Layer heavy items at the wheels

Free everyday life tip: Layer heavy items at the wheels (step 7 of 9 from "Pack a Suitcase for a Week in a Carry-On").

Place your suitcase flat on the bed, wheels toward you. Heavy items — shoes (in a shower cap or plastic bag), jeans, toiletry bag — go at the wheel end. This keeps the centre of gravity low when the suitcase is upright, so it does not topple over. Pack the large packing cube of rolled items next, filling the main compartment. Then stack the medium cube of folded items on top.

The electronics pouch and any items you need during the flight (book, headphones, snacks) go in the top flap or front pocket so you can access them without opening the main compartment in the overhead bin. Close the suitcase and zip it — if it does not close easily, remove one item. Forcing a zipper is how zippers break at 35,000 feet.