Christmas is coming and alongside it, the winter holidays. If you’re travelling this festive season you’re probably staring down the familiar problem of trying to cram all your winter jumpers and coats into a tiny carry-on bag.
Luckily for you, experts have revealed several tips and tricks to fit more into your bags this Christmas.
Mike Harvey, Managing Director at 1st Move International removals, has revealed his best hacks for packing as much in as possible.
The first one is to use vacuum seal bags for bulky items. This is a hack I have used myself when I moved from New Zealand to England and had to fit my entire life into one bag and I can vouch for it.
I bought a pack of two vacuum seal bags from a local homewares shop and managed to cram three large heavy winter coats as well as several pairs of trousers, jumpers, scarves and all of my summer clothes into a single suitcase.
It’s worth noting that although you will be able to fit more items in, the weight limits still apply, so make sure you’re weighing your bag. Although, if you were to do this hack for a carry-on bag – which is less likely to be weighed – you might not get charged extra.
If you plan to use this hack for a carry-on bag, make sure the vacuum seal bags you purchase include a hand pump so that you can reseal and repack them at the end of your break with no stress.
There are a few more tips that Harvey has up his sleeves including a packaging method inspired by the queen of organisation Marie Kondo.
The KonMari method involves folding clothes into compact rectangles that can stand upright in your suitcase, which is especially useful for chunky sweaters and layers. Fold each sweater by bringing one side toward the centre, folding the sleeve in and repeating on the other side to create a compact rectangle. Then fold it in half or thirds and stand it upright. This method saves space, keeps items accessible and prevents your suitcase from getting disorganised.
When it comes to keeping things organised, it’s worth investing in accessory organisers for your jewellery and electronics to avoid things getting tangled or lost.