Travel tips: I tried an expert’s packing tip and finally solved my overpacking problem

Every week, 9Travel shares a top travel tip from our readers or something our writers find. Have something to share? Email us at [email protected] for a chance to be featured in an upcoming story.

Travelling with only a carry-on bag is an acquired skill: either you have it, or you don’t.

Though I pride myself on usually being able to stuff a lot into a small suitcase, I do have the tendency to overpack – especially if I’m only going away for a couple of nights.

But a recent tip I found online has me changing up the way I pack. 

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Travel journalist Jill Schildhouse recently published a story on Yahoo encouraging travellers with a tendency to overpack to rethink their packing order.

When planning what to pack, we tend to first think of all the outfits you want to bring – pants, shirts, dresses that can all hopefully mix and match.

Then come the shoes.

10 things a flight attendant always packs in his carry-on

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For me – and for Jill – that’s where things come undone. One outfit needed sneakers, another would only work with flats. I needed heels for my ‘night time’ look, and maybe just a comfy pair of slides for morning coffee runs.

Suddenly, I had five pairs of shoes in my suitcase for a three-day trip.

This is why Jill recommends making your shoes the very first thing you pack.

I tried it out while packing for a weekend trip to Adelaide. Limiting myself to just two pairs of shoes – and then building outfits around those – was a game changer.

Suddenly, I was fully packed but still had enough room in my suitcase that I could throw in a thick, warm hoodie for the plane that I’d normally leave at home, and still have space to spare.

Jill limits herself to three pairs for short trips:

• A pair for the plane (usually the bulkiest, like sneakers or boots)
• One casual walking pair (could be a comfy flat or sandal)
• One dressier or situational pair (for evenings, typically)

“Once those are locked in, I don’t add more shoes to fit outfits. I choose outfits that work with those shoes,” she wrote.

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And when it comes to actually putting those shoes in your suitcase, try to place them at the same end as the wheels. 

9Travel editor Kristine shared this tip last year: “When you unzip your suitcase and open it up to pack it, take note of which end the wheels are at. Then, pack your heaviest items at that end.”

Once you zip your luggage up and stand it upright, most of the weight will be sitting at the bottom.

This makes it a lot easier to wheel around, especially if you’re going over uneven pavement or cobblestones.

Drop us an email with all your wisdom to [email protected], and your tip could be featured in an upcoming story on 9Travel.

10 things a flight attendant always packs in his carry-on