Packing Cube Recommendations?

[Erica Ladd]

Title says it all. Only checking one bag for family of 5 no carry ons. Only a 2 night stay...

 

[P'colaBeachBum]

Title says it all. Only checking one bag for family of 5 no carry ons. Only a 2 night stay...

I have the Amazon Basics packing cubes in small and med. Love them.
Amazon Basics Med.

 

[Magical2017]

I have used both compression packing cubes and regular packing cubes. I would check Amazon and do a search and read reviews to see what works for your family.

For compression cubes, I think I bought them at a store like Target. I had to iron clothes. You can buy Downey Wrinkle release. For the regular packing cubes, I purchased them on Amazon. They were more for convenience and organizing clothes for the four of us rather than saving space. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071G54RT5/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Christine]

The packing cubes really only save you a little bit of space because they force you to be really "neat" about folding things up and squeezing in. The cubes generally just keep your suitcase organized and make it easy to pull stuff out and keep it in the cubes within hotel room drawers. The compression bags are what is going to create space for you. However, with a family of five in one suitcase, if you use compression bags be really careful about going over the weight limit.

 

[Magical2017]

The packing cubes really only save you a little bit of space because they force you to be really "neat" about folding things up and squeezing in. The cubes generally just keep your suitcase organized and make it easy to pull stuff out and keep it in the cubes within hotel room drawers. The compression bags are what is going to create space for you. However, with a family of five in one suitcase, if you use compression bags be really careful about going over the weight limit.

Agreed about the weight limit. How much time do you have? When DH and I had a ten day trip to Italy we both packed a Rick Steves bag with two changes of clothes. We did laundry throughout the trip. For all of you with one carry on, is there a W/D in your room? Bring one change of clothes only, and wash it while you are out for the day. I would not do this if I had to use a laundromat, though. I get impatient using vacation time waiting for the laundry, but that's me.

 

[rlk]

It is helpful to use one color for each family member.

 

[MICKIMINI]

I use zip bags for underwear, tee shirts and socks. You can use a marker to put a name on each bag. I bring old pj's and toss them. Wear jeans to travel (pack the light shorts) and tie the fleece jacket around your waist. Everyone gets a backpack. You can buy a travel size spray bottle of Downey Wrinkle Release at WM in the travel size section...I've stopped ironing all but linen and heavy cotton!

 

[aggiedog]

I love my compression packing cubes. I tend to travel with clothes that don't need ironing, though. You have to beware of weight. It's easy to end up with a really heavy suitcase.

I don't use them for short trips, but I like them for long trips, or trips where I'm changing hotels frequently. I just decompress the cubes and move them into the hotel drawers.

 

[KristaZ]

I swear by packing cubes - I'm a carry on only traveler and they have been a life saver through many weeks-long trips. My favorite ones are Eagle Creek - I have sets of the regular ones in small, medium, and large - the medium and large ones get the most use. I also have a set a compression ones that I love - also Eagle Creek. They're a little pricey, but hold up infinitely better than some of the others have and they're definitely worth it if you plan to use them frequently.

 

[FigmentSpark]

I like the Gonex brand that you can get on Amazon.

What you need to do is lay out a sampling of what you plan to take, fold (or roll it) and then measure the size of bags you need. One medium is not the same as another brand's medium. I like Gonex because their medium is about 14x10 I fold my t-shirts and blouses and that's the size I need to keep them nice. Like these:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06ZYT4HG7/ref=emc_b_5_t?th=1
For my sons, I use the square on that is about 15x15. These are nice and compressable:
https://www.amazon.com/Compression-Packing-Gonex-Extensible-Organizers/dp/B073B3YHX4
One thing that's really good about compression cubes is that you don't have to fill them up to keep your stuff organized. And if you fill them enough that they can't compress, they're still useful.

I will say, what I used to stuff in between layers of clothes is now a little bit of wasted space, however. I love the packing cubes, but I can't put those few things (like a curling iron or the bathroom kit) in between things, as they're all in cubes.

Also, as a PP said, watch your weight. You can get more in the bag with the packing cubes.

 

[EACarlson]

I use the packing cubes from eBags. My family of four has different colors. They are great if you are using small to medium size suitcases, not going to help at all if you have a suitcase near max size. You reach the max weight long before you fill up the suitcase. I've got a max size hardside Samsonite and filled it to max weight only using half of it.

 

[NannyBeBe]

For a two-night stay, I can fit everything I need into a backpack and carry it on. If I were in your situation, I would give everyone his own backpack and not check a bag. But if I did use a suitcase, I would roll everything military style and not use packing cubes.

 

[Erica Ladd]

It is 2 nights for all of us but then DH and I will stay a few more nights plus we will have stuff that needs to be checked Plus having 5 in one suitcase I think different colors/sizes could help the kids pack more efficiently

 

[unrequited23]

We use packing cubes in both our free personal items (usually a back pack for each person) and our checked bags. We normally put things we would want right away in our personal items like swim stuff or pjs depending on when we land. I would buy the packing cubes that fit your luggage and personal items best, definitely measure to pieces that work with what you have.

 

[Erica Ladd]

I didn’t realize there are regular and compression versions. We mostly wear stuff that doesn’t wrinkle so that’s something to consider

 

[cats mom]

I traveled to 10 European countries in 30 days with a backpack that was small enough to use as a carry-on, even on the stingiest airlines (looking at you Norweigian and Ryanair). I don't think I could have done it without Eagle Creek compression cubes. They're pricey, but I stuffed those suckers to the max, and they were great the entire trip. My daughter bought some cheap-o brand, and she ended up with split seams on several of hers, and she didn't stuff hers nearly as full as mine were. I definitely agree with people who say be sure to check weight limits if you're using compression bags though. My back will attest to that.

 

[Pooh2]

I use propacking cubes from amazon.
They help to compress a bit and keep things organized.
Could not travel without them now.
We each have a set of 4 medium.
The 4 medium fit perfectly into our wheeled carry-on.

 

[RUDisney]

For a two-night stay, I can fit everything I need into a backpack and carry it on. If I were in your situation, I would give everyone his own backpack and not check a bag. But if I did use a suitcase, I would roll everything military style and not use packing cubes.

I completely agree with NannyBeBe.

For two nights, you should be able to fit everything into 2 carry ons and not have to worry about the airline losing your luggage or ruining your bag. Plus... and this is my big thing for not checking bags... you don't have to wait at baggage claim.

I fit 2 weeks of clothing into a rolling carry on with a d-pocket bag over the handle when I went to Europe last year.

I used the Amazon Basics packing cubes in the rolling bag.

The only thing with taking carry ons only is that you need to take small liquid bottles instead of a large sunscreen, for example.

 

[tkouri]

eBags and they recently had them 1/2 off and still may.

 

[aggiedog]

OP, are your kids so young they can't do their own carryon? We travel extensively (pre-pandemic!) and from about 8 yo, they all get their own suitcase. That has helped as 2 of the 4 can go crazy small, and 2 tend to overpack - but it's theirs to lug around so it's on them.

These are the packing cubes I have. I had no idea that some weren't compression, so I lucked out buying them. They've held up well all over the world.
https://www.amazon.com/Gonex-Compre...apparel&sprefix=gonex+pack,fashion,166&sr=1-5