30 Secret Packing Hacks You Didn’t Know You Needed

EASY travel hacks to save space when you pack in a personal item bag, carry-on suitcase or checked luggage. Pack 2X more, easy!

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00:00 Introduction
00:17 Ranger roll clothing
00:27 Packing cubes upgrade
00:42 Cool travel gear
00:52 Packing shoes for travel
01:02 Hotel hack
01:12 Add this to suitcase
01:29 Sock hack
01:41 Shirt collar hack
01:54 Packing a sun hat
02:11 Make-up packing hacks
02:21 TSA liquid rule hack
02:58 Jewelry packing hacks
04:26 More liquid hacks
05:40 Perfume packing hack
05:59 Cheap travel must-have
06:50 Carry-on tech hacks
07:12 Pack this first
07:35 Don't pack this!
08:18 Toiletry bag tip
08:30 No more space? Try this

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// ABOUT

Welcome to Portable Professional, your go-to resource for stress-free travel.

Megan here, Hello! I've taken well over 300 flights and countless trips in the last decade. I have learned how to have seamless travel experiences without unnecessary stress and anxiety. I'm here to help you also feel confident about your travels while making the most of every trip.

Ready for stress-free travels? Subscribe and join us every Wednesday and Sunday for informative videos full of practical tips. You'll learn how to navigate airport security, pack like a pro, identify scams, and even uncover little-known hacks to take your travel to the next level. (these are my specialty!)

[letterbox]

Forgive me for repeating your points but sometimes viewers want a checklist:
-Use ranger roll and compression packing cubes for space
- Swap regular water bottle for collapsible one
- Pack shoes in plastic bag with smaller items stuffed inside
- Use dryer sheet to keep items smelling fresh
- Use socks to pack breakable items
- Stack bras together and loop belts through collared shirts to maintain shape
- Fill sun hat with small items to maintain shape
- Place cotton pad over makeup palettes to prevent breakage
- Pack jewelry in pill container or loop necklaces through straw
- Use hard shell glasses case to protect makeup brushes
- Only one TSA-approved bag per passenger allowed for liquids.

[Flamingogirl]

My biggest easy packing hack is being okay with buying some toiletries at the destination. We are a very fair family that require multiple sunscreen applications a day required. We will need a full sized bottle for a week, so we just buy at the destination.

[yaowsers]

Instead of compression cubes, I use 2-gallon ziplock bags. I roll my clothes and then put them in the bag and squeeze out all the air. Plus I bring extra bags for dirty clothes and I might even stick my extra sneakers in one too.

[bellaluce]

- Keeping a personal packing checklist and updating it after trip with things to do differently next time
- Weighing clothes and packing what's lightest/least bulky (tour guide Sarah Murdoch's great tip : - )
- Taking fewer bottoms and shoes & prioritizing tops for maximum visual variety 😃
- Powdered sunscreen and a UPF 50 ribbon crusher sun hat that can be squished and reformed
- Using an international-sized carry-on if at all possible (the freedom is glorious!)

- For long-term travel: a capsule wardrobe with a week's worth of mix-and-match clothes = endless variety
- Laundry detergent sheets for hand washing or laundromats
- Keeping essentials in daybag (personal item) under seat
Not having to scramble to replace medications, toiletries, ID, reservation confirmations, valuables, etc. is so helpful if other bag(s) are lost

Also:
*- A Comfort Kit to keep the inevitable hassles of travel a fun adventure* 🤩
Tour guide Sarah Murdoch calls her expanded (yet tiny!) version of this a Box of Awesome. : - )
I keep mine with me during the trip in my daybag as well as on the plane.

- 2 - 3 doses of pain reliever,  
- ginger capsules for motion sickness,
- 1 - 2 doses of Benadryl just in case,
- refillable water bottle that fits under standard faucets,
- non-perishable snacks,  
- gum for popping ears and dental hygiene on the go
- ear plugs in case of crying babies,
- an all-weather scarf and a light fleece cap (lighter than lugging a jacket in warmer climates, yet keeps me cozy in sudden temperature drops after sunset, strong A/C, or misty weather + wind chill)
- something engaging to pass the time (playing cards, book, music, podcast, drawing materials... : - )

[cynthiamickle]

I have rolled clothing for many years. The last time I flew, the bag was overweight! We had to throw out a lot of items, because it was going to cost so much if we left it. So remember, even if you roll and pack to conserve space, it still has to be within weight parameters. Thanks for the videos.

[mamanothing]

I always pack my liquids horizontally not vertically. Horizontal packing gives you a lot more room in the liquids bag! Blessings

[Bohemiahotrodandcustom]

At Australian airports, Hiding things ( especially made from wood ) in your socks will get the attention of customs and you will be flagged .
It's classed as a concealment and you will be searched more thoroughly.

[brenda]

I’ve been packing my sun hat upside down for years now. Sometimes it’s just a matter of perspective!

[TAF]

Great tips!! We pack checked bags and these tips will save us room. I like the hard shell eyeglass case idea for make up brushes. More space for souvenirs.

[joandobrijevic]

I bought a wet/dry bag online (I think it was actually meant for diapers 😂) but I use it for my swimsuit and swim shirt for daily Aquafit. It is very lightweight so I will also be packing this for my next trip in case I have any wet items to pack upon return! It doesn’t leak or soak through to other items in your bag!

[Lashlove]

Pack a garbage bag for your dirty clothes …ask the hotel for a laundry/dry cleaning bag for dirty or wet clothes
Pack a bar of soap when suitcase is not in use ( Irish spring is cheap and perfect ) to keep your bag from that funky smell
Makeup brushes I use brush guards for over 10 years as they protect them and keep them in shape
For jewelry I like the little pouches you get when you purchase them or small organza bags you get at weddings
I like the draw string plastic bags for my shoes
Refill all Your toiletries don’t buy new containers. I don’t like using samples of new things as you don’t know how well they work or if you will have a reaction
Pack your toiletries a few days ahead and try to use that to see if you are missing anything.I often put a box on my bathroom counter and dresser to use as getting ready so I know I am not missing anything.

[angelacastagna]

Long necklaces through a straw! What a great idea…pretty brilliant. I would do that and them put them all in a ziplock back and roll it up!

[terridilalo]

I can follow all of your suggestions for packing. I begin way before my trip. The problem is packing all of these things that I stuck in nooks and crannies back in the suitcase for my return flights. I'd love to see/hear about your return packing hacks. Thanks!

[HubertKirchgaessner]

My biggest “travel hacks” as of late was to invest into a 65W GaN charger with multiple USB outlets. I used to carry a charger for my laptop and another one for my iPad, plus sometimes a multi-USB charger. This one unit, which is smaller than any of the previous ones, replaces all of them, .

[KillingMachine]

Megan, here's something I do between trips. My tortilla slices come in a resealable bag. Don't throw them out, give a quick swipe and save them. Same thing for the bags with the sliding zipper cover. Even if it was for meat, wash it out, dry it and save for the next trip. Believe me, if just one tube of something blows open, you'll be glad it was in one of those bags, rather than all over everything.

[renferal]

I’m one flight away from being home after my 4 week holiday in London and Paris. Thanks to your many helpful tips, all went smoothly

[helenebourque]

Hi Megan, I hope you are well. I have been subscribed to your channel for just a short time but I have learned so much from watching your videos, I even have been looking at your older ones and have learned so much there also. I am much older than you, but like a lot of people my age, we have not taken to many flights to go on holiday. But this year, my husband and I are going to see our daughter who has been living in the UK since over a year. We are going to be starting by visiting Scotland, then spending a few days in London and will then take the EuroStar train to France, where we will be visiting the Normandie region. I have been making a list of every tip that I can use to save space in our luggage, especially since I have to bring things belonging to my daughter on top of my things. So please keep these great videos coming, I don’t miss one…. I am from a town north of Quebec city and this is another reason why I am subscribed to your channel. I finally want to say thank you for sharing your knowledge with us who don’t travel as much as you!

[inalikechina]

The tip for shaking the luggage after it's closed to find extra space is BRILLIANT! I have never heard that one before. Thanks so much!!! I travel at least half of the month for work and I need all the tips I can get.

[sandytatham]

For the last 14 years I've been travelling with moisturiser in a small plastic soy sauce bottle that I kept from a Pret's sushi lunchbox when I lived in London. It's tiny, but perfect to slip inside my shoulder bag.

[KimKavanaugh]

Pill cases are so bulky. Save room by using little pill ziplock bags. They are about 2"by 2". I put each day's pills in one, and also put earrings in them or one necklace in one. Then the necklaces won't get tangled with each other.