Everybody’s working for the weekend—and, more specifically, for the brief, joyous weekend jaunts that veritably save our sanity. But packing for those getaways? That doesn’t evoke quite the same level of joy. One can hardly pack a suite of luggage without looking a bit silly, and fitting all of your essentials in a tiny weekender can be tricky. Pack incorrectly and even the best-laid travel plans can run amok when suitcase snafus come into play.
So what is a savvy traveler to do? Fear not—here, seven smart tips for packing a foolproof weekender bag.
Photo: Courtesy of One Kings Lane1/7Divide and Conquer
Never underestimate the calming power of hyper-organized pouches. As weekend trips can feel rushed and frantic, grouping similar items (tech, undergarments, et cetera) into small individual bags is sure to make you feel much more pulled together—not to mention make things easier to locate.
Bag-All French Collection women’s organizing bags, $65 for set of six, for information: onekingslane.com
Photo: Courtesy of Rag & Bone2/7Roll It Up
If there’s one golden packing trick, it’s this: Gently roll any garment whose fabric takes to the format (e.g., knitwear, cottons, jeans). Rolling prevents stubborn travel wrinkles and frees up major real estate for packing that extra shift dress. Stiff and/or delicate fabrics are better served neatly folded.
Rag & Bone Devon scarf, $275, rag-bone.com
Photo: Courtesy of uline.com3/7Pass the Tissue
There’s a reason your dry cleaners always send back your clothes in white packing tissue—it keep garments protected from tears, scuffs, and stains in transit, and also works to prevent creasing, so you can skip the ironing board upon arrival at your destination.
Uline white tissue paper sheets, $22 per bundle, uline.com
Photo: Courtesy of Madewell4/7Use Your Shoes
Bulky and incongruously shaped, shoes are easily the most difficult item to pack in a small bag. Make the most of it by stuffing socks, undies, chargers, and sundry items inside them. This will do double duty in keeping shoes from getting crushed and losing their shape.
Vans Sk8-Hi moccasin high-top sneakers, $70, madewell.com
Photo: Courtesy of thelaundress.com5/7Keep It Fresh
Say no to clothes that smell like suitcase mustiness by slipping a freshening, travel-sized fabric spray, dryer sheets, or lavender sachet into your bag. These come in handy should your destination need some help in the scent department.
The Laundress Fabric Fresh Classic spray $8, thelaundress.com
Photo: Courtesy of Longchamp6/7Prep for Purchases
Realistically speaking, your perfectly packaged weekender doesn’t take into account additional travel purchases (souvenirs, anyone?). Tuck a compact, lightweight tote into the bottom of your bag in the likely event that you end up needing it.
Longchamp Le Pliage large tote bag, $145, longchamp.com
Photo: Courtesy of Neiman Marcus7/7BYO Beauty Products
Don’t run the risk of using your host’s or hotel’s products—it’s presumptuous and may leave you with options entirely unsuited to your hair and skin type. As you’re already dealing with discrepancies in water quality, we’ve found it’s best to have your arsenal of tried-and-true products on hand—several more ounces of liquid weight ultimately means one less thing to worry about.
Bobbie Brown Empties Set, $15, neimanmarcus.com
