Last Updated: February 2, 2023
How To Pack A Suit In A Backpack (Tips & Tricks)
Need tips on how you can pack a suit in a backpack? Then you’ve come to the right place because this detailed guide will tell you all the tips and tricks for folding and packing a suit in a backpack!
Nobody wants to arrive at their destination with a wrinkled suit, especially if they have to rush to a meeting moments after landing. That’s why it’s important to fold and pack your suit neatly and do everything you can to minimize the chances of it wrinkling in the bag. And since most people, business travelers included, have swapped bulky suitcases for carry-on backpacks due to convenience, we’ll help you figure out how to place the suit in a backpack so that it stays wrinkle-free!
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Folding the Suit
The first thing you’ll want to do is fold the suit jacket. There are a few ways you can do this, but one folding method is praised by tailors as the best one for ensuring your suit jacket creases minimally in transport.
Grab the suit jacket with both hands and place each palm inside one of the shoulders. Then bring your palms together, so that you can grab onto the jacket with just one hand. Take one hand out and grab the collar with it. Unfold the collar and align the lapels, and then pull the collar over the shoulders, so that you turn the jacket inside out. You should end up with the jacket looking like this:
Then place the jacket on a flat surface and fold it once again lengthwise, if it is necessary. You can then fold it in half, but try to follow the natural creasing pattern. Place the folded jacket in a traditional suit bag or even just a dry cleaning bag, to protect it from creasing further in transport. You can also pack the suit pants together with the jacket in this bag.
Another thing you can do is take some tissue paper and place it inside the folds. This allows the fabric to move, reducing the chance of the jacket creasing.
Folding the Shirt
First, you should button up the shirt and place it on a flat surface. Then turn it face down and fold the sleeves below the collar – here’s an image of how you should fold the shirt sleeves:
(pardon the creases, it was fresh out of the wash and I absolutely despise unnecessary ironing)
Once you’ve done that, you should fold the shirt lengthwise in thirds so that it’s no wider than the collar. Then fold the rest of the shirt neatly upwards, and place it in a plastic bag to minimize creases and wrinkles.
One thing I have to point out is that this will create some creases, but they will release quickly when you unpack the shirt. They also won’t be visible underneath a suit jacket, plus you can always just shower while the shirt is hanging in the bathroom and the steam will release those creases immediately.
It’s recommended to pack the shirt inside the folded suit jacket to maximize packing space and minimize the chances of anything wrinkling in the bag.
Packing Your Shoes
Packing your dress shoes is the easiest part of packing a suit in a backpack. The first thing you should do is take two small plastic bags that can fit in the shoes. Stuff them with underwear or socks, and then place them inside the shoes. This helps the shoes retain their original shape, plus it lets you maximize the packing space in your bag.
Then place each shoe in a plastic bag and pack them at the bottom of your backpack. You can then continue packing the bag with your other clothes, but don’t put the folded suit inside just yet – save it for last and place it on top of all the other clothing, to minimize pressure and wrinkles.
Benefits of Packing Your Suit in A Backpack
The main benefit of packing your suit in a backpack is that you don’t have to lug around a huge garment bag. It’s much easier to get around airports and foreign cities if you’ve only got a backpack, mostly because you have full use of both your arms.
Also, backpacks are becoming increasingly popular for business travelers because of their convenience. They’re better for keeping your items organized and easier to travel with than suitcases, especially if you know how to properly pack in a backpack without wrinkling your clothes.
Downsides of Packing Your Suit in A Backpack
The main downside of packing a suit in a backpack is that it can be a bit challenging to keep it wrinkle-free. It’s best to put it in a plastic bag or even a dry cleaning bag after folding it and put it in a compartment where it can remain as flat as possible. This is easier with bags that open up suitcase style, but it can be tricky if you have a classic top-loading backpack.
I suggest putting the folded suit in the laptop compartment if there is enough space inside. That way it stays as flat as possible and there aren’t other garments on top of it that could wrinkle it. The flat laptop surface also helps prevent the suit from wrinkling, but only if you don’t overstuff the main compartment so much that it’s protruding in the back.
What to Do to Minimize or Prevent Wrinkles or Creases in Your Suit
There’s one trick to get rid of wrinkles in your clothing and you might already know it – place it neatly on a hanger and hang it in the bathroom while you’re showering. It works only if you shower with hot water because the steam loosens the fabric and gets rid of any wrinkles and creases in minutes.
Alternatively, you can carry a travel-sized steamer or iron with you on your trips, but in my opinion, this is a waste of packing space. You can usually get an iron or a steamer at your hotel or Airbnb, and some places will even do the ironing for you, provided you’re staying in an upscale hotel.
Other Ways to Pack Your Suit
The best way to pack a suit is to use a garment bag or a dedicated suiter section in a suitcase. Sure, it’s quite a hassle to carry these around the airport, but it’s by far the best thing for assuring your suit arrives at the destination wrinkle-free.
You can also try placing the suit jacket on a hanger, and then putting it inside a plastic bag. Fold the bag in half, and place it in your luggage like that. It’s not the best method for space-saving, but it does minimize the chances of creases and wrinkles.
A traditional fold is also an option, so the same process you would use to fold the dress shirt. However, this method is the trickiest to master, and if you don’t do it perfectly, the jacket will likely crease.
Other Tips for Packing A Suit in A Backpack
One way to minimize the possibility of your suit getting wrinkled during transport is to create movement within the fabric folds. The easiest way to do this is to place tissue paper between each of the folds. This helps minimize the possibility of wrinkles and it allows the suit to straighten out more easily at the destination.
On top of that, you can also place the suit in a plastic dry cleaner bag before folding it. This also helps create movement between the folds, which in turn helps your suit stay wrinkle-free during travel.
If you don’t have any tissue paper or a dry cleaner bag, turn the suit coat inside out. It’s not quite as effective, but it’s better than doing nothing before folding.
On of that, always pack your suit last. The less pressure on it the better, so be sure to pack all your casual clothes first, and then you can put the suit in the backpack.
Best Backpack for Carrying A Suit
Choosing the right backpack for carrying a suit is as important as folding it neatly. Backpacks that open up like a suitcase are the best option because you can lay your suit flat on top of the other garment, which isn’t the case with most top-loading packs.
You can also get a backpack with a designated suit compartment, making your life a lot easier. Plus, you can purchase a proper suit backpack with shoulder straps – it’s essentially a garment bag designed to be carried like a suit, and it’s a great option for people who have to pack a suit for a business trip very often.
Henty Wingman Backpack is definitely the best option if you travel light and all you need is a suit, dress shoes, and some toiletries. It’s essentially a garment bag designed to be rolled so that the suit inside stays wrinkle-free. It’s got straps like a backpack, as well as additional space inside for toiletries and other casual clothes.
The backpack even has a dedicated laptop sleeve and it’s small enough to pass as a carry-on with most airlines, so it’s definitely our top choice if you need a reliable backpack for business travel.
Genius Pack Travel Backpack is another amazing option for business travel. It’s got an integrated suiter section, so you don’t have to stress about folding and creases. Just put your suit on a hanger and stuff it in the dedicated section, as you would if you were packing in a carry-on suitcase.
This backpack is also small enough to pass as a carry-on on most airlines, it’s got multiple pockets and compartments for easy organization (including a laptop pocket), and plenty of space for your other clothes and toiletries. The shoulder system is also padded and ventilated, for a very comfortable carrying experience.
If you’re okay with spending some time folding your suit so that you can pack it inside a really good travel backpack, I cannot recommend the Osprey Porter bag enough. It’s one of the best travel backpacks on the market, thanks to a spacious interior and sleek design that meets the carry-on restrictions of most airlines.
The bag has a comfortable back system with stowable shoulder straps, plenty of compression straps to secure the load, and a variety of pockets and compartments for effortless organization.
About the Author Roger Timbrook
Roger is a little obsessed with travel. He has been to over 40 countries, broken 3 suitcases and owned over 10 backpacks in 12 months. What he doesn't know about travel, ain't worth knowing!
