November 26, 2007 Bundle wrapping bliss
Let me say this about bundle wrapping: It works. It works very well. On my last trip I made a more serious effort than ever to exactly follow the instructions from the Red Oxx website (in the form of a diagram based on Doug Dyment’s method.) I was astounded at how well the bundle system prevented wrinkles in my cotton and cotton-blend clothing. Click on the bottom photo below for an image file which explains the system. Better yet, download the PDF from the Red Oxx site, print it, laminate it, and tuck it in your bag. You’ll be glad you did.
This method can be used in bags with or without hold-down straps and with or without packing cubes. The bundle helps keep everything together which decreases the need for hold-downs if the bag is snug and tightly packed . I believe I got better results in an undersized bag without hold-down straps than I ever did with the straps. Why does it work? Read Doug Dyment’s explanation here.
Reader Comments (4)
Yup, agree 100%. Bundle wrapping not only works REALLY well at preventing wrinkes, it also saves space. Folds actually take up space in suitcase, since they create air pockets. It may not seem like much, but they can add up with a bag full of clothes.
There are drawbacks to bundle wrapping, however.
(1) It must be wrapped fairly snug to work, so the core needs to be something rather firm. I've found that a small packing cube stuffed with underwear and socks works OK, but really isn't firm enough.
(2) Don't put anything in the core that you will need in the airport or while on the road. Otherwise you'll be re-wrapping your bundle in the airport.
(3) It doesn't work well if you are living out of a bag (ie, going to a different destination every night). This is because you have to unwrap the whole bundle to get anything, then re-wrap it. One solution is to make smaller bundles for each day's clothes, but this is not ideal.
Great post!
Eric - you're right - the bundle routine can be tiresome if you have to pack and unpack every evening and mor ning. This is where a two-or three-compartment bag with a bundle in each can come in handy, if you can predict what you'll need and when and segregate accordingly. I had some luck with this when I was last in the UK. Some days I didn't even have to open one my bag's three compartments. Thanks for the input.
The photos don't look like the method as I've seen it described and the way I use it. It looks like all of the sleeves are being wrapped at the same time. I've always read that each shirt should be wrapped separately without interleaving. I may try this way to see if it works any differently.
I frequently change hotels nightly on trips. I don't really mind the few minutes it takes to rewrap the bundle on the way out of the room, especially since I often am wrapping around my dirty laundry plus the clean core.
How do you integrate suit jackets? I have my own method that works well but is not using the bundle. I wonder if a suit jacket could also be integrated or if there is too much in the way of structure to make it work.