Best tip for packing light if you’re backpacking Europe (or anywhere!

[@teresamansbach1419]

I roll on my way there, fold flat for back home. Gives me a little room for souvenirs

[@shontoo6979]

Nice tip! Also solves the problem of being able to see your clothing options at a glance. You don't need to see so much on the way back.

[@AmeyAmeyAmeybambam]

That's an amazing idea, cause rolling it also prevents wrinkles which is important for places you might not get to iron clothes that easily, but on the way back neatness isn't a problem as much as space is

[@hbdesupog9662]

i do the sameeee❤

[@ptowzapotato4157]

Also works better for dirty laundry bc you can't choose which things to take out

[@elizabethstoner2916]

For a soft bag like packing cubes it’s it better to lay them flat however if it has solid sides rolling is better. It has to do with compression.

[@mianguyen7061]

I came here for this comment! The rolling defeats the purpose of the cube

[@elementalgolem5498]

As a soldier. We use the roll method, it's NOT to fit more. Our bags are big enough as is. It's to be able to grab any ONE item, without having to go through the others. Preferably, sometimes required in the dark without a light. The idea is that you know exactly where in the bag everything is, and being rolled it's basically just a organized buffet of clothes and items for you to grab in a hurry without repacking. For packing for a repositioning or a field trip to another base, where I need to bring a lot of items in one travel bag, I pack flat. Or folded which I think is how most of us pack. Rolled isn't for space efficiency. I don't think there's much use for civilians, maybe backpacking. But that's if you don't have access to a light source. Which is rare

[@Nana2KCASBO]

Thank you for your service Soldier❣️ almost made it to 30 yr here and I appreciate YOU🥰 Now I’m a Nana and while transition is HARD (yup it is) I’m finding my way~still thankful for the life I’ve lived…

[@sunshinegirl4190]

thank you for your service!

[@seriouslyreally5413]

No, the rolling technique was designed specifically to decrease wrinkles in your packed clothes, not make more room in your suitcase. Folding causes creases when the fabric is folded necessitating some ironing. Rolling the same item creates fewer folds thereby fewer creases and wrinkles; especially if you normally fold your shirt/tops department store style at home in your dresser (I do)

[@AshleeKnowsNot]

Just a fun fact... Rolling isn't really Marie Kondo style. It's actually military style. That's how the US Army teaches you to pack your clothing. And yes it's for space-saving and to decrease wrinkles as your supposed to be presentable in military issue clothing.
Miss Kondo just popularized it in the civilian world.

[@jasonneste2575]

I see your point, but if you lay all your clothes flat on top of each other in a cross formation, then fold over each side it turns your clothes into a rounded cube. It gives more space AND leaves fewer wrinkles. Try it.

[@squiggles7833]

​@@AshleeKnowsNotlearnt it from my military dad 😅

[@emilyk5003]

I always roll but yesterday I packed some shirts that wrinkle easily and folded them because I thought that would be better. Now that I’ve read this comment I have regrets lol

[@paddy1144]

No it wasn’t

[@harukosuiren]

I think the roll (or marie kondo style) packing is practical if you are going to only take one piece at the time so everything else is easy to reach and it doesnt make a mess in you packing when you take stuff. I like it because thay ways i can see all my clothes at once and don't have to repack everything each time. However if you are going to take everything out anyways when you arrive at your destination, it does make a lot more sense to lay everything flat :)

[@okashi10]

Good point! There are some folks who completely unpack into the hotel closet, dressers, etc. Meanwhile I live out of my packing cubes as if they are dresser drawers.

[@ayajade6683]

She did too loose of a roll which adds bulk

[@maaqui]

@@okashi10loll

[@heatherheather600]

Same ! I came to comment that but hoped someone else already had . Much less messy for me bc I could stay packed during trip.
Sounds like they maybe unpacked at each hotel

[@chesh1rek1tten]

Plus rolling reduces wrinkles!

[@augustleo4091]

I've always folded flat. I've been advised to do the rolling technique many times, but time and again I've gone on trips with friends I've always been able to fit in much more than my rolling style friends

[@ginarose8183]

Years ago, I took a packing class that advocated laying clothes flat. It was a good method.

[@saotomesakura8648]

I had the exact opposite experience... For my whole life I packed everything flat... then for my last trip my carry on had trouble closing, so I rolled everything and suddenly there was so much space I looked I lost quarter of my things

[@stevemayvisuals]

I think it thoroughly depends on the type of fabric tbh. Like even with my boxers, they are more efficient rolled but my socks are more efficient flat

[@petitecherie501]

Flat packing the clothes with the arms and legs hanging out until the suitcase is almost full and then folding everything in has been my go-to packing for a cruise or where you only unpack once. My dresses as well as his dress shirts come out with very very few wrinkles. I do use packing cubes for socks and undies. I never forget that shoe bags, LOL

[@dorissaclaire]

Honestly, for quick travel like this (as I’m needing to repack and live out of a suitcase for extended periods of time) I go really minimal with packing cubes. I use luggage pockets for underwear, electronics, etc and only one packing cube for lighter tops, just fold everything else. I also either fold or lay my laundry flat in a packing cube 😅people often think it’s very psycho but I DONT have room for all my clothes to be bunched.

[@suzyq6767]

Amen! I lived out of a small carry-on-sized suitcase for 3 years. Flat folding takes less room. I carried 5 nice T-shirts (long and short), 2 cardigans, 2 pants, 1 skirt, undergarments, a coat, and a swimsuit. I had everyday shoes and ballet flats. My products were Vaseline, chapstick, deodorant, and a solid bar of Dr. Bronner's soap (to wash everything from clothing to my waist-length hair). I had enough room left for my computer, chargers, watercolor supplies, and a few books. I never wanted for anything. I'd like to get back to that simplicity.

[@fireflyexposed]

Accordion style works the same as flat pack - fold to the height of the bag. However, if you have a soft bag, that isn't as efficient. Accordion style lets you find your clothes easily without digging through layers of clothes, disrupting the pile and having to repack the whole lot every day. Rolling works too but again you need to dig a bit to get some clothes out (but may fit better in a backpack).

[@revital7916]

I also came across the same situation where I saw that my flat folding, transcends and is much more useful for reducing and more clothes went in this flat way.

[@JonsRegularStuff]

As a physicist I always go with the flat. Facts!

[@smania7575]

I flat pack too. If I'm using a suitcase, I fill the indents of the bottom with socks and undies to make a flat bottom then flat pack everything else. My husband is always amazed how much I can fit into our bags and always asks me to do our packing, even when its just a backpack for a weekend stay.

[@georgiam4725]

I’m 15 months into a two year backpacking trip around Canada and I will vouch for the flat packing method for packing cubes forever!!!

[@рената_цехановецкая]

i have always wanted to do the same since i moved here, the nature here is so beautiful and familiar to me being that my home country is also a vast expanse of sparsely populated boreal landscapes and mountain ranges, but it is by no means safe for a solo female traveller. have you been alright in these regards? also do you hitchhike ? sorry if these are strange questions i just have yet to meet anyone doing this !!

[@brandonsmith2299]

Lol do you not work??

[@clovellyliddle477]

​@@brandonsmith2299her parents are probably paying for it

[@georgiam4725]

@@brandonsmith2299 I worked hard and saved before beginning my travels but I do something called Workaway where you have bed/food/board paid for, in exchange for work. Usually farm work, I was just working on an equine therapy farm for a couple months. Now I’m in northern BC working on a ski hill for the winter, same as last year. You can do both with the right visa!

[@zoeyb]

Vacuum bags with a travel sized vacuum. Ordered it off of Amazon. Worked amazing.

[@Laura-tb7nm]

Good luck carrying the vacuum and most likely a steamer or iron too!

[@Lucy_4512]

I was just about to pack for my first overnight choir trip! Very helpful, thanks! ❤❤❤

[@robertashagam1599]

Very helpful because I couldn’t get that much into the cube before I did it your way. Leaving tomorrow with nice and neat cubes. :)

[@joni22262]

Ive tried all three. Still think i get more with the rolling. What a great trip. Your family has a wonderful mom.

[@KiKiQuiQuiKiKi]

Flat’s where its at!
I usually stack everything then fold as a unit to fit in the suitcase/bag. To get the very most clothing in there, put them it into vacuum bags (but it may get heavy!).

[@tessa7582]

I saw the advice about rolling clothing and so started doing this. When things became too full and could not fit because of my overpacking, I went back to flat packing my clothes and found what we all did previously is better than what we are told to do today.

[@naelyneurkopfen9741]

My dad was a long haul truck driver. He was in the road 250+ days a year, so he lived out of a suitcase.
Mom packed his clothes flat. She could put together a suitcase in a flash.

[@lisasternenkind6467]

Exactly. When I recently went to hospital, I needed to for everything into a smaller suitcase. I could hardly pack only half of my stuff and also ended up packing everything flat.

[@Me-mn4nw]

Rolling is to prevent wrinkles and so you can just reach in while grabbing and going. I used to fly cross country every 3 days on business.

[@17h127]

I came to the same conclusion. As a kid I was taught to roll everything. Then I started flying budget airlines and did this once when I didn't have time to roll. I was amazed. Everything fit. It's easier, faster, and better.

[@tam6912]

It’s true! You just have to be careful not to overpack. If you do your back will let you know?😊. Happy Trails!

[@kritheeka]

Finnaaalllllyyyyy! Some one who has got this realisation about flat packing trick ! Finnaaalllllyyyyy.
. You are the first I found on internet who is for flat packing trick!

[@fioregiallo]

As soon as you started talking about rolling the fabric I said to myself, "no, lay it flat or only folded once!!" How I make sure all my kid's clothes fit in his dresser 😂

[@ImranShamsul]

Have been packing clothes flat for years. Once I arrive, I make daily rolls tongrsb and go - usually t-shirt, undies, socks. I travel with the pants and shoes I'm wearing.

[@Cdnl4927]

Compression cubes best to get even more clothes in, versus regular packing cube.

[@amomexplores]

We own compression cubes and I don't feel like they save that much space

[@Cdnl4927]

@@amomexplores Interesting. I’ve been able to squeeze in a couple to a few more items with compression cubes.

[@xqueenfrostine]

@@amomexploresI agree. Compression cubes aren’t magic. I can see how they might save space if you’re not especially skilled at folding your clothes as flat possible or rolling them as tightly possible, because then your clothes have plenty of space the squeeze out. But if you’re packing your cubes to their complete capacity, with every item inside packed tightly, there’s very little for those cubes to compress. Using the compression zippers makes the cubes a tighter around the edges as those spaces are naturally the most empty, but I see very little difference in the bulky center on the cube. Maybe a few millimeters of difference, but nothing to get excited about. I notice a much bigger difference from putting something heavy on top of my packed cubes. Extra weight does a much better job at knocking the last bits of space between my folded clothes than thin nylon.

[@balesshippolova]

They're great for packing fluffy items. Including stuffed animals and blankets.

[@emmab.115]

We also only took a backpack on a two week trip and we used those roll vacuum seal bags, made it so much easier to fit jackets. You put all your stuff in then just roll, sit on or lay on it to get the air out, was immaculate and super easy, didn’t even need to fold the clothes 😂

[@theginakessler]

I learned that the hard way too lol. We did 3 weeks one pack in Peru. Flat folding for the win!

[@SLily-rb6ji]

when I pack a full-size suitcase, I do the same pack flat, I can take most of my closet and doesn't wrinkle!

[@kathybramley5609]

My daughter has been rolling everything having seen the advice on CZcams and our drawers are always jamming and overflowing now.

[@AnneMaaikie]

Yup! I do the same, even when I use a suitcase! I can stuff a LOT in a suitcase

[@vanessazannis5523]

I’m exhausted just watching your short! How the 🌋 do you get through a day! Sending you 💜

[@eveyluvvs]

Thats because you can't use the same strategy for everything. Flat is better for some pieces and rolled or folded is better for others. Happy Light Travels! 😊

[@rick5653]

Wow, thank you. I always wondered about rolling the clothes.

[@ScrotumCat]

You can also carry a small hand air pump with you (if your hotel rooms or where ever you stay doesn't have a hoover) and use space bags to suck out all the air from what you pack 😊

[@traceylovestravel]

I've been flat packing for years, personally I find it better than rolling. Especially when I'm packing different type clothes in one cube e.g. a dress and tshirts

[@audrarichards103]

I used plastic bags from items I ordered and put each outfit in layingit flat, and it saved lots of space over rolling or folding

[@dyscea]

I've always wondered this, but I always pack last minute so I never had a chance to experiment. Lol.

[@therealmissglamBAM]

Supposed to be packing right now, let me give this a try!

[@portals.5050]

A trick that I use when I pack for stuff is to like fold the clothing in half then roll it as right as you can, that makes it really small and no wrinkles!

[@facelesslol6724]

For packing shirts, if you want to pack more I heavily suggest the military method where they fold their shirts up to the size of a soda can, I have two drawers basically for all of my clothes bc they fit so I don't need much of anything else, and I fit maybe 9 pairs of pants/shorts, and literally maybe a bit over 12-15 shirts in my drawers that are probably a 2-3 by 4-5 in feet, do wtv it takes to make as much room and those are just for my pj's lol

[@squ4sh.]

My dad was a marine, he would pack his clothes flat! He could fit everything he needed. It’s the flat way for me!

[@S24ARJ]

I've never got the rolling method and have always put clothes into my suitcase / bag flat.

[@pickledlobstermeep]

this is super helpful! i have school camp soon and we gonna pack a hell lot of stuff into knee hight bags 😅

[@Urmum150]

My family went on a trip to Europe for a month with just 3 backpacks. It was insane and such a great experience

[@crazy4beatles]

I use packing cube and roll or fold for convenience not to take more. I don’t want to have to take a bunch of things out and put them back to grab one thing.

[@jennenny87]

Accordian style helps you see everything without unpacking. That can be nice if you're moving around a lot so you don't have to constantly repack everything; you can just take out what you need without disturbing the rest. However, it's definitely NOT the most space-efficient, and if you're already packing this little, it probably doesn't really matter if you have to repack frequently. ...plus, most little kids are just going to dump everything out no matter how you pack it. 😆

[@2paranoid2think]

SLEEPING BAG COMPRESSION SACK!!!!! Best travel item I've ever used to pack clothes

[@noelleschilling8558]

I made that discovery to, literally had relatives that would yell that I should be rolling and I’m like but it doesn’t work

[@MonMon-ed6uw]

I always was wondering if rolling up is really better, because my mom taught me to pack flat and then film all the gabs with stuff

[@candacerain1]

Agreed! when I pack for PCSing I don't pack military style like my husband does because it actually takes up more room.

[@sarahbenz.91]

I usually flat pack our clothes and its easy to unpack in hotels or wherever we're staying I just pull them out as is and place them on their shelf and they're go to go and then pack them back up in the same way.
I am actually pack for a week long trip where we won't have any washing machines so I am just packing around 6 outifts per kid and this way they fit fine in their backpacks. I am trying to figure out the best way to pack so their stuff takes the least amount of space possible, and so they have space to buy more stuff because we are gonna do some school/fall clothes shopping on our trip because the place we go has more options so I like to go shopping there, so its kinda tricky to make sure the car still will fit all of our stuff.

[@solitairius.]

Depends because flat also means the edges are empty so it really depends on what you’re trying to fill

[@_Julie_Bee]

Yup. When we did 3 months in Europe I ended up realizing the same thing. Plus our clothes were way less wrinkled.

[@sorenolofson]

As someone who spent an entire year traveling with only one backpack, I used very similar, packing cubes and can say the best way is to roll very tightly I would even use my foot to stretch of the clothes as I rolled. I have tried quite a few methods, including the one you said, but I’ve always found that rolling extremely tightly is the best way to go.

[@karalove3470]

Been doing this for years! Works great

[@aprilcarl5481]

Thank you ❤

[@lizzyb.3482]

Lol as soon as she showed that they were only gonna have one backpack each and then showed that she rolled the clothes… I was like man you’d have so much more room if they were all flat. 😂😊

[@teresepowell9361]

Finally! Thank you. Glad you had fun.

[@laurajohnson1342]

That is the best way. If you hang shirts half way out of the bag, layer each shirt on the opposite side and pants and dress on the unused side ( there should be half a garment hanging on the long side- pants, and short side - shirts, like lasagna) and fold the excess onto each other, so you have an interlacing loaf of clothes, you will get SO MUCH into a bag. That's the only way I pack.

[@sydneyharbour-bridges8090]

I recommend vacuum packs but the kind that is compressed by hand!

[@dominicwehrmann8515]

For 5 people it would be perfect to use a electric mini vacuum pump. Could have saved lots of troubles

[@MGM2000]

This is Def the way. Spent a month traveling and flat was the only way to get everything to fit

[@TheAmazingfulOne]

I tried packing cubes for my trip to Banff and quickly dumped them. I can fit way more by shoving things into every remaining little oddly shaped space in my bag. The packing cube left so much wasted space between it and the walls of my bag. They also don't work well for oddly shaped items like hiking boots and my massage gun

[@paranoidandroid3k]

I just shove everything, it is great for backpacks. I like to go backpacking and just trowing everything inside is so much better. Specially with my sleeping bag and down jacket. The clothes fill the space much better that way. Its not exactly organised but damn it works.

[@SparksFly87]

I've always layered my clothes in my suitcases. And I usually start with the heaviest or thickest items first and then layer the lighter items on top. I do it in this order so that the weight of the clothes will help to flatten the thickest or heaviest garments at the bottom. And with socks, I either leave them rolled into balls. Or, layer them on top of each other and then place them into a washing mesh bag. And then just roll it up into a burrito and stuff it into whatever sides of the suitcase that are empty.

[@Roxcii]

This is how I also use packing cubes

[@serena201288]

Sure does. I use medium-sized luggage for all my trips and discovered that folding the pants in half and placing the tops flat like you are spreading them out not only gives you so much space but it keeps them wrinkle-free

[@jessiesprinkleberries]

How to pack more formal wear, like button ups and nice dresses? I don't usually wear tshirt during the trip, yet some trips I take should be more light or leaning towards backpacking trip.

[@chvhndrtntlr3482]

If you already have packing cube you no longer need to roll your clothes.
And clothes that works with rolling method, it's the flowing fabrics not the stiff things like jeans

[@jacquelynallen488]

I use ziplock bags, quart size, holds a short, shirt, undies, and socks. Fold neatly stack and then press into the bag. Roll from the bottom to the top, to squeeze all of the air out and zip. Save the bag to catch dirty clothing for trip home. Make sure to remove from bag and launder promptly.

[@sophial3151]

When I took a trip to Europe at 17 I knew we would be in a rush to make the trains, subways, planes and just needed to have the least amount to carry and something easily transportable that I could run with. So I took 1 backpack and 1 duffel bag. As far as clothes go I only took one pair of sneakers and instead of underwear and braws I took 2 pairs of bikinis that came in handy because i was always ready for whatever water source I could legally go in and it actually was always the case and others i went with were not prepared. Plus since it was June I only brought 3 tank tops and 2 jean shorts, they were the only shorts I had but something that can dry faster would have been better but since it was so hot I did not care if I had to walk around in slightly damp shorts because they would still dry fully within 15 minutes of wearing them, and a small windbreaker jacket. Then i bought another bikini and a sweatshirt in France and a pair of slip on sneakers in Italy that i only wore one time there and since i had duffle bag room it was kind of a spur of the moment thing. In the end I really only needed the backpack and not the duffle bag but I brought it just in case I wanted to buy more items though in hindsight I could have just bought one while there if I needed it? It is always a learning experience just in how and what to pack. Making memories is the what really matters. 🩷

[@TeenDream888]

compression packing cubes and bags you squeeze the air out of. pack a mini steamer. you'll be able to pack more, have less weight, and it's a game changer. I'm an avid traveler and thought I'd share.

[@carolines3953]

We went to europe for six weeks this summer. I tried so hard to pack light and there was still stuff we didn’t use. Gotta get ruthless for next time 😅

[@taigafaiya1298]

I like to fold them in the Mary Kondo way because I just need to take the extra at the top off and my suitcase serves as a dresser as well

[@maaqui]

Thats what my mom told me!
I asked her once if smart rolls were really ‘smart’, and she said that folding it flat was better no wonder I was able to fit 15 pairs of thic jeans in my cube 😂

[@TheBriar_123]

If you’re smaller bodied then there’s no reason to roll. Over a size 10, rolling will prob give you more space.

[@impo55iblegirl96]

I put everything in gallon ziploc bags. Easy to see what everything is, no smells or spills, and much more room.

[@morrislipnik7186]

I lay flat and use vacuum bags to increase space.

[@valk7229]

I'm short, so most of my pants, shirts I can just fold in half and lay flat in a carry-on size suitcase. I've only ever taken a large suitcase when I went on a cruise. And I probably wouldn't do it again.

[@tomcharles1730]

It's always funny playing spot the tourist

[@sueramsey8181]

Most of us have known this for decades. For even more room ditch the separate packing cubes too.

[@dperreno]

Yeah, I've never thought that rolliing was very space efficient.

[@chromeo3945]

Rolling helps to keep clothes from wrinkling, and makes them easier to find, but it definitely takes more space. Room for souveniers!

[@britt1891]

I used to be pro packing cubes until I started using only a backpack to fly then I got rid of the cubes and rolled everything I was able to pack everything I needed with room to spare.

[@infinity-skies1207]

the purple is SO pretty tho

[@ursamajor7468]

Rolling clothes tightly lessens wrinkling. Her rolls were loose and then she loosely packed the rolls into bags🤦‍♀️🤦‍♂️. Doing both enables a lot of clothes in the available space and prevents wrinkles. Roll tight, pack tight!

[@abz4674]

Can i please know where you got those backpacks from? What the name of it is? I need a smallback for my travels as I cant carry anything bigger because of my condition. Thanks!

[@TurBecky]

I always pack scivvy rolls! That way my socks and underwear don't take up extra space.

[@maryjomccallister9102]

I use 2-1/2 gallon Hefty zipper bags. One bag for each outfit. Fold the clothes flat and put them in the bag. Put the bag on the bed and sit on it. Zip it closed while sitting on it; vacuum packed. As I take out an outfit for the day, the dirty clothes go in that bag and get squished again. No extra dirty clothes bag to deal with, and no smells from dirty, sweaty clothes in my bag. Works for us.

[@sina2007]

what kind of backpack did you use? love the layout

[@YunKoda]

That’s what I always do and I get confused when people roll their clothes because after you unroll it, the clothes are crinkly and I just don’t like the way it looks and it takes up way more space and time

[@traciannveno]

Ya baby awesome sauce thanks

[@livewellwitheds6885]

i use compression bags! way better than packing cubes

[@chrisn8349]

I lay clothes flat for packing too!

[@lizzigeorgie9868]

the best way is to fold everything flat like she said then roll it all together like a big roll cuz then u get like even more space

[@civivva4501]

Child with the green backpack is not impressed LOL