Packing cubes

[JerushaAbbott]

What are packing cubes? Is using them better than my tried and tested formula of shoving random stuff in a bag and squashing it all down so I can do up the zip? And then slinging it all about the place when I get there because I can't find anything?

I'm going for a week away (unpredictable weather - could be hot/cold/wet/dry) and I'd like to avoid having too huge a bag if possible.

I love them. Makes packing easier. Makes unpacking easier. You can fit more in your case.

They're great. I got some off group on a coup,e of weeks ago for not a lot of money!

They’re just various sized zipped rectangular bags. I use them inside a cabin-sized case and I swear I got more in, because you can pile upwards more easily without stuff spilling out the sides. Also, we did a touring holiday so lots of packing and unpacking and it helped soooooo much. One cube for undies, one for tops, one for bottoms - literally lift out of case, put into drawer and unzip the top and you’ve unpacked! I also use one for shoes and odd bits which keeps stuff clean. And you can use one for dirty clothes to make life easier when you get back, too.

They sound ideal. I'm wondering whether it's worth getting larger cubes for clothes as well as small accessories/undies bags? Also, I'm taking a holdall rather than a case - presumably they'll still be effective?

I use them now because it makes packing for us all much easier (otherwise the suitcase just descends into a rummaged through state by the 3rd day).

I bought a selection from Amazon - I found the HopeRay ones I bought to be the best of the 4 different brands I bought - thicker fabric which helps when packing, and good zips.

I use the bigger than A4 ones for shorts/t-shirts, the pencil case ones (which I think are technically for shoes) for socks, and the drawstring ones for dirty washing. It meant when we arrived in a hotel I could just dump them straight into draws, and find things easily.

I use a small bag for travelling and find i can pack so much more easily by using cubes.
In your circumstances I might pack wet/cold weather stuff in one cube and split the rest between the other cubes.

Intrigued about these. Doesn’t everything get really creased?

Yes they are really good. It's like packing with drawers. Cloths stay neatly folded which helps with creasing I find.

Amazon do some in their Basics range in various sizes and colours. We've got loads and it helps with not mixing up kids stuff.

Oh and....

Weirdly smaller ones are more useful than bigger ones!

Watching as I've also been looking at these, DH can't see the point at all.

We use eBags. We’ve tried a few brands and found them to be the sturdiest. They also have a handle on the side for carrying.

Everything goes in an eBag. We have a different coloured set for each family member which makes packing and unpacking much easier.

Football the most efficient way to use packing cubes is to roll the contents, so no, things don’t get particularly creased and I can fit far more in than if I was just packing directly into the case.

It also means closing the case is far easier.

I tried them and didn't see the point - perhaps I'm a brilliant packer anyway? The only time it was useful was when I was in a friend's spare room where there was no where to put stuff so it did keep my suitcase organised. If we're in a hotel and it's for longer than a night, I unpack anyway.

We just used them traveling over the summer moving hotels etc every three or four days. They are very useful for organising everyone’s stuff I take them out and put in a drawer and we’ve unpacked. It stops everyone rummaging through the suitcase for stuff and creating a mess. The smaller half a4 size were the best for baby stuff and my tops and kids tshirts.

We have a range of sets and use them every time. I fold or roll when packing at home.

Ime things are less creased than just packing into the case especially on holidays where you may be living out of the case. Our last holiday was one where we moved a little t - 7 hotels over a fortnight. So no hanging up on day 1 and leaving them.

It was useful to know that one pack was underwear, a second was dresses, 3rd t shirts etc.

I have long maxi dresses and they were all fine. I think mid way through last week I did use the iron at the hotel to straighten out the bottom of one dress a bit though tbh it'd have possibly dropped out after a bit of wearing anyway. Dh has cotton shorts in his and again, if folded properly at the start then they're fine and certainly no worse than straight into the case - infact usefully far less so.

One of our cases for our moving around a lot holiday this summer. So much easier to dear with when there.

Thank you so much everyone! I've ordered some and will try to roll rather than randomly stuff and fling...

Good idea to keep cold weather separate from warm weather clothes - wonder which I'll need more of?