Do you roll or fold? It’s a hotly debated subject among experienced travelers so we decided to settle the argument once and for all. We’ve compared both options and we have a final verdict. And we have a time-lapse video of each method to prove it.
We made our comparison using the following measurements: space efficiency, packing speed, wrinkles, creases and ease of item retrieval.
Wrinkles. Let’s face it, they’re gonna happen. It’s unavoidable unless you only pack “wrinkle-free” clothing, which is not a bad idea for some travelers. But every hotel or motel supplies an iron for pressing your clothes. You can also hang items in your bathroom during your morning shower and allow the steam to help relax the wrinkles a bit.
Creases. Those lines you get across the chest of your shirts and thighs of your pants when folding and packing them in your suitcase. But creases are virtually non-existent when you roll your clothes instead.
Packing speed. Rolling is the clear winner here. Meticulously folding your clothes just can’t compare with rolling them. If you’re in a hurry, roll ’em! If you really enjoy standing over your suitcase and meticulously folding every item, then by all means indulge yourself. The rest of us will be checked out of the hotel by the time you finally finish and zip up your suitcase.
Item retrieval. This is one thing that “folders” don’t consider, but rolling allows for very easy retrieval of items in your suitcase. It could be at the airport, at a short stopover, or even for those who only unpack half their suitcase during their trip (such as dress shirts that are hung in the closet). When everything is rolled into tube-like form and stacked, it’s very modular and rearrangeable.
Space efficiency. This is another biggie. And rolling wins. For our test we packed the same exact items both ways and rolling yielded an efficiency of about 1-inch less thickness, because rolling clothes makes them inherently more compact.
Our verdict? Rolling is better than folding.
We understand that some people may not be convinced. To those people, we suggest you try this comparison yourself. Then you’ll know. Afterward, drop us a note and tell us how wrong you were.
Items packed in our comparison (women’s clothing):
- 2 Jeans
- 2 Long sleeve shirts
- 2 Long sleeve t-shirts
- 1 Long sleeve shirts
- 2 Short sleeve t-shirts
- 2 Tank tops
- 2 Chinos
- 1 Pair of leggings
- 2 Short dresses
- 1 Long dress
- 1 Skirt
- 2 Cardigan sweaters
- 1 Gym shorts
- 1 Gym tank
- 1 Blazer
- 1 Pair sneakers
- 1 Pair sandals
- 1 Pair heels
- 3 Pair socks
- 1 Cotton scarf
- 1 Hairbrush
(Note: For the sake of discretion in our photos, we did not include underwear or bras.)
Below is a handy chart that summarized the outcome of our little test comparison:
Here are some looping time-lapse videos of both methods:
Rolling…
Folding…
Now that you know the answer, find out how to make the most of this suitcase packing technique. Read our post, How To Pack A Suitcase – The Ultimate Guide.
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For Pinners:
