The Ultimate Packing Guide: How To Pack A Suitcase
Let me tell you right now how to pack a suitcase is no small feat, and it’s a learned life skill— it has taken us many trips to finally dial in our perfect packing equation. And since we’re usually bouncing between two completely different environments, we’ve got this down for any kind of trip—whether it’s a weekend getaway, a two-week adventure, or a month-long international stay.
If there’s one thing we’ve mastered, it’s how to pack a carry on suitcase for any trip length. We avoid checking a bag if we can, but regardless some starter must haves are a hardshell suitcase, packing cubes, and travel bottles for toiletries
Through our travels, we’ve learned that when we have our “things” with us (especially our go-to products), we feel settled—no matter where we land. Packing cubes help us stay organized, and the ones we swear by even include a toiletry bag and a cube for dirty clothes and shoes. But let me put you on to the real MVP: vacuum seal bags for shrinking down your cubes.
We travel with a lot of extra stuff—mockups for photoshoots, bulky jackets for colder destinations, and we always need more space for coming home with extra things—so vacuum bags save space. Even if you don’t need them at the start of your trip, its always nice to have one just in case. Just be warned—space isn’t the only thing we’re fighting here, weight limits are real, so a luggage scale is a must unless you’re cool with paying extra (slay).
How to Pack A Suitcase and Actually Make Everything Fit
When it comes to how to pack a carry on suitcase, the biggest mistake people make is overpacking. The trick is knowing exactly what to pack, what to roll, and what to wear on the plane.
- Start with a capsule wardrobe. A few key pieces that mix and match = more outfits with fewer clothes. Choose what you love and leave the rest
- Use packing cubes. These compress your clothes and keep everything in place.
- Vacuum seal bulky items. If you’re bringing jackets or sweaters, vacuum-seal them to save space.
- Roll your clothes instead of folding them. It actually makes a difference.
If you love Korean skincare, YesStyle and Stylevana sell almost every product in travel-size versions, so you don’t have to squeeze your full-sized faves into travel bottles.
Sleeping on Planes
I won’t lie—I have a prescription that helps me sleep and also calms my flying anxiety (talk to your doctor). But if I needed a physical product to knock me out don’t underestimate over-the-counter solutions—Olly melatonin gummies, and Dramamine original get the job done.
How to Pack A Suitcase Process
Carry-On Bag → This thing is legit. So much storage. Always with us.
Vacuum Storage Bags → We even have these for under-bed storage at home. They come with a tiny vacuum suction tool that takes up no space, so we pack it in our suitcase.
Packing Cubes → We pack everything into these first, then vacuum-seal them if we need more space.
Hair, Vitamins & The “I-Always-Forget” Essentials
Hair Tools: If you have short hair, this small but mighty straightener never leaves our travel bag.
Daily Vitamins: Great for staying consistent with your routine!
Period Protection: Nothing compares to the flex disc, iykyk
Whitening On-the-Go: The Guru Nanda whitening strips live in our travel bag. You will forget to whiten before a trip, so just keep them packed.
Brick Soap (Slept On!): One time we were traveling, assuming our hotel had shampoo and conditioner (they didn’t), and Whole Foods was the only option. I grabbed bar shampoo & conditioner, and it turned out to be a holy grail product I refuse to travel without now.
Flying & Hotel Must-Haves
Dry air struggle? Pack these:
- Elf Lip Mask
- Varuza Sheet Mask
- Glass Nail File → these are silent! I love that
- Magnesium Spray → Spray before bed for ultimate relaxation.
- Kinesiology Tape→ Helps Meg’s TMJ and is also a game-changer for mouth taping at night.
- Kodak Printer (Sticker Format!)→ Capture memories without taking up space in your bag.
- The Best Travel Blanket → For beach days, picnics, or just not wanting to sit directly on the ground at a park.
Final Takeaway
Packing doesn’t have to be chaotic, and once you have your essentials dialed in, it actually makes travel so much easier. These are the things we always bring—whether it’s four days, two weeks, or a month-long trip—and they’re the reason we feel at home anywhere in the world.
