When traveling, we often need to bring more than one pair of shoes. Unfortunately, packing shoes can be tricky because they are quite bulky and can take up a lot of space in your suitcase.
Additionally, shoes made of certain materials are prone to getting wrinkled, folded, or damaged when packed with other items.
However, despite these challenges, you can still safely pack any shoes in your suitcase by following some simple steps.
In this article, I will share tips on how to pack and store shoes in your suitcase properly. Here they are:
The first step is to clean your shoes thoroughly. Make sure to clean all parts, including the soles, so there is no dirt or dust left on them.
If you don't clean your shoes, the dust can spread to other parts of your suitcase during the trip. No one wants to arrive at their destination with dirty shoes!
Remember how new shoes come with paper rolls or shoe inserts? This is done to help shoes maintain their shape.
You can use this same trick when packing your shoes. To prevent them from getting flattened by other items in your suitcase, fill them with rolls of socks or paper until they are completely full.
To make the most of the available space, you can also fill your shoes with other small items you need, such as underwear. Just be sure to wrap the underwear first to keep it clean.
Before placing your shoes in the suitcase, pack them properly to prevent them from contaminating other items. There are two main options for this: using boxes or shoe bags.
If you still have the original shoe box, you can reuse it. The original box is designed to fit the shoes perfectly, providing good protection when packed in your suitcase.
To avoid wasting space in the shoe box, fill it with small items such as clothes, combs, nail clippers, chargers, and similar objects.
If you don't have the shoe box, you can use a shoe bag instead. These bags are readily available online in a variety of shapes and at affordable prices.
It’s best to choose a shoe bag made of thick, waterproof material. This will protect your shoes if any liquid spills or leaks in your suitcase.
Alternatively, you can wrap the shoes in a clear plastic zip lock bag. These bags are cheaper than shoe bags but still offer good protection while traveling.
To save space, pack the shoes in an inverted position, with the front end at the back end and vice versa. This method is often used by shoe manufacturers when packing shoes in boxes.
Once your shoes are properly packed, place them in the suitcase. Since shoes are usually large and heavy, it’s best to put them in the bottom corner of the suitcase. This helps distribute the weight evenly.
For extra security, place a few pieces of clothing around the shoes to cushion them during travel.
These are the steps to pack your shoes correctly and keep them safe in a suitcase. If you have any other tips for packing shoes during a holiday, please share them in the comment section!
