Roll it up
If you’re looking for the best way to fold a jacket for travel, rolling it up is a great option. Rolling is a space-saving technique that helps minimize wrinkles and maximize the use of your luggage’s available space. Plus, it’s quick and easy to do. Here’s how to roll up your jacket for travel:
- Lay your jacket flat on a surface, such as a bed or table.
- Button up or zip up your jacket, ensuring it is fully closed.
- Start by folding the jacket in half lengthwise, bringing the right shoulder and left shoulder together.
- Next, fold the sleeves in towards the center of the jacket, creating a rectangular shape.
- Starting from the bottom of the jacket, tightly roll it up towards the collar.
- Once rolled up, secure it with a rubber band or use the jacket’s own sleeves to hold it in place.
Wrap it in tissue paper
If you want to give your jacket extra protection while traveling, wrapping it in tissue paper is a smart strategy. Tissue paper serves as a barrier between your jacket and other items in your luggage, preventing friction that could cause creases or snags. Additionally, it helps preserve the shape and integrity of the jacket. Here’s how to fold a jacket and wrap it in tissue paper:
- Begin by folding your jacket in half vertically, bringing the left side and right side together.
- Next, fold the sleeves towards the center of the jacket, creating a rectangular shape.
- Place a sheet of tissue paper, ideally acid-free, on a flat surface.
- Position the folded jacket at one end of the tissue paper.
- Wrap the tissue paper around the jacket, working your way towards the opposite end.
- Tuck in any excess tissue paper to ensure a secure wrap.
Use a packing cube
If you’re a frequent traveler and want an efficient way to organize your luggage, using a packing cube is an excellent solution. Packing cubes are lightweight and help compress your clothes, including jackets, into a compact and tidy package. Follow these steps to fold a jacket and pack it into a packing cube:
- Lay your jacket flat on a surface, making sure it is fully closed.
- Starting with the bottom of the jacket, fold it in half vertically.
- Next, fold the sleeves towards the center of the jacket.
- Fold the jacket in half horizontally, bringing the bottom hem towards the collar.
- Place the folded jacket inside a packing cube, ensuring it fits snugly.
- Zip up the packing cube to secure the jacket.
Hang it in a garment bag
If you’re traveling with a jacket that you want to keep wrinkle-free and in pristine condition, using a garment bag is the best option. A garment bag provides ample space for hanging your jacket, allowing it to breathe and maintain its shape during transit. Here’s how to fold a jacket and hang it in a garment bag:
- Ensure your jacket is fully closed, with buttons or zippers fastened.
- Lay the jacket face-down on a flat surface.
- Fold one shoulder of the jacket to the center, followed by the other shoulder.
- Fold the bottom hem of the jacket towards the collar.
- Place the folded jacket on a hanger, making sure it hangs freely without any overlapping.
- Slide the hanger with the jacket into a garment bag.
- Zip up the garment bag to protect the jacket during travel.
Use vacuum compression bags
If you’re struggling to fit all your clothes, including your jacket, into a small suitcase or backpack, vacuum compression bags can be a game-changer. These bags allow you to remove excess air, reducing the volume of your packed items. Here’s how to fold a jacket and use a vacuum compression bag:
- Close all buttons or zippers on your jacket.
- Fold your jacket in half vertically, bringing the left side and right side together.
- Next, fold the sleeves towards the center of the jacket.
- Fold the jacket in half horizontally, bringing the bottom hem towards the collar.
- Place the folded jacket inside a vacuum compression bag.
- Follow the instructions provided with the compression bag to remove excess air and seal it.
- Ensure the jacket is flat and evenly distributed within the compressed bag.