I Just Discovered the Smartest Shoe-Packing Trick, and Now I Fit 4 Full Pairs

As a Californian who has lived in Brooklyn my entire adult life, I’m lucky enough to get to go home a few times a year to see my family — and when I do, I usually stay for a few weeks. I wish I was the type of person who could bring one pair of sneakers and be fine styling them with every outfit, but I’m just not. And thus, I’m on a seemingly everlasting journey to learn how to pack shoes in a suitcase (read: pack as many pairs as possible without ruining them). 

Typically, I’ll bring a pair of sneakers (which I usually wear on the flight), dressy-ish leather shoes for going out or if I have an event to attend, boots during the winter, and a pair of sandals (year-round because California). If I can fit more, I’ll usually sneak another pair of sneakers or sandals in there. And thanks to this brilliant pro organizer’s trick I just learned from Apartment Therapy, I can finally fit more than ever — without a struggle!

Previously, when it came to packing shoes in my suitcase, I would stack shoes on top of one another or try to cram them in between my packing cubes. I’d also try to squeeze a shoe bag in for my nicer shoes. Not only was this a bad use of space, but it would also mean that the soles would touch other parts of the shoes (which I hate) and I’d often get to my destination and have to un-crumple sneakers and boots before wearing them. 

I also struggled with finding the best way to align the shoes to make the most of the limited suitcase space. And with fancier shoes I wanted to keep in good condition, this was definitely not ideal. Enter: the simplest shoe-packing method I can’t believe I never thought of.

According to Ashley LaFond, founder of home organization company Of Space & Mind, you should pack shoes toe to heel, with soles facing out and lined up against the sides and bottom of the suitcase, to make the most of the space. Additionally, she recommends that high heels be stored in shoe bags and kept closer to the top to prevent straps from being crushed or heels from breaking, while sneakers should be tucked into corners and boots lined up in the bottom corners of the suitcase with the heels on the side. If needed, LaFond says clothing and small items can go in the gaps to prevent things from shifting around. These shoe-packing tricks seemed shockingly simple, but I had to put them to the test.

I couldn’t believe I never considered aligning sneakers toe to heel with the soles facing outward. That’s how they come in shoe boxes, after all! Once I got my Adidas squared away, they seemed to take up almost no space, especially when pressed against the suitcase wall. Plus, with the soles facing outward, they felt more sturdy and protected when I inevitably tried to squeeze more clothes in. (I do think it’s kind of gross to have the soles touching other things, so I may put them in a shoe bag or plastic bag for extra cleanliness.)

Using the same technique, I was also able to fit my platform Teva sandals, which I always have trouble packing, along the same interior side. Next, I fit my leather Blundstone boots with the heels in the corners and soles lining the suitcase walls. I have relatively big feet, so while it took a little bit of trial and error and maneuvering to find the best alignment for each pair, once I got it, it seemed like everything clicked into place.

Lastly, I put my vintage red leather slingbacks in a shoe bag on top where they wouldn’t get crushed or stretched out by the rest of my clothes. So much better than when I had them lining the side of the suitcase with the straps all wayward; I feel a whole lot better about their survival rate. And just look at how many more pairs I was able to fit! Now that I’ve discovered these brilliantly uncomplicated tricks, I’ll never go back.

What’s your best packing trick? Share in the comments.