Great packing tips for that
short city break or long weekend away
If you have a trip planned soon and you’re wondering how to pack a leather holdall efficiently and effectively, we have some great tips for you.
When it comes to holidays, whether they are those two weeks in paradise or a weekend city break to Lisbon or somewhere similar, packing is always an issue. When you have a longer holiday, there is always the chance that you won’t pack enough, while for shorter trips we could overpack. How do you get it just right? Is there a right way or a wrong way to do it? That’s what we’ll explore in the following post.
The reason packing is so difficult at times is because of all the variables. The weather even in somewhere like Portugal can change from sunshine and warmth to rain and cool breezes at the drop of a hat.
This is where planning comes in, but with a little flexibility, because you need to be prepared for the unexpected. The tips below will hopefully help you to avoid too many issues, so you can enjoy your trip away for that romantic break or business trip.
Choosing the Right Bag
Right off the bat, the choice of bag you opt for can impact how the rest of your packing and even your trip goes. Even if you are only going away for a short amount of time, like 3 or 4 days, you still want something that will fare well during travel.
There are obviously many options to choose from when it comes to men’s travel bags. Are you going to backpack it? Unless you are going on a trip that involves a lot of walking, a backpack can be a little cumbersome and could be overkill if you only need space for a couple of days’ worth of clothing.
We would always suggest leather holdalls like this large men’s leather one as being the ideal choice for those long weekends away. These are the ultimate combination of practical and stylish, just the thing you want when you are heading away. You want to look and feel your best on holiday, after all, but you also want to ensure your belongings are safe.
Holdalls do tend to come in a variety of different sizes and shapes. However, we’d say you can’t go wrong with a small to mid-sized bag of this kind. You want ideally a large middle compartment with lots of other handy compartments too. As this picture shows, most bags have handles as well as a shoulder strap.
Pack Economically
Now, there’s nothing wrong with looking your best on holiday. We’d never advise you to simply shove a couple of t-shirts, some jeans and an adequate amount of underwear into your hold all without giving any thought or care to how it looks. However, one of the keys to packing well, particularly for a smaller trip, is doing so economically.
Even in a roomy hold all, space is prime real estate and you need to use it wisely. Practicality doesn’t mean you have to dress like a hobo when you are in a foreign land. It just means you may want to reconsider all those different ensembles. Choose clothing that can be mixed and matched to create a different look each day.
If you’re worried about not having appropriate clothing for the weather, or if it changes while you are out there, don’t go crazy and take up too much space with big clunky jumpers. Instead, pack a couple of well-chosen long sleeve tops. The layered approach is often a good way to pack when dealing with unpredictable weather.
Don’t Forget Your Toothbrush
If you travel a lot, you can handle the issue of packing essentials like toiletries by having a travel-size wash bag on standby. Stock it with those mini travel sized variations that you’ll find many of your favourite items are available in. Even if the brand or product you like is not available in a smaller container, invest in little empty 100ml containers and decant the liquid or cream yourself. Although that may seem fiddly, you’ll be pleased you went to the trouble when you are packing and just need to lift that bag from your cupboard with everything ready to go in it. Don’t forget to pack a toothbrush…and even a spare, just in case.
Make the Most of the Space You Have
As we noted further up the page, the space in your holdall is a bit like prime real estate. Therefore, it should be treated like it and used as fully as possible. Every nook and cranny is space where you can fit something. You’ve probably heard this before, maybe your mum told you or your gran – roll up your underwear and socks so that they don’t take up too much space.
Who are we to argue with our mums and grans? We would even advise that you go as far as rolling not just socks and your underwear up, but also anything made of softer material or that doesn’t need to be ironed. Jeans and some t-shirts hold up surprisingly well if they’re rolled before being packed.
We also spoke earlier about packing a jumper or something to keep the cold at bay. It will help with packing your bag efficiently if you wear or carry those bulkier items rather than trying to make them fit. By the time you have a big clunky Arran sweater in your holdall, even if it is a roomy bag, there’ll be less space to work with.
Invest in a Good Quality Leather Purse or Wallet
Leather purses and leather wallets not only look good, particularly paired with a matching bag, they can also be very practical.
Along with your money and credit cards, many wallets and purses are now designed to fit passports, hotel room key cards and other important travel documents too. By using a wallet or purse for these important items, you can free up space in your bag.
Large men’s travel wallets like this one can hold a wad of cash in addition to numerous folded papers and all of your bank cards too. The button clasp helps to keep everything together.
Handy Tip – Packing a Suit
Ideally, gents, if you’re intending on wearing a suit out to dinner or for a special event while you’re away, we’d advise that you take it in a separate holder that ensures it stays crease-free and smart. However, if you want to limit yourself to just one piece of luggage, there are ways to pack a suit. For one method, follow the steps below.
1. Lay the suit face down on a clean, flat surface
2. Fold the left shoulder of the suit jacket back
3. Turn the right-hand shoulder so that it is inside out and then tuck the left shoulder into it.
4. Fold it in half along the length and then fold it horizontally
5. Now place the folded jacket carefully onto the centre of fully stretched out trousers that are already folded one leg over the other.
Take the bottom half of the trousers and fold them over the jacket, repeating with the top half.
Stick to The Essentials
It can be tricky to get packing just right, and we understand the desire to pack all your favourite clothes. However, for a less stressful time before you even leave for the plane, train or boat, it’s best to stick to the essentials. As long as you have a purse or wallet like this one which is large enough to keep everything together in one place, and by keeping the tips above in mind, you’ll find it much easier to fit everything you need into one bag, meaning your holiday is enjoyable from start to finish.
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