I tried 5 viral packing hacks to see which could fit EVERYTHING into my £16 Primark carry-on case & the best was free

WITH many of us gearing up for summer getaways, the cost-of-living crisis continues to place pressure on our budgets.
As a result, more travellers are opting for carry-on hand luggage to avoid additional fees.
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However, with strict size and weight restrictions imposed by major airlines, the challenge of fitting five days' worth of clothing, shoes, hair products, and toiletries into one compact case can feel daunting, if not impossible.
Social media is flooded with packing hacks promising to make this process easier, claiming you can effortlessly fit everything you need into your hand luggage.
Determined to separate the genuinely useful hacks from the overhyped ones, I decided to put them to the test.
And as someone who proudly holds the title of 'world's worst packer' - frequently squashing items into my suitcase, breaking zips, or sitting on it to close it - I knew I'd be a tough critic.
To really push these hacks to their limits, I packed for a five-day trip that required clothing for both rain and sunshine.
This meant including a mix of warm and lightweight items to create a variety of outfits.
My packing list included: a thick blazer, a wool turtleneck jumper, a shirt, five T-shirts, a summer dress, two pairs of shorts, two pairs of jeans, five pairs of socks and underwear, a belt, a pair of trainers, flip-flops, my hairdryer, and a bag of toiletries.
For the test, I used a cabin-sized soft-shell suitcase measuring 55 x 35 x 18cm, which I bought for £16 from Primark.
Here's how it went.
One in three travellers admit they have no idea how to pack a suitcase efficiently
Packing cubes
Rating: 4/5
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Packing cubes are all the rage, constantly popping up on my social feed, so naturally, I had to put them to the test.
I picked up a set of packing cubes from Primark for £8 and started with the largest one. I carefully folded my clothes to match the size of the cube, ensuring they were as flat as possible.
To my surprise, I managed to fit nearly my entire five days' worth of outfits into the largest cube, with only one pair of shorts, socks, underwear, and my belt left out.
I placed the packed cube flat into my suitcase, and while it took up the majority of the space, the clothes were neatly compressed and zipped up, leaving some room around it.
There was enough space for a smaller cube, which I used to pack the remaining clothes. The smaller cube fit perfectly alongside the larger one.
This clever use of space left more than enough room in the other compartment of the suitcase for my shoes, hairdryer, and toiletries.
The packing cubes not only kept everything organised but also made it much easier to maximise the available space.
The only issue is, you have to pay for the cubes!
Vertical packing
Rating: 5/5
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The vertical packing hack for a carry-on suitcase is a brilliant way to maximise space while keeping your items neatly organised.
Begin by laying out all the clothes you plan to pack, folding or rolling them as compactly as possible.
Instead of stacking clothes horizontally (one on top of the other), position each item upright and side by side, much like filing papers in a drawer.
This approach not only saves space but also allows you to see all your belongings at a glance, eliminating the need to rummage through layers.
Initially, I was sceptical about this hack - especially with the bulkier items I needed to pack. I couldn't imagine fitting everything into such a small suitcase.
But to my surprise, it worked! As someone who typically piles everything in haphazardly, I was genuinely shocked by how much I managed to fit using this method.
You can use smaller items like socks, underwear, belts, and swimwear to fill gaps between the upright clothes. Shoes can go at the bottom or sides of the suitcase.
Place toiletries in a sealed bag and tuck them into any remaining gaps, ensuring they don't shift during travel.
If you have heavier or bulkier items (e.g., a hairdryer), place them at the bottom or corners of the suitcase for balance.
Use zippered compartments for accessories like chargers or hair products.
It's a game-changer for efficient packing.
The horizontal rolling method
Rating: 1/5
The rolling method - where clothes are rolled into compact cylinders instead of folded flat—is designed to maximise suitcase space.
By rolling your clothes, you can save room compared to traditional flat folding, allowing you to fit more items into your luggage.
This method is also said to reduce creases in fabric and keeps your packing visually organised, as you can easily see and locate each piece of clothing.
Additionally, it claims to efficiently fill gaps by utilising every bit of available space.
A popular twist on the hack suggests laying rolled clothes horizontally (packing from the side of the suitcase rather than the bottom) instead of vertically.
While this might work for thinner items like T-shirts and shorts, it becomes far less effective when packing bulkier clothes.
In my experience, thicker items like jumpers and jeans took up most of the suitcase when laid horizontally, leaving little room for anything else.
As a result, I could only half-pack my suitcase, making the hack impractical for trips requiring varied clothing.
Ultimately, I found this variation more effort than it's worth, earning it a low mark.
While it might work for lightweight summer clothes, it's certainly not ideal for bulkier or mixed outfits.
Holiday packing tips
Jemma Solomon, aka The Label Lady has got 5 packing tips to help you get organised for your next holiday.
1. Write a list
Think about all the essentials you need to take with you; suncream, medicine, a few games for the kids, beach towels, and write everything in one list, which you can tick off as you add it to your suitcase.
Or for complete ease, try Google's AI app - Gemini - which will create a list for you and help you not over pack.
2. Involve your kids
Jemma said: 'My girls are getting older, they're 11 and nine, and they enjoy helping to pack. So I send them a list, and say 'this is what you need' and they follow the list.
'And then I give them a rucksack each - and say to them 'you can have whatever you want in there as long as it's not liquid', and they can take that on the plane. And that's their 'home away from home' items.'
3. Try a hack or two
She said: "I think they all work, but for different reasons - and you've just got to pick the right one for your trip.
"Rolling your clothes is really good to stop your clothes from getting creases. And if you're trying to get a lot of items into your case, it's a space saver.
'Packing cubes are great - for example, I'm going on holiday with my three kids and we're all using the same suitcase for our clothes.
"These handy compartments let you separate your clothes, toiletries and tech into designated cubes, maximising luggage space by keeping your items compressed and neatly stacked.
"I love taking them abroad with the family and it means my kids can easily take charge of their own items once we've arrived."
4. Decant beauty products
Do you really need to take full-size bottles of shampoo and conditioner with you? The beauty industry has evolved so much, you can now buy shampoo bars or sheets - which are much lighter and smaller.
Or, if you'll be popping to the shops when you're abroad, consider buying some items when you arrive.
5. Get organised before you come home
Jemma said: 'When you repack on holiday [before coming home], the trick is to separate clean from dirty clothes.
'Also pack it in some form of order - so lights, darks, colours for items that need washing, or if you wash your clothes by person in the household, piles for each person.
"Then you can put it straight into the washing machine. Do it straight away, don't leave it."
The vertical rolling method
Rating: 2/5
This method is quite similar to the previous hack but slightly more refined - and feels like one that's been passed down through generations long before the days of social media.
Instead of laying the rolled cylinders horizontally, the hack suggests packing them vertically.
I found this approach to be much more effective, as it allowed for better organisation and made use of the suitcase's height.
However, despite its advantages, I was still left with a pair of shorts that didn't quite fit, and closing the suitcase turned into a struggle.
I even had to sit on it to get it zipped up, with my belt awkwardly squeezed in at the last minute.
While it's an improvement on the horizontal method, it still falls short for bulkier items or when you're packing for a longer trip.
Space saving method
Rating: 2/5
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This hack was the perfect complement to my vertical rolling method, helping me free up extra space in my suitcase by cleverly utilising every spare inch.
The idea is to maximise not just the space inside your suitcase but also use items like shoes and the edges of the bag.
The hack suggests using your shoes or trainers as holders for smaller items like socks and underwear.
This simple trick created just enough extra space for me to fit my pair of shorts into the remaining gaps, along with the rest of my underwear.
Another ingenious tip was to avoid rolling up your belt.
Instead, lay it flat and wrap it around the edge of the suitcase, surrounding your packed clothes.
This was such a savvy solution and made perfect sense - it's hard to believe I hadn't thought of it before
This hack is a no-brainer for anyone looking to optimise their packing and is definitely worth trying on your next trip.
Luggage Rules for Major Airlines
British Airways
Cabin Baggage: 1 cabin bag (max 56 x 45 x 25 cm) and 1 personal item (max 40 x 30 x 15 cm), total weight up to 23 kg.
Checked Baggage: Economy allows 1 bag up to 23 kg. Premium Economy, Business, and First Class allow more.
EasyJet
Cabin Baggage: 1 small cabin bag (max 45 x 36 x 20 cm), no weight limit but must fit under the seat.
Checked Baggage: Fees apply, up to 23 kg per bag. Passengers can pay for additional weight up to 32 kg.
Ryanair
Cabin Baggage: 1 small bag (max 40 x 20 x 25 cm). Priority boarding allows an additional larger cabin bag (max 55 x 40 x 20 cm, up to 10 kg).
Checked Baggage: Fees apply, options for 10 kg or 20 kg bags.
Virgin Atlantic
Cabin Baggage: Economy and Premium allow 1 cabin bag (max 56 x 36 x 23 cm, up to 10 kg). Upper Class allows 2 bags.
Checked Baggage: Economy Light has no checked baggage. Economy Classic, Delight, and Premium allow at least 1 bag up to 23 kg. Upper Class allows 2 bags.
Emirates
Cabin Baggage: Economy allows 1 bag (max 55 x 38 x 20 cm, up to 7 kg). Business and First Class allow 2 bags (total up to 12 kg).
Checked Baggage: Economy Class varies by fare type (from 20 kg to 35 kg). Business and First Class allow up to 40 kg and 50 kg respectively.

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