How do I keep my ironed shirts creaseless when traveling with a backpack?

August 26, 2009 12:48 AM

How do I keep my ironed shirts creaseless when traveling with a backpack?

I cycle to work every day and take a pair of freshly ironed trousers and a shirt with me in my pack.

The pack is a not so big average size and so Im currently folding the shirt and trousers to get them in.

But this results in creases - annoying considering the effort put into ironing them.

Does anyone know of ways of folding a shirt that will limit the creases?

I've tried rolling but that seemed to be even worse, maybe i got the technique wrong.

Or is there somthing I could put the shirts into just for traveling, a sort of folder type thing?

any ideas welcome.

posted by complience to Travel & Transportation (11 answers total)

Eagle Creek Pack-It Folders. I use these for cycle commuting and travelling, and they are awesome. The folder itself has a stiffened back, and there's a plastic sheet inside that you use to fold your shirts, then pop on top to provide two stiff sides to the whole package. You can get a really tight little package of clothing that easily fits a work week's worth of shirts and trousers. Highly recommended.
posted by Happy Dave at 1:31 AM on August 26, 2009

Second the Eagle Creek folders - I often travel with 3 or 4 shirts and they can reach their destination in pretty good shape.
posted by mattr at 2:56 AM on August 26, 2009

okay okay..

I'm sold :)

within 4 to 5 days I shall be a proud owner of new eagle creek pack-it 15 folder.

Many Thanks
posted by complience at 3:04 AM on August 26, 2009

I've had pretty good luck with the bundle wrapping technique. I stuffed a suit into a messenger bag and stuffed the messenger bag into an overhead storage bin. Later, in Ohio, I looked pretty swell. I did have the time to let the suit hang overnight before wearing it, but It didn't look too shabby straight out of the bag, either.
posted by clockwork at 4:04 AM on August 26, 2009

Just in case anyone else needs convincing.

Thirding the Eagle Creek folders.
posted by eriko at 6:01 AM on August 26, 2009

I've heard that tissue paper can help -- lay the tissue down over the garment before you roll/fold it.
posted by Jane Austen at 6:14 AM on August 26, 2009

Whilst it would not be OK for an ironed shirt the technique of rolling your clothes to pack them so they unravel (relatively) crease free might be useful for stuff like t-shirts and trousers.
posted by rongorongo at 6:26 AM on August 26, 2009

Seconding the bundle wrapping technique, especially if you can take shirts for a few days in one trip. Since they are bundled, they don't get creased. I also use a dry cleaning bag between the layers of the clothing you don't want to get wrinkled. Somehow, the plastic gets wrinkled instead of the clothes. Works best in combination with the rolling technique.
posted by BlooPen at 6:40 AM on August 26, 2009

Bundle wrapping/rolling can work, but isn't perfect. I've used it for both cycle commuting and for packing on longer trips.

The tricks are: 1) don't roll or fold tightly; 2) don't put the garment under a lot of pressure in the pack---it should go on top or on the outside of your bag; 3) unpack as soon as practical; 4) if possible, give the shirt a few minutes to hang in a warm moist environment. If you can shower at work, hang the shirt near the shower, on the other side of a shower door can work quite well.

Also, permanent press shirt work much, much better than pure cotton or linen ones. The only natural fibre that packs reasonably wrinkle-free is silk (but not raw silk).
posted by bonehead at 7:28 AM on August 26, 2009

I am so incredibly devoted to the Eagle Creek folders for this that I have to add my Nth to the chorus.

Also, if you lay the shirt flat inside a dry cleaning bag before folding it around the Eagle Creek insert, you will add triple-secret wrinkleproofing.
posted by pineapple at 11:09 AM on August 26, 2009

Another handy tip for anyone else with this issue is to keep a spraybottle of water at work. When you unpack and unfold your shirt, if it does have any wrinkles, you can spray each wrinkled area a few times and either just leave it to relax or give it a bit of help by smoothing it out or stretching it out. You don't do so much that wetness shows, just enough to hep it relax. When I'm in a hurry with any other shirt but nice dress shirts, I'll sometimes substitute a quick all-over spraying for ironing.
posted by Askr at 9:50 AM on December 5, 2009