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Flat Packing Versus Rolling: Which Actually Saves More Space?

We conducted a highly unscientific packing experiment, and the results even surprised us.

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Flat packing, FTW!

Flat packing versus rolling: It’s one of the great debates (at least here in our office), right up there with coffee vs. tea, Yankees vs. Mets, and Star Wars versus who cares?* We’re a diverse group, with fans of both approaches. The flat packers, who eschew folding for layering each piece of clothing in their luggage, claim ease and neatness, while rollers allege fewer wrinkles by turning everything from their sweaters to their jeans into a cinnamon roll shape and packing them tightly together. Both parties insist that their method saves space. So we were left with no other choice but to conduct a (highly unscientific) experiment, and test both options using the same packing items.

Before we get into the results, a word about what we packed everything in. In addition to settling a heated debate, our experiment also gave us the chance to test some new luggage by former execs of Warby Parker. We were already fans of WP's beloved eyewear line, so we had an idea we’d fall hard for Away luggage—no surprises. The direct-to-consumer brand, which launched earlier this year, has created a rolling, carry-on suitcase that’s sleek, sturdy, and—best of all—comes with a built-in battery to charge your smartphones, Kindles, and tablets while you travel. The luggage is available for pre-order now (and will ship in February), and comes with a limited edition copy of The Places We Return To, a book of travel writing created exclusively for Away from tastemakers like beauty guru Linda Rodin and stylist/writer Laurel Pantin.

With our carry-on ready, and our clothing selected, we began our experiment. Flat packing first: We kept tops and bottoms separate, with pants on one side of the bag, and shirts and sweaters on the other. The results were pretty impressive: seven pairs of pants, seven tops (including two sweaters and a sweatshirt), plus a pair of pajamas and a bag filled with accessories, socks, and unmentionables. Put another way: Unless you’re going on a two-week trip, there’s really no excuse for lugging anything larger than a carry-on with you. Admittedly, we did not include shoes in our packing project, but with a bit of strategy, we’re certain we could have fit a pair of loafers in there.

When it came time to roll, we were sure the outcome would be even more remarkable. But! As we dutifully turned our trousers into tubes and began placing them side-by-side, we were surprised to find the luggage full at only six pairs. The same thing happened with tops—one lone long-sleeved T-shirt was left out of the party. Could we have stuffed? Sure, you can always stuff at least a few more things in your luggage. But rolling just wasn’t the space-saver we were expecting, and upon unrolling at the end of the experiment, our clothes quite honestly didn’t have that wrinkle-free look we’d been promised. Flat packers of the world, let the gloating commence. To see the experiment in action, check out the video above.

*Tea, Mets, May the Force Be With You, duh.

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