Cramming an Inordinate Amount of Stuff into a Bag

I’m a packing machine. I could stuff an elephant into a matchbox if I had to. Packing for me is like playing Tetris; everything must fit just right for it to work. This skill is necessary for a chronic over packer like myself.

 Credit

Monday I’m off on my Go with Oh Euro tour for a month. This presents a couple of packing issues: duration and cold weather. It is tempting to pack a million outfits for that amount of time, and cold weather means sweaters, coats, boots, and other bulky items. My goal is to have one checked bag and one carry on bag. No problem, right? We’ll see about that.

Check out this time-lapse video of how I crammed a ridiculously large amount of stuff into an one average-sized suitcase.

I do have packing non-negotiables, but this isn’t a post about streamlining your packing list. It’s about cramming as many things as you can into your suitcase without breaking the zipper. Here’s my packing strategy:

Step 1:

Lay everything that you will be taking. Separate into categories: pants, shirts, dresses, sweaters, coats/jackets, shoes/boots, undergarments, etc. Make sure you pull an outfit to place in your carry on bag in case your bag is delayed or lost.

Step 2:

Roll the pants, shirts, dresses, and thin sweaters. These items will take up less room if rolled and be less wrinkled when you unpack.

Step 3:

It’s advisable to wear bulkier items (coats, boots, sweaters) so they don’t have to be packed, but if that’s not feasible or you have additional of those items, lay them flat in the bottom of the suitcase. I like to keep the coat open and use it as a kind of shell for the rest of my items.

Step 4:

Start placing the larger rolled items along the sides of the suitcase.

Credit

Step 5:

Place the smaller items on top of the larger items, and fill in the open areas along the suitcase sides. You could also place those smaller items in space saver bags like these. They work pretty well, and can also be used to pack wet swimsuits or separate dirty clothes from the clean ones on your trip home. If you have anything that is fragile, they can be rolled within the smaller items for additional protection.

Step 6:

Place your larger shoes/boots in the middle of the suitcase, with the heavier ones closest to the wheels. There’s nothing worse than a top-heavy suitcase that falls over when stood upright. Sometimes I put my shoes in a one large bag to keep them from moving around too much. I can then use the bag for dirty clothes along the way. Don’t forget to use the valuable space inside the shoes! Socks, underwear, scarves, jewelry, PJs, swimsuits, all can be stuffed inside the shoes.

Step 7:

If I have a sweater, jacket, or other bulky item left, I place it around my toiletry bag to help protect my make-up and perfume from breaking.

Step 8:

Fill in any open spaces with the smaller leftover items. Don’t forget about those outside zipper pockets. Again, you’ll want to keep the heaver items toward the bottom of the pockets to keep the suitcase from being top heavy.

Credit 

Extras:

• When I’m traveling with another person and unable to get everything into one bag, I  divide all of our stuff between two bags. I don’t just put his stuff in one and my stuff in another. That way if one of the bags gets lost, both of us at least have some stuff. For instance, if there are six sweaters between the two of us, three go in one bag and three go in the other. Same with underwear, socks, jeans, shoes, toiletries. Everything! My motto is expect the best, but plan for the worst.

• Not only should you pack a change of clothes in your carry on, but also pack anything that is expensive or hard to replace. Things like medicine, nice jewelry, and electronics should always be carried on.

• Once your bags are packed, don’t forget to weigh them. There are gadgets that are made for weighing suitcases, but I just use my home scale. Weigh yourself first. Then pick up the bag and weigh yourself again. Subtract the two numbers, and you have the weight of your bag. It’s an easy way to eliminate the surprise of an excess bag fee.

 Credit

I use this basic method for any size bag. Not only am I able to get the most out of my space, but also I rarely need to iron. I might, however, need to use a chiropractor and various massage techniques after carrying all those heavy bags.

Don’t forget to follow along on my Euro tour through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram {LeahTravels}, and Pinterest. I’m needing your great tips and outlandish dares. Read more about how you can send me those and also win prizes here. You’ll also find the skinny on how you can be the 2013 Go with Oh guest blogger.

Happy packing, y’all!

 

Featured Image