Clothes take up the most space in travel luggage, so having a smart and efficient packing system can save space. The good old folding and stacking works, and it’s certainly better than roughly stuffing clothes in your luggage. But there are better and more space-efficient ways to organize clothes. 

A well packed suitcase lets you make maximum use of the available space and makes it easier to find anything you need easily. You may even find you don't need a bulky suitcase and can make do with something lighter and smaller. 

Whether you are going on an overnight trip or a week-long vacation, here’s a quick guide on how to pack clothes in your travel luggage. It includes space-saving tips and a breakdown of some of the best clothes packing systems you can use with the pros and cons of each.

Start by Planning What to Pack 

If you often just grab clothes and start packing them in your luggage, you are missing a crucial step - planning. Lack of planning leads to overpacking, forgetting important items or packing the wrong clothes. 

Start by researching what kind of clothes you need to pack. This will depend on what kind of trip you are taking (city, outdoors, beach etc.), the weather at your destination and how long you’ll be gone. 

Try to avoid overpacking. You don't need a different outfit for each day. You can make do with a couple of pants and a mix of tops to go with them. For longer trips, plan to do laundry so that you don't have to pack too many clothes. 

And if you don't want to do laundry, get one of Hercleon’s self-cleaning clothes. With active antimicrobial technology, these clothes eliminate odor-causing bacteria, ensuring clothes stay fresh even without washing. 

Use Packing Cubes for Better Organization

Good organization is essential when packing luggage. Otherwise, you will have to rummage through the suitcase everytime you want something. And one of the best ways to organize your luggage is using packing cubes. 

These let you pack similar items together. You can have underwear and socks in a small cube, t-shirts and tops in another, and pants and other larger items in a bigger cube. 

Using packing cubes not only makes it easier to find what you are looking for, it also protects your clothes from contact with other items like toiletries that could cause stains. Packing cubes also maximize space inside your luggage. 

Pros of Packing Cubes

• Great for organizing luggage. 
• Can save some space.
• Protects your clothes from spills and stains. 

Cons of Packing Cubes

• Not the most efficient way to pack clothes. 
• Packing cubes are an extra investment. 

The Bundling Method Prevents Wrinkles and Saves Space

Regular folding and stacking often leads to wrinkled clothes. If you want to keep your clothes smooth and wrinkle-free while also saving space, try the bundling method. 

With the bundling method, you wrap clothes tightly into a bundle instead of folding them. Start with a soft core consisting of a t-shirt wrapped around your underwear and socks. Then wrap the rest of your clothes around this core. T-shirts and shorts should be at the center, followed by long-sleeved shirts then pants and jackets on the outside. 

Pros of Bundling

• Prevents wrinkles. 
• Clothes take up less space - you can use smaller luggage.

Cons of Bundling

• You have to undo the bundle everytime you want an item. 
• Can be tedious going through security. 

The Army Roll Method Saves the Most Space

If you want the most space efficient method, use the army roll technique, also called a ranger roll. You roll each item tightly so that it takes up very little space. So your luggage will be filled with rolls of clothes that can save up to half the space compared to folding and stacking. 

The army roll method is great if you want to travel with just a carry-on. You can fit a surprising number of clothes in a small suitcase. For better organization, you can roll clothes then put them in cubes. 

Pros of Rolling

• Saves the most space. 
• Great for light or carry-on only traveling. 
• Prevents wrinkles. 

Cons of Rolling

• Takes time to roll all your clothes. 
• If you are not careful, rolling can cause more wrinkles than folding.   

Compression Bags Are Great For Bulky Items

If you have any bulky items like a sleeping bag, a heavy coat, or if you are one of those people who travel with their own bedding, compression bags can help. 

A compression bag lets you compress bulky items into much smaller sizes so that they take up less space in your luggage. 

Pros of Compression Bags

• Great for bulky items.
• They save lots of space. 

Cons of Compression Bags

• Can cause wrinkling - only suitable for things that don't wrinkle or which you don't mind getting wrinkled.

If You Prefer Stacking, Do It Smartly 

Okay, fine. You love the old fashioned way of packing — folding and stacking. At least make sure you do it right. Here are some tips. 

• Put bulky items like coats and jeans at the bottom. 
• Put tailored clothing or anything you don't want to get wrinkled at the top where there will be less pressure on it. 
• Learn to fold individual items like shirts and pants in a way that reduces wrinkles. Like how shirts are neatly folded at the store. 
• To save space and improve organization, you can put the folded clothes in cubes.