How to roll shorts to save space in a travel bag

How can you pack a pair of shorts to save space inside your bag? Rolling shorts is, in my opinion, the best way to pack it inside the bag.

Pack efficiently is all about getting the most out of your bag and put more things inside it.

Some people say we should bundle it, some say you should fold it, and others say you should roll it.

Having tried all three methods, my preferred method is to roll my clothes.

Rolling clothes, in my opinion, not only it maximizes the space, but also makes it easy to take things out of the bag while keeping all other clothes neat and organized.

Picking the right shorts

Shorts is one piece of garment that both man and women take for travelling.

The type of shorts and fabric make all the difference in how much volume they take inside a bag. Denim shorts are usually bulkier than regular polyester shorts, so packing one instead of the other can make a lot of difference in the space it occupies inside the bag. 

However, nicer shorts like the ones made in linen can make you look better than when wearing some random polyester shorts. Picking the right balance between a fabric that is not bulky and that makes you look good is not an easy task, but crucial to save space while still looking good.

I usually go for a couple of options: 1 pair of denim or cotton shorts and 1 pair of polyester shorts. I tend to wear the bulkiest and roll the polyester shorts.

I do try to pick polyester shorts that do not look out of place with the rest of my clothes or that aren't too sporty.

To me, polyester shorts are an essential garment for travel since they wash and dry really quick. 

However, in all cases, it is very important to pack the shorts inside the bag efficiently.

 

How to roll a pair of shorts

To take this versatile clothing item with me, I always choose to roll it so that the space it takes inside the bag is minimized and also keep it organized.

I take the 5 following steps to roll my shorts:

1. Lay the shorts on a flat surface

2. Fold a 10 centimeters horizontally at the top of the shorts

3. Fold one leg on the top of the other 

4. Roll the "rectangle" from the bottom towards the folded top

5. Tuck the rolled portion inside the folded top until it holds itself and you get the complete roll

Was it confusing?

I prepared a couple videos to make the entire process easier to understand. 

Although the process is the same, I recorded one video is for polyester shorts:

And another video is for cotton shorts:

Conclusion

One of my proudest moment as a traveler, was when I was at the airport security in London, Heathrow, and I got a compliment from the security person checking my bag.

"Your bag is extremely well packed sir!"

Guess, what method I was using?

That's right!

My shorts rolled up inside my bag.

It may take a little bit of extra time, when you first try it, but once you get the hang of it, it's really easy and fast. Totally worth doing!