Skip to content

This Army packing technique could save you money on baggage fees

Nov. 27, 2019
7 min read
brian biros backpacker feature airport
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don’t cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.

What to pack and what not to pack are always a concern when planning a trip. But how you should pack is just as crucial. You can roll clothes, for example, which allows you to pack more. Or you can fold, which tends to leave your clothes less wrinkled. Then there are stuff sacks, compression bags and packing cubes.

The latter allow you to segment your travel wardrobe, and that's the difference between having six drawers in a dresser or just one. When you need a single article of clothing, you'll only disrupt the other clothes in that specific packing cube. Without cubes, if the shirt you want is at the bottom of your pack or suitcase, you may have to repack everything.

But recently, I discovered a new packing technique altogether. It's called the "Ranger Roll," and it was made (sort of) famous on the YouTube channel of a former U.S. Army member who goes by Armygringo. It's possibly the most efficient packing method out there for individual garments. And with less space taken up by clothing, you may need fewer bags, which could definitely help you avoid checked baggage fees.

The Ranger Roll technique

The most basic demonstration of the Ranger Roll is on a T-shirt. The method is explained in detail in the following YouTube video. I suggest you watch it and practice a few times to get the hang of it.

I took pictures of the Ranger Roll method as I packed for a trip home from Kazakhstan. Here are the four basic steps:

1. Lay the T-shirt flat, and flip the bottom up two or three inches inside out, smoothing it over the shirt as shown below.

2. Fold one-third of the shirt over, then fold that sleeve back onto itself.

3. Fold the remaining third over the middle as well and rotate the T-shirt around so the collar faces you.

4. Starting from the collar, roll the shirt as tight as you can until you reach the edge of the flipped portion. Then, pull the flipped edge from the opposite side tightly over the entire shirt. The result is a secure roll that won't come undone until you pull it open.

Daily Newsletter
Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter
Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s experts

To demonstrate the efficiency of the Ranger Roll with the dramatic effect of a 1980s infomercial, I piled all of my clothes into a messy heap.

The Ranger Roll is different for every type of clothing, but the overall concept is the same: Create a pocket at one end, then roll the article of clothing into itself. I did this with all of my clothes, and the pile became compact and manageable.

I then packed these clothes tightly into packing cubes, which fit into my backpack with room to spare.

Rolling other types of clothing

While the YouTube channel almost exclusively demonstrates Army apparel, each of these methods can be used on similar types of clothes:

Ranger Roll ACU top: For button-downs or jackets without a hood.

Ranger Roll long sleeve T-shirt: For sweatshirts or any long-sleeved tops without buttons or a collar.

Ranger Roll hoodie: For any jacket or sweatshirt with a hood.

Ranger Roll ACU pants: For any type of pants, ranging from dress slacks to activewear.

Ranger Roll jeans: Same method as above, but demonstrated on jeans.

Ranger Roll PT shorts: For all types of shorts or swim trunks.

Ranger Roll socks: For all types of socks.

Ranger Roll underwear: For briefs, boxers and everything in between.

Ranger Roll towel: For any square or rectangular cloth such as a towel or sarong.

If you know you'll be using a certain combination of clothes or distinct outfits, it's also possible to combine clothes into one single Ranger Roll.

My rolling tips

Since I've started Ranger Rolling my clothes, there have been at least two occasions when I definitely would have had to pay excess baggage fees if I didn't use this technique. Along the way, I discovered a few tips of my own:

1. Roll on a hard surface like tile, hardwood floors or a table. If you're on the ground, use padding for your knees.

2. Button up all buttons and zip up any zippers. The more secure the clothing is, the better the roll.

3. Smooth out the clothing as flat as possible beforehand and stop to smooth again if needed while rolling. This includes interior linings and pockets. This will make the final tuck easier, and the rolled clothing will stay more secure.

Pros and cons of the Ranger Roll

While the Ranger Roll is my go-to for packing now, it's not something that should be used 100% of the time.

Pros

1. It's the most compact way to pack clothes. I think it even beats compression bags.

2. The Ranger Roll does not come undone unless you individually unroll the article of clothing. With folded or loosely rolled clothes, taking out one or two items can mess up your entire bag.

3. When done correctly, your clothes should not wrinkle. I haven't gotten that good yet, however, so my clothes end up more wrinkled than if I fold them. (But the result is still much better than a general roll or compression bag.)

Cons

1. It takes some time to roll each article of clothing individually, especially in the beginning when you are first learning the technique.

2. The tutorials don't demonstrate rolling every type of clothing, so there's no specific guide to rolling a dress or skirt.

Ranger roll in the military

I wanted to find out more about the use of this method in the military, so I tried (unsuccessfully) to reach Armygringo. In the videos, you only ever hear his voice and see his hands. His face is also covered in his profile picture, and his anonymity seems intentional. Additionally, his channel hasn't been updated in three years, and an email to the address listed on his PayPal donation page went unanswered.

Instead, I reached out to friends and family members in various branches of the U.S. military.

My cousin Martin is a retired Army Ranger, and he confirmed the technique is widely used in the Army, although he doesn't recall it having a name. He said the best part about this technique is that, when done correctly, the clothes don't wrinkle, which was crucial when traveling with the Army Service Uniform (ASU).

My friend Morgan, a former staff sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps, preferred the method used in the Marines. The so-called "Skivvy Roll" also securely wraps a set of clothing into itself.

Another friend, Conor, who served eight years as a naval officer, was familiar with the Ranger Roll from his one year in Iraq with the Army. He said he and friends in other branches of the military are familiar with the technique.

Let's consider this just another service performed by the U.S. military: combating baggage fees.

All images courtesy of author unless otherwise noted.

TPG featured card

Rewards rate
3XEarn 3X Miles on Delta purchases.
1XEarn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
Intro offer
Open Intro bonus
Earn up to 125,000 Bonus Miles
Annual fee
$650
Regular APR
19.49%-28.49% Variable
Recommended credit
Open Credit score description
Excellent to Good

Pros

  • Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
  • Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
  • Ability to earn MQDs through spending
  • Various statement credits for eligible purchases

Cons

  • Steep annual fee of $650
  • Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
  • Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
  • Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
  • Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
  • Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
  • Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
  • $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
  • Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
  • With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
  • Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
  • $650 Annual Fee.
  • Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
  • Terms Apply.
  • See Rates & Fees