Ever show up on a trip and see that guy with the perfectly organized packing cubes and think, Man, I should do that?

Then you get home, look up packing cubes, and realize you’re about to spend more money on nylon squares than a weekend getaway with the Mrs.

Here’s a simple alternative - assuming you fish in a sun hoodie.
(If you don’t… You should.)

This is my go-to packing trick:

1. Lay a sun hoody flat on a surface, front side up.
2. Lay a T-shirt on top of it the same way.
3. Roll your socks like you would if they were going into a drawer and place them on the shirt.
4. Roll your underwear and lay it next to the socks.
5. Roll your shorts or pants and place them on top.
6. Fold the sleeves of the hoody over everything in an “X.”
7. Fold the sides of the hoody in over the pile.
8. Roll the whole thing up and tuck it neatly into the hood.

That’s it.

You now have one compact “cube” for a full day — shirt, socks, underwear, shorts or pants — all in one place. No extra gear required.

This is also a great way to pack one full set of fishing clothes in your carry-on, or keep a simple change handy in case the person next to you on the flight spills their drink in your lap. Ask me how I know.

You can adjust it however you want. One hoody per day. All socks in one hoody. Base layers in another. Once you start doing it, you’ll figure out what works best for you.

It’s simple. It saves space. And when weight limits matter, every little bit helps.

Sometimes the best packing systems are the ones you’re already wearing.

See photos below.