Latest news with #packinghacks
%3Amax_bytes(150000)%3Astrip_icc()%2Ftl-favorite-travel-finds-tout-bddd8d80588b4670a0d453efc4e1452e.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
Travel + Leisure
4 days ago
- Travel + Leisure
I'm a Travel Writer, and I Have These 8 Amazon Finds to Thank for Easy Packing and Long Flights—From $8
As a travel writer, I get to share my more than 20 years of experience exploring the world, and the products that have made my trips easier. Out of the thousands of travel essentials out there, only some have stood out to me so far this year—and they're all available at Amazon. I've decided to stop gatekeeping my favorite travel finds from this year that have made packing easier and long flights comfy. That includes everything from a handy portable luggage scale to a supportive neck pillow, and it can all be found at Amazon's travel store for as little as $10. Best 2025 Travel Essentials at Amazon Jisulife Handheld Mini Fan Amazon This portable mini fan is always with me during the summer (even when I'm not traveling). It's slim and compact enough to slip into a purse, fanny pack, or backpack. When I'm overheating on a train with weak air conditioning, I just unfold it and choose one of the two speeds to quickly cool down. Travel Inspira Portable Luggage Scale Amazon There are few things more anxiety-inducing than getting to the airport and finding out my luggage is overweight, but this mini luggage scale has completely eliminated that issue. It has a digital display screen that'll instantly show how much a suitcase weighs, so I can check before I even get to the airport. And, the packable size means I can take it with me to check my suitcase's weight when it's time to fly home. Bagail Compression Packing Cubes 4-pack Amazon Packing cubes are great for organizing your suitcase, but when you combine that with the magic of compression, you can also save some luggage space. This set of four will condense clothing and keep everything tidy, whether you sort your clothes by article or by outfit. The set has become a shopper favorite, with more than 9,000 purchased in the last month. Cabeau Travel Neck Pillow Amazon Sleeping comfortably on a plane is nearly impossible, which is why investing in a supportive neck pillow is crucial. Cabeau's pillow attaches to your seat to keep you from slouching or dropping your head forward. The front strap also lets you adjust the tightness so you can feel fully supported around your neck and chin. Travelpro Maxlite 5 Softside Carry-on Luggage Amazon Travelpro's carry-on is flight attendant-approved—and we can see why. It has four 360-degree spinning wheels that make it easy to move through the airport and other spaces. It also has a spacious interior that's expandable, so overpackers can easily fit an extra outfit or two inside. Basic Concepts Airplane Foot Hammock Amazon As a 5-foot traveler, it's rare that a seat is short enough for my feet to touch the ground, but that's what makes this foot hammock so handy. By attaching it to the seat in front of you, it becomes a foot rest and extra leg support. Plus, the memory foam material makes it extra cozy. Aphuwj Magnetic Portable Charger Amazon This portable charger is worth the investment, because it magnetically attaches to the back of your iPhone, so you can use it without a wire getting in the way. You don't ever have to rely on charging cables to juice up your phone and other devices. Lisen Airplane Phone Holder Amazon This genius phone holder will save you from neck aches. You can attach it to the airplane seat in front of you and watch videos or read ebooks without having to bend your neck for the entire flight. Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we'll send you our favorite travel products each week.
%3Amax_bytes(150000)%3Astrip_icc()%2Ftal-amazon-roundup-roundup-mom-recommended-packing-hacks-tout-b7a3bf9a76944de3a8d02c23255c4b50.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
Travel + Leisure
13-06-2025
- Travel + Leisure
My Mom Has Traveled for 40+ Years With Just a Carry-on—These 8 Genius Packing Tips Let Her Fit 100 Items in Her Bag
My mom has traveled throughout the world for nearly 42 years and prides herself on never checking a bag. Whether she's traveling for work or taking a trip to New York City to visit me, she has nailed packing a carry-on down to a science and can fit 100 items into her compact luggage for a weeklong trip. With more than four decades of travel experience, she has mastered how to survive long travel days through her own trial and error as well as tips she picked up from colleagues. Now, she can easily identify the biggest packing mistakes most travelers make. She shared her personal packing hacks with Travel + Leisure , plus the must-have items that help her fit everything she needs for a weeklong trip into a carry-on (like her skincare routine, makeup, an extra pair of shoes, and a mini hair straightener). They can all be found at Amazon's travel store, starting at $6. A handy set of packing cubes, like this set of eight, will help you organize your suitcase by outfit or article of clothing (my mom prefers to do the latter). Plus, you won't have to dig around and ruin your precious folding just to find a shirt. Bonus tip: My mom recommends creating a capsule wardrobe, so you can mix and match a few core pieces into many outfits, which minimizes the amount of clothes you pack. For weeklong summer trips, she sticks to four bottoms, five tops, two dresses, a bathing suit, a sweater, a skirt, two pairs of pajamas, and a pair of underwear for each day. 'I can turn that into 20 different outfits,' she said. And if you want to bring any extra layers, she recommends wearing those on the plane. Vitamin bottles are bulky, and several will fill up your luggage fast. That's why my mom stopped packing separate containers and opted for a slim travel pill organizer. It's small enough to slip into a pocket of your carry-on and has eight slots for your medicine and supplements. If you want to organize it further, you can use the included labels. Having traveled with family and coworkers for decades, my mom has noticed that one area people always go wrong with packing is shoes. While it's nice to have options, shoes take up the most space, especially if they're bulky. She recommends wearing your sneakers or walking shoes on the plane, and packing a flat, versatile option that you can squeeze into the side of your suitcase. One of her favorite pairs is Chaco sandals because the shoes are flexible enough to pack, have arch support, and can easily be paired with shorts, summer dresses, and flowy pants. This is one of the most handy tips my mom has passed down to me. Unlike a steamer, Bounce's spray is tiny enough to go inside your toiletry bag, which saves so much room in your carry-on. It also quickly smooths out any travel clothes that aren't wrinkle-free, so you can avoid whipping out the hotel iron. All you have to do is spray the wrinkled area and smooth it out with your hands. Plus, the clean scent helps keep your clothes smelling fresh when there isn't a nearby laundry room. A hanging toiletry bag gives you the ability to see everything inside without having to dig around and lay everything out on the bathroom counter. This one is made with clear pockets and slots to put your bottles into. The built-in hanger can go over the bathroom door or on a hook, so everything is on display. Bonus tip: Avoid taking your entire beauty routine with you when you travel—you only need the absolute necessities. For skincare that includes a good cleanser and moisturizer, but if you want to cut down what you pack even more, my mom suggests bringing a tinted moisturizer with SPF. The only shower toiletry my mom packs is Ouai's multipurpose hair oil. It acts as a heat protectant, makes her hair 'smooth like silk,' and minimizes frizz, which is especially important in tropical climates. If you're wondering why shampoo and conditioner aren't on her list, it goes back to her secret to fitting more things into a carry-on. You must reduce the amount of bulky items you pack and use things the hotel provides you, which include hair care items and body wash. Most hotels have a blow dryer, which means you can skip packing your own and use that extra space for more important things, like a packable pair of shoes. For days when she wants to give her hair a soft wave or straighten it, my mom's go-to is a mini straightener. It's compact and acts as a three-in-one styler that she said 'can make my hair wavy, add a light curl, or just [smooth] some spots.' My mom has racked up more than 2,000 hotel stays, so she knows that having a lot of outlets is a luxury you don't have in all rooms. Instead of bringing more than one charging cord, my mom prefers a folding charging station because it gives her three chargers in one, packing-friendly device. It also keeps her phone, smartwatch, and wireless earbuds together, so she doesn't have to remember where everything's plugged in and risk forgetting to pack anything. Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we'll send you our favorite travel products each week.
The Sun
09-06-2025
- The Sun
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. 12 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 12 12 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 12 12 12 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 12 12 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.
