A former British Army soldier has shared the "Army roll" technique, which can enable holidaymakers to pack roughly 20% more clothing in their suitcases. Paul Evans, a private investigator at I-Spy Detectives, learned the method during his military service and says it can help travellers avoid paying for an extra checked bag.
Adding a second suitcase to a booking can cost between £30 and £60, or considerably more if arranged at the airport. Mastering the Army roll could save hundreds of pounds, leaving more money to spend on holiday.
What is the Army roll?
The Army roll works for T-shirts, trousers and underwear. To Army roll a T-shirt, lay it face up on a flat surface and fold roughly 3 inches of material at the bottom upwards to form a cuff. Then, fold the left third of the T-shirt inward and fold the sleeve back on itself. Fold the right third inward and rotate it so the collar faces you. Begin rolling tightly from the collar down to the cuff, then wrap the cuff around the rolled T-shirt to secure it.
Paul said: "You won't get this right on your first try, but once you do, you will wonder how you travelled without it before. The most important part is the cuff because it holds everything together."
He added: "If you hate looking around your case for multiple items, you can use this technique for keeping everything together. In one roll you can combine your T-shirt, socks and underwear."
Additional tips
The advice echoes that of Glasgow Airport, whose website states: "Roll your clothes rather than fold them. It helps reduce the creasing and you can often fit more into the same space. Time to use those tetris skills!"
The travel website Skyscanner also recommends packing cubes, saying: "These help separate your items and can also help you find things faster later. Packing cubes compress your clothing and create a modular system that maximises every centimetre of space."
Paul also suggests making use of the space inside shoes. "Shoes take up a surprising amount of room, so make use of it, you can fill your shoes with socks, underwear, or even charging cables for your phone. I always put my shoes at the bottom of the suitcase and then pack the rolled clothes around them," he said.
While these techniques can fit more items in a case, the expert warns that it does not stop the case from becoming too heavy. Paul said: "The first rule of efficient packing is to lay everything out and decide on what you need. Where possible, pack light, fill any empty gaps, and keep anything you absolutely need within reach. That is how you pack properly whether you are going on a mission or on a family holiday."
