To not Understand packing cubes?!

[asteriodeleven]

I need advice... going on on holiday for first time in years with two DDs. Too packing tips everywhere I've read is 'use packing cubes' and 'split luggage in case a suitcase goes missing'. Fine. Duly order a few sets of cubes but I'm not sure I get the concept!? I was planning on having my swimwear in one, my dresses in one, DD1s swimwear in one etc... but if I'm splitting luggage over suitcases I can only take a certain amount of cubes per suitcase... so I can only take maybe dresses for one and pants for the other!? If your mixing, what's the point of the cubes?! I'm a very anxious traveler and always massively overpack and I think being the first time we've travelled in years is meaning I am massively overthinking this! Tips for packing a family of four, 7 nights in the sun, very welcome!!

Can anyone recommend decent cubes to buy?

I love cubes when we are touring and moving every couple of days. I never unpack and use my suitcase like a cabin trunk . I put clothes back in the right cube and slide any shopping under the cubes . My suitcase is always tidy and I can always find anything I want.

I would also love to see recommendations... especially the £8 for 6 cubes and the compression cubes please..

I just use carrier bags and put an outfit per day and underwear etc in each one.

I don't understand this 'outfits' business. As if you plan each day beforehand. We all just take a few bottoms and more tops (one per day for young kids!) Everything more or less goes together. Two swimsuits each. And in my experience cubes mean you fit less in.

Oh also handy for the places that have shelves rather than drawers ( cruises etc) as I prefer my undies in a cube than just loose oh the wide open shelves. Just looks neater.

I use pillowcases.

Really good to categorise stuff, so underwear in one, tops in another.

Means I can see which bag I want and pull stuff out without unpacking.

I then decant at the end and separate the laundry into loads in each pillowcase so I can just bung it in the machine when I get home.

@ChateauMargaux

I would also love to see recommendations... especially the £8 for 6 cubes and the compression cubes please..

These are similar to the ones I have

G4Free 3pcs Packing Cubes Value Set Suitcase Organiser for Travel https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07P2Y36JX/ref=cmswwrcppapiii_QHG19YCYSMXMB1J0A248?psc=1

Expected then to be clear but the closest I can fund is mesh

www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/lifestyle/travel/g27519577/packing-cubes/

How is it easier if I have to open it to remember what is inside?

Love packing cubes. Neat to pack and then no full unpacking at the end. Just open the packing cubes and put them whole in a drawer.

DP refused to use them then spent half an hour unpacking his case while I did mine in 5 then chilled on the balcony with a glass of wine! He now uses them!

Are these even a thing?
There’s one born every minute!

Love mine and have used them for years. I get more into my bag as a result (I'm usually hand luggage only).

I have used them to travel with 4 kids. If you are confident your luggage wont get lost, then use one color per kids and put categories of clothes in each one. Then you can throw all the kids stuff in one suitcase and when you get to the hotel its v easy to hand out stuff to everyone.
i have also used just 4 big see thru zipper bags and all of each kids stuff goes in one bag (the kids like that one as then then have one place with everything in it)

if you are not confident about your luggage arriving then travel with as much hand luggage as possible and make sure you have basic clothes for everyone in it for at least one extra day and sunglasses, swimsuit etc. you can always buy replacement toiletries when you get there, but size 6 girls shorts can be difficult

when its just me traveling alone (rare but wonderful) i use the cubes to keep everything flat and stop it rumpling up and shoes getting clothes mucky etc

I use the ikea food storage bags and pack lots of outfits individually with a coloured sticker on

Packing cubes are a game changer if you have the kind of holiday where you only stay a couple of nights in each place - it means you can live out of your suitcase in a much, much easier way. If you're packing a case with a view to completely unpacking at the other end, once, and then repacking to come home a week later - less so.
Having said that, I still used them when we went skiing - one cube for thermals, one for underwear, one for fleeces and one for 'normal' clothes. Wardrobes in alpine hotels aren't known for their spacious capacity, so it meant the cubes could just sit neatly on the shelves in the wardrobe, with no need to scrabble around through piles of things looking for stuff.

I also always take an empty vacuum bag (the kind that you roll to get the air from, not one that needs attaching to a hoover) to bung laundry in as I go (socks, undies etc) and then that keeps it separate from other clothes.

I’m obsessed with packing cubes! I have different types: double-sided, ones with compartments, compression, etc.

Depending on the type of holiday you’re having, you can split into beachwear, sightseeing, evening wear, walking gear, etc. If you’re moving around a lot, you can split into beach, city, mountains, etc. Or you can organise by colours: blues and greens, white and gold, pink and coral, etc. sometimes I organise by tops, bottoms, dresses / jumpsuits, swimwear / play suits, etc. That way, you only unpack what you need at the time (I also take folding hangers and a travel steamer or crease releaser spray) and rest stays compressed in a drawer or the case. If you arrive late, you can have a cube for a dip in the pool, an evening outfit for a restaurant and your nightwear, so you don’t have to unpack everything on arrival. If you’re leaving late, you have a waterproof cube for wet swimwear and another for travelling clothes.

I also use clear toiletry bags in various sizes for colour-co-ordinated jewellery and accessories, as well as toiletries.

I suspect I have a very different life to someone who packs ‘colour coordinated jewellery’!