Being a better packer will make you a happier globetrotter, a more gracious guest, a more considerate travel companion and a better aesthete. If you’ve booked those beautiful digs, why muck it up with clutter? Having a system that shaves precious time off packing will also make you a better bon vivante - more time for mimosas on the lania with friends.
I can hardly take credit for this one. My husband has been going on month-long tours over the past year and I have watched him get his packing down to a science. We’re talking just a carry-on, no checked luggage. It’s phenomenal. I could never. But I have picked up some best practices for streamlining my own packing. It’s not only what goes into the suitcase, but how and why. Now I think not only about what I’m putting into the suitcase, but how it’s going to come out (hopefully not like a hurricane of clothes and toiletries) and how it’s going back in (hopefully so methodically I won't have to wake up extra early to pack before catching my return flight) .
Here are 8 items to make your packing more organized and efficient:
1 - Packing Cubes
Vacuum compression travel bags were once quite the travel hack for me, but I have since switched to packing cubes. Packing cubes are better because when you get to your destination, they sort of act as drawers. Whether you pack your cubes by outfit or use them to sort bottoms from tops, you can keep things neatly organized and accessible rather than digging around your suitcase in frustration and making a mess of things . And you’ll have less things strewn about the room. For couples or travel partners who have different tolerances for clutter, this can be a considerate habit for the messier person to adopt. I definitely don’t miss squeezing the air out of those vacuum bags either. Zippered cubes are the way to go.
2 - Hanging Toiletry Bag
On that note, here’s how to bring your toiletries A-game on a trip. Take one or two Muji hanging bags packed with travel containers, preferably cylindrical (make it easy on yourself and buy the Muji small cylinder tubes made for it ). You will not have to unpack them all haphazardly around the hotel sink or precariously onto some wonky shelf over the toilet. Simply hang the bag from the towel rack and easily get to your potions as needed. When it’s time to bounce, just roll it up and go.
3 - Mini Atomizer
Bringing a whole big glass bottle of fragrance in a suitcase feels a bit indulgent and risky, but perfume is one luxury I hate to forego when traveling. I am grateful somebody told me about leak-proof mini atomizers. I can bring just enough perfume for my trip. And the space-saving shape and size are ideal for packing.
4 - Gripper Seal Labels
Speaking of risky packing, I have mild anxiety about toiletries busting open in flight and leaking all over and ruining everything in my suitcase. I tighten lids, double ziplock bag and used shipping tape to secure caps on all liquids before I hit the road. Now that I discovered The Gripper seal labels I have much more peace of mind. It’s one long super strong adhesive tab that I trust won't budge until I say so. I bring extra tabs to re-seal between destinations. Much less bulky than when I would bring along a roll of shipping tape like a weirdo.
5 - Ries Travel Bottles
These are so cute I use them not only for travel but to repackage products like my toothpaste so they are more presentable on the shelf in my bathroom. They have features that make them fantastic for travel. For one, no more squeezing conditioner into a tiny travel-sized hole. Ries bottles have a wide opening into which you bring only the amount of product you need. Twist the cap to lock/unlock the pump. Push up the bottom of the bottle to adjust the volume. Genius design in stylish colors.
6 - A Properly Designed Suitcase
After years of getting the cheapest suitcases I could find on sale at TJ Maxx, I’m ready to copy my husband and spring for this Lojel Cubo in the small carry-on size. The front flap is ideal for safely packing a laptop and easily taking it out when going through airport security. And by opening another front flap you can get into the entire trunk without having to open it like a giant clam. This suitcase design deserves a prize.
7 - Air Tags
Use these little tracking devices with Find My app to know where your luggage is at all times. I haven’t used mine yet but I’m told it will give me peace of mind. And that’s all one really wants in life.
8 - Dry Cleaner Sheets
Lastly, if you will have access to a dryer but no time to send out dry cleaning on your travels, bring unscented dry cleaner sheets so you can freshen up those fancier items in a mere 20 minutes.
Happy trails!