Ultralight packing for business travel
Travel is awesome, but checking luggage sucks. This we all know. Business travel can be awesome, because someone else is paying for your ticket. However, business travel means business attire, which we tend to associate with extra bulk, and therefore with checked luggage.
Not so! You can pack light, and swan off on your next business trip with carry-on luggage only. Skip the luggage carousel, and arrive at your final destination in time for happy hour!
It's all about folding the sport coat so that it does not wrinkle. That's right: from now on, you're gonna be folding suit jackets.
Pack a sport coat in your carry-on luggage: A video tutorial
When I travel, be it for business or pleasure, I have a rule: If it doesn't fit in carry-on, it's not coming with me*. Business attire does not get a free pass on this one. Fortunately, there's a dead-easy way to fold a sport coat or suit jacket for travel that won't leave it all wrinkled and fugly.
You've probably heard that the only way to pack a sport coat is to lay it flat and fold the arms over other items, but fortunately there's another way...
To the left you'll see a video sport-coat-folding tutorial from 1bag1world. I love how the urge to add annoying music to the video was avoided, and how the folder pauses during the demonstration so you can see exactly what’s going on. Well done, sir.
The now-folded sport coat can now fit into your carry-on bag. My tool of choice is a bike messenger's backpack or a North Face duffel bag, but yours may be classier.
Live dangerously: pack a vest, too
If you're like me, then you rock a vest (waistcoat) beneath your sport coat. Way to bring the style. In that case, simply fold the vest lengthwise, so the buttons and buttonholes face each other. Lay it against the inside of the folded sport coat just before the final fold. Then fold the sport coat and pack it.
This way, the vest won't wrinkle, as it won't be taking on much friction from the coat. I've done this at least a dozen times, and have never needed to iron my sport coat or vest. This is handy for when I need to look presentable immediately after landing. Not always easy after a trans-oceanic trip in coach class... but it's doable, for me and for you.
Give the suit jacket a few folds, and give the baggage carousel the finger.
(* Obviously an exception would be made for a ski or snowboard trip.)
