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Packing cubes. Useful or waste of time?

206 replies

Toddlerteaplease · 27/06/2023 09:15

Thought I might try them as staying in several different places this year. Are they a help or a hindrance?


If you’re short on time, here’s a summary of the best packing cubes Mumsnetters are recommending on this thread:

➡️ ELEZAY Hanging Packing Cubes (£30)

➡️ WOWTOY 6PCS Packing Cubes Value Set (£7)

➡️ Eagle Creek Reveal Cube Set (£42)

For more recommendations, check out our guide to the best packing cubes, featuring products that have been tried and tested by Mumsnet users and editors.

MNHQ Flowers

OP posts:
ThePoint678 · 27/06/2023 09:18

They are amazing.

i now can’t travel without them. Depending on the length of the trip I put tops in one, bottoms and dresses in another, and swimwear and underwear in a third. If it’s a short trip or weekend away I pack whole outfits in a cube.

Keeps everything neat and organised and easy to pack up to come home.

DH rejected them for years and now is converted too.

LesLavandes · 27/06/2023 09:19

Brilliant

Phos · 27/06/2023 09:20

I found them really useful this year especially as the place we went had very limited shelf/drawer space so we kept stuff in the cubes and it was all neat and compact.

WhatWouldTheDoctorDo · 27/06/2023 09:23

Useful, especially for multi stop trips! I just pack cubes for each destination, and have one for stuff we'll need at every stop. When returning, I sort dirty clothes by different washing loads too e.g., whites, brights etc. so easier to unpack. If you have clean clothes left over it's easy to separate them too.

NancyJoan · 27/06/2023 09:25

As a disorganised slattern, I longed for them to change my life, but alas I think I need a ladies maid.

Femalefootyfan · 27/06/2023 09:25

They’re brilliant, I use them every time we go away be that an overnight stay or a 2 week holiday. I usually put at least one empty one in my bag/case as well to fill with dirty washing.

Cinnamope · 27/06/2023 09:27

I love them! I travel a lot with work and have one for each type of clothing (tops, bottoms, underwear, gym etc etc)
no more rooting around in the case trying to find a clean top. Life changing

landoflostcontent · 27/06/2023 09:28

I love them for all the reasons quoted above and also because if your suitcase flies open at the airport you won't have to scurry around picking up dirty socks and underwear from the concourse

crochetmonkey74 · 27/06/2023 09:32

I really want to use them but my brain won't let me understand how they make it easier

eg - do you pack a day in each cube- so full underwear, socks, outfit etc - but why is that better than just getting stuff out of your case?

Also how do you pack stuff like deodorant , make up, medication etc that you need every day?

If you pack dresses in one, tops in another etc how is that easier than it just being loose in the case?

I have some in my Amazon basket at the moment - but I can't work out how to use them

Toddlerteaplease · 27/06/2023 09:37

Thanks. All order some.

OP posts:
Toddlerteaplease · 27/06/2023 09:37

Any recommendations as to which ones to get.

OP posts:
Cinnamope · 27/06/2023 09:37

crochetmonkey74 · 27/06/2023 09:32

I really want to use them but my brain won't let me understand how they make it easier

eg - do you pack a day in each cube- so full underwear, socks, outfit etc - but why is that better than just getting stuff out of your case?

Also how do you pack stuff like deodorant , make up, medication etc that you need every day?

If you pack dresses in one, tops in another etc how is that easier than it just being loose in the case?

I have some in my Amazon basket at the moment - but I can't work out how to use them

Everything loose in your case takes longer to find things. You can either lift all the cubes out of the case and lay them out or put them in drawers, or just open and take out what you need. No more hunting through piles of random clothes to find a pair of socks

I have a wash bag for toiletries, or you can pack them loose alongside the cubes.

RecycleMePlease · 27/06/2023 09:37

I love them - one per kid, one for me, one for socks, one for bras/pants.

Then I have a separate dirty washing bag, a couple of shoebags from Ikea if wet/muddy shoes is a possibility, gadget bag, wash bag, swimming bag.

The reason I like them is that it stops the kids rummaging and mixing up dirty/clean/mine/theirs.

Isabelle70 · 27/06/2023 09:38

I was a bit sceptical but they are great and I have used them on two trips now. I fold my clothes so they are the packing cube size and place them in the suitcase. The clothes at the destination come out the same as they went in and just unzip the cubes and place them in the drawers like that.
I have a weekend trip to London coming up and I think I will use a cube to keep everything in place rather than scattered in the bottom of my carry on.

Isabelle70 · 27/06/2023 09:39

I have these ones.

Deal: Amazon Brand - Eono 8 Pcs Packing Cubes for Suitcase Lightweight Luggage Packing Organizers Packing Cubes for Travel Accessories - Beige amzn.eu/d/9RoJhjk

FijiSea · 27/06/2023 09:40

I love them especially for the kids suitcase. My DC share a suitcase so they have a cube each for clothes and then a cube with all their underwear and socks. It keeps all their outfits separate and easy to lift a cube into a drawer each at holiday accommodation.
I just bought cheap ones off EBay

CMOTDibbler · 27/06/2023 09:45

I was sceptical, but they really are great. I know where everything is (dresses and hanging up things go in the folded part of my suitcase and get hung straight up, but I then have pants, socks/tights, swimwear, sportswear and so on in individual bags. Dirty stuff goes in one big compression bag so it is separated. For long haul, my flight outfit will be in its own bag so I don't wear any of that, and if I will be changing at the airport it is tucked into my bag.
If I'm camping or doing a night here and there I do an outfit per day in a cube of its own.
I can attest to the difference if your bag comes apart too - one strap on the case but a split zip and all my cubes stayed in.

SmartHome · 27/06/2023 09:46

I love them, and shoe bags!

Makes packing and life so much easier.

ThreadExterminator · 27/06/2023 09:48

They're great. I bought a set of 4 different sizes. It keeps everything neatly packed when the suitcase is being chucked about/stored the wrong way up and it stops the whole suitcase messing up when you look for an item as a) you probably know which cube said item is in and b) all the other cubes remain unruffled.

I particularly appreciated them when DD was smaller as I could keep all her popper vests and socks in a small one so that they were easy to find and if we go away with a shared suitcase I can hand DD her packing cube(s) and she can find her stuff without meddling with mine.

The set I bought was around £20 from Amazon and they're still going strong despite me machine washing them after every holiday.

Lagershandy · 27/06/2023 09:49

We do a lot of big road trips in the States and I always use the cubes, travelling is so much easier.
I use different coloured ones for DH and myself, green for him yellow for me, then I clip those cheap coloured plastic keyrings (the ones that open out to put a label in)
and mark them t shirts/ underwear/nightwear etc.
Might seem a bit ott, but it works for us.

I buy the cheaper ones off Amazon, and had them years and they have survived multiple trips.

Roselilly36 · 27/06/2023 09:50

I really like them, and have found them useful when packing, a job
I absolutely detest!

Ceraunophile · 27/06/2023 09:52

I like them because we all share a suitcase, so dc have one each and I have one (sometimes two because my clothes are bigger) and then dp’s clothes go in the zipped up bit of the suitcase with a smaller cube for his pants and socks etc. I find his shorts/trousers/jumpers too bulky for the cubes we have. Then I pack a toiletries bag and a medicine bag too.

Coffeaddict · 27/06/2023 09:54

I did not know these were a thing and now have suddenly jumped the top of things I need.

wildlifeobserver1 · 27/06/2023 10:06

A game changer. I just got some cheap ones from Amazon, not the best quality but I just wanted to try them before committing to the more expensive compressible ones
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Packing-Cubes-Suitcase-Organiser-Travel/dp/B07SZTXCW5/ref=mp_s_a_1_12?crid=2IPLTIY4D7OIW&keywords=packing+cubes&qid=1687856749&sprefix=packing+cube%2Caps%2C94&sr=8-12