OMG. Packing cubes

[falleninlove]

I'm 60. Spent 35 years in a high pressure career which took me around the world. Spent most of my professional life living out of a suitcase.

Getting ready for a really special trip to celebrate combined 60th and retirement and decided, after reading up on mumsnet, to try packing cubes.

OMG. Where have these been all my life. Beyond fabulous. I'm completely blown away. Sorry. Just had to share.

Yes, I was accused to doing the same thing on another thread. I didn't even know what one was.

How can you tell if it is an affiliate link?

Ohhh I love a packing cube. I am a basically a black belt in folding items into them as well now.

@SamBeckettslastleap There's not much to it. It's just a cube or cuboid fabric shape with a zipper and a fabric handle. You fold the clothes and stack them inside (the flatter the better and you can watch YouTube videos about the most practical way of folding into them) then you zip up the cube and it sort of squishes the clothes down a bit. The cube then sits inside your suitcase with other cubes, a flat wash bag (in my case), shoes, jewellery and makeup bags.

I love them too. Kind of surprised they weren't 'invented' much sooner as the concept is so simple. I also use them for storing clothes at home. They keep different 'categories' of clothes neat and separated.

@Oppositioblue @IMustDoMoreExercise

Thank you I reported my post to @Mnhq and reassured me it is not an affiliate link but it could be a skim link so MN could get small commission.

I usually prefer a photo as clicking links opens a gazillions window!

Primary currently has packing cubes in store. They are great when you go away with multiple kids. Keeps all the socks for one child together for example

Privacy and organisation.

So in my luggage there are two slimline cubes in a cabin luggage sized backpack. In one cube underwear and nightwear and the other a complete change of winter clothes including jumper. The black pouch on the top is a long length winter puffer coat. If I'm going for longer I'll wear the coat and have superate slimline cube for tops, bottoms etc.

On the top will go things I need to access on the journey. Coolbag, bottle of water, travel pillow, trench coat. So as I travel I can get stuff out without accidentally pulling out/dropping a pair of knickers for example. If I'm going for longer I will have a second layer of clothes, (there's enough space for a second layer of cubes) I might have a larger packing cube for jumpers.

If your going through security and they need to check your bags, it's way easier and quicker. You can pull out the cubes to get at whatever they needed to check (sideeyes DD who forgot about the powerbank and cables that looked like a bomb on the xray at the bottom of her bag.)

When the kids were little I used to have one ready packed with a pac a mac each and another with swimming gear +travel gear and another with hat and gloves. I could fit 3 of the slimline pouches in your average backpack. Depending on the activities id pop one or more in a backpack for a day out. Made life so so much easier.

DD used to used them on cadet camp because she could unpack her bags quicker and without having anything on display. She could then take the clothes into the shower in them. She was the quickest to pack too.

I personally love the slimline pouches because they really are versatile.

I am not sure it saves space but it's saves me all the rifling about to grab socks or pants.

Handy for a 3 week, 8 hotel tour in Asia.

I also pack one laundry bag to carry on all flights which is emergency pants/socks/tshirt in case bags get delayed. Use other 2 laundry bags for wires/cables/plugs and also night clothes between hotels.

My set came with 3 packing cubes and 3 bags. I have red, partner has blue.

Your best travel companion. I do a colour cube per person. Just fabulous. Brilliant for even socks and undies, the smaller ones are so useful. Easy to store too.

Oh and if you are flying and you colour code the cubes you can easily split different people's stuff into separate suitcases.

When I got together with DH, he always used packing cubes, even for a weekend away! I just thought he was mega organised and thought I was fine without them... then I ordered a set when I was pregnant with DD1 to use in my case for the hospital and it was a revelation!

Now, DH, DD1, DD2 and I all have our own set in different colours for when we go away and it's so much easier seeing it all separated.

I also do a version of this in my hand luggage, using clear sandwich bags!
I have 1 for each child with a spare outfit in, 1 with my liquids, 1 with small distraction toys for during the flight and 1 each for snacks. And this has filtered through into my bag if we go anywhere with the kids! Then it's so easy to grab the right bag that has nappies, wipes, nappy bags and sudacrem to change the baby rather than rummaging around for each thing individually

I’ve had these for 5 years and find them fab! Fit loads, good quality, keeps everything organised and compresses down well. Love the bright colours- I have the yellow one
Gonex Compression Packing Cubes Extensible Organizer Bags For Travel Suitcase Organization (4 packs, yellow) https://amzn.eu/d/5RSjqtQ

These are amazing. We're a family of 5, have travelled lots using mainly one suitcase or 2 as the dc got older. All our packing would get muddled up and messy til we discovered packing cubes. A couple each for the dcs and what a difference!

I like the idea of this but would need different colours for the 3 of us to separate things out ideally. Although it might be easy to see through them to spot who's is who's.

What do you all do about dirty clothes that accumulate as you travel?

My suitcases are normally packed to the max (weight and space) don’t these add bulk and weight?

@HopeAfresh I put them back in the cubes as I wash them on a gentle cycle when I get back anyway- definitely not as neat coming back but separate lights, darks and delicates to make it easier when I get home

I love them as well. Our holidays usually involve a new location every 2 or 3 days. With packing cubes I can keep everything in the case and really quickly find anything I need.
My first pack was assorted sizes but the next pack I ordered was just large ones.

No, because they are made of very thin fabric which weighs almost nothing and takes up very little space. If anything, the cubes save a bit of space because they slightly compress the clothes, especially if you pack them in tightly.

Do you put dirty clothes back in with the clean clothes? I’m asking because the last few holidays we've done have been very stressful with several stops. In summer, clothes get sweaty, other times they get wet in the rain. Overnight stops and dealing with dirty washing was a nightmare on out last holiday (travelling with children).

I love the idea of them slightly compressing everything!

If you are on a multi trip holiday, what do you do with your dirty clothes? As they can’t go back in the cube?

What is the benefits

@HopeAfresh no, if we have any clean clothes to bring back they go in their own cube. We have 8 so never an issue for us . I just like to keep things organised. If I was going to multiple places and had the option to use a washing machine I would suggest using a few cubes for the dirty clothes. If very soiled or wet then probably a plastic bag or ziplock bag (ikea sell massive ones)

I bought some bright floral ones initially from Lidl about 7 years ago. Then added to those with some cheap ones from Amazon dark floral this time. DH got a new job the involved overnight travel and kept using the floral ones which to be fair for a manly sport 30 ( maybe a lie) year old isn't really the done thing.

Anyway after many uses, the cheaper one broke the zip and the mesh gets holes in.

So I bought some manly grey ones from tk Maxx for previous Xmas and they were really good and then bought two of the Ansio ones from Amazon and they are fab. Also got a set of three Steve Madden from TK max for me. (We travel
A lot)

I also use them for hand luggage too as usually take a full set of clothes in there too.

I'm going to get some compression ones.

Think I have packing cube problem

If you are someone that likes to unpack they're great because you can just put the open cube into the drawer. And then straight back into the case.

I started a thread about these in the summer. They are amazing!

I sometimes use a cube just for dirty clothes. Or just shove all the manky stuff into one of those plastic laundry bags you get in hotels.