Top 10 packing hacks that will change the way you travel in 2024

Travel packing is an art form, but unlike most art forms, you won't need to complete 10,000 hours of practice to master the skill.

In fact, packing hacks are typically quick to implement, and ultimately save you lots of time and effort in the long run.

Smart packing means avoiding shampoo or toiletries explosions, limiting surprise excess baggage fees and maximising suitcase space.

'Symptoms' of packing well can also include feeling organised, relaxed and a little smug throughout your travel journey.

And who doesn't want that?

By implementing clever packing hacks, it's also easier to make the most of living out of your suitcase on those trips where it's absolutely necessary.

Chances are if something does go awry on your holiday, knowing you've prepared can make a big difference to your experience, even if the impact is purely mental.

When I was a kid preparing for school camp, my father would insist I develop a packing list with him and tick off each item one by one. What felt a bit painstaking at the time has actually become an essential travel skill and habit - so thank you, Dad.

Writing up a packing list isn't rocket science, but it does require you to carefully consider what you need for your travels, what isn't necessary, what curveballs you may encounter and what you absolutely cannot live without.

Taking into account the length of the trip, the weather and the reason for your travel, you can write out a list of what you need to bring. If you are travelling for multi-climates (hot and cold) you can find plenty of expert hacks.

A good rule of thumb is an outfit for each day and packing versatile capsule clothing items that can be worn in different combinations. This gives you the sense of a taking a big wardrobe with you minus the bulk!

For example, a three-day trip should include:

If you want to feel extra organised, a designated travel notepad can help get you in a 'fresh slate' mind frame for packing.

However, if you need a bit of guidance about knowing what to pack and what to leave behind or struggle with starting the habit of writing a packing list, basic pre-filled checklists like a pre-filled checklist memo pad can help speed up the process.

Pre-filled pads like these also leave space to add your own custom entries for the things that are personal to you. These are also great tools for kids!

You'll want a bag that's going to help your travel experience, not hinder it.

For instance, if you're planning to use your luggage as a hiking pack for a 10-day walk along the Kungsleden in Sweden, you'll want a good quality, large (at least 50L or more) hiking pack that will carry the essentials.

You'll also want to find a bag that has all the right support features, so your trip is as comfortable as it can be, and so that you don't injure yourself.

For example, the Terra 65 from North Face, an adventure brand.

The Terra 65 comes in two sizes, the size of which you might choose will be dependent on the duration of your trip, your height and measurements, and what you can comfortably carry.

What I like about this one is that it takes support features seriously, and includes back panel, shoulder straps and hip panel to even a heavy load comfortably across your body.

Serious adventurers listen up, because the Terra 65 TNF also includes a trekking pole and ice axe carrier (just in case you happen to have one of these lying around!)

If you're travelling through major cities like Tokyo or New York City, it may be more practical to take a medium-sized hard cased bag on wheels, as you won't have to lift your bag and the terrain will generally be pretty flat.

Want something with wheels?

I've talked about the NEOS medium check in bag before, but I do like it because it's a good all-rounder bag that has all the basic features you might need for travel, like a lock, a durable and water-resistant shell and ample space for your belongings.

It's also pretty understated and stylish, if you like that kind of thing. And it feels premium, but without the hefty price tag.

As a side note, I think it helps to pick a carry-on that doubles as a bag for daily activities at your destination.

I tend to use a small backpack as carry on since I enjoy the practicality of having just enough space for daily essentials, as well as having my hands free when I'm touring a new city.

Should you need help deciphering what bag is right for you or for a particular holiday, here are some recommended check-in baggage options.

When choosing a bag, make sure you consider how long your trip is, what environment you will be in, what size and fit bag is right for you, and what extras you need for the journey.

The days of scrunching are over, because rolling and folding reigns supreme. But which is better, folding or rolling? Well, the answer is actually both!

On one hand, rolling is said help travellers save space in their bag because it compresses the clothing and also makes it easier to stack other items on top.

The rolling packing method also has the benefit of allowing the person packing their bag to actually see all (or most) items in situ, whereas folding usually means layers are less visible because of how they overlap.

However, the folding method is useful for fabrics and clothes that crease easily, as this can reduce the number of wrinkles in the garment.

Overall, the general rule of thumb is to role smaller or more delicate items, like shirts or dresses and fold bulkier items, like sweaters, as they don't roll as easily.

If you need some tips to improve on your folding method, you can take a cue from the tidying expert herself, Marie Kondo.

To help with rolling and folding, it can also be useful to use packing cubes. To be honest, I was surprised how popular these were, but I can see why they're appealing.

Packing cubes are essentially lightweight fabric bags that you can use to separate the contents of your luggage into manageable sections. For example, you may have a large packing cube for pants, a medium one for tops, and a small one for undies and socks.

The benefits of packing cubes are that help keep your clothes wrinkle-free (mostly), maximise space and organisation, and if you find a water-resistant packing cube, they can also protect belongings from spills or the elements.

ZoomLite offers a range of mix and match packing cubes in different sizes, so you can allocate different garments to different packing cubes.

If you want to pack smarter and be more organised, using packing cubes can be a good way to help you build on the discipline of categorising your belongings and consciously folding or rolling garments to maximise space.

A packing cube can also be used as a lightweight laundry bag alternative for when you want to separate dirty laundry from clean.

You may have also heard of compression cubes. These are slightly different to packing cubes, because they are made of sturdier material that allow you to squeeze the air out, saving even more space in your luggage.

In many ways, it helps to view packing cubes as an organisation tool, and compression cubes as a space-saving tool.

For instance, if you want to protect your garments from spills and wrinkles and wish to make it easier to live out of your suitcase, packing cubes will be useful. However, if you're interested in packing more for your trip and trying to find the room, compression cubes might a good option.

For those who tend to overpack because they can't quite work out what they need for the trip and want to be extra prepared, packing a travelling capsule wardrobe can be liberating.

If you're new to the phrase capsule wardrobe, it essentially refers to a minimalist collection of classic clothing that are versatile and multi-functional for many occasions.

The purpose of a capsule wardrobe is to make it easy to create different outfits using a few basic pieces, meaning you can both feel as if you are wearing something new each day, while also packing less.

Another benefit of a capsule wardrobe is that encourages people to limit impulse buying trend items and act more sustainably by shopping less frequently because they have found versatile products that get more wear.

While you probably already have items that could make up a travelling capsule wardrobe, such as a t-shirt, jeans, tailored trousers and a reliable shirt.

When in doubt, pack a classic white shirt. The white t-shirt is a capsule wardrobe staple, because it's versatile, fairly timeless and because it's understated so it can be paired with a wide range of pants, shorts or skirt combos.

Get the look with the heritage crew neck t-shirt from Tommy Hilfiger.

The regular fit basic crew tee from GAZMAN is another versatile option. Being 100 per cent cotton, it's soft and non-clingy, which is great for hot summers abroad.

T-shirts are also very easy to roll or fold and can add value to your trip, while taking up very little space in your suitcase.

Despite jeans going through many iterations in trending styles (some contemporaneously more popular than others), there's no denying that the appeal of jeans is unwavering.

The benefit of jeans is that they are pretty durable, easy to wash and convenient to throw on last-minute. They also come in a range of colours and styles to match different preferences or body shapes.

While white jeans are not as common as the classic denim blue, they're fairly neutral and versatile and can be dressed up or down for occasions. Struggling for ideas on how to style white jeans? Here are a few suggestions.

For those who prefer a classic denim and style, something like the Wrangler men's classics slim straight jean in the colour, double rinse is a safe bet.

A good shirt is an essential for travelling. The best shirt to include in your smart packing items is one that you love wearing, and preferably one that can work from day-to-night, so you can get the most out of their wear.

A smart traveller knows a linen shirt is a great choice for their capsule wardrobe on-the-go, including the Gazman men's pure french linen shirt and the Tommy Hilfiger women's linen oversized shirt.

This is because they're lightweight items that aren't likely to tip bag weight over the edge and because they can also help regulate body temperature on warm days, because of the air flow the fabric offers.

Bear in mind it's best to roll shirts (especially linen ones) when packing your luggage as this will prevent the shirt from wrinkling or requiring a steam.

Chances are you already have some great capsule wardrobe staples handy at home.

Other items I recommend including for your travels are a good coat or trench, a versatile jumper, sporty-casual trainers, tailored trousers, a few accessories to complete a day-to-night look and a good-sized bag that you can carry essentials as you tour new surrounds.

If you can travel with less than three pairs of shoes, you've already saved yourself a lot of luggage space!

However, if you're a chronic over-packer, putting a cap on the number of shoes you bring on holiday provides an easy solution to packing smarter, since shoes take up a lot of packing room and there's no easy way to compress them.

Instead of trying to pack for every outfit, find an interchangeable shoe that matches the occasion. For instance, it's a smart idea to pack a pair of proper walking or running shoes, a smart casual shoe and a dressy shoe for special events.

When sight-seeing and walking long distances abroad, it's helpful to have a comfortable shoe that can go that extra mile.

The Hoka Clifton 9 is a cult-favourite because it is an effective walking and/or running shoe that is both lightweight and plush (meaning it should feel super comfortable underfoot).

While it's a supportive shoe for walking, it's also very much designed for long runs as well.

While it takes a little bit of preparation, purchasing travel-sized toiletries or travel-sized containers (to fill with your favourite products) is an easy hack that will help you pack light.

Less product also means less chance of damage if your moisturiser or shampoo does happen to leak in your bag.

There are plenty of portable travel-sized containers available on Amazon which can be washed and reused, so it's not as bad for the planet.

The DEPOZA silicone travel bottle set includes four travel jars, spoons, spray bottle, funnel, cleaning brush, label and a transparent makeup bag.

This one stands out to me because it's made of silicone polymer which makes them squeezable and easy to wash, while the wide mouth design means it's easier to pour your shampoos and other liquids into the containers.

Another good one is this no-drip, neutral-toned set from Velooke.

If you'd prefer not to have to transfer your products into a new container, there are lots of cute mini versions of products, like the e.l.f.SKIN's mini hydration kit.

Or, if you want more of a range of products Fresh Beauty Co offers 4982 results under the search term "mini", so there's really plenty of popular brands to choose from.

Another great travel hack to maximise space in your bag is to find all-in-one toiletries, such as Dr Bronner's 18-in-1 pure castile soap, which can be used on your hands, as a shower gel, shampoo or cleaning product.

I've found the Dr Bronner's product is great when camping or backpacking, but while it can be used for multiple purposes, it won't necessarily do all jobs (like washing your face or hair) as well as you might like.

So, if you have a product that you can't live without while travelling, I recommend just finding or creating a mini version to cover you for the journey.

The biggest risks associated with transporting jewellery is that a) they'll get lost in your bag or elsewhere, b) they'll get stolen or c) they'll get tangled in a difficult knot.

The easiest way to have peace of mind when travelling with jewellery is to properly store and organise them in your bag in one central jewellery organiser or box.

The Benevolence LA travel jewellery box ticks the boxes for me because of its style and compact size but also its ability to store a range of jewellery items, including rings, bracelets, earrings and necklaces.

When travelling with expensive jewellery or jewellery with deep sentimental value, it's important to store it safely with you in carry-on to avoid your belongings being lost or stolen in transit.

I had to laugh when I packed my bag for a weekend away and saw that it was already at capacity with only my coat and a couple of socks inside.

When flying, the best thing to do to maximise space is to wear any bulky items like coats or boots with you on the plane so you can free up room for other important items and redistribute excess bag weight.

Carrying clothes that will keep you warm on your person also means you won't be surprised by the air con chill in the cabin. If it gets too hot, you can just take it off and stow it away in the baggage compartment.

Organisers for your electronics and cords, such as a Grid It, are a must.

What's a Grid It, you may ask?

It's basically a packing cube, but inside it contains woven elastic straps that help organise things like electronics, cables, plugs and headphones by firmly holding onto them.

A Grid It can be handy because when you need to find anything related to electronics, it can easily be found in the one pouch.

A benefit of the Grid It is that it's a multi-functional organisation tool that can be used to hold anything from camping tools like a compass and a whistle to hobby sets like paints and brushes.

Despite being a simple concept, these are highly rated among customers that have connected with the simple convenience of the product.

Having a first aid kit is a must for outdoor adventures, but it's also a smart idea to take one with you wherever you're travelling - just in case.

Thankfully, there are plenty of compact first aid kits available if you go looking for them, such as this lightweight one from Roobuck on Amazon. For its size, it packs a punch.

Another clever packing hack if you have certain medications or supplement you need to take or would like to have access to while away is to purchase a pill box like the one pictured above and divide pills into separate compartments.

This can help you stay organised, and avoid over-packing by including items that you won't use.

Preparing your own personalised first aid kit can also save you expenses interstate or overseas in the event you find yourself purchasing another packet of something you already have at home.

Personally, I've never done this before, but it's such a neat travel packing hack, especially on outdoor adventures, that I will definitely be trying it in future.

There are many great travel and packing hacks that you can use to stay more organised and maximise bag capacity on your next holiday.

Some methods are tried, tested and old, and some are more current, as travellers and manufacturers are considering how they can solve common pain points of packing (and travelling in general), and in doing so create convenient solutions that make a difference.

Most travel packing hacks that I've come across are relatively affordable, practical and easy-to-implement.

There will no doubt be a new product or a new idea for an innovative travel hack tomorrow, but for now, these are my top 10 travel packing hacks.

1. How can I pack more items in my suitcase?

Use packing cubes and compression cubes to maximise space, roll or fold garments, and wear bulky items in-flight to free up room in your luggage.

2. What are some space-saving packing hacks for toiletries?

Purchase re-usable, travel-sized containers and fill with your favourite products. Alternatively, use pre-packaged travel-sized products from your favourite brand. Work out what you need for the duration of your trip, and bring only what is necessary.

3. How can I avoid wrinkled clothes when packing?

Lay sheets of tissue paper between layers of clothing, use packing cubes and pack items flat or rolled rather than folded if they are particularly prone to wrinkling.

4. What are some tips for packing for different climates?

Research weather conditions and pack layers that can be easily added or removed. Consider fabrics like merino wool for their temperature-regulating properties.

5. How can I pack heavy items without exceeding luggage weight limits?

Wear your heaviest shoes and jacket on the plane, distribute heavy items evenly throughout your suitcase, and consider using compression bags for bulkier items.

6. How can I pack efficiently for a long trip?

Plan your outfits in advance to avoid overpacking, choose versatile items that can be mixed and matched, and consider using a capsule wardrobe concept.

7. What are some tips for packing liquids in my carry-on luggage?

Ensure all liquids are under 100ml in size, place them in a clear bag, and separate them from other items for easy inspection. It's recommended to check the regulations around carrying liquids before you fly, as they can differ between airlines.