Anyone use packing cubes?

[Callalily]

Just wondering if it's worth the expense.

[madaboutharry]

1. I use packing cubes and space travel bags.

They keep everything organized and the travel bags keep security personnel from actually touching your things. They never change the gloves they are wearing and if they inspect your bag, they are touching your clothes after they already touched someone's dirty underwear. Think about that.

[More_Cowbell]

8. Last year I got pulled over for a secondary search

Because the TSA agent, running her hands down my skirt, said she found something. I got taken away to an office for another search where they still didn't find anything, and the supervisor made the TSA agent change her gloves and do it again before they let me go, having found nothing. I was shaking with anger and humiliation, and they had to hold my plane for me.

All because they DON'T change their gloves often enough when they're examining people. I can believe that they change them even more rarely for luggage.

I *do* use packing cubes. I roll up my clothes and pack them very tightly, continuing to push them in until the cube is full. I try to get all of the air out of them. They keep me organized and I think that rolling and removing the air allows me to fit more clothing into a small space (I do carry-on only, and I try to go as small as possible).

Some people like using zip-lock bags because they're cheaper and if your bag is sitting out in the rain for some reason, your clothes might stay dry. I'm not backpacking in the rain, so I prefer the cubes because they allow air circulation. I like the ones that zip around all the way so that they lie flat or almost flat.

[northoftheborder]

2. Please explain what these are - sound interesting.

[RazzleCat]

3. always, make it easier

for me it keeps everything in its place, neat suitcase saves me having to unpack the whole thing when all i want is a fresh shirt (etc). I pack all the same in each cube. So, one for shirts, one for sweaters, one for bottoms, one for socks, one for underwear. I also bring one extra for dirty clothing, as I get more "dirty" I will swap it with another that is getting empty.

[hlthe2b]

4. I watched a long time for these extremely light weight packing "cubes" to be discounted

Love them. They are so lightweight (parachute type material) that you have to treat them gently, but boy are they helpful. (by Eagle Creek)





Because I like to travel as much as possible with one bag, the weight is very important, but these add essentially nothing. There are LOTs of types/styles and some are specifically designed to compress, allowing you to keep bulk to a minimum.

Here's a starter video describing how to use some of them.

If you try to travel with a travel backpack like my prized "Air Tortuga" these are even more invaluable (especially the light weight)

[iamateacher]

5. I use Zip lock space bags

$11.00 Target. They are reuseable.

[hlthe2b]

10. I did that for a while and worked great, but had concerns over melting...

When I travel and have to stay in a questionable hotel/motel, I routinely put my bags in direct sun (usually in the back hatch of my car) for hours or days, depending, to kill any possible bed bugs I could have picked up. The heat in a car in intense sun can readily go waaaay past 140 degrees--even hotter in the summer time, so I was concerned they might melt.

Never could get an answer from ziploc whether this would be an issue or not, but do consider if this should be an issue that affects you.

[Freedomofspeech]

6. We use them all of the time...

Last edited Wed Apr 25, 2018, 01:20 PM - Edit history (1)

They give you much more space in your suitcase, keep your clothes from getting so wrinkled and make unpacking so easy.

[Freedomofspeech]

9. I do not use the ziplocks..

I use the ones made from fabric...

[hlthe2b]

11. Oops, sorry meant to respond upstream.... never mind...

[sinkingfeeling]

12. Yes. I began using them last year. Love them. Currently using

them on this trip to Ukraine and Jordan.

[Callalily]

13. Thank you all for your responses.

I'm taking an extended trip this summer and most likely will pack more than i usually do. It seems the packing cubes will help me stay organized and give me more room in my suitcase.