In a traditional full; size suitcase, one half has cross straps that hook together. The other half has a full cover that zips cl0sed, enclosing that half.
Which half is the top of the suitcase?
What articles go in which half?
Sorry for being not with it
I'll vote for the full-cover side to be the top, and the cross-straps side to be the bottom. I'm thinking heavier things like shoes go on the bottom, rather than having them weigh down a zip-closed top and make your top half heavy when you open the suitcase. And, I truly believe there are no dumb questions. This would, at most, be a "I was today years old when I realized...." question.
No rules! It's your suitcase. Pack it any way you want. That said, I would guess that whatever side has the handle(s) is the "bottom."
My suitcase only has handles on the top (as you spin it along). It doesn't have any handles on the side to distinguish top from bottom as far as packing sides
Neither side is top or bottom. The bottom is the side with the wheels. The top has the extendable handle. Since the zippered side has a flat bottom, use it for clothes that wrinkle easily and need to be folded rather than rolled. Fill that side completely, so contents don't shift when the bag is moved. Put the heaviest items at the bottom (closest to the wheels) to avoid smooshing your other things, and for better balance when moving. Firmly cinch the contents of the non zippered side to prevent shifting.
As has been implied by earlier responses, it depends on the style of suitcase. For wheelie bags you want to pack heavier items toward the back/handle side and near the wheels to avoid tipping over when you stop rolling. For backpack bags, use a similar packing style so the bulk of the weight is toward the backpack straps and thus not pulling the bag away from you when it is on your back. For a bag that is neither of those styles and is carried by a handle or shoulder strap, pack the weight evenly so that when you hold the bag by handle or strap it doesn't heavily favor one side of the bag.
And IMHO the only dumb question is the one not asked. :)
I think of the strap side as the bottom because, in limited space accommodations, I may need to have one side vertical when open. The zipped side won't lose contents if it is propped against a wall.
Whichever side is which, I always seem to open it the wrong way. Which leads to whatever is on the “strap” side falling out all over the place.
Last trip I used the “strap” side for large packing cubes, so I didn’t have loose stuff falling all over. I also added a pouch of things that weighed about 2 lbs, just in case my bag is overweight. I could easily grab that pouch and put it in another bag. My luggage scale never seems to watch the airport’s scale.
In the zippered side, I put smaller packing cubes and other loose things.
Packing cubes, so it makes less difference which way is up or down when you open it. Zipper compartment on top does make it simpler to open. Shoes or other heavy items go on the end with the wheels.
Yes, packing cubes do help to keep more things together and, if long enough, they don't fall out.
I would place smaller items that want to move around in the zippered side to contain them. The cross straps can hold larger items, i.e. coat, pants, and clothes lying flat. Your extra pair of shoes (place them inside a plastic bag or shoe bag to keep your clothes clean) should be wherever the bottom of the suitcase is located when it is closed and standing upright.
