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Pack Smart and Save Space With Your Suitcase

Monday, February 10th

Pack Smart and Save Space with Your Suitcase

If you want to avoid a severe case of bulging suitcase syndrome, it's important to know how to make the most out of your luggage's interior space. When you pack smart, you can pack more. Whether you want to save room for souvenirs or you need to take both business and casual wear along for the trip, it's a good idea to maximize your packing capability.

When packing a suitcase, be sure to roll your clothes instead of folding them. This method works equally well for pants and shirts, but also works with accessories. Not only will folded items take up less space, but they will also suffer less from wrinkling and creases that may otherwise be a problem with traditional folds.

Most luggage features internal compartments or extra zipper areas for storage. You can either use these areas for smaller items or you can leave them available for souvenirs and other items that you pick up during your trip. It's important to make use of compartments, which may help to eliminate the need for carrying additional bags. With that being said, it's important to note that overstuffing your luggage may lead to excessive baggage fees when traveling by air. Due to the limited amount of space available, it's essential that you confirm size restrictions for any carry-on luggage and measure your suitcase at home to avoid having to pay penalty fees.

Most travelers prefer to separate their clothing and their incidentals, such as toothpaste, hair products and other similar items. The best way to do this is to purchase a small luggage accessory with plenty of separated compartments. This will allow for proper placement, organization and will prevent you from having to stuff your clothing into the same area with your toiletries. If you are using public transportation, it's important to familiarize yourself with any restrictions relating to carry-on baggage content prior to arriving for your trip. This will help you to avoid delays and will make for a much less stressful experience.

If you are traveling by car or rail and are not as limited with the size of your luggage, a softside suitcase will prove to be the most flexible and accommodating for your packing needs. When it comes to preparing for a trip, everyone worries about forgetting something. To ease this concern, it's a good idea to make a list of everything that you want to take before you actually begin packing. As you place items inside of your suitcase, mark them off from the list and move on to the next item. If you do happen to forget something, don't worry. Most areas offer shops and grocery stores, which will make it convenient for you to pick up any items that you overlooked during the packing process.

Aside from the convenience of having more room and being able to pack more items, the method of rolling you clothes instead of folding them and using all available compartments will result in less luggage and less chances of getting tripped up by having too many bags.

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Luggage Store FAQ

Luggage is used to protect clothing and other items during travel. It is usually made either with a hard shell or a durable soft material. There are often compartments and dividers within a suitcase that allow you to pack everything you need in an organized manner. Most luggage is rectangular in shape and comes in different sizes depending on how many things you're bringing along on your trip.
There are about 6 different sizes of luggage if you want to get really specific. There are personal item-size luggage (about 17” long), international carry-on (about 21” tall), domestic-carry on (about 22” tall), small checked luggage (23-24” tall), medium checked luggage (25-27” tall), and large checked luggage (28-32” tall). These sizes are based on airline regulations since most people use their luggage for flying. Airlines only accept luggage of certain sizes depending on how much you've paid for your ticket and where you're going. People like to have luggage in a few different sizes so they can adapt to however they are traveling.
The best style of luggage to buy is the style you like best! You can find luggage in all colors and patterns. Sometimes it's helpful to have more unique luggage so that it's easy to identify if you're picking it up at baggage claim after a flight and no one else takes it by mistake. Some other things to consider when choosing a style is whether or not you want luggage with wheels, hard or soft material, how many interior compartments, and other small details.
There is no single best material for luggage, so you'll want to decide what type you buy based on what you're transporting. You will have choices like aluminum, polyester, ballistic nylon, leather, polycarbonate, etc. There are pros and cons with different materials. If you're worried about things breaking or being affected by impact, hard-shell luggage will offer the best protection. Soft-sided luggage can expand and be more flexible if you're stuffing it full to the brim and it usually has external pockets. You'll find affordable options for both hard- and soft-sided luggage, so it really comes down to preference.
You can either buy luggage one piece at a time or find a set that comes with two or three pieces. Price will vary based on the size, material, and brand. You can get a medium-sized suitcase ranging from about $50 to $300. However, there are also plenty of retailers that sell luggage sets for under $300, which is a great deal. Once you decide on the style, material, and size of suitcase(s) you're looking for, you can start comparing the prices among different retailers.
Yes! If your luggage is new and unused, almost all retailers offer a return policy. You will likely have anywhere from 30 to 90 days to change your mind about the luggage you purchased and send it back for a full refund. You might have to pay return shipping, so keep that in mind. Sometimes it helps to see your luggage in person: if you decide it isn't the size you imagined or a style you like, you can always switch it out for something else.
Most airlines allow you to have one checked bag and one carry-on bag when flying (unless you pay extra for additional checked bags). It's a good idea to have a carry-on-sized suitcase since you aren't usually charged for these on a flight. The standard size for this is 22” x 14” x 9”, which includes handles and wheels. Checked bags cannot exceed 50 lbs and the most common maximum size is 62 linear (total) inches. Read the baggage policies for the airline you're flying on before you head to the airport!
It's hard to get away with not owning your own luggage since traveling is more popular than ever these days. Even if you aren't going long-distance and needing to get on an airplane, having a nice bag or suitcase to pack your clothes, shoes, and hygiene items for a quick weekend getaway is essential.
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