New to packing cubes!

[~Mandy~]

I know all families will be a little different in how heavy/light they pack, but roughly how many packing cubes, and what size cubes would you think a family of 4 (mom/dad/ds11/ds5) would need for a 7 night Caribbean cruise in early April?

I'm thinking of buying a large each for my husband and I, a medium for each boy, and another medium or two for overflow/formal night/Pirate night stuff/etc. We've never used cubes before though so I'm not sure!

If anyone has a brand they love or hate, that would be helpful too!

 

[EdnaMarieMode]

For most week long trips, DH and I each use 1 medium/ small and 1 large. We aren’t over-packers. The smaller one is usually socks/ underwear/ swimwear/ pajamas. The larger one holds everything else.

Kids (DD 14, DS 11, DS 2) are usually 1 medium each for everything, maybe 1 medium and 1 small if we’re going somewhere cold and need sweaters/ sweatshirts.

 

[DisneyPiPhi]

We are a family of three: myself, DH, and DD6. I have one of these sets, and 2 more large cubes from this set: https://www.amazon.com/TravelWise-P...D=15744041&psd=1&keywords=packing+cubes&psc=1

(Delta airlines lost the small cubes from my first set a couple years ago.)

I always pack in the cubes, and pack DD's stuff in cubes, and DH uses what is leftover or goes without.

 

[kylaura]

For just me for 7 days, I use 2 large ones for clothes and a small one for underwear/socks. I do also have a flip folding thing that gets all the clothes the same size. It makes them great for fitting into the cubes.

 

[Sorcerer's Dad]

We use the eBags packing cubes www.ebags.com
I let my wife use the dresser and I just stack my bags up in the closet.
We have several sets of assorted sizes.

 

[ajo]

On our last 7 day, each kid (elementary and middle school) used a large and a small cube. The small ones are great for socks and underwear, etc. Parents each used the set of 3 (small, medium and large).

We also use the ebags brand. Lots of fun colors and the zippers are sturdy.

 

[DietCokeMommy]

We use ebags too, they’re great. I have one set for the kids (2 and 5) and DH and I each have our own set. For the kids I pack a large cube with outfits. I roll up shorts and a tee together so all we have to do is pull an outfit out. And then a small cube for their socks/undies/PJs. And a third for swim stuff - two bathing suits each, rash guards, sun hats, etc.

I tend to over pack for myself - seemed tough needing separate daytime and evening outfits. I probably should’ve just worn my daytime outfits more often and made things do double duty for dinner. I pack outfits in 1-2 large cubes, a medium for socks/bras/undies, medium for swim stuff. We put all the cubes for the whole family in two large suitcases and then we bring a third for random stuff. Swim vests, snorkel gear, shoes/sandals, sunblock, and everything else that’s not clothes.

 

[hpsalb]

IDK what all brands we have or how many, but I sent DH out to TJ Maxx at the final stages of packing for our last cruise to get more!

I also use space bags or XL ziplock bags. On a normal trip I sort each person’s stuff into a bag, but for cruising I typically organize our stuff by day.

 

[BruinEd03]

I know all families will be a little different in how heavy/light they pack, but roughly how many packing cubes, and what size cubes would you think a family of 4 (mom/dad/ds11/ds5) would need for a 7 night Caribbean cruise in early April?

I'm thinking of buying a large each for my husband and I, a medium for each boy, and another medium or two for overflow/formal night/Pirate night stuff/etc. We've never used cubes before though so I'm not sure!

If anyone has a brand they love or hate, that would be helpful too!

I use the ebags one. I don't really know the difference with many other brands. It just happened to be the ones that we got. For the ebags one, the medium one was the most useful to me. What I usually do is use one cube per "group" that is functionally useful. E.g., the large for extra jeans, shorts, outerwear, etc. One medium for t-shirts, one medium for any workout clothes, one medium for underwear, and one slim for socks. I will usually also have a packing cube with an extra change of clothes in my carry-on so that I can change at the destination (or in case the check in luggage gets lost).

I will also pack a few extra ones so that I don't have to be efficient on the return trip with dirty clothes.

The packing cubes don't really help me pack more stuff - it just helps me organize when I pack and also when I unpack.

 

[indyannamom]

We love the ones from ebags. We’ve tried other brands and like these better.

I pack the kids day clothes in a large one, their pjs in a medium and socks&undewear go in the small.
Each kid has a different color so easy to find. As the trip goes on, we put the less full cubes in one suitcase and the dirty clothes in the (then) empty suitcase.

Even DH has commented on how much easier it is since we got the cubes!

 

[ladyofthetramp]

I use these- https://www.amazon.com/Gonex-Packin...8-2-spons&keywords=gonex++packing+cubes&psc=1. My kids are older and I don't pack for them. I would say I use maybe two medium and a small for 7 days, but I like to dress in the evenings. Good luck!

 

[DisneyMom2000000]

My husband and I are share this set... https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MS6RH4Z/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I think we will get some more before our cruise for our girls!

 

[LNMom]

I love packing cubes. We are a family of 5. I only use small and medium (the amazon brand). I like having everything separated (jammies & swimsuits, undergarments, day outfits, evening outfits, an extra one for keeping random things like magnets, clothespins, candy for the theatre together.

we all use the same color but I have friends who have a different color for each person.

 

[Numtini]

There's three of us. We bought sets of Amazon house brand each in a different color. We each have our own systems. I pack a different type of clothing into each. The small ones have socks and underwear and I leave them in the cubes in the draw. The largest is pants and when I unpack those, it becomes the laundry cube.

 

[Chemist]

We use ebags.
The kids and I each have a small/med/large set, different color per person.

Pants/shorts go in the large.
Shirts go in the medium.
Socks and undies go in the small.

(DH has his own cubes and his own system)

That's about right for a week long trip.

Then we have medium family cubes in another color. Those are for dress clothes, pajamas and bathing suites. (One cube for each.)

For a weekend trip, each person gets all their clothes packed in the large size.

 

[FigmentSpark]

I use the 14x10 for my t-shirts and the kids' tees, as well. I use the larger one for pants and shorts and so

I use these- https://www.amazon.com/Gonex-Packin...8-2-spons&keywords=gonex++packing+cubes&psc=1. My kids are older and I don't pack for them. I would say I use maybe two medium and a small for 7 days, but I like to dress in the evenings. Good luck!

These are the ones I use, too. I also have a few of the larger size, which are great for pants and DH's larger stuff.

 

[ladyofthetramp]

I use the 14x10 for my t-shirts and the kids' tees, as well. I use the larger one for pants and shorts and so

These are the ones I use, too. I also have a few of the larger size, which are great for pants and DH's larger stuff.

I think you recommended them to me at one point. They are great! So thank you!

 

[carrieshields]

Some of you are amazing packers!! We use ebags cubes and EACH use a full set plus!!

 

[DCLPrincess]

This is the set I have and I love them.

https://www.amazon.com/Shacke-Pak-P...dpPl=1&dpID=51xG4-Jzs6L&ref=plSrch&th=1&psc=1

 

[Chewbette]

I'm also new and intrigued by the system.. Would some of you mind to post a picture of how you pack inside the cubes?
thanks a lot!