lhs624

I am planning an 8 day trip to Paris in the April and am determined to only bring my rolling carry-on bag. I have seen on some of the travel accessories sites these "packing cubes". Are they really that amazing? Who has used them and why do you like them?
Thanks.

Intrepid1

They are absolutely wonderful for organizing anything and everything..whatever you can stuff into them, clothes, shoes, "equipment" such as laundry stuff, etc.

One thing we do is make labels (using a large font on the computer) such as "shorts" or "T-shirts" etc and place those so you can see them through the mesh.

These things are especially great when you are using any duffle-style bag but we like them for any sort of larger suitcase.

Try to find them at some sort of discount store if you can.

TXgalinGA

Yes!! I love them and use them on all my travels. I like to seperate my clothes- shirts in one, skirts in another, lingerie in another. I've taken some pretty long trips (7-8 weeks) and I would have gone crazy with out them. I don't think they are mandatory on shorter vacas, but I still use them. It really just keeps me organized.

SeaUrchin

I use the gallon size zip lock bags which are see through and do basically the same thing - organizing and compressing.

SeaUrchin

Oops, not compressing but keeping flat and neat inside the plastic bags. I take the compression plastic bags for the return trip.

BabsB

I use them to keep everything organized. Small one for undies, socks and pj's, small one for tops, medium one for sweaters, shorts, or whatever other clothing items I am taking. My pants go in the bottom of the suitcase with the three cubes on top. Shoes to the side of the case. I have a 20X12 flat toiletry bag that has pockets on both sides. One side is toiletries, the other has my travel alarm, adapters, tape recorder etc. It lays flat on top of everything. My toiletry case, itineary, maps, camera go in my dau pack. I can live without the clothes but my trip would be ruined without all my planning and camera. I went on a 25 day trip to Europe last August and carried an Eagle Creek convertible backpack/roller with the zip off day pack. I had room for everything I needed and room for "prizes" plus everything stayed neat and easy to find. I love my packing cubes. Barb

nibblette

I also just use the extra large size ziploc (2-gal)/Hefty bags (2.5-gal) purchased quite inexpensively at target or Wal-mart. Very good for organizing and creating more room in the case via de-airing. Also good if case gets seleted for search. Everything is in plain view and packed bags are thin enough that they can be felt for any sharp/hard objects without opening the bags. Easier for suitcase to get repacked without accidentally having something left behind.

Just a caveat about the packs. You can fit more into the suitcase but this also means the weight goes up. Check with your airline to make sure you meet the weight requirements in additon to the size requirement. Otherwise, you may have an unhappy surprise at check-in if they take your bag.

TamaraEden

I just bought the set of 3 packing (bags?) which decompress when rolled. Supposedly supposed to help save space. Reading your replies, it seems they're good. I never thought of putting clothes in ziplocks, I usually only use those for toiletries.

Thanks for the advice.

By the way, the Rick Steve's site has some good travel stuff in the online store.

SeaUrchin

I looked and mine are 2 gallon also. I like them because they are air tight and you can repack stinky socks and they don't reek onto the clean clothes. And you can compress a bit of the air out.

I used to have the fabric packing cubes but they added too much weight. I always thought I was missing the point with them so I started used the ziplocks. Glad to see they work for some people though.

lhs624

thanks for everyone's answers. I kind of thought that ziploc bags would do the same thing. Maybe for this trip, I will try the cheap version and think about springing for the real "packing cubes" for my next vacation.

RufusTFirefly

Wouldn't any kind of bag or cube take up more space and weigh something? Unless they're the kind that you suck the air out of.

tuscanlifeedit

We have Eagle Creek packing envelopes (as opposed to the cubes) which we love. Of course, they weigh something, but when you remove the hard plastic board that slides in and out, they really don't weigh much at all.

We like the envelopes because we seem to be able to keep things much more neater and more organized when we use them, and they are so easy to get in and out of.

Woody

I pack light and have used only a carry-on bag for my last dozen or so trips to Europe.

I am very pleased with Eagle Creek packing cubes. They help in organizing items, and help keep items from shifting around in my carry-on bag.

The medium size cube weighs only 2.6 ounces. I can compress a lightweight hooded parka into it. (The parka came in handy in Paris last November when it snowed!) The parka seems to take twice as much room without a packing cube.

Woody

Jacksons

I agree about the super large ziplocks. No need ot buy expensive cubes, etc. I just sit on the ziplock and squeeze all the air out. They even keep you things relatively wrinkle free. I got the idea from my mom who is an avid traveller and always takes only a carry-on.

humanone

Compression? then your clothes get more wrinkled than they could be any other way. Just use the zip-lock bags which allow you to fold clothing flat. On the way home you can use those same bags and compress the air out of them anyway. As for the other suggestion in travel books about rolling clothes, I also nix that as making too many creases and folds. Just neatly fold items with socks or undies at the creases, or the thinnest dry cleaning bag, and you will be able to wear anything right out of the suitcase. If not, just dampen a cloth, dab over the wrinkle and it will fall out.

suze

Nope, I never use them. I figure it is just more stuff in your suitcase that you can't even wear!! I use a few large size ziplock bags (1 or 2 gal) and sit on them to get the air out. Don't overuse this method though because while your suitcase will still be small it will be HEAVIER!

walkinaround

am i missing something? don't your clothes compress automatically when you stuff them in your case? i think the main difference is whether you compress before or after putting it into the case.

call me old fashioned but i just fold my clothes and pack them as tightly as i can into my case...no need for the extra weight, hassle, cost, etc involved with sealing everything up in plastic or bags, cubes, or boxes. i also don't believe in wasting plastic unnecessarily so putting everything in purchased zip-lock plastic bags is out for me.

marketing people are geniuses at convincing people that they can't live without this sort of useless clutter and consumer waste.

TamaraEden

I was just thinking, why not simply punch some holes in the ziplock; eliviating the need to sit on them to release the air The air will exit as it is rolled

luveurop

I don't use them.

I am a reformed over-packer. One of my greatest accomplishments was packing all I needed for a 16 night trip in a 22" rolling carryon.

My "trick" is to simply roll all my clothes tightly.

liz

Intrepid1

I do not use the cubes to get MORE things into a suitcase; I use them to keep what is in the suitcase organized.

I agree that ziplocks would work just as well as long as you get the ones which are large enough..the cubes will hold quite a lot.

Luvurop, I wish I could get enough for a 16-night trip into that small a bag...am I correct that you have beglected to mention how many times you had to do laundry on that trip?