainy location, you should still bring a sunglasses case with you. This sunglasses case has a hard shell, making it the perfect place to store small items that need to be protected during travel.
Cords, such as those used to charge your Android, iPhone, or laptop, are an excellent example of what you can store inside a sunglasses case. The case will keep the cords from finding their way around your suitcase and becoming tangled, making things easier for you when you finally open your luggage to unpack.
Materials Needed: Bubble wrap
Est. Cost: $8-$20 per roll*
If you’ve ever opened your cosmetics bag after a long trip, only to find your blush or eyeshadow crumbled into a million pieces, this hack is for you. It is known as the “four times” rule, and people swear by it.
When packing your latest Ulta haul in your suitcase, wrap each individual item four times in bubble wrap. This will thoroughly insulate them against breakage, preventing you from having to throw away pricey cosmetics and buy drugstore makeup to replace your beloved products.
Materials Needed: Binder clips
Est. Cost: $1-$5 per pack*
If you still have wired headphones, then you know that they can get tangled just by looking at them. Storing headphones in your suitcase is a challenge, but not if you know this hack, which involves using binder clips.
Those who aren’t on the Apple Airpods train can use binder clips to store headphones. Wrap the headphones around these clips, neatly creating a loop that the clip will hold in place during even the bumpiest of flights.
Materials Needed: Dryer sheets
Est. Cost: $4-$10 per box*
Want clothes to smell fresh and clean when you pull them out of the suitcase? Snag a few dryer sheets and place them in between your layers of clothes. These sheets will keep your clothing smelling fresh and like-new.
The dryer sheets, which you can find at pretty much any Walmart or Target, will also pull double-duty in defending against smells from stinky shoes, wet bathing suits, or dirty laundry that you pack with you on the way home.
Materials Needed: Luggage scale
Est. Cost: $10-$25*
Don’t start (or end) your trip with an extra hit to your wallet. Most airlines will charge you an obscene amount of money if your suitcase is overweight. Overweight baggage over an airline’s fifty-pound limit can cost you anywhere from $100 to $200.
Be prepared by buying your own luggage scale ahead of time. You can find these handheld scales on Amazon for $10 to $25, and it will let you know, before you ever leave for the airport, whether you need to take some things out of your luggage and re-pack.
Materials Needed: Plastic/Ziploc bags
Est. Cost: $2-$6*
Wet bathing suits are a nightmare to pack, as you don’t want them creating mildew on your suitcase during a lengthy flight. Some hotels will allow you to do your own laundry, but, if you can’t dry your bathing suit before leaving, this hack is for you.
Pack plastic or Ziploc bags in your suitcase before you leave for vacation. When it comes time to return home, store wet bathing suits inside these bags. If you forget to bring plastic bags with you, your hotel should provide a disposable laundry bag inside your room that you can take.
Materials Needed: 1 hat, 2 pairs of shoes, 3 bottoms, 4 tops, 5 socks, 6 underwear
Est. Cost: $0, unless you need to buy something*
When you’re getting ready to pack for a two- or three-day trip, you might find yourself at a loss as to where to start. Luckily, there is a rule called the “1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 Rule” that will help set you on the course to packing perfection.
According to REI, pack one (1) hat, two (2) pairs of shoes, three (3) pants or shorts, four (4) long- or short-sleeved tops, five (5) pairs of socks, and, finally, six (6) pairs of underwear. Add in other items as needed, but this rule is sure to give you a good base from which to start.
Materials Needed: Straws
Est. Cost: $1-$5 per pack*
Straws aren’t just great for drinking; they’re also handy when it comes to packing. These handy, cheap gadgets can help keep your necklaces from tangling in your suitcase. Just loop one end of a necklace through the straw.
Then fasten the clasp. This hack will help your necklaces remain separated, keeping them from tangling with other pieces of jewelry (or just knotting up), even if your suitcase is being bounced and jostled through the airport.
Materials Needed: Small bags, herbs
Est. Cost: $8-$15*
If you’ve ever been to a luxury hotel, you might have been the recipient of a common gift there—an herb sachet, usually containing lavender or some other fragrant plant. When you’re traveling, especially if you travel a lot, consider using these types of sachets in your suitcase.
You can repurpose ones you already have or make your own by using dried herbs and small baggies (both of which you should be able to find on Amazon). These sachets will leave your clothes smelling fresh and delicious, even after a twelve-hour flight.
Materials Needed: Bulky, heavy coats, scarves, boots, etc.
Est. Cost: $0*
Though some people view the airport as a chance to put on an impromptu fashion show, most of us just schlep in wearing whatever feels comfortable. This hack is a tip for making more room in your suitcase, and it won’t cost a dime.
Wear your heaviest, bulkiest items to the airport—that way, you can carry them on the plane for free and won’t have to sacrifice space in your suitcase. These items can include coats, scarves, boots, and other heavy items that take up a ton of room.
