Level all 5 factions (including cryptarch) to the point just before levelling up. If you do this right you will have 15 different packages to open on HoW day, after finishing the level off with bounties etc.
5 on each character including cryptarch levels. Assuming you have three characters. It will take some work but you should be able to do it in the three weeks or so before HoW drops.
In summary, level New Monarchy, Dead Orbit, Future War Cult, Vanguard and Cryptarch to just before levelling on each character.
Obviously there is still a chance you'll get nothing decent but at least it might give you a small head start.
Edit 1: I forgot Crucible as a few have mentioned, thanks for the reminder.
Also, some have mentioned saving engrams as that will help level Cryptarch, though you won't get any new gear from the engrams.
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All vendor gear still comes at 331 attack right? So there's no real point in doing this anymore.