If there's one thing that can derail a trip fast, it's overpacking. An overstuffed bag doesn't just slow you down on multiple-stop trips, but it can be costly if your checked bags go over the weight limit at the airport. It's also just plain annoying when you realize you brought too many dresses or shoes you won't end up wearing on your trip, or waste precious vacation minutes rifling through your bags for items you do want to wear. In fact, overpacking is such a travel no no, it's Rick Steves' number one travel tip.
There are countless videos online that share various packing techniques to fit more items into precious carry-on space. You can use packing cubes (Meghan Markle's a fan!) or just fold items neatly to maximize square inches in your luggage.
But maybe an even more important thing to think about when assessing the room in your luggage is what you're bringing to begin with. Rather than trying to squeeze everything in, taking time to strategize the essential wardrobe, shoes, toiletries and accessories you'll really need can be the most important packing step you take. Here's how one creator's figured out the best way to do it.
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Content creator @amira_rajab recently shared a system she's developed as a "certified overpacker" with her 100,000 followers on TikTok. Call it the Marie Kondo approach to packing. "I feel like I've had to pack a suitcase quite a bit the past few months, and as somebody who severely overpacks, I'm gonna show you how I pack my suitcase," she says.
The first step, she says, is to allow yourself a packing wish list. "Step one, I do laundry, and then I set out all of the outfits I potentially want to bring. I set out all of my nice clothes, all of my fitness clothes, cause I am gonna be training while I'm gone. Then I literally grab one pair of fitness clothes, one nice outfit."
Then, it's about seeing which items spark the most joy—that's how you know what makes the cut. "First choices will go in the suitcase, and then I fill it up until it just barely closes. So that way, all of my first choices of outfits are in the suitcase, and anything that doesn't fit, I didn't want that bad."
Overall, her prioritization approach has always worked out. "On this side, I'll do shoes and toiletries and, like, purses and stuff. And then I always end up packing exactly what I want, and it always works out. But I never forget anything, and I always have the outfits I want. I've never had any issues. It always works out great. Try this method and let me know if it works for you."
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More Hacks to Limit Overpacking
On longer trips, this method can admittedly be more difficult. On a recent 7-day cruise, for example, I attempted to pack a single carry on, but with day-time excursions in different climates, at sea days with spa, pool and fitness plans and formal nights, it was tough to narrow items down to only what fit, so I went with a larger checked bag instead.
Still, by using packing cubes (the same Quince ones Meghan Markle's a fan of), I was able to pack like items together, cutting down on precious "air" space, and stick to only what space allowed. The packing cube method is incredibly popular online, and is already a great first step, but travel creators have gone a step further to explain how pairing them with the right folding techniques can add even more space.
In another TikTok video, Rilee Smith (@rileejsmith), shows three possible methods of packing and one is the clear winner. Out of the three: "sardine-style" folding where you fold your clothes to fit your carry-on in one row, rolling up clothes to fit packing cubes and folding items so they lay perfectly flat in packing cubes, the latter approach nets the best results.
Beyond packing cubes, using a vacuum-sealed bag that comes with a portable vacuum pump may be the ultimate hack to fit the most amount in a small space. In a TikTok video that has close to 15 million views, content creator RhiRhi shares how she fit over three weeks of clothes and towels in a single small duffle carry-on bag using the device. While some questioned whether fitting that many pieces would lead to oversize bag charges, since it's a carry-on, it's likely no one would be weighing it to check.
And otherwise, just listen to Rick Steves, who recommends packing up everything you think you need in your bag and either walking around your house carrying it all with you for a while, or even going into town to carry it around for a few blocks—if it's too much, scale back. “You’ll never meet a traveler who brags: ‘Every year, I pack heavier.’”
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