T R AV E L
10 Genius Packing Hacks from Travel
Experts
N
o matter the length of the trip, you'll need to pack
a bag, and you'll want to pack it right. The best
secrets for keeping your cosmetics spill-proof,
souvenirs safe, and clothes wrinkle-free.
1. Roll, Don’t Fold
“I am a roll-don't-fold devotee. I also never check a
bag, unless I’m taking my snowboard with me. Even
then, only the
snowboard
gets checked,
not the suitcase.” —Laura
Teusink,
Managing
Editor
2. Bring on
the Rain
"My favorite
tip is to waterproof my bag
using
what
I’m
already
bringing with
me. I line
my suitcase
with
waterresistant things: wellies on the bottom, for example, ziplocked toiletries and makeup bag on the sides, and a
rain jacket on top. Voila: instant weather-tight luggage."
Melanie Lieberman, Assistant Digital Editor
3. Check the Closet
“In the closet of most high-end hotel rooms, you’ll find
draw-string fabric bags for laundry and shoes. They’re
semi-disposable, but fantastic for packing. Trust me, using them to separate shoes and dirty laundry will totally
transform your return-journey packing experience.” —
Flora Stubbs, Articles Editor
4. Freshen Up
“Put Bounce dryer sheets between items of clothing
in your suitcase to keep everything fresh.” —Jesse
Ashlock, Features Director
5. Smooth Over
“No matter what I do, I always seem to arrive at my destination with at least one item of clothing wrinkled—most
recently a silk shirt I needed to wear to a conference in
Las Vegas. Rather than travel with a mini-steamer (since
hanging things in a steamy bathroom never seems to
work for me), I now pack the three-ounce spray bottle of
Downy's new Wrinkle Releaser Plus. Just make sure to
use it 30 minutes or so before you need to get dressed
so your clothes have time to dry and de-wrinkle (and it
may require a few rounds of sprays, depending on the
condition of the garment).” —Brooke Porter Katz, Travel
and Food Editor
6. Bottom Heavy
“I always pack the heaviest items closest to the wheels
of a rolly suitcase, so that the weight is distributed to the
bottom and makes it easier to roll.” —Katie James, Assistant Editor
7. Double Stuffed
“I stuff socks, underwear, and charging cords in my
husband's size 13 shoes! I also always pack a plastic
grocery bag—or steal the shower cap from the hotel
if I forget—to stash a wet bathing suit in for the return
home. That way, we get to enjoy every last second on
the beach.” —Jacqueline Gifford, Senior Editor, Travel
& Beauty
8. A Shoe-In
“I always travel with a shoehorn. It’s very helpful, particularly for getting shoes back on when you’ve taken
them off on a plane. (Since the cabin pressure generally
makes your feet bloat a bit.) I also have a small zippered pouch that I always put in my carry-on bag—in it I
stash all the things that I want to keep with me on a flight
(headphones, earplugs, EmergenC, phone, wallet, etc.)
so that when I board I can just pull that pouch out, toss
it into my seat, and then place my carry-on in the overhead bin, quickly and efficiently.” —Nathan Lump, Editor
9. Happy as a Clam
“I’m a big fan of the clamshell suitcase—I use the ultralight Rimowa Salsa Air—especially when I’m going on a
trip that involves more than one destination. If I’m visiting both a beach and a city, I’ll keep what I need for
each on different sides of the suitcase, so I only need to
unpack (and repack) one side at a time. Plus, when I’m
carrying the suitcase on the plane, sometimes