What are Packing Cubes?

[MAGICX2]

I have been reading alot about Packing Cubes here on the Cruise forum. What are these? Is there an advantage to Packing Cubes over Space Bags.

I hate that I have everything a jumbled, shoved mess in my suitcase. I am very organized and it about kills me to have my suitcase a mess!

 

[jilljill]

Did a search and this is what I found: http://www.ebags.com/travel_accesso...-rIX10qLqGo_9-YgmJ5LK4l1ekSVWElQETZLAWpQAFoQA


Learn About Packing Folders/Cubes
Packing folders and packing cubes protect your clothing from getting wrinkled during travel. They also assist the traveler in fitting more clothing in each piece of your luggage. Packing supplies can be clothing specific for shoes, suits, small or large items. These items are often in fun colors with mesh sides or tops so you can easily recognize the items within each folder or cube.

 

[chuff]

What are packing cubes? Just the greatest thing to ever happen to luggage! We have tons of them and we love 'em. They make keeping suitcases organized so easy.

 

[mmmears]

They are the BEST!!! We can now travel for 10 days with one carry-on suitcase per person!!! And my clothes are not wrinkled and if TSA wants to open up my suitcase, nothing will fall out.

I bought a set for me and DH was skeptical. After watching me pack, we had to go back to the store for more for him and DD! Then my DM saw us packing, and we had to go back again for more for her!

I thought they were silly at first, until I tried them. Now I'll never take a trip without them. It has definitely made re-packing at the end of the trip much, much easier as well.

 

[ontariomonkey]

So it's a bunch of small bags that you put in your suitcase. I don't get how that's advantagious.

Is it just the organization factor: shirts in one, undies in another etc that people like?

I am not an organized person so maybe that is why I can't see the benefit.

 

[mmmears]

Well, there's one that helps you fold everything perfectly (all the same size). My shirts are never wrinkled when they come out of this one. Then there are smaller cubes to put the smaller stuff in. My suitcase contents were basically 4 cubes and a pair of shoes. Pretty easy to pack and unpack. Things weren't falling all over the place.

When we get to the hotel, I just put the cubes in my dresser drawers and pull from them as needed. I know where everything is. We do lots of split-stay trips at WDW, and these make it SO much easier for us.

 

[chuff]

There is no wasted space in a suitcase with the packing cubes. You can fill one up with shirts or whatever and when you zip it up in compresses them slightly so they're already taking up less space. Now you can take your full cube and stick it in the suitcase in any orientation you want including on its side without messing up your clothes. Because of the slight compression and the fact that you can put them in any orientation to use all available suitcase space it feels like your suitcase has doubled in size.

When I pack for a long trip I generally take everything and toss it in the suitcase. Once I have it all there I start organizing and really packing it. I can tell you that the suitcase is absolutely overflowing when we start, but by the time everything is organized into the cubes and they're arranged in the case we find that we still have some extra space. I thought the cubes were absolutely laughable, but my wife worked at REI at the time and she bought a bunch of them with her discount despite my objections. I only had to pack with them once to be converted.

 

[mmouse37]

I have been in the market for some travel cubes...I have checked them out at TravelSmith

http://www.travelsmith.com/mercadoS...&freeText=packing+cubes&Search.x=0&Search.y=0

and Magellan's

http://www.magellans.com/store/Packing_Organizers___Packing_Cubes___Folders?Args=

but is one brand better than another? I usually just use the Jumbo ziplock bags for organizing my suitcase but the slider top often stops working so look for cubes now.

So, what brand do you like?

MJ

 

[coasterwiggs]

We previously used the space bags but after a few trips they didn't close anymore, so I was in the market for something else. I discovered packing cubes and am so glad I did. I bought (from the local REI store) one of the Eagle Creek cubes and one half cube and took them home. My husband immediately saw their potential and asked me to go back and buy more. We have taken two trips since then and our suitcase was so nice and organized. We removed the cubes and placed them in the drawers of our stateroom or hotel room. Voila, all my socks/undies for the week are in one convenient cube. Hubby has his own cube. We even packed a cube with all the miscellaneous cords, cell phone chargers, etc. for our electronic gadgets. This makes packing a breeze and nothing gets lost in the suitcase during the trip. It is a pleasure to just take out a cube and know exactly what is in there. No more rummaging around.

 

[mmouse37]

Well I just orderd the 3 pack packing cubes and the 3 pack mesh cubes from Magellan's. Can't wait to try them!!

MJ

 

[Meriweather]

Okay these are intriguing me.
How many do you think are needed for 2-24" suitcases?

Also DH travels a lot and only takes a carry on. Half the space is taken with his CPAP machine, so any help organizing his would help.
He always has to take the machine out at security and all of his things staying inside the suitcase would sure help a LOT!!

 

[mmmears]

I bought the Eagle Creek ones at REI -- try to go when there is a sale or find a discount online because they aren't cheap.

The first thing I did was measure the inside of our suitcases. The I went online to see what was offered. From that, I figured out what would fit in my suitcase in a configuration that I liked -- one foldy thing, one 2-sided big cube, one half-cube, one really long, skinny cube... etc.

DH has a slightly diff configuration of cubes although he has the same suitcase -- just depends on what you think would work best for you.

It seemed expensive at the time (even though there was a sale), but everyone in my family thinks that it was money well-spent.

 

[GoofyTraci]

These are very interesting. I have packing OCD so maybe these would be nice. Not sure.

 

[Meriweather]

Well I just orderd the 3 pack packing cubes and the 3 pack mesh cubes from Magellan's. Can't wait to try them!!

MJ

I just ordered these too......we'll see how well they work on our trip in a couple weeks.
Hopefully really well, because I will need help for the transatlantic cruise

 

[ibouncetoo]

You can often get good prices on them at ebags

http://www.ebags.com/ebags/packing_cubes_3pc_set/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=13032

.

 

[mmouse37]

You can often get good prices on them at ebags

http://www.ebags.com/ebags/packing_cubes_3pc_set/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=13032

.

The three pack I just bought was $16.85....not sure how they compare to the sizes of the ones at ebags but I thought the price was good to test the concept.

MJ

 

[mmmears]

That price looks really good! From the photo, they look really comparable to the E.C. ones I bought.

I used a ruler and a bit of math to make sure that the sizes I ordered would fit perfectly in my suitcase, but then I think I pack a much smaller suitcase than most people do (18" long on the inside). By making sure that the cubes fill it and fit snugly, there's no wasted space in my luggage.

 

[MAGICX2]

Thanks for all the great replies! I guess I wasn't the only curious one. DH travels all over the country several times a month and these would be a great investment for us.

Do you think if I order them today that I would get them by next weekend....WHEN I WILL BE PACKING FOR MY CRUISE! HAHAHA

 

[MAGICX2]

Do they come with instructions on how to pack these things? Any one want to clue me in?

 

[ibouncetoo]

Thanks for all the great replies! I guess I wasn't the only curious one. DH travels all over the country several times a month and these would be a great investment for us.

Do you think if I order them today that I would get them by next weekend....WHEN I WILL BE PACKING FOR MY CRUISE! HAHAHA

e bags is 3-7 business days...risky. Expedited shipping...two days

SALE ENDS TOMORROW>

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