TikTokers are wearing fishing vests to the airport, calling it the latest genius packing hack
- TikTokers are trying to avoid extra baggage fees by wearing fishing vests to the airport.
- Creators have stuffed socks, gadgets, and other essentials into the vests before flying.
TikTok has popularized some peculiar fashion trends, but the latest fad, in which creators are wearing fishing vests to the airport, is all about putting convenience over style.
The vests are characteristically covered in large pockets, which creators are filming themselves stuffing to the brim with belongings that they can't fit in their carry-on bags.
One video, posted in January, shows a TikToker managing to fit a portable speaker, deodorant, pack of cards, bikini, and a gym kit in the smaller pockets, going on to place a laptop in a larger pocket at the back of the vest as well.
"This is the best travel hack I have ever found," another creator said in a video from April where she showed viewers that she was able to pack extra clothes and socks for her trip after buying a fishing vest with five pockets.
The creators trying out this hack say that it helped them to avoid paying for checked bags on budget airlines and to save money while traveling on short-distance flights. Many of them reported that even though they had concerns about how the airport staff might react to their vests, they made it through security and onto the flight without any issues.
In response to rising baggage fees on airlines, money-saving packing hacks have circulated widely on TikTok and become immensely popular. The fishing vest hack follows on from other similar tips, such as stuffing extra clothes into a travel neck pillow, or layering additional clothes inside a coat to carry with you onto the plane.
Experts previously told Insider that not every packing hack seen on TikTok is likely to work, as many rely on the discretion of the gate agents, who may be carrying out checks on how passengers have packed their items. Experts recommended that travelers use vacuum-sealed bags or packing cubes to help maximize space in their carry-on bags as a way to avoid spending money on additional baggage.
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