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Did you know you don’t need to pack a straightener AND a curling iron? Or you don’t need to pack pajama pants AND leggings? There are multiple ways to use one item, which saves space in your carry-on. Here are simple space saving packing hacks!
How to Save Space in a Suitcase
Written by: Nina Thomas
Table Of Contents
Packing Organizers
Every traveler’s favorite luggage organizer is the packing cube! Coming in a wide variety of sizes and colors, travel packing cubes are mesh and fabric containers that organize your luggage allowing you to pack efficiently.
Watch this video and learn how to use packing cubes for carry-on travel
Follow this video tutorial to learn how to pack your belongings using packing cubes and save valuable space (think souvenir shopping).
Packing cubes are deemed the ultimate packing organizers. They allow you to maximize the space in your bag, even squeezing in none practical items such as bulky coats and leather items. They can also be used to store electronics and other fiddly bits such as power chords and cables. Similar items, such as underwear/ t-shirts/dirty laundry, can be packed together, meaning they can be easily found without much rummaging.
TFG’s favorite are these packing cubes from Compass Rose. They are our own brand!
Travel Flat Iron 2-in-1 Mini Hair Straightener
Hair Appliances
Flat or untamed hair can make or break a beautiful photograph of you on your dream trip. Knowing this, you may feel you need to bring a curling iron, a straightener, and a hairdryer. The truth is, you could live with just one.
You can use your straightener to curl your hair, or your curling iron to straighten your hair. A simple YouTube video search comes up with multiple instructional videos on how to use either one of these techniques if you’ve never tried this.
Lastly, you can just bring a hair-dryer and a brush and either blow straight or curl your hair. Instead of bringing all three, spend some time experimenting with your hair before you leave, and choose one item to bring. If you choose the hair dryer, you could even contact your hotels, bed and breakfasts, and hostels ahead of time and see if they have a hairdryer you can use. If that’s the case, you won’t have to bring any!
Shop more 2-in-1 straighteners: Amazon
Check out our ultimate guide to hair while traveling!
Use a Travel Adapter
Downsize your chargers. Use one of these universal travel adapters so you can use one item to fit your plugs in any outlet around the world. As a bonus, it also has dual USB ports and a surge protector, too. It doesn’t get any better than that!
Read this easy guide on voltage converters vs travel adapters for a simplified explanation!
Zella Live In High Waist Leggings
Leggings
Leggings are great because they are easy to roll up into your packing cube, they’re lightweight, they’re comfortable and extremely versatile. You can wear your leggings with boots and a button-up, or you can wear them to keep your legs nice and cozy under a dress if you’re in colder temperatures.
Not only can you wear them during the day, but they’re comfortable enough to be your pajama pants and flexible enough to be your workout pants while you’re on vacation.
Shop more leggings: Amazon | Nordstrom
Take a look at the best leggings for women who travel!
A Cardigan
A button-up crew-neck cardigan is perfect for wearing over a dress or with a t-shirt in jeans. It’s lightweight and easy to fold up and put in a handbag. Not only is it easily portable, but easily convertible. Button it up all the way and you have yourself a long-sleeve shirt that can work as is or for layering under a coat or even under another sweater.
Shop more cardigans: Nordstrom | Amazon
Take a look at these cardigan outfit ideas for your next trip!
A Clutch
It’s nice to have a little bag to carry with you when you go out at night, but you may not have the space to carry an additional purse with you. Consider using a clutch as your toiletries bag. Just purchase a disposable quart-sized bag, pop it in the clutch, and you’ve got yourself a multi-use bag.
Shop more clutches: Amazon | Nordstrom
Here are a few more ideas for the best travel purses!
A Maxi Dress
The maxi dress truly has many uses. Not just a maxi dress, but any longer cotton dress can be used in multiple ways. It’s a comfortable airport outfit, seeing as how it’s like a giant blanket. It can also be used as a beach cover-up, a nightgown, or can even be converted into a shorter dress. By folding it up under your waist and securing it with a belt, you have yourself a cute bubble-style dress. A versatile addition to your travel capsule wardrobe.
Shop more maxi dresses: Amazon | Nordstrom
Pair it with one of these stylish dress sandals!
What are your best space saving packing hacks? Comment below!
For more packing tips, please read:
- 60 Travel Packing Tips from the Experts
- 75 Packing Tips that Will Make Your Travels So Much Easier
- How to Avoid Pickpockets while Traveling: My Top 10 Tried and Tested Tips
- Ultimate Jewelry Packing List: Reader Tips, Travel Jewelry Cases
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Hope you liked these space saving packing hacks. Please share it with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. Thanks for reading!
Author Bio: A travel lover and freelance writer from the United States Midwest. Traveling mostly as a couple with her husband, she is constantly looking for a beautiful view and a good adventure. Some of her travel highlights include horseback riding in the Ecuadorian Andes, hiking on top of Mount Etna in Sicily, and sheep-gazing in the Cotswolds. Her favorite travel tips are “do as the locals do” and purchase packing cubes. For more practical travel tips and ideas from a Central Ohio Girl, check out her website:travelingwithnina.com or follow her on Twitter.
Alex, great blog. I am going to Ireland soon and have downsized from a 22″ carry-on to 20″. This is more challenging but I know is can do it. I have been traveling w/just a carry-on since 1998. I will be gone 3 weeks with 2weeks in Ireland & 1 in London. Your tips have been very helpful, learning new items to use for packing. Btw, LOVE the slim packing cubes. Thanks
I finally did it .I managed to travel to Mexico for two weeks with carry on . I used KonMari ” folding system and was able to see everything I packed in my top loaded packing cubes and fit more than I could believe in my suitcase.
🙂 Yay Fara this makes me so happy! Well done!
This article is very helpful! I am packing for a long weekend in Miami and I need to be able to pack light! Thanks for the helpful tips and ideas!!
Hi Kasey! I’m glad you found it helpful 🙂 Have a great trip!