Packing cubes

[travelbug]

I recently read a trip report where someone mentioned using packing cubes in their luggage. I wasn't familiar with them, so I just googled and took a look at what they are.

Now I'm curious if there's anyone around here that uses them and can explain the advantage to using them in luggage? I think I get the basic concept, but do they really save space? Is it a hassle if your checked bag gets inspected and there are several packing cubes inside? Won't they just get dumped out?

Thanks in advance!

 

[RedRosePrincess]

I have used them for travel when I go on longer trips (7+ Days). I don't know if they save that much space but I used them more to organize my clothes. Like shirts went one, pants in another, shorts in another, etc. From my experience you can fit (or shove) a lot into a cube and then in makes it easier to pack the cubes into your suitcase than if you were just putting the clothes in your suitcase. Its also easier to find what you are looking for in your suitcase if you know what cube the item is in.

They are even helpful when packing to go home because you can pre-sort your clothes in the cubes so when you get home to wash them you just take the clothes in the cube and throw them in the washer. I have never had my checked bag inspected where they need to dump everything out so I don't know if its a hassle but I hope that helps.

 

[dismom2]

Rick Steves sells them on his website. They are great for organizing. Also, if you end up with a big hole in your luggage, as I have, you won't have things fall out. I'm a big organizer, so I really like these. I also use those space bags, and roll clothes and such.

 

[akcire]

I pack for my husband for his business trips. I tell him to pick the suitcase he wants to take and then put everything he needs into a laundry basket. He always tries to then pack his own suitcase. At which point he will declare he needs a bigger suitcase.

I will then take pity on him--get out the best sized packing cube based on how many days he is gone and carefully fold all of his items to fit the cube. Our cubes close with velcro which allows me to compress the pants and shirts. I am easily able to pack him 4-5 days of business casual into a 20" rolling suitcase. He has had the TSA look at the cube before, but he always points out that he can't repack it--so if they open it, they need to be able to close it. Since the whole cube is fabric--if they really have a question they can run it back through the x-ray machine separately. To date they have never opened one--which is good because sometimes I am laying on them to get them to shut.

Once he gets to his destination, he just hangs up his clothes for the next day or days; and claims with rare exception he does not even need to touch them up with the iron. Personally I have never used the cubes to pack my belongings, but I use them 15-20 times per year to pack for the husband.

 

[RunDanceSkate]

I am easily able to pack him 4-5 days of business casual into a 20" rolling suitcase. He has had the TSA look at the cube before, but he always points out that he can't repack it--so if they open it, they need to be able to close it. Since the whole cube is fabric--if they really have a question they can run it back through the x-ray machine separately. To date they have never opened one--which is good because sometimes I am laying on them to get them to shut.

Once he gets to his destination, he just hangs up his clothes for the next day or days; and claims with rare exception he does not even need to touch them up with the iron. Personally I have never used the cubes to pack my belongings, but I use them 15-20 times per year to pack for the husband.

How does he get his clothes back in them to come home?

 

[Meriweather]

We heard about them several months ago on the cruise board.
Love them!! They keep everything so organized.
I got a few from magellan and then the rest at ebags.
DH travels a lot and he loves them. They make it easy for him.

Cruise board also turned me on to compression bags. I like them too. Great for on the way home to squeeze the dirty clothes in and make room for souvenirs.
DH will be trying them for the first time on a business trip this week. I think he will like those too. If he is international, he always has to carry back an extra bag because of souvenirs, this should make it so they fit in his bag.

 

[nmmom95]

I got mine at ebags a few years ago. I like them because the help me organize better. Basically, everyone gets a cube with socks, underwear, pj's, etc.

 

[DawnCt1]

I have used packing cubes for years. I hate wrinkles and when you pack a suitcase and put it on its side, things wrinkle. Packing cubes keep the clothing tight so it minimizes wrinkles. If you really don't want something to wrinkle, also fold the item with tissue paper before you place it in the cube. For items that go in the garment bag, I separate them with bags from the dry cleaner. This is good for those who cruise and need no wrinkles for formal nights.

 

[dis-happy]

My dh, a road warrior, uses them for travel and likes them a lot.

Personally, I'm just as happy using the 2 gal. ziplocks for the rest of the family. Plus, you can squeeze more air out of them. And they are cheaper!!!

 

[akcire]

How does he get his clothes back in them to come home?

The cube thing is completely flat. As his clothes become dirty he puts them in hotel laundry bags and smashes them in his suitcase. I can always tell how many hotels he has stayed at based on how many laundry bags are in the suitcase.

He pretty much just sits on his bag to get it closed once he has all dirty clothes. One of the keys to his success is excellent quality luggage that can handle his "style". All of his soft sided luggage is Briggs & Riley--which basically has a no questions asked lifetime guarantee. Even with the abuse he provides he has only sent two bags for service, and over the years he has had a dozen. We currently have 7 or 8, at one time we both traveled for work; but he would be fine with 3.

Due to his travel schedule his employer actually provides an annual luggage allowance, which we generally pocket due to the sturdy construction of the luggage we purchased. The funniest part is all of the Briggs & Riley, except for his first piece, was purchased from the discount retailers Marshalls or TJMaxx at excellent prices.

He also has a Samsonite hard side that came from my parents basement (since they don't need to haul dead bodies with them on vacation) and he bought a second one at a garage sale for $3. Hard sides are used when traveling to Latin America, to make certain he does not bring home any crazy big bugs---he brings a roll of duct tape with him and each day runs a strip around the seal. When traveling to Asia I pack him in one suitcase also (typically a 10-12 day trip) but that is also a large hard side Samsonite, that I lovingly refer to as "a sled". The Asian trips are the hardest to pack, because Asia is straight business environment--so he needs 3-5 suits plus shirts, and casual clothes. The upside is I always get nice gifts from Asia.

 

[DawnCt1]

I bought most of my packing cubes on clearance at TJ Maxx and Marshall's years ago. I guess they were overlooked, which made me happy.

 

[DisneyScraps]

I love them for a long trip. It really helps me stay organized.

Lisa

 

[travelbug]

Thanks, everyone! It's helpful to hear everyone's experiences with the cubes. I'm going to see if I can find them in a store around here and check them out in person.

Sounds like nobody has had problems with the cubes during bag inspection. I'm the unluckiest person in the world. My suitcases seem to almost always get selected for inspection.

 

[Aneille]

I have never heard of these and they sound great.

We pack fairly light for the size of our family (1 medium suitcase and 2 carry-on size for the kids), plus each child carries a backpack on the plane. This is what we aim for.

Since everyone shares sometimes I am the only one that knows which suitcase so and so's stuff is in! Cubes would help a bunch!

 

[Magix]

I've been using the Eagle Creek packing cubes and folders for quite a while now. They're great. I can fit all my pants in one folder, all my shirts in another, then all my other items go into cubes of various sizes. Keeps everything nice and neat, plus helps reduce the size. I've traveled on both domestic and international flights and have had no problems of any kind with them. They're always just the way I left them. Most of them have mesh areas where you can basically see what's inside, so there's no need for TSA to open them up.

For pants and shirts, as I use them, I just fold and put the dirty clothes at the bottom of the folder and take the next clean item off the top each day. So, except for things like skirts, I never take them out of the folder until I'm actually going to use each piece. That way, I stay neatly packed and don't have to re-do everything on the last evening. Works very, very nicely. I can just throw the folders/cubes into drawers in the room, if I'm staying more than a night or two.

Of course, I also use a packing list every time I pack for a trip (no matter the length), so I don't forget anything or start throwing in random items out of panic. I had a friend who used to pack in a panic and she'd end up with things like a roll of duct tape in her suitcase for no apparent reason. I'm detail oriented, so packing cubes/folders and packing lists, help me keep everything orderly.

 

[dis-happy]

I had a friend who used to pack in a panic and she'd end up with things like a roll of duct tape in her suitcase for no apparent reason.

Duct tape is great for removing lint!!!

 

[travelbug]

I've been using the Eagle Creek packing cubes and folders for quite a while now. They're great. I can fit all my pants in one folder, all my shirts in another, then all my other items go into cubes of various sizes. Keeps everything nice and neat, plus helps reduce the size. I've traveled on both domestic and international flights and have had no problems of any kind with them. They're always just the way I left them. Most of them have mesh areas where you can basically see what's inside, so there's no need for TSA to open them up.

For pants and shirts, as I use them, I just fold and put the dirty clothes at the bottom of the folder and take the next clean item off the top each day. So, except for things like skirts, I never take them out of the folder until I'm actually going to use each piece. That way, I stay neatly packed and don't have to re-do everything on the last evening. Works very, very nicely. I can just throw the folders/cubes into drawers in the room, if I'm staying more than a night or two.

Of course, I also use a packing list every time I pack for a trip (no matter the length), so I don't forget anything or start throwing in random items out of panic. I had a friend who used to pack in a panic and she'd end up with things like a roll of duct tape in her suitcase for no apparent reason. I'm detail oriented, so packing cubes/folders and packing lists, help me keep everything orderly.

This is a really good explanation of how you use the cubes and folders, and why they're so helpful. Thanks for posting!