When I first picked up traveling as a hobby, I knew nothing in terms of packing light. Sometimes, I question if I know any better now. Though, there’s no doubt about it, I was an avid over packer. I’d bring items I would hardly use or didn’t even need. Shoes would stay lined up along the hotel walls and accessories would remain unworn for the duration of a trip. Only recently, within the last two years, I discovered a new appreciation for packing light. Not only have I learned to narrow down the items I pack to a minimum, I also regularly seek out other space saving solutions. Here is one of my favorites. It’s basic but definitely a game changer.
Mastering the Roll
My boyfriend and I use this technique for every trip we pack for. It’s our go-to base for packing. It’s easy and effective! It’s also all over the internet, so I’m sure you’ll come across it a few more times after this.
1) Start with an article of clothing. In this example, I am using a tank top.
2) Fold the bottom of the garment about 1/4 of the way up. (If you are doing this with pants, bring the waistline down, instead. There will be a photo example to follow.)
3) Fold in the sides 1/3 of the way.
4) Repeat for the opposite side. It should look like this:
5) Rotate the garment 180 degrees so that the folded portion is now at the top and neckline portion is at the bottom. Now, as tightly as you can, start rolling from the bottom up.
6) The portion folded down in step 2 should look like a small pocket/flap. It should look like this:
8) This will likely be the most complicated step. Take the edges of the pocket/flap and invert it, making sure to pull the edge in the opposite direction so that it covers the other end of the roll. The bottom below illustrates this for the top half of the pocket/flap.
9) Once the entire pocket/flap is inverted, it should completely cover the open end of the roll. Your garment should be a neat and sealed little package. It should look like this:
Ta-da! That’s it. Repeat for each article of clothing and you’re done. Stack them in your bag and discover how much space they save and how much easier it is to find what you need.
Versatile Application
This method can be applied to any article of clothing. Below, I’ve demonstrated how it can be used for a full zip jacket and a pair of leggings. It can also be used on dresses, hooded jackets, shorts and underwear. It’s a neat solution for rolling towels too.
