No More
Overpacking.
A better way to pack.

Everyone has their own system — panic, a knee on the lid, and arriving wrinkled. Here's ours.

Start Packing

Start with the bag, not the clothesRight-sizing your luggage is 80% of the battle.
Heaviest items go closest to the wheelsLow and centered keeps the bag stable and reduces shoulder strain.
Roll what you can. Fold what you must.Rolling reduces wrinkles and saves space.
Leave the expansion for the return tripIf you leave fully expanded, there's no room for souvenirs, shopping, or that coat you forgot.
Weigh it before you leave the houseAirline scales are not more accurate than yours.

Before you touch a single item of clothing.

The biggest packing mistake isn't overpacking — it's starting with the wrong bag.

Bag selection rule: 1–3 nights = 20–21" carry-on. 4–7 days = 25" medium. 7+ days = large.

Roll vs. fold vs. cube. The honest breakdown.

No single right method — each works for different items.

Best for: Casual clothes

The Roll

Rolling tightly reduces wrinkles in casual fabrics and makes it easy to see everything at a glance.

Reduces wrinkles in t-shirts, jeans, casual pants
Saves space — rolled items compress better than folded
Easy to see every item without unpacking
Works perfectly with compression packing cubes

Not ideal for dress shirts, blazers, or structured items
Delicate fabrics can pick up creases at roll edges

Best for: Formal & structured

The Fold

Flat folding preserves structure in dress shirts, blazers, and trousers.

Preserves shape in structured garments
Dress shirts and blazers arrive far less wrinkled
Works with built-in suiter compartments on select RBH bags

Uses more space than rolling
Disrupts the whole stack when you need an item at the bottom

Best for: Staying organized

The Cube

Packing cubes don't save space on their own — compression cubes do.

Each category has its own contained zone
Unpacking at the hotel takes 30 seconds
Compression cubes reduce volume by up to 30%
Keeps dirty clothes completely separate on the way back

Requires buying the cubes upfront
Non-compression cubes add weight without saving space

The RBH approach: Roll casual, fold dress, cube everything else.

The order everything goes in.

How you layer items matters as much as how you fold them.

Shoes — First In, Bottom Layer

Pack shoes along the wheel end in shoe bags or shower caps — heaviest zone keeps weight low and centered.
Pro move: Pack shoes heel-to-toe and alternate directions
Heavy Items — Second Layer

Toiletry bag, hair tools, chargers, and anything with weight go on top of shoes, still close to the wheel end.
Pro move: Pack your toiletry bag in a sealed zip bag inside a hard case — no leaks
Folded Items — Flat Against the Back

Dress shirts, trousers, and blazers go flat, folded along natural seams.
Pro move: Use the built-in compression straps to hold folds in place
Rolled & Cubed Items — Fill the Gaps

Rolled casual items go vertically so you can see everything at a glance.
Pro move: Pack outfits together in cubes, not categories
Soft Fillers — Pack Every Corner

Underwear, socks, and swimwear are your gap-fillers — tuck them around shoes and between folded items.
Pro move: Roll swimwear tightly and tuck into shoe pockets
Last In — First Out

First-night outfit, pajamas, hotel charger, and customs documents go on top.
Pro move: Keep one full outfit in your carry-on in case a checked bag is delayed

Think in zones, not categories.

Packing by category looks organized in the bag but creates chaos at the destination.

Heavy & Infrequent

Shoes (in bags)
Toiletry kit
Hair tools
Chargers & cables
Books or tablets
Shoes for specific events

Structured & Formal

Dress shirts (folded flat)
Trousers
Blazers & jackets
Dress shoes (if room)
Garment sleeve items

Casual & Everyday

Rolled t-shirts
Jeans & casual pants
Knitwear & sweaters
Packing cubes
Workout clothes

First Access

First-night outfit
Pajamas
Hotel room charger
Snacks & medicine
Travel documents
Anything customs-facing

The carry-on is a different game entirely.

Packing a carry-on isn't just packing less — it's packing differently.

What Always Goes in the Carry-On

Valuables — laptop, camera, jewelry, medication
One full change of clothes (in case checked bag is delayed)
All chargers and cables — airlines won't cover these if lost
Anything irreplaceable at your destination
Liquids in 3-1-1 compliant bag — use the removable pouch in Avalon
Passport, boarding pass, travel insurance documents
Headphones, neck pillow, and anything you'll use on the flight

Carry-On Packing Rules That Save Time

Keep your TSA items in the same pocket every single trip
Wear your heaviest shoes and jacket on the plane
Use a personal item for anything you'll need during the flight
Use FastAccess™ on Montecito 2.0 to grab your laptop without opening the main compartment
Don't expand your carry-on — it won't fit in the overhead bin if you do
Weigh it at home — most airlines cap carry-ons at 25 lbs
Pack the carry-on last, with the freshest mind

Under-seat strategy: Pair a 20–21" carry-on with an Avalon Small Carry-On 28L as your personal item. Valuables under the seat, clothes overhead.

The tricks nobody tells you until it's too late.

Dry Cleaning Bags for Dress Clothes

Slide a dry cleaning bag over dress shirts before folding — the slippery surface prevents friction creases and lets fabric shift instead of bunch.

The 5–4–3–2–1 Packing Rule

For a 7-day trip: 5 tops, 4 bottoms, 3 shoes, 2 dress items, 1 going-out outfit.

Charge Before You Pack

Pack your power bank fully charged and use the USB port on Montecito 2.0 or Rodeo Drive 2.0 to charge at the gate.

Use the Wet Pocket — Every Trip

Use the PVC-lined wet pocket (Cambria, Avalon) on every trip, not just beach vacations — it's perfect for damp gym clothes, swimwear, or a leaky bottle.

Lock Before You Drop

Engage your TSA lock before handing over checked bags — not after. Once it's on the belt, it's out of reach.

Save the Expansion for the Return

Never leave home fully expanded — you'll need that extra inch for everything you pick up along the way.

What to pack. By trip type.

No universal packing list works for every trip.

Domestic Weekend · Carry-On Only

2–3 tops (roll all of them)
1–2 bottoms (jeans travel double-duty)
1 dress or going-out outfit if needed
Underwear × nights + 1
1 pair casual shoes + 1 pair dress if needed
Toiletries in 3-1-1 bag — removable pouch in Avalon
Chargers, headphones, power bank
Workout clothes (if going to a gym)
Light jacket — wear it, don't pack it
Medication, travel documents, cards

International Week · Medium Check-In

5–6 tops (mix roll and fold)
3–4 bottoms including 1 dress pant
1–2 dress items for events or dinners
2–3 pairs shoes + 1 pair dress
Full toiletry kit — liquids in checked bag
Packing cubes for categories
Universal power adapter + all chargers
Medication with copies of prescriptions
Printed itinerary, insurance, emergency contacts
One full outfit in carry-on — just in case

What actually fits

Numbers on a spec sheet don't tell you how many outfits you can pack.

The 3-Night Business Trip.

~35–38LVolume

22.25×14.5×9.5"Dims

7.4–8.5 lbsWeight

+2"Expansion

What fits — 3-night business trip

3 dress shirts
2 pairs trousers
1 blazer or sport coat
3–4 t-shirts or casual tops
1 pair dress shoes + 1 pair casual
4 days underwear + socks
Toiletry kit
Chargers + laptop

Best Ricardo carry-ons for this trip

Montecito 2.0 FastAccess™ Carry-On 22.25×14.5×9.5" · 8.2 lbs
Montecito 2.0 Hardside Carry-On 22.25×14.5×9.5" · 8.2 lbs
Rodeo Drive 2.0 Hardside Carry-On 22.25×14.5×9.75" · 8.5 lbs
Cambria Hardside Carry-On 22.25×14×9.5" · 7.4 lbs

The Full Week Away.

~58–65LVolume

26.5–27×18×11"Dims

9.6–10.7 lbsWeight

+2.5"Expansion

What fits — 7-night international trip

5–6 tops
3–4 bottoms
1 dress outfit
1 light jacket or blazer
2 pairs casual shoes + 1 dress pair
7–8 days underwear + socks
Full toiletry kit
Workout clothes × 3
Pajamas
Swimwear × 2
Packing cubes + adapter

Best Ricardo medium check-ins for this trip

Avalon rPET Medium Check-In 27×18×11" · ~9 lbs
Cambria Hardside Medium Check-In 26.5×17.5×10.75" · 9.6 lbs
Montecito 2.0 Medium Check-In 26.5×18×11.25" · 10.4 lbs
Rodeo Drive 2.0 Hardside Medium 27×18×11.75" · 10.7 lbs

Two Weeks. Family Travel.

~80–95LVolume

30–31×20×12.5"Dims

10–12.5 lbsWeight

+2.5"Expansion

What fits — 14-night extended trip or family travel

8–10 tops
5–6 bottoms
2 dress outfits
1 heavy coat or multiple light layers
3 pairs shoes
14+ days underwear + socks
Full toiletry kit + extras
Gym clothes × 5–7 days
Swimwear × 3–4
Kids' clothes + souvenirs

Best Ricardo large check-ins for this trip

Cambria Hardside Large Check-In 31×20.25×12.25" · 11.8 lbs
Rodeo Drive 2.0 Hardside Large Check-In 30.5×20.25×13.25" · 12.4 lbs
Montecito 2.0 Large Check-In 30×20×12.5" · 12.5 lbs
Avalon rPET Large Check-In ~30×20×11" · ~10 lbs

The weight math: Rodeo Drive 2.0 Large at 12.4 lbs empty leaves 37.6 lbs for clothes. Avalon at ~10 lbs leaves 40 lbs — that's a pair of shoes.

More guides from the RBH edit.

Now that you know how to pack,
get a bag worth packing into.

Every Ricardo Beverly Hills bag is built around the way real travelers actually pack. 10-year warranty. Free shipping on select collections.

Shop All Luggage Shop Packing Cubes

No MoreOverpacking.A better way to pack.