Packing cubes?

[maxiesmom]

I have seen packing cubes mentioned a few times, and I am kind of curious about them. If you use them, why? Do they give you more room in your luggage, or do they just keep things more organized? I just roll my clothes now, would there be any benefit to having packing cubes? Please share all you know!

 

[S'sMom]

I have seen packing cubes mentioned a few times, and I am kind of curious about them. If you use them, why? Do they give you more room in your luggage, or do they just keep things more organized? I just roll my clothes now, would there be any benefit to having packing cubes? Please share all you know!

I am not sure if we are referring to the same ones, but I bought 2 from the Container Store on yesterday. It will be interesting to see what others think? I assumed that they are for a bit of both. We will see today. I will be doing some packing today.

 

[aubriee]

I have a large selection of packing folders and packing cubes. For my clothes I really prefer the 18" packing folder for my carry on or the 20" packing folder for my checked bag. I use packing cubes for underclothes and odds and ends mainly. Packing folders and cubes will stretch and hold alot more than you think they will and make it easy to organize your bags. A long as you can get the velcro to catch, the packing folders will stay closed. I am pooh size and as long as I pack fairly thin shorts/capris, and tshirts/tanks, I can pack 8-9 outfits in a 18" packing folder and it fits perfectly in one side of my 22" Heys spinner carry on and the carryon's divider easily secures it in place. Then I use a slim packing cube for 8 bras and another slim cube for 8-9 pairs panties and a nightgown. I use a small packing cube for two swimsuits and a coverup, another for a couple of sundresses that I roll tightly, and another for odds and ends (battery chargers, 7 day pill box, bath melts or bath salts, BodyGlide, deodorant, disposable razor, hairbrush, comb, etc). All of that stuff fits on the other side of my carry on, along with a couple pairs of flip flops. So if I need to I can pack for a week's trip in a carryon using a 18" packing folder and a few packing cubes. If I need to carry an extra outfit or two I can fold them into a 15" packing folder and put it in my personal item along with my camera, makeup bag, cell phone, 3-1-1 bag and a few snacks. When I get to my room, all I have to do is unzip the packing cubes and slip them into the dresser drawers and my stuff never touches the drawers. Slip the clothes out of the packing folders and onto the shelf above the closet. When I get in at night use the packing guide that comes with the folder and repack the dirty clothes as I use them back into the packing folder. At the end of the week, everything is neatly repacked and squished down flat. All I have to do is drop the empty packing cubes into the bottom of the carry on and drop the now refilled packing folder on top. Since I carry travel size toiletries and makeup samples most of them will be used up or at least close to empty. Repack what's left, roll swimsuits and coverup back into their packing cube, slip in the flip flops, and I can be packed and out of the room in about five minutes on check out day.

I used to use the rolling technique with zip lock bags, but much prefer packing folders with maybe 2 slim and 2-3 small packing cubes.

Go read the reviews for the packing folders and packing cubes on ebags:
http://www.ebags.com/product/eagle-creek/pack-it-folder-18/147919?productid=10011775
http://www.ebags.com/product/ebags/slim-packing-cubes-3pc-set/107842?productid=1283924
http://www.ebags.com/product/ebags/medium-packing-cubes-3pc-set/48439?productid=1234136
http://www.ebags.com/product/eagle-creek/pack-it-folder-20/147920?productid=10011778

I bought my first ones on Ebags.com, but then found them cheaper at TJMaxx. The ones at TJMaxx were the good Eagle Creek ones too. I now have enough to mix and match depending on how long my trips are and if I want to use a checked bag or not. The 20" packing folder is great for a check bag and holds nine days worth of clothes and is great for repacking clothes into at night when you come in from the parks. I love having almost all of my stuff already packed at the end of the trip. Makes repacking a breeze. I also love how organized my bags are with the packing folders and cubes. I can pack alot more with them, than I ever could using the old zip locks. Jamstew here on the DIS turned me onto them. She swore by them and now I do too. Again though, I really prefer the packing folders to the cubes for packing clothes though. I use a variety of both and am always shocked at what I can squeeze into them.

 

[Disney_1derland]

I just bought the ebags packing cubes for this trip. At first I thought I hated them. They are lightweight (my first thought was flimsy!) and they are smaller than what I thought. I bought the set that has 1 large, 1 med, 1 small and I bought 5 different colors, 1 color for each of us. I was going to send them back but decided to give it a try.

Using the rolling method (which I prefer over any others!) I was able to fit all my bottoms in the large, my tops in the medium and my unmentionables in the small (except the bras, they have their own container.) I packed 7 outfits and could still have fit 5 more in there. I was blown away! The kids each only used just the large for their clothes, leaving the mediums to hold extra shoes and the smalls to hold some of our disney essentials (hats, sunglasses, water bottle straps, etc.)

I was able to get all 5 sets into one bag (30 inch rolling duffle) and now for a 10 night trip we have just the rolling duffle and one large suitcase for 5 people.

 

[Jedana]

This is what we use:

http://www.amazon.com/Kelty-Binto-Hauler/dp/B003FTVHNC/ref=pd_sbs_a_3

I have 2 of them. I pack the kids clothes and Dh's/my socks and undergarments in one bag. (DS has a bin, DD has a bin and then a bin for our stuff). In the other, I pack Dh's and my clothes, plus one for light jackets, hats, scarves, mittens, shoes, etc.

We also have one we picked up at Target about a year ago, it has 4 bins. I use that one for pillows and blankets and bathroom stuff when we go camping.

I want to get another one, so I can load it with kitchen gear, instead of using those heavy plastic totes I have. I can fit all my pots/pans, dishes, etc into one 4 bin like the one I found at Target, and I can carry it easier.

We do have a full set of luggage and lots of duffel bags, but I prefer the binto bins.

 

[whamma]

For me they are all about organization.

I like to "unpack" when I get to a destination (vs. living out of a suitcase). When we get to WDW, I just take the whole packing cube out of the suitcase and move it to a drawer. It's really quick.

There are 4 people in my family so I have packing cubes in 4 different colors i.e. DD's clothes in red cubes, DS's clothes in blue, DHs clothes in black and mine in green!

I also pack in the cubes by when we need each outfit during the vacation. (Yes, I plan that ahead of time too.) So the clothes we need earlier in a vacation are not all mixed up with clothes for later in the vacation.

It takes awhile to figure out what sizes you need for your family. I like the ebags style and prefer the rectangular large and medium sized cubes but have a few of the smaller cubes too.

 

[aubriee]

I also pack in the cubes by when we need each outfit during the vacation. (Yes, I plan that ahead of time too.) So the clothes we need earlier in a vacation are not all mixed up with clothes for later in the vacation.

It takes awhile to figure out what sizes you need for your family. I like the ebags style and prefer the rectangular large and medium sized cubes but have a few of the smaller cubes too.

Except I pack my clothes in packing folders, rather than the cubes, I do the same thing. I put the outfits on hangers before I pack and arrange them in the order I plan to wear them. Then when I pack, I start with an extra outfit, then day 9, then day 8, then day 7, then day 6, etc, so that when I'm finished the outfits are in the order I'll be wearing them. When I get to the room, I just slide the stack out of the folder and sit them on the shelf in the closet. I've got several of the large and medium packing cubes, but find I use the 18" packing folders, 20" packing folders, and the small cubes and slim cubes more.

 

[ilovepete]

I use the ebags version and LOVE them. We all put our stuff in them and use one big suit case. Each person has their own color so we know what stuff is for what person. It makes things SO much easier. I don't think it give us more room in the suitcase, but it sure does make it more organized. I'll never go back to packing without them!

 

[mikegood2]

I just bought the ebags packing cubes for this trip. At first I thought I hated them. They are lightweight (my first thought was flimsy!) and they are smaller than what I thought. I bought the set that has 1 large, 1 med, 1 small and I bought 5 different colors, 1 color for each of us. I was going to send them back but decided to give it a try.

I have been using packing cubes for a few years now and couldn't imagine not using them for my vacation.

After dealing with my brother making fun of my packing cubes over our last family vacation or two, not sure why he did I think he just didn't see their value, I got a call from him last week asking me how I liked them. He ended up ordering 4 packs of the ones you ordered, all in different colors and plans on using them for our upcoming trip. BTW he ended up with the black set because he refused to use the green ones . My 18 month old niece ended up with those.

 

[maxiesmom]

Except I pack my clothes in packing folders, rather than the cubes, I do the same thing. I put the outfits on hangers before I pack and arrange them in the order I plan to wear them. Then when I pack, I start with an extra outfit, then day 9, then day 8, then day 7, then day 6, etc, so that when I'm finished the outfits are in the order I'll be wearing them. When I get to the room, I just slide the stack out of the folder and sit them on the shelf in the closet. I've got several of the large and medium packing cubes, but find I use the 18" packing folders, 20" packing folders, and the small cubes and slim cubes more.

And I thought I was organized. I to you both!!!

 

[aubriee]

And I thought I was organized. I to you both!!!

Hey, about a week before I pack, I always match my outfits, button up shirts, zip and button capris/shorts and iron items as needed, before putting them together as outfits on the hangers. It's easy to arrange the hangers in the order I'll be wearing the outfits. I have a futon bunk bed in my spare bedroom that I use to hang stuff on and drop the packing cubes on the folded down futon as I get stuff together and pack them. Once my outfits are neatly organized on hangers it's easy to check to see what shoes and jewelry (if any) will match, so I can get them out and have them sitting there too. That way when I'm ready to pack into the suitcases, everything is right there together, already organized and checked off. I always keep a toiletry bag packed and hanging in the closet and just restock it after each trip. That way I never forget anything.

 

[RatherB@Disney]

We've been using packing cubes and folders for many years - love them! In addition to the previously mentioned organizational benefits, I've found that if you fly and your bag is selected for TSA inspection, the contents of your luggage are more neatly re-packed also. I hated opening a disheveled bag after I spent so much time trying to organize the bag the way I felt best.

 

[lovemy4sweeties]

I bought my first ones on Ebags.com, but then found them cheaper at TJMaxx. The ones at TJMaxx were the good Eagle Creek ones too. I now have enough to mix and match depending on how long my trips are and if I want to use a checked bag or not. The 20" packing folder is great for a check bag and holds nine days worth of clothes and is great for repacking clothes into at night when you come in from the parks. I love having almost all of my stuff already packed at the end of the trip. Makes repacking a breeze. I also love how organized my bags are with the packing folders and cubes. I can pack alot more with them, than I ever could using the old zip locks. Jamstew here on the DIS turned me onto them. She swore by them and now I do too. Again though, I really prefer the packing folders to the cubes for packing clothes though. I use a variety of both and am always shocked at what I can squeeze into them.

Are the TJ Maxx ones cheaper than the current ebags sale?

 

[lovemy4sweeties]

These look great ! I've never heard of them before. I'm seriously considering buying some for our next trip in October and I think they would work great with camping this summer as well. The folders look GREAT, but we don't pack a lot of dressy clothes (mainly t-shirts, jeans, shorts, tank tops etc), so do you think the cubes will work better for us? I LOVE the idea of having a different colour for each family member, but that wouldn't work for us since we have 7 in our family and most of the bags only have ~5 colour choices. I'm not sure what sizes we will need. If I want to pack for a week (3 jeans, 5 shorts, 7 t-shirts/tanks, 2 long sleeve, a hoodie and 2-3 swimsuits), what size would I need for the kids? Should I just order us all a large one, or do you think I should buy a few 3 piece sets and dh and I can have the large ones and use the smaller ones for the kids? I could order 2 sets of large and 2sets of medium so we'd all have one of each (and I could buy one separate for the baby). I want to make sure all the clothes will fit, but I don't want to buy sizes that I don't need. Any suggestions would be GREAT! Thanks .

 

[ilovepete]

These look great ! I've never heard of them before. I'm seriously considering buying some for our next trip in October and I think they would work great with camping this summer as well. The folders look GREAT, but we don't pack a lot of dressy clothes (mainly t-shirts, jeans, shorts, tank tops etc), so do you think the cubes will work better for us? I LOVE the idea of having a different colour for each family member, but that wouldn't work for us since we have 7 in our family and most of the bags only have ~5 colour choices. I'm not sure what sizes we will need. If I want to pack for a week (3 jeans, 5 shorts, 7 t-shirts/tanks, 2 long sleeve, a hoodie and 2-3 swimsuits), what size would I need for the kids? Should I just order us all a large one, or do you think I should buy a few 3 piece sets and dh and I can have the large ones and use the smaller ones for the kids? I could order 2 sets of large and 2sets of medium so we'd all have one of each (and I could buy one separate for the baby). I want to make sure all the clothes will fit, but I don't want to buy sizes that I don't need. Any suggestions would be GREAT! Thanks .

They do have them in colors not listed on the site. We have orange ones and pink ones in addition to the ones there. Maybe you could find them from someone selling them if you really wanted 7 different colors.

 

[goldies 5]

I am buying the packing cubes too. We also have to many for all the colors and couldn't find the pink in ebag brand, with the exception of the slim size. Since my oldest daughter doesn't plan to go, I am going to get all of the guys different colors and myself and the little girls the same color. I figure I will be able to tell theirs and mine apart pretty easily. If I need to I will just tag the bags.

 

[aubriee]

Are the TJ Maxx ones cheaper than the current ebags sale?

When they have them, yes, they are quite a bit cheaper. They can be hard to find though. TJ Maxx was selling them individually, not in sets, which I liked. It's been awhile since I bought mine, but at TJ Maxx I paid like $12.00 and $14.00 for the 18" and 20" packing folders and $4.00-$9.00 each for the different sized cubes. I liked that they were the better Eagle Creek ones too, although I've had my ebags ones for years and they still look brand new.

 

[maxiesmom]

Bumping this back up because I just ordered an 18" folder and a 2 sided packing cube off of ebags. They are on sale today, and they have free shipping too!

I hope those are at least good starter pieces. They have so many different cubes that it was kind of overwhelming.