Travel Packing Tips: How to Fold Your Clothes

Many of us will have our most memorable experiences while travelling, particularly when we venture off the beaten path. But even with all the free-spiritedness and spontaneity that can come with travel, there are a few aspects that require a more structured and strategic approach.

No matter how you choose to travel, whether it’s an all-inclusive holiday in the Maldives or a month-long backpacking adventure through Europe, packing for your perfect travelling experience is something that will inevitably take a bit of trial and error. With clothing taking up the majority of space, overpacking and inefficient packing is easily done. Today, we’ve put together our best packing tips for all types of travel with a particular focus on clothing.

HOW TO PACK FOR TRAVEL: BACKPACKS

For travellers carrying the entirety of their belongings on their back, space is a luxury you can’t afford to waste. If you’re heading out on your next backpacking adventure, here are some tips and tricks to help you save space:

• Try the rolling technique – instead of folding your clothes, roll them as compact as possible, placing lower priority items at the base of the pack

• If you’re carrying boots or spare shoes, store loose garments like socks inside them

• Keep clothing light – layer up with lightweight thermals and packaway rain gear vs heavy layers that take up a lot of space

• Opt for efficient clothing (for example, a 3-in-1 jacket can be worn as one item but functions as three separate pieces of clothing)

• Avoid clothing that wrinkles easily

HOW TO PACK FOR TRAVEL: SUITCASES

Unlike backpacks, suitcases and duffle bags are a bit more forgiving when it comes to space. Having said that, many people will still overpack their bags ahead of a holiday and even end up being charged excess fees by airlines for this exact reason. To help you trim down on the baggage and pack more efficiently, here are our top tips:

• Invest in some packing cubes – designed to help you compartmentalise your belongings within your suitcase, packing cubes can serve as a helpful planning tool for outfits and offer some guidance on the volume of clothing to bring

• Try space saver bags – using a hand pump, these airtight bags simply remove the air around your clothing to make them far more compact than they would otherwise be. These are ideal for winter holidays like ski trips where you’ll be bringing bulkier items like parkas, ski trousers, and sweaters

HOW TO FOLD YOUR CLOTHES

No matter how you choose to travel, it’s important that you know how to fold your clothes (particularly to keep them looking great on the other side). Below we’ve shared some handy tricks to fold some of the most common items you’ll find in a suitcase:

How to fold a hoodie

1. Lay your hoodie or jumper face down and smooth out any obvious wrinkles or creases
2. Fold the sleeves into the centre to make an ‘X’ shape across the back
3. Fold the extra fabric on the left and right inward so that the body of the hoodie and the hood are the same width
4. Bring the bottom of the hoodie to the base of the hood (in a horizontal fold)
5. Fold the hood back over the body of the hoodie
6. Gently tuck the body of the hoodie into the hood (the hood will be inside out) and use the draw cords create a neat little bundle 

How to fold a shirt

1. Take care to remove all wrinkles with a steamer or an iron and fasten the buttons
2. Lay the shirt face down, taking care to remove any creases
3. Fold the sleeves and outer edges inward to create a straight line from the top of the shoulder seam all the way down to the base of the shirt
4. Using a diagonal downward fold, line up the sleeves with the outer edge of the shirt
5. Once your sleeves look aligned and symmetrical, flatten any creases
6. Make a small fold along the bottom of the shirt, tucking away the base hem or the shirt tail
7. Bring the small fold up to the collar of the shirt to create a neat square

How to fold a t shirt

1. Remove any creases with an iron or steamer
2. Lay the t-shirt face down on a flat surface
3. Fold the sleeves and outer edges inward to create a straight line from the top of the shoulder seam all the way down to the base of the t-shirt
4. Folding the t-shirt horizontally, bring the base of the t-shirt up to the collar to create a neat square

No matter where your travels take you, we hope this handy guide provides some help with packing for the best possible experience. With a little planning and a few tried-and-tested packing techniques, you’ll be a packing pro in no time. Happy travels!