Starting a trip with a backpack full of wrinkled clothes can leave you feeling perpetually stuck in the back seat of the plane. Upgrade your travel style with these expert tips for a well-made, wrinkle-free backpack.
Layering Technique
The layering technique is usually done with rectangular backpacks or suitcases. This allows you to take advantage of the bag’s compartments for easy access to your clothes. This technique is the most classic of this list. In this case, you will fold your clothes and simply place them on top of each other to create a layer.
This can reduce wrinkles and creases. The only downside to this technique is that there are unfilled spaces that you can’t use anymore.
Rolling technique
The rolling technique is the best way to wrap clothes. It is the preferred method of many travelers because it not only saves space, but also reduces wrinkles.
It is very effective in filling the corners when using irregularly shaped bags. It is even used by the United States military. The uniformed corps use this method to efficiently take advantage of the space in their backpacks while lightening its load.
Anyway, here are some tips on how to roll. We highly recommend starting with your jeans or other larger items so you can pack them into your bag first. For your jeans, fold them in half lengthwise and then start rolling them lengthwise from the cuffs or bottom.
Rolling works great for T-shirts. Find a flat surface where you can lay your shirt face down. Fold the sleeves over the main body of the shirt. Next, fold the shirt in half lengthwise, then begin rolling it up.
For long-sleeved shirts, lay the shirt face down and fold the sleeves over like you did with your shirt, but this time fold the cuffs over until they almost touch the hem of the shirt.
Winter jackets are the most difficult to wrap, fortunately, rolls make it easier. Lay the jacket on a flat surface and close all zippers. Fold each sleeve over the body and fold the jacket in half vertically. Start rolling from the edge of the collar and squeeze out as much air as possible. Use a large rubber band or string to secure the roll.
Be sure to smooth out the items before you start rolling, this is the only way this method will work. Also, hang your clothes immediately after arriving at your destination to ensure they won’t get wrinkled.
Bundling Technique
Bundling is the most effective space-saving technique. If you do it right, you can save up to 20% in volume compared to regular folding.
It’s as space-saving as the roll method and takes less time than rolling each garment one at a time.
As the name implies, this technique involves carefully wrapping your clothes around a central object to avoid any folding that would only make creases. Also, since there will be tension between the fabrics due to the wrapping process, the chances of wrinkling will likewise be greatly reduced.
Wrapping could give your clothes a square shape, it fits perfectly well in a square shaped backpack. Don’t worry, this technique does not discriminate against other bags. You can easily slip the bundle into a backpack or duffel bag. Note, however, that packing requires some serious pre-planning.
Cubing technique
This folding technique is not appreciated by everyone. For some, it only consumes space in the backpack instead of reducing it. For others, however, it helps them avoid creasing. The clothes don’t move around as much since they are enclosed in mesh boxes. To take advantage of this technique, you must have a cube.
It allows you to pack your similar clothes afterwards.
What’s even better is that it makes packing and repacking easier. This way, the clothes stay clean and the wrinkles are also reduced.
Stacking technique
This technique is highly recommended if you are using travel backpacks that have a :
- long ;
- deep ;
- square.
To stack, you will use folders and cubes and insert them vertically into the bottom of the bag.
To be successful, think of a dresser, because that’s how this technique will work. The dresser will be your duffel bag, which is probably about 60 centimeters high, while your cubes will be the drawers. Imagine sliding the drawers out of the dresser, which is how you’ll get the cubes out of the bag.
You can group the items on each cube, like socks and underwear in one cube, sweater and pants in another and toiletries in the third, or you can group them by outfit, say one outfit in each cube.
Centering Technique
This technique works great on bags like satchels or any other non-rectangular bag with a single compartment.
To do this effectively, you will also need a cube that you insert vertically into the bottom of the bag. Make sure that the long side of the cube is parallel to the long side of the bag and is in the center of the bag. The cube will now act as a compartment.
You can use either side of the bag where it goes down, you can use rolling or cubing techniques depending on what works best for you. This will make your single compartment bag accessible.
Padding technique
This is not a recommended technique. It will make your bag heavier and prevent you from doing what you need to do.
Additional tips for packing your clothes
You should prepare a packing list.
Rather than spending time thinking about what clothes you need to pack, you can make a list of items you think you will need for your trip. This list will not only ensure that you don’t forget anything important, but it will also help you avoid over packing.
Check the weather
Regularly check the weather in your destination city by checking the weather forecast before you leave. This will help avoid packing clothes you may never use.
Before packing your clothes, check what Mother Nature has in store for you and plan for what you will need to be comfortable with this type of weather.
If you’re going on vacation and plan to bring back memories for your loved ones, don’t fill your backpacks to the brim. Leave some room in your bag that you can fill with a souvenir, treats and other trinkets.
Last tip
Probably the best way to pack clothes is to mix all of these techniques. For example, you can do the bundling technique for your larger clothes that are more prone to wrinkling so they stay neat and tidy, roll up other clothes to fill in the empty spaces, and then add packing cubes for the things you want to keep organized.
If you have any questions about folding methods, ask in the comments below. Our team is here to answer all your questions.