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Packing Tips

Packing is never easy. Whether it is a 3-day weekend or a 3-week road trip, deciding what to bring and what NOT to bring is always a task. What clothes to bring is ALWAYS a tough decision. And then you have to pick which shoes? YIKES! How do you decide? How do you organize? I have a few helpful hints that make my bag a little lighter and more organized when I pack for any length of trip.


1. Packing cubes—I still don’t understand why no one told me about these years ago! These are a life saver when it comes to packing! They are great for organizing your clothes into categories, such as workout clothes, casual or maybe swimsuits. There are many different sizes and some luggage companies now offer packing cubes that are designed specifically for their luggage. Of course, you can also find all kinds of sizes and colors on Amazon. I finally decided to get some a couple years ago and decided on Shacke Pak - 4 Set Packing Cubes and the AmazonBasics 4-Piece Packing Cube Set - Slim. These gave me different sizes to work with in packing. I was able to pack 10-days of winter clothes in a carry-on because of these cubes!


2. Rolling your clothes—This is debatable by many, but I have found rolling my clothes in my packing cubes allows me to pack more clothes. Another benefit is they do not come out as wrinkled when rolling compared to when folded.


3. 3 pairs of shoes—Some people may say this is one too many pairs. This is a considerable downsize for the 5-6 I used to take when I was coaching college basketball. If you are like me, you like to keep up with your workout regimen while traveling. I suggest you wear your tennis shoes while traveling and if during warmer seasons have one pair of flip flops and one nice pair of sandals. The sandals are flat and do not take up much room. If you are traveling during the winter months, I suggest traveling wearing a pair of boots and packing the tennis shoes. I still recommend taking a pair of flip flops during the colder months because you never know what type of quick trips you will need to make to the vending machine, laundry or to just wear around the room. Deciding which shoes you take also helps you decide which outfits to pack.


4. 3 in 1 Toiletry Bag—I used to carry one big toiletry bag that had amazing compartments to separate my makeup, lotions and soaps. I would get frustrated that I couldn’t pack it as easy as I wanted to when downsizing to a carryon. I searched for something that would still allow me to have separate compartments for everything, but I would be able to pack easier. I found the IQTRAVELS 4 in 1 Detachable toiletry bag and it was more than I was expecting. It has one main compartment and two side compartments that are detachable. The detachable sides were game changers! I could use these by themselves on short trips and all 3 on longer trips. The inner net pockets of the side compartments help keep things organized even in a smaller compartment.


Next time you set out on a getaway, remember these helpful hints!! Happy packing

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