How To Pack Clothes In A Backpack

Sometimes packing can get a little hectic. Especially for those of us who like to wait until the last minute to pack. Let’s be honest, the rush and enjoyment of knowing you’re going somewhere is thrilling!

Lets start by making sure we have everything out the we want to pack. You should also stop second guessing and get rid of the couple of items you’re second guessing on bringing with you.

We hope you have a backpack at this point, but if you’re still looking around we have a really cool selection of backpacks on our site that we showcase.

It’s nice to pick a popular brand, but you should try to purchase something that serves its function. We do a pretty good job of separating bags into different categories.

It’s important to make sure the distribution of weight is equal. This will help us avoid being uncomfortable while wearing the bag and avoiding any back or shoulder pain when the bag is off.

A lot of manufacturers will give you carry space in liters to give you a general idea of the volume of space inside the bag. We don’t recommend you pack the backpack to where you can barely close the zipper.

The reason you may want to avoid that is to not damage the zipper, bag, or hurt yourself due to an overloaded bag. Remember backpacks come in many different sizes so just choose the appropriate size. Lets break down how to pack clothes in a backpack.

Dividing your backpack into compartments may be helpful…

Avoid Overstuffing

A heavy bag is not a happy bag. No one wants to carry a bag thats entirely to bulky and takes away from the enjoyment of whatever is you may be doing on your trip.

Outside of being uncomfortable and hard to maneuver, your clothing will get wrinkly and ruin your first night out. No one wants to get to their destination, shower and pull out the iron before heading out.

That’s even if you have an iron readily available!

To avoid overstuffing your bag you need to make sure your honest with yourself on what you have to bring with you.

• Make 2 piles – one with essentials and the other with things I just want to bring.

Call the hotel or destination ahead of time and see if they provide irons, hair dryers or any other essentials so you can leave certain items at home.

Instead of bringing all your shoes, try to really cut the number back. Maybe bring a couple pairs that go with multiple outfits rather than one for each outfit.

Think about where you’re going and do you really need that heavy sweater. Heavy or bulky items take up a lot of space and can increase the weight of the bag dramatically.

Certain materials of clothing do not wrinkle as easy or at all. If you have any items like that you may want to pack that instead of a similar item with different material.

Roll It Up

My father was in the military and growing up he taught me to roll my clothes when I pack, because it takes up less room.

Another great reason for rolling clothes is that it can really reduce the amount of wrinkles on clothes when traveling. The important aspect of packing this way is to make sure the items are rolled nice and tight.

Pants – You can easily create a nice tight roll by folding pants in half or top to bottom then roll it.

Shirts – Lay the shirt flat, then fold the sleeves back and roll it.

Long Sleeve – Lay the shirt flat, fold the arms to the length of non long sleeve shirt and roll it up.

Rolling is a great method to learn on how to pack clothes in a backpack!

Travel Organizers

Travel Cubes – One of the worlds best and probably least used inventions is the travel cube. Travel packs are a very big help when it it comes to packing.

These products can be used for luggage, duffel bags and backpacks. They help keep all of your items neat and organized. They also help to maximize the space inside your backpack.

They come in different sizes making that adaptable to different size bags. They look like like squares, but they are helpful when it comes to clothing because they take the shape of whatever you put inside.

Packing folders – If you are packing clothes that you do not want to wrinkle then a packing folder may best to take along with you on your trip.

These products have folding boards on the inside to help you keep the items flat. Once the items are laid flat you can close the sides. When the packing folder is closed, your clothing will be perfectly folded and will not move at all. Essentially keeping the clothing perfectly in place.

Apply The Puzzle

As we mentioned before, stuffing the bag in every direction is not a good idea. An uncomfortable bag causes even more movement, which can lead to wrinkles and headaches.

If you look at the bag like a puzzle, it may help you get a better idea of where to put each item. With this method you want to put all the items in a way where they can all fit together almost perfectly with minimal movement.

Minimal movement is the key with this method. Remember the less the items move inside the backpack the less likely the clothing will wrinkle. Its important to fit all of your items in, but do not overpack the bag to where everything is crushed.

All heavy items should be packed first in the bottom of the bag. If you’re bringing any personal care items put those in first. Next to that fill the gaps with your chargers, then your shoes and organize everything above that until you get to the top with the lightest clothing items.

The puzzle or jigsaw puzzle is a great method on how to pack clothes in a backpack!