20 packing hacks for your next trip

When it comes to travel, the anticipation is half the fun. In the lead up to your next exciting getaway, there are tips and tricks to make packing less of a stressful hassle. 

Say goodbye to the stress of overpacking and hello to a lighter, more enjoyable journey. With these 20 packing hacks, you'll breeze through the packing process with newfound confidence.

Not only is it essential to know the climate and local customs of your destination to pack appropriate and necessary items, but it’s also important to brush up on details around your luggage allowance if you’re catching a flight to and from your destination. In recent years, certain airlines have added further restrictions around what luggage, down to carry-on items, are included in your fare, with added costs applied. If your luggage is overweight at departure or you didn’t in fact have an allotted carry-on item, you run the risk of facing much higher charges during your check-in and boarding process than you would’ve had you thought ahead and bought these online ahead of time.

Not all carry-on luggage is made equal. It’s important to take several factors into consideration when choosing the best type of luggage for carry-on travel. First, you’ll need to decide on the size of your bag. Size limitations vary from carrier to carrier, so you should always double-check with your specific airline to confirm your carry-on fits the bill. Particularly when travelling domestically, airlines tend to have strict restrictions. Secondly, you’ll want to choose the best type of backpack for your travel needs. A rolling, durable suitcase can be best for city travel, but you’ll have very different requirements if you’re setting off on an adventure in the wilderness.

While you might be itching to bring all your favourite clothes and to pack an outfit per day of your trip, it’s likely just not feasible when confined to a suitcase with a weight limit. If your trip is longer than a week, it’s best to pack for a maximum of 7 days with the assumption that you’ll be able to wash and refresh your clothes at some point, or to reuse some items.

The age-old debate, should you fold or roll your clothes? The answer is over to you. However, Marie Kondo claims that when you roll your clothes, you can fit more into the same space. Couple this with packing cubes and you’ll have room to spare.

Rectangles are considered the most efficient shape for saving space. Invest in packing cubes to keep clothes compartmentalised and easily accessible. You'll love how organised your suitcase becomes.

While thinking through your outfit line up for an upcoming trip, be sure to include items that can be layered. Layers will enable you to still pack light and travel comfortably through multiple climates. If you are travelling between cold and warm weather, the key is a good lightweight wool base layer – this instantly transforms any travel outfit.

Pack a photocopy of important documents, like your passport, and store it separately from the originals. It's a backup plan in case the unexpected happens.

Designate a pouch for chargers, adapters and cables. No more frantic searches through your bag for a tangled mess.

Inside your shoes, especially with bulkier trainers that are often essential, sits a pocket of wasted space. Take advantage of every inch of space by filling the cavity of your shoes with items such as socks or underwear.

If your final destination has a colder climate than where you boarded your flight, you may need to travel with a heavy coat or bulkier items to keep you warm when you get there. We recommend wearing your bulkier items on board. You need not wear them throughout the flight, but you can always get on board and shed your layers. If you're travelling from Portugal to Canada in the winter, you might need to carry a heavy coat with you. Wear it on the flight and save space in your luggage.

Create a digital packing list on your smartphone. Check off items as you pack to avoid the dreaded ‘Did I forget something?’ feeling mid-flight.

Undoubtedly, throughout your adventures you’re going to come across things you’re dying to take home. While you won’t be able to take everything back with you, you’re bound to pick up a few items and knick-knacks for loved ones. Be sure to leave space for a few items. Keep delicate souvenirs safe by wrapping them in clothes before placing them in your luggage.

Avoid getting the rest of your luggage dirty by placing shoes in shower caps or plastic bags before tucking them into your suitcase. Hotels tend to provide shower caps with their free bathroom amenities.

The last thing you want after a long-haul flight is to arrive and have an arduous time tracking down your bag. While you can’t prevent your bag getting lost, you can help make it more recognisable for yourself. Stickers, ribbons or a distinctive luggage tag, can help you identify your bag right away in luggage claim so that you can get to the important part – exploring your holiday destination!

However prepared you might be, you never know what unexpected events might come your way - that’s the beauty of travel. Especially if travelling with kids, packing an extra set of clothes can be an absolute life-saver. A pro tip is to keep the extra clothes in a zip-lock bag as an extra barrier of protection. This will allow you to arrive at your destination fresh and clear, avoiding the collateral damage of lost luggage, sudden motion sickness, or spillages.

If you’re packing for long-term travel or living out of your suitcase for a quick trip, being able to separate your used clothing items can preserve the freshness of your clean clothes.

Whichever climate you’re travelling to, it’s essential to remain hydrated. Whether you’re battling altitude on a hike, skiing down icy slopes, exploring the streets of a vibrant city or switching off and relaxing, your water bottle will be your best friend.

Store cufflinks, jewellery or other small precious items in a contact lens case or pill container. Often, your electronic cords become tangled and wrapped around the straps of your clothes. Bring a separate small bag to keep those safe while you travel.

More often than not, we tend to over pack, thinking we’ll get a chance to wear all our favourite outfits. The safest bet is that you’ll get through more underwear and socks than you think, but won’t get around to wearing every single outfit or item of clothing that you hoped. So, be sure to go heavy on the underwear and socks.

Our ultimate hack to fitting everything in your bag with ease is to pack with purpose. Try to put some real thought into each item you pack. By doing so, you can limit the number of superfluous items as well as things you might tend to overlook or forget!

Packing for different climates – A versatile jacket and a lightweight scarf can go a long way in adjusting to changing weather. Don’t forget to pack sunscreen! 

Packing for adventure – Invest in a multi-purpose backpack that can carry your essentials during day trips and hikes.

Packing for the beach – Pack a mesh bag to transport sandy items without turning your entire suitcase into a sandy mess.

Packing for long-term travel – Plan for laundry stops or bring along travel-sized detergent to wash clothes on the go.