Packing cubes

[KristiKat]

For those of you who use packing cubes...It's really hard to tell from looking at pics on Amazon so I have a question. How much do you normally get in a cube? I'm looking at a set with the following measurements...
•Small cube dimensions: 11" x 6.75" x 3"
•Medium cube dimensions: 13.75" x 9.75" x 3"
•Large cube dimensions: 17.5" x 12.75" x 3.25"

Thanks for any info you all have.

 

[tonya clayton]

Packing cubes
I'm going to be honest and tell you I'm not sure how much I pack in each cube. I have a lot of large and medium, and a few small. I can tell you I won't pack without them. I love them, especially if you have kids. You pack their complete outfit, including undies ,socks, pj's,and sweatshirt in one cube (mine have handles) then you unpack them and stack them in the drawers at the hotel. They just pull out a cube and put on their outfit for the day. You can also put the past days dirty stuff back in the cube and put it in the suitcase. It makes the whole packing scenario neater. And if the airport wants to go through your bag it keeps everything from spilling out and being messed up when they open the bag.

 

[mwmom]

It honestly will depend on size of clothing. During winter, I get a lot less in since items are bulkier than in spring/summer. Here is what I typically get in:

2-3 mediums in DD's small suitcase depending on season + 1 small with undergarments/socks
2 large, 1 small and I think 2 mediums (can't remember for sure if it is 1 or 2) in my large suitcase. (I tend to be an over-packer)
I sometimes use an extra medium for just extra stuff I throw in to take with me

If you don't order enough this time, you can still pack things as you have always done and just order more next trip.

Packing tip: I usually take an empty large to start putting dirty clothes in the first night. Then as I empty one (I pack them by outfit), I can start filling those with dirty clothes. This separates out everything so it makes it easy to throw in the washing machine when I get home.

 

[magicaldisney]

Do these packing cubes add a lot of weight to the luggage?

 

[mwmom]

I am not sure what brand you are using but I have ebags and Eagle Creek and they add no weight at all. Well, I suppose they must add something, but they are very light weight. My Eagle Creek bags have sides that stand up a little, but the ebags pack flat if nothing is inside them. Honestly, I like both kinds.

 

[dixiegirl]

Do these packing cubes add a lot of weight to the luggage?

Mine are from ebags and they weigh almost nothing. I love them!

 

[dixiegirl]

For those of you who use packing cubes...It's really hard to tell from looking at pics on Amazon so I have a question. How much do you normally get in a cube? I'm looking at a set with the following measurements...
•Small cube dimensions: 11" x 6.75" x 3"
•Medium cube dimensions: 13.75" x 9.75" x 3"
•Large cube dimensions: 17.5" x 12.75" x 3.25"

Thanks for any info you all have.

The small cubes I use for items like socks, jammies, and under 'items'. I roll most of the items for these cubes and can fit enough for our whole 9 days in those.
The medium cubes I use for tshirts and shorts - depends here on which type of each item I am bringing. Tshirts I fold to be the size of the cube and can fit alot. Shorts depend on if I have any denim or thicker type shorts.
The large I usually use for pants or capris, etc.

I absolutely love my packing cubes - the ones I have are from ebags.

 

[KristiKat]

Thanks for the replies, I have been looking at the ebags and glad to hear that they work so well.

 

[scdak]

Just a note from a Pooh sized woman : the packing cubes are GREAT, I have a set of the S-M-L and a set of the "slims" (all one length) and I love them.........but none of them are really great for Pooh sized clothes other than undies and jammies. They do not add any weight to the suitcase, they are great for packing items such as toiletries - just take it to the bathroom area and unpack in a matter of minutes. I use one of the slims for misc items - night light, clothes pins, travel alarm clock, glasses case, pens/paper and all the other things that I have found useful on a trip (there are great threads about this on the Disboards), I just leave them all packed for my next trip to Disney or my annual cruise or other vacations. I have found the small size or a slim is great for medications that you and your family might need. The first time I used them was on a cruise in February, and have since bought 2 more sets of the S-M-L and long, slims to give to my mother and my best friend because they saw how wonderful they were on my other trips.

 

[aubriee]

I have packing cubes and packing folders in all sizes and actually prefer the packing folders to the cubes, but use both every single trip. I can put 9 days worth of shorts and tshirts into an 18" packing folder that fits perfectly into one side of my Heys spinner carry on. My husband wears alot of thicker cargo shorts, so I can't get quite 9 days worth of his clothes into an 18" packing folder, but can usually get 7 days worth. I use a slim cube for his underwear and then another slim cube or small packing cube for my underwear and bras. I then use an Eagle quarter cube for small miscellaneous items. All of this will fit easily into two carry ons. If we are checking a bag, I may pack his clothes into a 20" packing folder.

I just got back this past weekend from WDW. In my carryon I had eight pairs of shorts and eight tshirts in a 18" packing folder, two pairs of flip flops, a white noise machine, a small cube with 7 prs panties and 7 bras, and an Eagle Creek half cube with chargers and a few miscellaneous items in it.

 

[lylone]

Sorry, for my late response but I just had the time to see how much packing cubes will hold.
I was AMAZED at how much they held!
I am a 22W 1X size.
In the largest cube....I got 4 pairs of heavy jeans and one capri jeans. And one Roamans henley.
In the medium cube....3 more henleys and 3 tank tops and 2 t-shirts and 3 bras
In small cube,,,,2 bras, 8 cotton panties and 7 pairs of socks and swimsuit.
I added one sweatshirt and one cotton cardigan (both medium weight) on top of the cubes.
Flat iron, hairbrush and charging cables for electronics. Crocs and flips for shoes
Liquids all in 3-1-1 bag in outside pocket of suitcase.

This was all in a Samsonite 21 inch carry on and there was room to spare. It wieghed 26 lbs.
(I use Vera Bradley bag that carries makeup, travel docs, IDs, medicine and a netbook, if you were wondering}

All for a 5 day trip to the world
I could only imagine what it would hold just shorts and Tshirts!

 

[KristiKat]

Sorry, for my late response but I just had the time to see how much packing cubes will hold.
I was AMAZED at how much they held!
I am a 22W 1X size.
In the largest cube....I got 4 pairs of heavy jeans and one capri jeans. And one Roamans henley.
In the medium cube....3 more henleys and 3 tank tops and 2 t-shirts and 3 bras
In small cube,,,,2 bras, 8 pairs of cotton panties and 7 pairs of socks and swimsuit.
I added one sweatshirt and one cotton cardigan (both medium weight) on top of the cubes.
Flat iron, hairbrush and charging cables for electronics. Crocs and flips for shoes
Liquids all in 3-1-1 bag in outside pocket of suitcase.

This was all in a Samsonite 21 inch carry on and there was room to spare. It wieghed 26 lbs.
(Vera Bradley bag that carries makeup, travel docs, IDs medicine and a netbook, if you were wondering}

All for a 5 day trip to the world
I could only imagine what it would hold just shorts and Tshirts!

Thanks for the info. Awesome news that it will fit so many jeans. We'll be packing jeans and shorts since we go in Feb and you never know how the weather will be in Feb. Thanks for going into so much detail for me. It gives me a much better idea of how much I can pack in them.

 

[tianna26]

Is there a store where you can go to look at packing cubes in person i dont like buying stuff w/o knowing exactly what it looks,feels like etc

 

[aubriee]

Is there a store where you can go to look at packing cubes in person i dont like buying stuff w/o knowing exactly what it looks,feels like etc

At our local outlet mall, we have a Samsonite store that carries packing folders and cubes. I have also seen them a few times at TJMaxx (but they don't have them all the time).

 

[lylone]

I still had some room on the sides of the carry-on to stuff shoes or etc in.
I didn't have to sit on it to get it zipped. That was the best thing!
We have a Samsonite company store in a mall near us and I didn't see packing cubes.
I bought mine right off of ebags and they do have free return shipping so no risk at all.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Thanks for the replies, I have been looking at the ebags and glad to hear that they work so well.

I agree that the eBags cubes are great. They weigh almost nothing. I bought a set which came with 3 different sizes of bags and a pair of shoe bags. Watch for their frequent sales for a discount.

 

[Swirly girls]

Also try glad or ziplock bags. They made different sizes, in fact you can get pretty good sized bags. Fill bag with outfit or outfits ( depending on big your bag is) and press all the air out. My friend has even used her vacuum cleaner hose to suck the air out. It is amazing how much more you can fit in your luggage this way!

 

[wishing4PA]

It is amazing how much more you can fit in your luggage this way!

That's what I would worry about, regarding weight, but one PP had her example of total bag weight. I would not expect the cubes to weigh much, but if you're stuffing in extra jeans, those must weigh something!

 

[KristiKat]

Also try glad or ziplock bags. They made different sizes, in fact you can get pretty good sized bags. Fill bag with outfit or outfits ( depending on big your bag is) and press all the air out. My friend has even used her vacuum cleaner hose to suck the air out. It is amazing how much more you can fit in your luggage this way!

I use Ziplock bags to pack also. I feel like it helps to keep the wrinkles out as well. I'm looking at packing cubes but also will prob continue to use the ziplock bags. It makes it easier for my DD6 to get ready on vacation without so much help from me.

 

[ZoZo]

Hi, guys! For those that have used packing cubes/folders, will you tell me more about them? Are they simply for organizing your clothes (i.e. putting all your t-shirts together), or do they truly save space in your suitcase?

I've always been a "roller" when it comes to packing. I find that you can fit in more clothes if you roll them rather than folding them. I've tried Travel Space Bags in the past, but found they don't seem to save me any room compared to rolling my clothes (plus the clothes seemed to get wrinkles in space bags). I actually did a "test pack" with space bags versus rolling (with the exact same clothes) and ended up with my tried-and-true rolling method.

So, please sell me on the benefits of using packing cubes/folders!! Thanks for the info!!