Looking to save space in your suitcase? Whether you’re flying hand luggage only or suffering from a bad case of over-pack-itis, we’ve got some items that will really help you cut down on space as well as a few tips and hacks to pack effectively.
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1. Packing cubes
If you’re not on the packing cube hype yet – get on it! Gone are the days of throwing clothes randomly in a suitcase.
Whether you use a cube per type of clothing, or use it to pack entire days outfits at a time, they’re really handy at keeping things organised.
We like these ones by Amazon Basics as they have a handle on the side and a mesh top so you can easily see what’s inside.
2. Compression packing cubes
If you want to save even more space, compression packing cubes are a level up from normal packing cubes. These typically have an extra zip so that you can squish the clothes together. We swear by these ones by Eono which are sturdy enough to allow you to really pack your clothes in tight. Keeping an eye on your luggage’s weight too? These bags from Cipway are worth checking out too.
4. Travel minis
Not only can they get incredibly heavy, but toiletries can take up so much space when you’re travelling. That, and if you’re only taking hand luggage, you often have to keep to under 100ml anyway so why not make life easier to yourself by decanting your products into smaller bottles? We’ve been doing this for years and a good multi-use set can cover your for an entire trip for years to come.
5. Collapsible water bottle
There’s loads of free water stations dotted around these days but it’s no good if you haven’t got a bottle – and those things can take up a lot of space! That’s why we love this collapsible water bottle which folds up super small!
6. Fast drying towel
A towel takes up so much space in your bag and so if you know you’ll need one, definitely look into getting a microfibre towel that is not only fast drying but much light and smaller! These ones from Eono come in loads of different sizes so you can choose what works best for your trip.
7. Compact umbrella
Having an umbrella at the ready is such a win, but having it take up space is the absolute opposite. The good news is there’s some very clever designs out there that mean you can squeeze it into your bag without too much trouble. We had to highlight this larger TUMAAOTU option where the handle doubles up as a carabiner so you can hook it to the outside of your bag. Genius!
8. Universal travel adaptor
Okay some of you aren’t going to like this but you do not need to be taking an extension cable on holiday with you! Not when there are things like the MOMAX universal travel adaptor out there. Not only does it allow you to charge 3 USB-C, 2 USB-A, and 1 mains charger at the same time, but the fact that one of the USB-C inputs is fast charging means you can ditch your bulky laptop chargers and just use a simple wire to charge straight from the adaptor.
The last thing to say is the best way to save space is to… pack less! We know that can be tough but our top tip is to write out what you plan to wear every day, being conscious to re-wear a few items throughout your trip.
And I promise you, you do not need the 22 pairs of pants stuffed into your shoes.
We believe in you!!
