How To6 steps

How to pack a suitcase

For travelers who want one bag to hold a full trip’s clothes without wrinkles or digging.

Packing a suitcase is fitting belongings so every space works and clothes stay neat. Rolling soft items and weighting the wheel end gives extra room and a case that rolls upright.

Have ready your suitcase open on a flat bed, clothes sorted in piles, shoes, a closed toiletry kit, and small extras like cords.

1. 

   Step 01

   LAY the suitcase fully open and flat on the bed with a clear two-foot space all around it.

   Face the wheel end away from you so the handle side is nearest. You know the setup is solid when the case does not shift as you lean on it. If it rocks, slide it onto a firmer spot in the middle of the bed.

2. 

   Step 02

   PLACE shoes and other hard heavy items along the wheel end, nested heel to toe.

   Keep soles facing out against the case walls. The balance checks out when the upright case does not flop over. If it tips toward the handle, slide the heavies closer to the wheels; if it tips the other way, ease them back an inch.