Pack well for your road trip

Some of us fold clothes; some of us roll them. Which ever you do, the true test of a packing style is taking it on the road. If, after three hotel moves, you can immediately find what you’re looking for and repack to original condition in a minimal time, your style works. If, halfway through the trip, your bag looks like a jumbled laundry hamper and you pack by scooping clothes off the floor, then your packing style is either not working or you’re a teenager.In the old days, if the lid closed on your suitcase, then your packing job was a success. Today, when packing for a flight, there’s a lot more to consider than just rolling or folding. You have to consider the exorbitant airline luggage fees for overweight and excess bags, and the toiletries you now have to check which add to both of the above.

Aside from rolling and folding, try these packing aids:

Packing cubes.

Soft, mesh-zippered cubes can be found in travel stores. Sizes range from small, for underwear and socks, to shirt and jacket size. They’re good for soft luggage. You can toss them in a drawer at the hotel and stay organized. Note to teenagers: They don’t work if you leave the zipper open and everything falls out.

Hangers.

Hang clothes on wire hangers, lay them flat over shoes and cubes, then push the hanger hook gently down into the shirt or jacket before folding in the arms and bottoms. On arrival, just grab all the hangers and hang. This saves wrinkles, is great for shirts and jackets, and adds no weight. It also solves the problem of too few hotel hangers. Option: Tuck empty wire hangers into the outside pocket or pack them separately to use on arrival.

Plastic bags.

Don’t leave home without a stash of clear plastic zippered bags in all sizes. They’re great for laundry, wet swimsuits, shoes and snacks.