3 Hacks I Always Use As a Travel Writer to Make Flying with Bulky Winter Gear So Much Easier
Winter travel, in theory, sounds magical: heading to a snowy destination to spend time with family or friends. And while a blanket of snow is a pretty sight, the weather that makes it possible is also what makes flying in the winter very annoying. Necessities for staying cozy, like bulky winter coats and boots, can complicate packing and getting through the airport, but they don’t have to.
As a travel writer who flies all year long, I try not to let winter gear slow me down as I go from one place to the next, even if flight delays might. In fact, I’ve discovered a few techniques to make winter travel days so much easier. Here are some of my favorite hacks.
Stuff your boots with smaller items to pack in your luggage.
You often need to bring a pair of bulky winter boots when traveling to a cold-weather destination. But wearing boots to the airport is rarely a good idea, especially if you need to remove your shoes at the TSA checkpoint — no one wants to take off cumbersome boots and put them back on while being rushed through the security line. Even if you can keep your boots on, your feet may overheat while at the airport or on the plane.
Your best bet is to wear a comfortable pair of shoes and make sure you’re dropped off at the airport with a clear path to walk if there is any snow on the ground.
As for your boots, make them work for you in your luggage. Roll up socks, underwear, T-shirts, and other thin clothing, and stuff them inside your boots (including the toe box). Worried about putting clean clothes inside worn boots? There’s a simple solution: Line your boots with a plastic grocery bag or two, creating a barrier between the boot and your clothes.
Other small items, such as jewelry, toiletries, and charging cables, will also easily fit inside your boots.
Use an empty packing cube to store winter gear you wear to the airport.
When you’re packing, keep one packing cube free and stuff it into your carry-on or personal item. Sure, you could put your coat under your seat or in the overhead bin and find space in your travel bag for your gloves, scarf, and hat — but then you greatly increase your chances of losing something.
Instead, use your empty packing cube to keep all of your winter gear together in one spot, as TikToker @traveltaps demonstrates in this video. There are two ways to use a packing cube to help manage winter gear at the airport.
First, before going through security, peel off your coat, hat, scarf, and mittens, and put them inside the packing cube. If you have room in your carry-on or personal item, you can stash the packing cube in your suitcase so it’s organized and easy to access when you arrive at your destination.
If you don’t have room in your carry-on, don’t panic. You can wear your winter gear onto the plane. Once you’re at your seat, put your coat, hat, scarf, and gloves back into the packing cube for the rest of your flight, and put it under your seat or in the overhead bin. The stuffed packing cube can also double as a pillow in a pinch!
Store your puffer jacket or winter gear in a neck pillow.
If you really don’t have any room in your carry-on or personal item to store your packing cube, you can try a similar version of this hack meant to create a comfy pillow.
TikToker @coffeecupexec shows you how easily a warm puffer coat can fit perfectly inside a neck pillow cover. All you need to do is remove the insert from a neck pillow, then roll up your puffer to fit each end of your rolled-up jacket into the pillow cover. Zip it up, and you’re ready for takeoff. If there’s room, add your hat, scarf, and gloves inside, too.
You can also find packable puffer coats that come with a pouch already attached to easily store your jacket.
Check out The Joy Issue to discover how you can enjoy the holiday season to the fullest (while putting in the least amount of work!). This content was presented by a sponsor; it was created independently by our editorial team.