I’ve been a travel editor for nearly a decade—and a travel enthusiast for far longer than that—so at this point, I feel quite comfortable calling myself a packing expert. I’ve checked bags on budget airlines and first-class flights, tested duffel bags and backpacks in every shape and size, and rolled carry-ons across more countries than I can count on my fingers and toes. The result? A breadth of packing knowledge that you can really only gain by learning from your mistakes and coming out stronger with every new adventure (…and airport misadventure).
If you’re on a mission to stay a little more organized on your next trip, you’ve come to the right place, because I’m sharing my 15 golden rules of packing that I think every traveler should follow. Read on for my go-to tips and tricks to keep in mind as you gear up for your next journey.
This article is part of Condé Nast Traveler’s third annual Luggage Week, for which dozens of suitcases, backpacks, and weekender bags were road-tested by our editors. It has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
Start packing sooner rather than later
Leaving it all until the night before might sound manageable, but you’re way more likely to forget important things when you’re working under a time crunch. Try to take your suitcase out of storage at least a day or two before you depart, and start filling it slowly and intentionally—before any pre-travel stress kicks in. I also like to start making piles of clothes and accessories I know I want to bring on my trip around a week before I take off, so I don’t accidentally wear or misplace anything ahead of time (no one wants to be doing laundry right before a big flight).
Make a “morning of” list and check it twice
Keep a handy list (mine is in my iPhone notes app) of everyday essentials that you always need to wait until the last minute to pack, like your toothbrush, phone charger, emotional support water bottle, and hairbrush. It’s a game-changer when you’re rushing to get out of the house before a trip—scan through it quickly to make sure you’re not leaving without any must-haves.
Invest in travel-ready pouches
Speaking of essentials, it can be helpful to curate grab-and-go bags that you only use for travel. For example, a makeup bag full of essential toiletries, or a pouch full of plane necessities (an eye mask, sleeping pills, hand sanitizer, etc.). If you avoid opening them when you’re at home—and make sure to refill them when things get low—they’ll always be ready for your next adventure.
Know that packing cubes are your best friends
No, really, our entire office is obsessed with them, and for good reason. They may not look like much, but a good set of compressive packing cubes can help you a) fit more in your suitcase, b) stay organized while traveling, and c) section out specific outfits to make your mornings simpler when you’re on the go. I always make sure to pack at least two large packing cubes and use one to separate my dirty clothes from my clean clothes. When I get home, I dump the entire thing straight in the washing machine!
Bagsmart
Compression packing cubes (set of 6)
Know that AirTags are your second-best friends
If you assume that your checked bag is going to make it to your final destination, you’re doing it all wrong. Airlines lose baggage more often than you’d think, so it’s best to play it safe by putting an AirTag—or similar tracking device—in every suitcase you fly with. Even if your bag gets misplaced, you have a much better chance of getting it back safe and sound when you can pinpoint its exact location.
If you don’t wear it at home, don’t assume you’ll wear it on vacation
When you’re out of your element, reliable favorites are the first thing you’re going to grab when you’re getting dressed in the morning. That said, don’t pack that cute-but-teeny dress that you’ve been too nervous to wear, or the chic loafers that have sat in your closet because they gave you bad blisters the first time you wore them. Chances are, they’re just going to take up valuable space in your suitcase.
Weigh your bag with time to spare
If your suitcase has ever been slapped with the “overweight” label at the airport—and you subsequently had to pay a hefty fee or rearrange things in front of a million people—chances are you’ve already invested in a luggage scale. If you haven’t, let this be your sign. Once you have one, plan to use it to weigh your checked baggage well before you leave for the airport. You don’t want to be scrambling to hit the under-50-pound mark while the clock is ticking.
If it can spill, keep it contained
There’s nothing more devastating than opening your travel bag and realizing your expensive shampoo leaked all over your precious personal belongings. Stop spills in their tracks by placing liquids in leakproof containers—even a Ziploc bag will do the trick in a pinch! And if you’re traveling with important documents, make sure they’re sealed up tight somewhere, just in case any substances make their way into your bag.
Assume your bag will go through the wringer
Sorry to tell you, but the baggage handlers at the airport don’t care how much you spent on your swanky luggage set. You never know where your suitcase is going to end up or how much it’s going to get thrown around after you leave it at the check-in desk, so you’re going to want to pack accordingly. Use bubble wrap and extra clothes to give breakables a buffer, and try to keep them contained just in case they do break, so you don’t have sharp pieces floating around.
Keep essentials close to your chest
If there are any items you don’t want to part with at any point during your travel journey—medications, passports, cash, priceless jewelry—put it in a crossbody bag and wear it across your chest. Even your carry-on has to go in the overhead bin eventually, but a slim sling can stay on even while you sleep.
Keep multiples to a minimum
Are you really going to wear three pairs of white sneakers or eight gold necklaces on your trip? Be mindful about packing multiples of the same type of item, and you can save so much space in your suitcase.
Plan full outfits ahead of time
Some people suggest packing in a color scheme, or with a certain bottoms-to-tops ratio, but I firmly believe that you should be planning all of your outfits head-to-toe before your trip, then laying them out and taking pictures of them for easy reference. It helps cut back on unnecessary clothing items, keeps you looking put-together, and makes getting ready in the mornings so much easier when you’re away. This is a hill I will die on!
Wear your bulkiest pieces on the plane
A puffy parka or clunky pair of boots can take up a solid chunk of suitcase space. Take back square footage by wearing your bulky items to the airport—I like to swap my boots for slippers and use my coat as a blanket as soon as I get on the plane.
Leave room for souvenirs
Let’s be honest—you’re always going to end up taking more home than you brought to a destination. So don’t pack so much that you don’t have space for souvenirs! If you travel with an expandable suitcase (which I highly recommend), a good tip is to save the expanding feature until you’re on your way home, so you know you’re working with a couple of extra inches of space.
Actually unpack as soon as you get home
This one might seem obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people forget to unpack their suitcases when they get back from a trip, leaving dirty laundry, food, and other perishables cramped together for days on end. Just unpack it ASAP. You’ll feel better than you did.
