I Scientifically Tested the 4 Best Packing Methods: Traditional, KonMari, Roll, Ranger Roll, by Emerald's Daily Carry on YouTube. 14 min 11 s.
- Video length
- 14 min 11 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Lay out all your clothes and sort them into tops, bottoms, underwear and bulky items. Remove anything you will not wear and set aside one outfit for travel day.
For the traditional flat fold, lay each item face down and fold the sleeves inward. Fold the sides toward the middle, then fold in half or thirds to the width of your bag.
For KonMari, fold each item into a long rectangle, then fold it in half and roll it tight into a small bundle. Stand the bundles upright in the bag so you can see every item.
For the standard roll, fold the item in half lengthwise, then roll from the bottom hem upward. Keep the roll tight and smooth out wrinkles as you go.
For the ranger roll, fold sleeves inward and fold the shirt in half lengthwise. Roll from the bottom up, then tuck the rolled bundle into the collar or the open end to lock it.
Pack the heaviest and bulkiest items at the bottom of the bag. Fill gaps with rolled socks and underwear, and keep the top layer for items you need during the trip.
Close the bag and lift it to check the weight. If it feels too heavy or will not zip, remove one bulky item and repack the gap with smaller rolls.
After arrival, unpack and hang or steam wrinkled items. Rolled clothes usually need a quick shake and a few minutes to relax before wearing.
Tips and common mistakes
Rolling saves space but can crease stiff fabrics, so fold dress shirts flat instead.
Use a packing cube to keep rolled clothes compressed and easy to find.
Roll socks and underwear first and push them into corners to fill dead space.
Test your packed bag a day early so you can swap items before you leave.
Questions
Does rolling or folding save more space?
Rolling and the ranger roll usually leave less dead space than a flat fold. Flat folding is faster and keeps dress clothes smoother.
Which method is best for a week in a carry-on?
Use the ranger roll or standard roll for most clothes and flat fold for one or two dress items. This balances space, speed and wrinkles.
Will rolled clothes wrinkle?
They can crease along the roll lines, especially cotton and linen. Shake them out and hang or steam them for a few minutes after unpacking.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
