I’ve been trying so hard to pack less, but sometimes a long weekend away requires more than your standard set of outfits. I used to just stuff everything into my duffel bag, and that always resulted in a pile on my hotel room floor as soon as I needed something. Of course, I was putting my clothes in the bag in neat stacks, but it was getting things out that was such a nightmare. Now that I have a new bag and a few handy tools, I’ve really figured out how to pack a duffel bag!

You Only Need 2 Things:

Grab your ready-to-travel duffel bag. I have the Everlane Weekender Bag, and just like the company’s travel tote, I love it. The construction is great, so I don’t have to worry about the handles ripping when I fill it with heavy shoes and toiletries. It has one interior pocket – perfect for cords or a small bag of jewelry, but not too much that it takes up additional space. The big take-away, however, is how wide the bag zips open. If you’re looking for a great duffel, make sure the zipper allows you access to the whole bag so you don’t have to stuff things in or dig around in the corners.

Get some packing cubes. I almost said ‘invest in packing cubes,” but these must-have tools are so cheap that ‘invest’ is definitely not the right word. These are really similar to mine. Packing cubes make packing your bag more efficient by keeping everything condensed and in one place. It’s much easier to find things when they aren’t floating around your bag. I like sets that come in multiple sizes.

How to Pack a Duffel Bag

Now that you have your tools, it’s time to get packing!

1. Fill your packing cubes with the outfits that you’ve set out. Here’s where you have some options. You can either fill them with your clothes folded neatly or rolled. I tend to fit more shirts and pants into the larger cubes when rolled, which means I can use the same bag for a longer trip. Also, depending on your preferences, you can pack items by outfit. I do this when I’m on a shorter trip, but when I’m using packing cubes for a larger trip, I sort my cubes by content – underwear and socks in a smaller one, pants and shirts in larger cubes, etc.
2. Put your heaviest items in the bottom. I put my shoes on the bottom and toiletry bags in between them, creating a good solid base.
3. Pack your filled packing cubes on top. And finished, right? I always tend to add those few little extras on top, like my sunglasses case or small jewelry bag, so they can all be tucked in neatly.

You can see some of our other favorite duffel bags and weekenders under $200 here.

Do you have any favorite packing tips and tricks? Any advice we just have to try? Tell us about them in the comments!

Meagan Martz at A Friend Afar

Meagan grew up in the North Georgia Mountains and spent her first trip abroad in Italy. She’s been traveling all over the world ever since, learning Spanish, Japanese, and Thai. She travels for the food, the culture, and the history.