How to Pack Lighter, Smarter, and Faster, According to T+L Editors

"There's not much that makes me feel like an organized human as much as dividing my belongings into color-coded cubes. It's so wonderful to know exactly where everything you brought is as soon as you unzip your suitcase. Plus, you can very easily move your packing cubes into the drawers of your hotel dresser and instantly be done unpacking and ready to go." — Richelle Szypulski, Senior Associate Editor

To buy: Eagle Creek Pack-it Specter Tech Compression Cube Set, ebags.com, $40

"There's nothing more annoying than struggling to stuff everything back into your suitcase at the end of a trip only to realize you didn't even wear half the clothes you brought. That's why I started strictly packing by outfit — not individual item — and only letting pieces I had a plan for make the cut. I'll take a skirt only if I know I'm bringing a top and shoes that I would wear with it, and I'll think about the activities on my itinerary and what I see myself wearing while doing them. I hate checking a bag but love clothes, so being realistic and planning ahead is key." — Nina Ruggiero, Senior Digital Editor

"I'm in a long distance relationship and take weekend trips up to Boston on the regular. Because it feels like I am always either packing or unpacking, I try to minimize the amount of time I spend doing what has come to be a much-dreaded chore when possible. Which is why I've gotten into the habit of leaving my travel-sized bottles of conditioner, shampoo, and dry shampoo in my weekender bag at all times. Since I only use them when I travel and they don't need to be washed or exchanged like clothes, keeping these little items in my bag leaves me a few less things I need to remember to pack — and when it's 11:30 p.m. the night before my trip and all I've done is taken my bag out of the closet, it's nice to feel like I've already gotten started packing." — Elizabeth Preske, Assistant Digital Editor

To buy: Lo & Sons 'Catalina' Deluxe Canvas Weekender, loandsons.com, $148

"Even when I pack at the very last minute, I take time to lay everything out before any item goes into my bag. Grouping things together on my bed helps me see quickly what items don’t pull their weight. A pair of pants that can only be worn with one top, or that requires shoes I wasn’t already planning to pack? Back in the drawer. Seeing everything clearly before I start also helps me fit things into my bag in a logical way. For me, this means starting with my bulkiest items, then cherry-picking lightweight items to tuck into gaps around them to form a sturdy base layer to build up from." — Skye Senterfeit, Photo Editor

"One of the most frustrating parts of getting ready for a big trip is realizing that you can’t zip up your bag until after you’ve brushed your teeth and packed the products you need in your toiletry bag. I keep a travel-only toiletry bag that has duplicates of everything I ever travel with ready to go in my suitcase." — Tanner Saunders, Associate Digital Editor

To buy: Rains Small Dopp Kit, nordstrom.com, $50

"When I went on my first international trip, I was advised to pack everything I'd like to take with me — and then remove half of it from my suitcase. I find this really helps in terms of figuring out what I actually need for a trip and bringing just the essentials." — Elizabeth Preske, Assistant Digital Editor

"Packing in a soft-sided weekender or duffel gives you the flexibility (literally!) to shape your bag to what you're packing instead of the other way around. My canvas overnighter takes on a different shape depending on what I need it to hold and will squish, even when packed almost beyond its means, into spaces a hard-sided roller bag just won't go. I hope my current bag will last forever but I'm eyeing this simple weekender from Makr as its eventual replacement." — Skye Senterfeit, Photo Editor

To buy: Makr Fold Weekender Revised in Navy Canvas, makr.com, $175

"After going on international adventures and suffering food poisoning, sudden fever, cuts and scrapes, terrible bug bites, and other ailments — and then having to navigate a foreign pharmacy — I've learned to always pack a small medical kit. I keep a toiletry bag ready to go stocked with Band-aids, Neosporin, pain relievers, cold medicine, medicine for stomach trouble, itch relief ointment, antibiotics (you can ask your doctor for an emergency prescription before you travel), and ear plugs (life savers on long-haul flights and trains). And if you never have to use it, all the better!" — Karen Chen, Digital Producer

To buy: First Aid Kit, amazon.com, $16

"To pack light, I only bring items that I can wear in more ways than one. No matter now many nice 'going out' outfits you bring on a trip, the likelihood of you defaulting to comfy T-shirts and leggings or breezy dresses (one-piece outfits are a packer's best friend) is much higher. The same philosophy goes for shoes: Since they take up so much precious space, make sure they're putting in the work to deserve a spot in that carry-on. Ditch the heels you might wear for one fancy night out and instead opt for dressy sandals that are comfortable enough to wear while sightseeing as well. Or pack a pair of all-purpose sneakers that can easily go from day to night." — Karen Chen, Editorial Producer

To buy: Steve Madden 'Dina' Sandals, nordstrom.com, $60

"Buy 'snack size' plastic bags for packing necklaces. To prevent tangling, give each one its own bag and fasten the clasp." — Kathy Roberson, Copy & Research Chief

To buy: Ziploc Double Zipper Storage Bags, amazon.com, $13

"In the closet of most high-end hotel rooms, you’ll find draw-string fabric bags for laundry and shoes. They’re semi-disposable, but fantastic for packing. Trust me, using them to separate shoes and dirty laundry will totally transform your return-journey packing experience." — Flora Stubbs, Features Director

"Put Bounce dryer sheets between items of clothing in your suitcase to keep everything fresh." — Jesse Ashlock, Executive Editor

To buy: Bounce Fabric Softener and Dryer Sheets (240 count), amazon.com, $6

"I always pack a plastic grocery bag — or steal the shower cap from the hotel if I forget — to stash a wet bathing suit in for the return home. That way, we get to enjoy every last second on the beach." — Jacqueline Gifford, Editor-in-Chief

“Next time you're at the hair salon or Sephora (or the dentist), ask for samples — as many as they'll give you. You can also buy sample/travel sizes, but maintaining a steady supply of free samples is the real goal. I keep a box of them in the bathroom and grab what I need before a trip. Throwing a sample-sized shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, face wash and moisturizer (and a face mask and some makeup while you're at it) in your toiletry bag saves space and time. Travel-sized soap dispensers are also great, but samples are easier.” — Jessica Plautz, Deputy Digital Editor

To buy: Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel Mini, sephora.com, $15; Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Two Lil Mattemoiselles, sephora.com, $19; Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask Mini, sephora.com, $22; Giorgio Armani Beauty, sephora.com, $42; Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask Mini, sephora.com, $13

"All memes aside, I've been living the Konmari lifestyle for a few years now, and her folding method may be one of the biggest takeaways. Not only does the method save room in drawers at home, but the folded clothes can go quickly in a bag or suitcase for extremely fast packing. Another perk of using the Marie Kondo method is being able to see your entire wardrobe at once so you don't have to waste time digging in boxes of storage for off season clothes when taking a warm weather vacation in winter months."— Mariah Tyler, Digital Associate Photo Editor

To buy: "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing" Hardcover Book by Marie Kondo, amazon.com, $10

"As my collection of skin-care products continues to expand (I’m not 20 anymore), so has the time required to sort through it all — at the last minute, with my Uber to JFK honking downstairs. I recently started keeping a separate Dopp kit stocked with travel-size duplicates of all my essentials. This means I can just grab my toiletries and go, with no risk of forgetting some crucial cream or spray — plus it gives me an excuse to go nuts on all those cute mini items in line at Sephora." — CB Owens, Copy & Research Editor

To buy: Herschel Supply Co. Chapter Toiletry Case, nordstrom.com, $30

"I always overpack, so rolling up my clothes so that they take up less space in my luggage is essential." — Devin Traineau, Associate Photo Editor

"I am a terrible packer. No matter where I am going, or for how long, or how far in advance I booked my trip, I will inevitably be up at 2 a.m. the night before, just one misplaced sneaker away from a complete meltdown. I’ve accepted this as an inevitability and tried to streamline the process where I can, so now, I always keep a clear toiletry bag packed with all my favorite products, so I can see at a glance what I have and add in a couple essentials (sunscreen for a lake trip, bug spray when there’s hiking planned, etc.). I also keep a few plane go-to's — chargers, lip balm, eye mask, neck pillow — in my favorite travel bag, which helps me speed through the personal-item prep so I can get back to bemoaning my lack of good shoes and waffling on how many caftans and books I’ll need for a four-day weekend." —Lila Battis, Food & Travel Editor

To buy: Travel Smart by Conair Transparent Sundry Kit, amazon.com, $9