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

One of the best travel purchases I've ever made.

We have one set each (red and blue)

Mesh ones for clothes (pants and socks separate to t-shirts) and zipped ones for cables etc.

One set used to pack up emergenciy outfit to go in others bag.

Used as well for anytime I don't want to be rummaging in my rucksack and pulling out pants or socks.

At £10 they are good value

I’m a cheapskate so I use the mesh vegetable bags from the supermarket to separate knickers, bras, socks, swim things etc, and they can be squashed easily into drawers and suitcases/rucksacks etc. T-shirts and shorts go in them quite happily if they’re rolled up and if I’m staying in different places overnight they work too for individual outfits. If they’re not too full, knickers/socks bags etc can go straight into the washing machine without having to empty them. But I’m not a very smart person and don’t mind a few creases!

I just use my cloth shopping bags.
Can't see the point of spending more money on stuff that only has one purpose and will just end up in landfill.

This is an EXCELLENT video about packing cubes and how to use them using a four day trip as an example which totally converted me.

I like the Eagle Creek double sided cube (it has a wet/dry division).

https://eaglecreek.eu/gb_en/packing-organizers/pack-it-clean-dirty-half-cube.html?

If nothing else, put your nightwear and swim wear/exercise stuff if you have it on either side of a double sided cube. then when you get to your destination, you can get your PJs out instantly and swimwear for first thing tomorrow.

We've just come back from a long haul road trip, and they were brilliant. So easy to find everything, no ferreting around at the bottom of your case for the last pair of knickers.

People saying they couldn't see what was in them, get ones with a mesh top, then you can see exactly what's in them - tops, dresses etc. Also look carefully at the sizes, I ordered some that were far too shallow at first and ended up sending them back. Bought these in the end and they were perfect. The day before we left, and before we came home, I put everything I'd need for the next day in one cube so no last minute rushing.

Love mine. I've used them for a couple of trips and here's what I do

• only packing for myself, so no colour coding needed. Both trips were rucksack handluggage only and moving on a lot, sometimes one night stops and sometimes 3-4 nights
• I use a cube for clean tops, one for bottoms and one for underwear. Once I've worn something but it doesn't need a wash it just goes flat in the rucksack, not in a cube. Dirty stuff for the wash goes in a separate (plastic) bag.
• It's great because I don't want to unpack for just one or two nights, but I can easily find clean clothes. It's also easy to see when, say, socks are getting low and I need to wash some - I'd struggle to take clean clothes for 2 weeks in a backpack.
• Odds and ends like washbag or sandals go round the edges.

I don't know how much space-saving my method does, but it works really well for trips with a lot of short stops. Not so worthwhile perhaps for a 2-week trip where you only unpack once.

I love them!

If you're pushed for space in your case you can fit loads more in by compressing it, and avoid disturbing everything to find one thing (as you only have to rifle through one cube at a time).

If you have plenty of space in the case you can fold and put everything in the case Marie kondo style (check out how she folds clothes into drawers). Then you just lift the cube out of the case and into the drawer / wardrobe at the other side. V minimal and quick unpacking and you don't have to disturb the rest of the clothes to pull one thing out.

My mil bought me them. I think they’re utterly pointless. And I love a gimmick.

I’m a tidy packer and put my worn/dirty clothes in a separate section of my suitcase as I go, so no worries re confusion. We often do multi-centre trips and I just pack in layers (top layer = first destination, second layer = second destination etc). Cables, cosmetics etc go in separate bags anyway.

I don’t think packing cubes bring anything to the party if you are an organised packer.

For those saying you can’t see what is in them - you can get ones with mesh fronts so you can see at a glance what’s in there.

Honestly I reckon you just haven’t found the right cube

For those saying you can’t see what is in them - you can get ones with mesh fronts so you can see at a glance what’s in there.

I'd also recommend buying individual ones in different colours rather than a set Eagle Creek do red, blue and black so then you can distinguish between what is in what.

But seriously watch that video I linked it's a simple way to pack using cubes and works very well.

Absolute game changer for me on a driving tour or multi destination holiday. No more rummaging in a case or bag. Just lift out the cube you need - or even all of them and then it takes 2 minutes to pack them all again. Buy different colours if you're sharing a case. Im not keen on the large size. I prefer a couple of medium and a few small. It's surprising what you can pack in each. A small will take all your electronic chargers.

I've bought some to use for the first time this summer. For our holiday we are each taking our own stuff in a backpack. As we are staying in a different place every night I could just imagine what each rummage would do to the contents of DS's backpack. I think this will help him to find what he needs and put everything else back in some kind of order.

I don't want to be able to compress more stuff in either. It would be tempting to take too much and make our backpacks too heavy.

I have loads and have now started using compression cubes.
I've even dallied with vacuum bags!

I am an obsessed One Bagger though. Hand luggage only so I enjoy a challenge and a bit of nifty kit!

I go one step further and label mine, using my label maker. 😀

They suit a certain type of highly/ over/ organised brain.
Makes people feel smug they have a neater suitcase than someone else.
Try it with carrier bags to see if it suits you.
I like some stuff in smaller bags must admit, but then my spice rack is strictly alphabetical so.....

as someone with adhd this thread is blowing my mind

You'll wish you got them earlier. I pack either one cube each for everyone, or I pack one cube for each hotel if we are moving around.

Just watched the video, PACKING FOLDERS!!! omg I need.

Love,love,love them. We have a different coloured set for each member of the family. On holiday they’re just unzipped and put into drawers/cupboards. I’ve also bought some to keep out of season clothes in in the ottoman bed- much easier to keep tidy (or find something that you’ve put away in error!) and often buy them as gifts for people.

i feel like if i start asking questions i shall never stop......

ok i am going in.... packing for 4 people for a 10 night holiday (3 nights in one place then 7 nights) luggage will be 2 suitcases in the hold and each with an under the seat bag.

what should i buy and how should i organise.....?!

Ok I tend to use about 3 per person.
One small for undies, sleepwear etc
One medium for tops, skirts, dresses.
Largest for shirts, trousers .

An emergency cube each with a days clothing is good in hand luggage.

Once your cubes are packed you'll have space to add in things like shoes etc.

You can fit a lot in them and then they often fit together like Tetris.

Thank you Grim