Post # 1
Member
9916 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
I think the solution I’m looking for is just a lot of ironing, but I was wondering if anyone has had any success packing their vacation clothes in a carry-on…and not having everything super wrinkly when they arrive. I bought some fancy ziploc bags that compress the clothes, and they really make more space in my bag, but everything was soo wrinkled when I unpacked. We’re going on vacation in about two weeks, for two weeks, and will be going from hotel to hotel…about two or three days at a place. So, it’s impractical to just take everything out immediately upon arrival. I’d prefer not to spend time every day ironing…esp with strange hotel irons that may not be reliable.
Any ideas?
Post # 2
Member
46971 posts
Honey Beekeeper
peachacid: If you are tring to fit so many clothes in a carry-on that you need ziploc bags, you are going to have wrinkles.
The only way you are not going to have wrinkles is to take less clothes, make sure they are all mix and match, roll your clothes, and wear the same pieces more than once. You are travelling. You are not going to be with the same people.
Post # 3
Member
142 posts
Blushing bee
As above, you can’t compress clothes and have them not wrinkle.
Do you have to only use a carry on? What if you want to bring souvenirs home?
The solution to minimal wrinkles is: don’t pack too tight, roll gently rather than folding, and wear soft jersey fabrics where possible.
Post # 4
Member
1282 posts
Bumble bee
peachacid: This blog post may be helpful to you. I agree with the tips from the above PP. I have a few go to wrinkle resistant pieces that I always take when I travel. They roll up easily and don’t keep wrinkles, or smooth out after hanging them in the bathroom with a hot shower running. http://seventeenthandirving.blogspot.com/2012/07/tip-series-traveling.html
Post # 5
Member
3268 posts
Sugar bee
I would really look at how much you are taking if you need to compress it into compression sacks.
Take a clothes line and do laundry and hang to dry overnight.
Make sure your clothes are made of fabric that doesn’t wrinkle as easily. Don’t put them into the compression sacks, but maybe use that for undies and socks and a swim suit.
This site has some helpful tips. http://travelfashiongirl.com/
Post # 6
Member
9916 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
julies1949: Well yeah, I know that. I find that clothes wrinkle no matter what in my suitcase, and I thought the bags would help with that. I experimented with using them, and it was the opposite. I thought they would provide a bit more organization, since it’s annoying to have to live out of a suitcase for a few weeks.
emstar168: I read that post earlier, and was looking at the organizer cubes. Have you used one? Did it really help with wrinkles?
I don’t think I’m taking too much. I have gym clothes, a “nice” pair of jeans, some khaki pant things, a dress, nice shoes, a bathing suit, sneakers, shirts, underwear, etc. Maybe my clothes are just big?
I want to bring a carry on so I don’t have to pay $25 each flight (there, back, and then there is a flight within California, too…that’s $75 I want to avoid paying).
Post # 7
Member
1282 posts
Bumble bee
peachacid: I do have one of the organizer cubes. It holds quite a bit, I’m not sure that it necessarily reduces wrinkles, but it prevents your clothes from getting scattered about in your bag when you are looking for other things. This is the one I have http://www.flight001.com/f1-spacepak-clothes-blue-1.html. I like it because it has ‘clean’ and ‘dirty’ sides so you can separate your laundry. There are plenty of others that are not as expensive, though.
I guess I would ask how many of each item you are trying to pack as far as deciding if you are bringing too much. like, for gym clothes, you probably only need a couple of quick drying wicking tshirts and quick dry shorts, that way you can wash them in the sink at the hotel and they can be dry before you need to pack them for your next destination. Stuff your socks and underwear into your sneakers to save space. Wear your bulkiest items on the plane if you can.
A lot of frequent fliers recommend that you find one color palette and stick to that when packing, so that everything can be mix/matched together. i.e. if you have a bottom that only pairs well with a particular top, and neither piece really goes with whatever else you pack, then those are less useful, esp if you get a stain on one or something. Then you are unable to use that outfit for the rest of the trip . . . and it’s taking up space in your suitcase.
If you have some items that are easily wrinkled (keep those to a minimum) you can lay those on top of everything else when you are done packing so that it only needs to be folded once or twice.
Post # 8
Member
3268 posts
Sugar bee
I just realised that you also posted the other packing thread. You are definitely taking too much to fit into a carry on.
You mentioned multiple khaki pants and 3-4 pairs of shoes. Shoes take up a ton of space and can’t really be squished much. Can you get away with one pair flip flops, one pair of nicer sandals and since you are bringing gym clothes sneakers? Wear the sandals for dress up, the dress as a swim coverup, gym clothes as jammies? Don’t take sweaters and jackets, can one do both jobs? Do you really need the jeans if you have a dress and multiple pants? Jeans take up a lot of space and are a bitch to dry if you get them dirty.
Don’t bring things that only work with one outfit. Bring things that work in multiple ways, really cut the toiletries way back, use the hotel soap and shampoo. (Keep in mind the liquid limit on planes),
Make a few rolls of stuff, so all the t-shirts rolled together. Then none is really tightly rolled, but they are still quite compact. Stuff undies, jammies etc in to fill all the gaps around the rolls, and into the nooks and crannies of your bag.
I also find when I have a small bag, I have to pack it over frequently, but it doesn’t take too long. Only 10 mins per move to a new town. Each pack also gets better and tighter. I don’t personally find the cubes helpful as they themselves take up space. And you are limited by their shape. But other people live by them.
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