Packing is difficult. Aside from the stress of what to bring in the first place, who among us hasn't had to sit on top of our case and rope in someone to help squeeze the zipper closed? Or reached baggage check only to be hit with an eye-watering extra charge? Or end up flapping about about at security desperately trying to unpack and repack an unruly case at speed?
Fortunately, there are many top travel brands who have heard our concerns and created some clever packing hacks to make life easier at home, at the gate and when you've reached your destination. Here are four key packing mishaps travellers make in which there's room to improve the experience – and the buys to invest in to make it as seamless as can be.
1. Not being organised
By far, one of our favourite travel hacks at Conde Nast Traveller is using packing cubes. These clever buys help keep things neat and tidy in your case and, often allow you to squeeze more in as well. You can use one for clothes, one for shoes and one for delicates, for example, or pack separate outfits for each day in each. They also help you keep dirty laundry from mingling with your fresh clothes; earmark one large cube for used garments once it's emptied. Alternatively, invest in a separate laundry bag – there are lots of inexpensive options on Amazon. Slinging a travel steamer into your bag can also help refresh clothes and banish any mustiness.
Another easy way to ensure an easy travel experience is to invest in an in-flight bag with a luggage sleeve. This way you can slot it over your suitcase's handle, saving your back from the inevitable aches associated with toting about a stuffed-to-the-brim bag. No sleeve? No problem – a bungee strap or travel belt will furnish your beloved old weekender or vanity case with a trolley sleeve in seconds. Some even have mini bags attached for your passports and travel documents. We also like this Go Travel carry strap, which clips around your suitcase, backpack or tote bag straps, giving you space to keep your coat hands-free.
2. Not prioritising security
Your belongings are precious cargo, and a few little tweaks can make all the difference in keeping them as safe as possible, especially if you're checking a bag in the hold. Sadly, the latest Air Consumer Travel Report from the Department of Transportation shows that nearly 238,000 bags were mishandled in May 2023, up about 45 per cent from the same period the previous year. There's not much you can do to stop this from happening – other than flying hand luggage only – but keeping a luggage tracker in your case can help you zero in on its exact location quickly, so you can be reunited as swiftly as possible.
Similarly, a luggage strap adds an additional layer of protection against theft, which is especially handy if yours doesn't have a built-in lock. Alternatively, you can manually lock your case with a padlock. We like this Groov-e smart lock, which uses fingerprint technology, with a memory for up to 10 fingerprints. Of course, investing in a suitcase with a TSA-approved lock is a good place to start.
3. Overpacking
It's easy to overpack, especially if you're an anxious flyer prone to throwing in those last-minute just-in-case items. But nobody wants to be hit with an excess baggage fee in the airport. There are plenty of inexpensive digital luggage scales available so you can gauge if your case is over the limit, giving you the chance to repack accordingly before being slapped with an extra charge. The Mopro option below is our choice.
For the determined, there are ways to maximise the amount you can squeeze into a case should you have the extra weight available. Namely, our secret packing weapon: compression packing cubes. These have an extra zip that closes after you've filled each cube, which helps fit clothes in as tightly as possible and squeezes out additional air. They're especially useful for hand luggage-only travellers and those heading off with just a backpack. I have a set of these Monos cubes, which are lovely quality and, practicality aside, look aesthetically pleasing in situ as well.
4. Making life difficult for yourself in the airport
We're waiting patiently for changes to security to make life easier but, for now, we're still beholden to the 100ml liquids rule. This inevitably means a bit of a scramble at security while we decant our items into the trays. But there are ways to lessen this tedium – and using the right bag is key.
Many of the best suitcases we've found have external pockets where you can store your laptop and liquids, so you can avoid opening your case at the conveyor belt and dashing everything, resulting in an all-around zippier experience. A tote with a wide opening does a similar job. We like July's sellout tote for whizzing through security, thanks to the easy-access laptop sleeve and multiple inner pockets allowing for maximum grab-and-go efficiency.
Further, decanting liquids into airline-approved sized containers means you'll never have to say goodbye to your expensive face wash – there's always one agent who won't accept the argument that the bottle isn't full – and many now are squeezable rather than solid, so you won't lose a single precious drop. It also means you know they'll fit comfortably into the little plastic bag. A travel wallet is another great buy, ensuring you keep all your travel documents safely together in one easy-access place, avoiding the frenzied patting down of pockets that can so often occur as you head to the gate.
This story originally appeared on Conde Nast Traveller.
