Packing cubes. Useful or waste of time?

[Toddlerteaplease]

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

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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

They're brilliant. Would never go away without them again. And on the way home, you can put all the dirty laundry in one cube and keep them separate from the clean stuff.

Looovvvveee my packing cubes. So much easier to ‘unpacked’ well actually I don’t really I just shove my packing cubes in the wardrobe/drawers and take my clothes from them. I keep things together in separate cubes, underwear, swimwear etc. I swear they help things arrive with minimal creases. On the way back I rearranged so that one cube contains white/ very light dirty washing and colours go in the other which means things unworn don’t get dirty. As soon as I’m in I shove the first load in the machine. Wonderful things.

We have had them a while now. I use them in the camper van all the time! They are great space savers in a suitcase and just make everything look neater! I have the compression ones, and now my older teens use them when travelling too!

lightning deal on amazon today £12.74 🙂

www.amazon.co.uk/Toifucos-Multifunction-Organiser-Waterproof-Compression/dp/B09GFLQPXZ/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=travel%2Bpacking%2Bcubes%2Btoifucos%2Bmultifunction%2B8pcs&qid=1687863460&sr=8-5&th=1

DH didn't "get" my use of packing cubes until one holiday where I was sat on the balcony enjoying a glass of fizz, while he was still unpacking his case, with me having long finished.

Unpacking (unless you want to hang anything up) consists of unzipping the packing cube and placing it on a shelf/drawer.

I like the look of the hanging version a PP posted on page 1. I have packing cubes coming out of my ears though as I always lose them, buy more, then remember I left the last lot in my suitcase, so I really don't need to be spending any more!

I still don't understand quite how they save so much space, it seems to defy physics, but they totally do.

We tend to do 4 days' clothes in one, 3 in another, one swimming costume and PJs in each, and put each set in a different case. Everyone then has a functional wardrobe, even if we lose a suitcase. A small one for plugs and electricals too, and one for any meds we don't take in hand luggage.

Love mine. Have a few different brands and sizes. My DD is currently using them in EU. She even leant some to her BF. He loves them too. I will definitely be using them on my trip in September.

Another vote for the compression ones, they save so much space! We’re doing a multi-stop trip in the autumn and I’m buying more for kids’ stuff!

I found them a waste of time. Kept forgetting what was in which cube and having to unzip them all. I order my suitcase better without them and can fit more in the suitcase without them too. I like to roll stuff to reduce creases.

I just use one packing cube for underwear and socks.
It is slightly bulkier than the items just being loose in the case but it means you can always find clean underwear and socks quickly and then you choose your daily outfit from the loose things in the case which can also be pre-sorted when you pack so tops and bottoms match appropriately.

I love the compression cubes for packing a spare outfit and PJs in my carry-on. After getting caught out with nothing during a 24 HR weather delay having spares gives me massive piece of mind without taking up precious carry- on space.

I was in a white heat of excitement about mine but couldn't see any benefit - there seemed to be too much zipping and unzipping to find things.am back to just packing. One has ended up being a lightweight washbag which is useful. I think perhaps if you have multiple people's clothes to pack, I could see the positives there.

I have few individuals large ones
and two complete sets
I got them from Mia Tui.
https://miatui.com/products/packing-cubes-set-of-4?variant=40233845850179&currency=GBP&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&utm_source=google&utm_medium=paid&utm_campaign=18050094141&utm_content=143975551430&utm_term=&gadid=616528196040&gclid=CjwKCAjwkeqkBhAnEiwA5U-uMygFLbqz9oReXFca4KyKeYWJ3yca8V_kDXWpo1antWbUeciIViTb-RoCDCAQAvD_BwE

When my kids were younger and used to go to cub and scout camp - I used to pack a complete set of each day's clothes into thin carrier bags which meant they weren't raking around the bag for each item - similar to using packing cubes but they weren't a thing back then

Me too.
I wish I’d had them years ago.

I use them for small things. Underwear, t-shirts etc. I rarely unpack properly anywhere as we either do short trips or multi-stop trips. Stops all my stuff just ending up in a complete muddle. Pretty essential for multi-stop trips I'd say. Not particularly useful if just staying 1-2 weeks in one place where you tend to unpack.

Yes, good for putting dirties in too. Though tbh spare plastic bags work fine for that.

Have cubes which are partly mesh so you can see what is in them

This is my thinking, I don’t see how they could make things easier, to me they would just take up room in the case.

I’ve just got back from a weeks UK holiday, older 2 DCs had their clothes in small carry on size bags. Myself, DH & youngest DC in the big case. DCs socks underwear and clothes packed together on one side of the case, underwear at the bottom everything else packed with like for like (tops, leggings). DHs on the other side, mine in the middle. Everything packed in order so could just be taken out and put in draws or I could go straight to it.

I always pack toiletries/medicine separately in a big sports bag with shoes in the side pockets.

Coming home dirty washing put in a giant bag for life which we’d been using for washing all week. Remaining clean clothes in the suitcase and kids fill their bags with their holiday wares or they get folded and put inside the case or big sports bag.

If going overseas we use 2 suitcases but on the same premise with organising as I pack and one case used for dirty washing coming home.

I’ve never had problems hunting for things on holiday.

I just use the large clear ziplok bags (with a proper zip top thing). Squeeze the air out of them and can see everything. Take up little space, and I throw a few spares in for extras.

I tried the cubes but didn't get on with them, found them bulky and (the ones I had anyway), couldn't see what was in them!

I love them. It’s great having everything fit neatly in and easier to find. I just leave things in the cubes and take them out as I need them and then gradually fill an empty one with dirty stuff.

Ive actually been eyeing up a compression one to use in my rucksack for carry on luggage next month so I’m off to buy one now!

If I'm going to one resort for a week or fortnight then I tend not to use them as I will unpack the whole case into drawers or hangers once I arrive so they wouldn't save any time. Most of my trips are travelling around with one or two nights in each place and they are brilliant for this.

This year I have been using the skivvy roll technique where you fold your pants into a T shirt, place the foot part of socks on it, then roll the T shirt to trap the socks leaving the open end hanging out. Turn these parts over the ends of the roll and you have most of an outfit for one day. Just need to add bra and shorts/skirt/trousers. If you wear non-wired bras you could include this in the roll. Saves so much time! I put all these rolls in one cube, then skirts/trousers/shorts in another, bras and trainer socks (too small to use for skivvy roll) in another cube, jumpers/jackets in another.

Is it just me that jumps straight to the 1-3 star reviews? For every link that has been put up on this thread so far (including the lightning-deal one), the bad reviews have been atrocious!! I guess there’s a reason I seldom buy from Ama*on…analysis paralysis 😂

Oh and swimwear / wraps / scarves / sunhats in another cube, overnight stuff (nightie, slippers, teddy bear(!), medication, torch) in another one which I keep at the top of the case so I can just grab it and I'm set for the night. Obviously I carry medication in my hand luggage for flying but once I'm in the country then I transfer it to the overnight cube.

iv just ordered one of the Amazon lighting deal ones to bolster my supply as DS will be taking some to uni halls later this year (he thinks it's the norm, I was away recently and DH was helping him back for a post A levels holiday and he complained that he had 'just dumped everything in the suitcase' :)).

I really sont see how you could mess up packing cubes so much to justify a bad review - unless they coe ripped or something. I've got a mixture of ones from Sainsburys, Amazon, Wilko, random airport shops etc and they're all much of a muchness and all really useful.