Tips on what goes where when packing light!

Yes, shoes always go on the part that will be on the ground first. At least that is how I do it.

I took a lot of clothes with me last year to Italy in a 20" RS rolling suitcase. I was shocked by the amount ( summer clothes). I did buy packing cubes to give them a try, but they wouldn't allow me to get everything in I wanted, so I took them back. I used every bit of air space in that suitcase and came in about 20 lbs. maybe a little more, I can't remember.

I rolled my clothes for the very first time. I even did a trial run to see how it worked and left it in for a day to see how wrinkled things were. There were a few things with creases, but I was amazed. I'll never ever fold my clothes again, even if I have plenty of room. I looked on the web how to fold underwear and did that. DH and I stuck them in our shoes to save room. I even took one pair of black high wedges, one walking sandal, one flat sandal and beach shoes in there....besides the ones I was wearing. I had 19 articles of clothing...and wore every single one. I didn't really do the mix and match color thing. I had a scarf, hat, curling iron, umbrella, other things I can't remember. I'm still amazed actually at the room you have with rolling clothes...tight...that's the key. You have to smooth them as you roll. I did not have to use the extra zipper either...oh...I put the Don't Tell Rick bag in there, too.

I also took the veloce bag and had my travel purse, makeup, hair rollers...big plastic ones, toiletries, travel documents, etc. in that...things I couldn't fit in the suitcase.

I roll clothing and put it inside packing cubes for even more wrinkle control, which sometimes happens when shifting of contents occurs.

Maybe I'm not doing it right. But it seemed I couldn't get in as many clothes when I used the cubes. The RS bag is not a perfect rectangle though. There was empty space all around the cubes, but not enough to use it . Maybe the packing cubes I used weren't right, but I got them at the container store, different sizes.

Normally, I don't bring extra shoes. But if I do, I place them in a plastic grocery store bag or shoe sleeve. If I place my rectangular case on the ground with the main compartment against the ground and zip the top open, I like to roll my clothes and put them in medium ebags packing cubes. I then stack two of the cubes and load them into the case. I use an Ebags slim cube and slide it vertically into the space between the med. cubes and the suit case wall. In other words, you can stack your cubes in a variety of ways to fill spaces. This really helps to maximize your space and keep contents from shifting all over. Try to load your case from the wheel side first. Fill the top-end/handle space last. This helps with balance. Same with a backpack. Fill the side near your hip/lower back first. The top/upper shoulder area last.

I wrap all clothes in plastic clothes bags from the dry cleaners, and they don't wrinkle much. I get jeans and khaki pants heavily starched. I usually wear golf shirts most days, but take a couple of long sleeve dress shirts (again starched heavily.) I rotate shirts daily, but will go into round 2 the next week as I carry about 7 shirts.
I put all clothes in the bottom of the suitcase, and then I put underwear (in zip lock bags) and socks (in zip lock bags) in the middle. Then I wrap the clothes over the top and tuck what's left over in the back. It's all to minimize any wrinkles. I also like packing cubes in the center.
My best trick is the starched pants--which you can wear for 7-10 days and they still look fresh--if you keep out of the mud.

I stick my shoes onto the sides, partway up the side of the suitcase, as I pack and I roll my stuff. I didn't really believe that rolling helped save space, but I did a few test packs with rolled and not rolled and it truly does save space.

If you are aiming for comfort, put your heaviest items in the middle of the backpack, closest to your spine (and your center of gravity). Take a look at some backpacking sites to get the general idea, even though some of the details (like camp stoves and sleeping bags) don't apply.

Generally, I pack lighter items -- fleece, light shirts, scarves and such -- at the bottom, heavy items in the middle, and toiletries and electronics accessories at the top. My spare shoes that goes into the suitcase are pretty light, and so they tend to go in last, wherever I can stash them.

I put my extra pair of shoes along the side near the bottom of the bag. I use a mix of rolling and packing cubes. I also use plastic grocery bags to keep my dirty laundry in; I always put that on top shoving it in empty crevasses in the bag.

Packing light is difficult but necessary. I always have an under the seat 'personal ' item in which I have my almost empty Pacsafe purse. Upon arrival, I remove the purse.

I am not sure if you are taking one additional pair of shoes or 2; I suggest only 1 extra pair and choosing a light one. Some on this forum have only 1 pair on their feet, no extra shoes as they are bulky and heavy. This fall I plan to take a super light sneaker/running shoe.

Have a great trip!

I'm the same as Marie above, and do use packing cubes rolling my clothes inside them. But I do take very little clothing - jammies, 5 shirts, 3 maybe 4 pairs of pants, 2 shoes, unmentionables, a wrap, and not much more. Happy Travels!!

One simple thing I learned much much too late, is to put each shoe in a separate bag. It makes packing them much much easier :-)

My heaviest and bulkiest items have always been my pants (regardless of of they're jeans or khakis), tech gear, and books. I try to limit myself to one guide book and one book for reading but those two together really do add a bit of bulk and weight. Packing light is tough.

I wanted to add that I wrap each shoe separately in a plastic bag and line the ahie with another bag. I fill the shoe with undies, I really shove them in to save space. Other times I put my umbrella in one shoe and perhaps socks around it. It saves a bit of room and I know where my clean undies are!

I definitely recommend a trial pack! If you have time before you leave, do it a week ahead and pack everything including your toiletries.

I love packing cubes. I use the Eagle Creek compression cubes and use one larger one for shirts and a sweater and one small one for underwear, socks, pjs. I had to experiment with the packing method and found folding works better for me than rolling with the compression cubes. Rolling makes them a weird humped shape when the compression zipper is zipped. I lay my pants flat against the bottom.

I do shoes along the side with the heels against where the bottom of the bag is.

Have a fun time!

Trial packs, yes. I typically set out a table about a month out from the trip and slowly start to assemble the items I intend to bring, and then over the course of the month, I'll change things out, experiment with packing, etc. Still, there's still usually a last minute rush, so this year, with a trip in mid-November, I'm going to start now. Over the course of time, as you look at the things that are piling up on that table, you may change your mind about certain items, or come up with even better solutions.

Rather than trial packing, I have a packing list that I have developed over 10 trips (of course, this doesn't work for first timers). I make sure in advance of a trip that everything on the list is clean and available, but I don't actually start packing until the day before.

As for shoes, only once have I brought along a second pair of shoes, black dress shoes because I was going to a New Years (Sylvester) party and had to wear coat and tie, and the high-topped brown boots I wear for walking didn't go with my sport jacket (something else I don't normally take). The rest of the time, I have only taken one pair of shoes and those I wore.

As for rolling, it would only save space if you can force the cloths into square cross-section rolls, and round rolls would leave empty spaces. Anyway, before I adopted true minimalist packing, I found that I would reach the weight limit before I filled the bag, so saving space was not an issue.

My pack opens like a book (one of my requirements), so I find it no problem to lay thing flat on the bottom (no need to roll). The internal straps keeps the load from shifting.

I don't use packing cubes, but I do use something similar (Tide mesh washing bag for shirts folded flat, mesh bag of underwear, nylon stuff bag for electronics) to package my things so when I "unpack" I just put the packages on the shelves in the Kleiderschrank.