The Right Way To Pack a Suitcase

Whether you’re a chronic overpacker worrying about making weight in your checked bag, or the person that is always forgetting their flip-flops for vacation, packing for any trip can be stressful. Don’t let the stress of packing get in the way of your excitement to travel.

Trying not to overpack on your next trip? Follow these steps.

Packing can be overwhelming especially as an overpacker. With a checked bag, carry-on, and personal item, you’re bogged down by so many items that you will probably never even touch during your trip!

By using this packing system, you’ll be on your way to less headaches and less baggage.

CARRY-ON ONLY

The best way to save time and money is by cutting down to a carry-on only. No more luggage fees and will save you time at the airport! Not only is it efficient, but it also saves you from dragging around heavy luggage during your travels. You’ll have more flexibility and less worries. Say goodbye to missing luggage!

TIP: Wait to pick out your suitcase until AFTER you’ve decided what you’re bringing. If you start with a big bag, you’re going to fill it up.

NEEDING A CHECKED BAG?

Whether you’re going on a long trip or if you’re bringing larger items with you, you may need to still to the checked bag way. That’s okay! We can still help to keep you organized and packing only what you need with the Tripped Packing System.

READY TO PACK?

The first step is to erase your mind of all the things you thought you knew about packing. Bad habits are out the door!

Next, start by by pulling from your closet and drawers everything you’ll need for your favorite day of the trip, your most important day of the trip, and your travel day. We’ll explain what each day entails below.

It’s cherry blossom season! Let’s pack for a week long trip to Japan.

a. Favorite Day in Japan

Mount Fuji is beautiful this time of year and you can’t wait to walk around and take photos.

This day may look something like:

Breakfast and tea in Hakone

Taking photos around the gardens and a light hike
Picnic lunch under the cherry trees
Ride the cable car in the Ōwakudani Volcanic Valley
Dinner and a mochi dessert before bed

Sign me up! That sounds like a perfect day.

Start to pull items from your closet that would work for this day.

REMEMBER: Not every part of your day means an entirely new outfit. Add to what you start with.

Let’s break down your favorite day:

Tea Time - A long sleeve shirt and your favorite jeans to start the day. It’s chilly in the mornings so add a jacket! Don’t forget good walking shoes.

Sightseeing - No outfits change here, you’re comfortable with what you started your morning in. It’s sunny out now though and you need your sunglasses and your camera for taking photos.
You might need to ditch the jacket as it warms up. Need something to tote around your items with? The foldable, portable Tripped Travel Gear Daypack is a day trip’s bestfriend.

Picnic - The day warmed up and you change into a T-shirt. Items like a speaker and your favorite hat are added to your daypack.

Cable Car Tour - No new outfit!

Dinner and Dessert - A nice pair of trousers and a button up make an appearance for the evening. Do you still want to be in walking shoes? Add in a change of shoes if not.

Bed Time - Do you want to wear the same pajamas you woke up in? If not, add another pair here.

b. M.I.D Most Important Day

The Most Important Day of your trip is maybe the reason you’re traveling to Japan in the first place! Is it for a wedding? A conference? Maybe just to travel!

In this case, you’re traveling to Japan to ski at Lotte Arai Resort. You’ll need to pull:

Items for Skiing - Base layers and all of your gear. Are your renting everything? No need to pack. Bringing your favorite ski jacket? Toss it in.

Bathing suit - Après ski hot-tub? Yes please.
Pre and Post Outfits - What do you want to toss on for your trip back to your hotel?

ADD YOUR EXTRAS

You’ve had quite the couple of days in Japan. As you pack your clothing, be sure to add all of the accessories and extra items you’ll need in each step as well.

Shoes for each outfit

Do you h

Underwear for each outfit

There is always going to be the packer that finds 35 pairs of underwear for a weeklong trip, a comfortable number. While that might be overkill, make sure that you are packing the underwear you want for each specific day/outfit. Not every pair works with certain pants or activities. Save yourself the discomfort and pack with this in mind.

Accessories for each outfit and activity

Your wardrobe is more than just tops and bottoms. Be sure to pack the tote you want to bring with you to the market or the sunhat you just bought for the beach. Jewelry, hair accessories, sunglasses, and bags apply to this step as well!

Toiletries for your day

Begin with the products you use the moment you wake up to the last product you use before going to bed. While many everyday items are available to purchase at most destinations, it always feels good to be prepared and have familiar items. All body, face, and hair care products would be added here. Don’t forget sunscreen!

**ASK THE IMPORTANT QUESTIONS**

It’s time to take a look at what you’ve laid out thus far and ask yourself these questions:
Do I need to add anything for my most important day?
Are there new shoes or accessories that need to be added for this day?
Do I need to add any toiletries?

c. Travel Day

Packing for your travel day shouldn’t be an afterthought. Aside from your Most Important Day, a couple of your biggest days are your travel days. It is important to plan for these days so that you are comfortable and prepared.

Tip: To keep from overpacking, pull items for your travel day from clothing you have already set to pack.

The tank top that you had set out to wear on your Most Important Day hike and the leggings you have for yoga in the morning on your Favorite Day would be a perfect travel outfit base. Don’t forget underwear!

Travel Outfit Hacks

Wearing your bulkiest items on the plane is a great way to save space in your bags. Toss on the jacket you have set out and your hiking boots or tennis shoes to save space in your luggage.

Personal Item

Your travel day is more than just clothing! Pick a personal item to pack in that is versatile. Maybe you can reuse this bag as a beach bag or tote for the market. No need to pack a separate bag just for your travel day. The Tripped Travel Gear Daypack is a great lightweight option that is foldable and packable to save space when not in use!

Important Travel Documents

Before packing up, be sure you have all of your visas, passports, medications, electronics, and chargers ready for your travel day.

Trust the process. Take a breath. You have already packed with abundance!

When packing in a carry-on only, it is easy to get that feeling of leaving things behind that you may want with you.

REMEMBER

You’ve already packed for your Favorite Day, your Most Important Day, and your travel day. The essentials are already there!

a. The What If’s

To help ease that panic of “what if it rains?” or “what if it’s chilly at night?” when packing for your destination, begin to grab your items that satisfy those worries.

This may be an umbrella or a cozy sweatshirt that you always reach for when you’re home.

Preparing for the Unexpected Without Overpacking

It’s okay to toss in items that will help you feel comfortable during this process! Maybe another outfit for if you choose to ditch the beach for the city or a couple of pairs of underwear because you never know…

Looking at the pile of clothing in front of you may seem daunting, but not to worry. We also have a system to help get your pulled items packed away. Make a clean space like a made bed or an area on the floor to lay out all of your items.

Informal to Formal - Starting left to right, lay out your clothes from informal to formal in a row.

Top to Bottom - Lay your tops in a row from informal to formal at the top of your space. Your bottoms will go underneath your tops also laid now left to right, informal to formal

Shoes - Lay out the coordinating shoes also from least formal to formal at the very bottom of your space.

TIP: Laying your items this way will help you see exactly what you are planning to pack.

**Ask yourself these questions:**

Are you proud of what you’ve pulled?
What is the smallest bag you can pack these items in?
Do you feel abundant and prepared?

a. Compression Cubes are a MUST

No matter how well you strategically planned to start your packing, if you’re not packing with compression cubes, all of your hard work will be lost the minute you begin to rummage around your suitcase.

Compression cubes not only help you save space when you’re packing carry-on only, they also help you to stay organized!

Two Methods of Compression Cube Packing

Packing by Item Type

One way to pack using compression cubes is by putting all of your similar items into one cube. This is a great way to pack when you are doing similar activities during your entire trip.

Ex: One small cube for shirts, one large cube for pants

Packing by Activity

Another way to pack in compression cubes is by packing by type of clothing needed for each event/activity you’ll be doing.

This type of packing is recommended for longer trips and for trips where you’ll be doing a variety of activities.

Ex: One small cube for hiking clothes, one large cube for city walking clothes.

b. Choosing the Right Luggage

Say good-bye to your old ways! The goal for this trip is to get you in a carry-on only (with a personal item). Are you planning on backpacking? Taking a small roller bag?

Based on the trip you are taking, decide what luggage will best suit your needs and that will give you the most flexibility during your trip. Have you ever tried taking a rolling suitcase down the streets of a rural beach town in Mexico? We don’t recommend it.

TIP: To keep your luggage from tipping over, your heaviest items need to be on the bottom of your bag. Start with your shoes then work up from your heaviest compression cubes to your lightest!

Keep your toiletries on top so they’re easy to pull out while going through security.

When packing toiletries in a checked bag, most things are able to go with you as long as they’re going underneath the plane. When packing toiletries in a carry-on, there are a few more rules that apply.

3-1-1 TSA Toiletry Rule

If traveling from US based airports, the 3-1-1 TSA Toiletry Rule will have the largest impact one what toiletries you can bring with you.

The 3-1-1 TSA toiletry rules:

3- Each container of liquids must be 3oz or smaller

1- All liquids must be in 1 clear, quart sized bag

1- Only 1 clear, quart sized bag per passenger

The best way to fool-proof packing your toiletries? Try out the Tripped Travel Gear Toiletry Set that comes complete with a 3-1-1 TSA Approved clear bag!

Ditch the luggage fees! It’s time to save money and time by packing in a carry-on only.

Don’t believe us? Check out Crosby Grace packing in a carry-on only for her trip to Mexico using the Tripped Packing System!

The Right Way To Pack a Suitcase