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How do you pack? Rolls or Flat?
Hey everyone!
Was wondering if there's any correlation between how much you fly and how you pack your bags. I couldn't find a way of posting a poll, so I'll keep track of this thread and post edits as we get more votes. I'll just ask you to reply in this format to make things easier for me: [usual number of miles butt in seat per year] / [packing preference]. e.g.: 120k / rolls. |
80k/half roll, half flat, never check bags.
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Does the roll thing actually work for anyone? I’ve tried and my shirts still end up creased. Top tip for me isn’t rolling, it’s wetting your shirt and drying it with a hairdryer (if you don’t have an iron). |
Depends on the bag.
Double clamshell soft-sided carry-on (yes, I'm retro): flat, and strapped down with the internal straps. Top or end loading duffel (usually used for sports things or field trips): rolls, usually with a second bag or divider to hold dirty clothes. 40K/both, depends on the bag and the trip |
Originally Posted by Scots_Al
(Post 29951468)
Does the roll thing actually work for anyone? I’ve tried and my shirts still end up creased. Top tip for me isn’t rolling, it’s wetting your shirt and drying it with a hairdryer (if you don’t have an iron). I purchased "magic fiber" polo shirts in Shanghai that will not crease when rolled for travel. |
100K - flat, with shirts/jackets in dry cleaning plastic bags/wraps, folded in thirds in a valet bag, placed on top of the other items in my carry-on.
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Packing
It depends on the garments, but I roll small items and bundle larger, and always use packing cubes.
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Oops I think I might have misread the title I thought it was about shipping cars the "L" looked like an I
carry on |
Originally Posted by Scots_Al
(Post 29951468)
Does the roll thing actually work for anyone? I’ve tried and my shirts still end up creased. Top tip for me isn’t rolling, it’s wetting your shirt and drying it with a hairdryer (if you don’t have an iron). |
175k/flat for suits and trousers as well as shirts (in plastic with laundry's cardboard still in except around collar); everything else rolled.
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50k/rolls, carry-on only (since I don't like waiting or paying for the airlines to lose my luggage!).
Only exception to that rule are:
Safe Travels, James |
60k, half flats half rolls. Hard shell int'l rollaboard + messenger bag. For weekend trips, just a weekender duffle and doesn't really matter too much how it goes in.
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75k - 100k / half and half. Carry-on (22'' rollerboard) only for work unless I'm trying to bring back alcohol (e.g., Japanese Whisky, Australian wine, etc.).
Carry-on rollerboard has garmet section for 1 suit + 2-4 shirts which I iron when I get to my hotel (unless going to multiple cities in which case I only iron the specific shirt for that city). Roll my gym clothes and fold the rest (jeans, khakis, polos, khaki shorts if applicable). |
50 and flat
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Frequent flyer for more than 10 years. I've went from no clue, to rolling everything, to throwing everything in the bag at the last minute. I range from 60 flights to 140 flights per year, and now I simply hate packing until I have to.
The one thing I do is find clothes that are less prone to wrinkling, and are iron friendly. Second is waiting until the last minute to pack, and hanging everything in the hotel the minute I arrive. |
I roll my shirts and exercise clothes; fold my trousers and business jacket. Travel recently about 60,000 miles/year. Previously as high as 160k.
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~300K / year almost all TPAC
Generic routine is 6 nights/5 working days M-F. I have 4 pairs of slacks, sportcoat, 5 shirts, and clean socks/undewear for the everyday, a couple pair of shorts/tops and my plane wear that I hand wash for the return trip. All fit into a BR rollerboard ( avoid check-in at all cost ) Shirts/Slacks/jacket all folded and then socks/undwear are rolled into the open spaces as needed. Winter is more challenging than summer as I also pack all longsleeves and two sweaters that get rotated. I usually stuff gloves/headbeanie in my overcoat which I carry and wear my second underlayer fleece onto the airplane during winter. Depending on mood will iron and but mostly let the shirts hang and almost wrinkle free, LOL |
70k/just randomly toss everything in the bag. Life is too short to pack :D
On a more serious note probably both. More flats though. |
~200K.
My International size Tumi carry-on is split into two halves - one flat with with a cover, the other looser and with indents for the handle. Anything which creases goes folded in the flat half - Shirts, dress trousers, polo shirts whatever. Anything else gets rolled up in the other half along with shoes and toiletries (underpants, socks, shorts, casual clothes incl. gym kit, etc.). |
150K fold shirts, roll shorts, packing takes me 5 minutes (have not checked a bag in 9 years)
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Both, just depending on what I'm packing or sometimes, just what I feel like doing, to be honest. I haven't found a huge difference either way in how clothes turn out. The type of material seems to help more as others have noted.
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Originally Posted by JumboJet
(Post 29952720)
50 and flat
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Thanks for all the responses, guys. Seems like more than anything else, it's a mix of both techniques. So this is a bit of a moot point.
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Flat.
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Flat, in packing folders, but roll undies/socks as makes it easier to pull just one out of the cube. My suitcase looks like an ad for Eagle Creek packing cubes/folders!
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26K / both My carry on bag is predominantly for medication, electricals, tickets, travel pillow and toiletries needed on the trip, plus a spare t shirt, and some socks and underwear to get me through an overnight stay if I’m delayed. The rest goes in checked luggage. At the wheel end, heavy toiletries in bags so the luggage isn’t top heavy when upright. Boots/shoes packed as compact as I can, preferably wearing the bulkiest. The bottom layer is completed by socks and underwear tightly packed in soft round makeup bags. That about fills the bag, so this is where you get creative. Roll shirts, gym clothes etc and thin pants and pack around the footwear and other items. Then in one layer over the top. Finally, jeans/trousers and jackets, laid flat and spread across the width and length. And start a couple of days out so you know if you’ve got too much and have to be ruthless about what to take out. And investing in a luggage weight is worth it, to avoid unpleasant surprises at the airport. Hint: unless you’re desperate, don’t remove the toiletries. Not only might you not be able to replace them easily at the other end, but in taking them on a holiday, you create room in your bag as you use them - room for souvenirs or other purchases. And if need be you can just leave them behind. Some hotels even leave signs asking you to - they donate them. |
70k/packing cubes
Packing cubes changed my life!!! I started using them a few years ago, and cannot believe the difference they make. Depending on the trip I use them in different ways - e.g. for a tour of india a couple of years ago, I had a packing cube per day, with the whole outfit (except shoes) in an individual cube, which meant I only had to unpack 2 cubes at each destination (one with my PJs and washbag in, the other with the following day's clothes) which made things far more organized than I usually am when I only stay a night or two at a location. For trips where I am staying in the same room, I pack by garment type - have a cube for tops, a cube for undies, a cube for skirts etc. so when unpacking I just put the entire cube on a shelf or in a drawer. I also take a laundry hamper with me when staying in the same hotel (use bags if moving around), as I find that helps keep the clean and dirty things more easily corralled. If I am travelling with long or formal dresses, I have an oversize packing cube that fits in the 'lid' section of my suitcase. I put the dresses on hangers, then in to the cube, and lift them out on to the rail when I arrive. Within the cubes themselves, tops I pack flat, skirts I roll, and dresses I use the bundle method. |
I've rolled and folded and it seems that there is a slight benefit to rolling. I haven't checked a bag in 15 years and usually iron if possible to try to hair dry the wrinkles out.
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I roll when I want to increase volume. I fold when I want to avoid wrinkles. I usually have a bit of both. Boxer briefs are always rolled because it doesn't matter if they are wrinkled. Pants tend to do better rolled than folded. But shirts usually get folded.
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125k/rolls and flat
checking-in baggage or carry-on only depends on the destination. Also, funny story: doing rolls and flat, I once managed to cram 20kg of luggage into a 21' Globe-Trotter carry-on trolley case. I was being cheap and did HBO on BA :p |
100k / both. Roll roll things like undershirts and running clothes. Fold for button-down shirts and pants.
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25K, some years a lot more / mostly flat in packing cubes (roll socks)
That bundle packing diagram? That's OK for a trip where you unpack once, but terrible for the way I travel, one week to 2 months with longer trips staying one week in a few places and 3-4 days in most stops. I've fully embraced packing cubes, especially the Eagle Creek Specter Tech compression cubes. As mentioned above, one can pack day-by-day in each cube for a shorter trip and by categories (pants, tops, etc.) for others. Another big advantage of packing cubes is at the end of a trip I can compress dirty clothes in the cubes, just wash clothing and the cubes when necessary. I've finally worked out how to travel carry-on only for long trips, even in winter. Liberating to say the least. |
I roll my cloths unless im going on an extended trip in which case I throw everything in a vacuum bag, those things have been a life saver when trying to conserve space.
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50-100k+/year, carryon only travel (I prefer to sleep instead of waiting for my cheched bags to come out). Used to do bundle packing, but got tired to undo and re-do the whole bundle at each hotel/night on multi-hotel trips, so do flat folding these days as it is easier to pick individual items as needed.
I consciously am trying to minimize the time for repeated actions every night/morning and pack things in zip lock bags sorted suitably. Setting up or packing takes only a minute or two and everything is charging and toothbrush/paste ready to use, or back in the bag. Some preparation and planning at home really makes it easier when on the road, which is tiring enough anyway. |
50k flat/bundle, carryon unless taking sporting equipment |
Originally Posted by DragonSoul
(Post 29957229)
Flat, in packing folders, but roll undies/socks as makes it easier to pull just one out of the cube. My suitcase looks like an ad for Eagle Creek packing cubes/folders!
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Dianne47: Yes, it took me just *one* attempt at bundling to think "This is too much trouble". I want to be able to take out one clean shirt without having to repack everything. I just can't see that expertise will ever make it a quick packing method. And also, I have a rule that the less you unpack the less likely you are to leave anything behind. Not possible with that method.
wg |
Everything flat, except socks, T-shirts and swimwear
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