Thoughts on Packing Cubes & Travel Backpacks....

I find the smaller packing cubes helpful for smaller items like socks and underwear which tend to get scrambled as one rumbles through the suitcase. I have the large ones but have not used them. I have used the one for shoes.

Unless you are actually backpacking, why would you want to use one? Seems to me it would just be bard to find things. Aren't you staying in motels/hotels?

I like them, makes them easier to find things. Used a backpack when we went to Germany and France for over 3 weeks. Wish I had bought a smaller one, I could barely carry mine. I now use a rolling suitcase most of the time, and will probably take a small one if/when we go to Japan.

I've not tried the cubes, but always use a backpack as my carry-on. All those little pockets and compartments are great for organizing small things. I can fit two changes of clothes, a pair of shoes and my toiletry kit in my backpack. And, there is one compartment that is padded - my laptop fits in there perfectly and is protected as well.

For a short trip of a couple of days, I find the backpack so much easier to manage than a suitcase.

I just use the same corner for socks, underwear, shirt, pants etc. I have never used cubes. I do use a toiletries bag, for what it is intended for, and another for meds.

Moni

My daughter used the North Face Basecamp Duffle. She traveled all through Europe with it and loves it.

Packing properly for a trip requires two suitcases - a largish one and a small to medium sized suitcase or duffel bag kind of thing. Whichever you prefer, there's little to no difference between them. Both with wheels.

Lay out the clothes you need to take and group them together by type - undies, pants/slacks, tops, T shirts, overgarments, shoes, exercise/swimming clothes, etc. Now, split each group, perhaps 1/3 and 2/3rds, putting a portion of each into both the smaller and larger suitcases.

Take the smaller suitcase and leave it by the door, to take to the airport. Take the larger suitcase and empty it, returning the clothes inside to your closet and drawers.

That's how you pack for a trip. You don't need anything else or other gimmick products. Depending on the season and weather, leave out your jacket and put it into your carry-on or wear it on the plane. Put a folding umbrella into the outside pocket of your carry-on or suitcase. Done.

That's funny, Elmer!

Over the years I've learned to downsize what I put in my luggage because I can't lift/carry much. Actually, I've downsized my rolling checked bag. I have a Baggalini tote that fits over the handle and that goes in the cabin with me with things I can't be separated from.

I use large ziplock bags and clear plastic bags with zippers that household decor items come packaged in (window valances, shower curtain liners, tablecloths, throw blankets etc.). I've saved them over the years to use as organizers/"packing cubes". They're clear, so TSA can see what's in them. I hate the thought of security actually touching my clothes if they open my suitcase.

BTW, I use the plastic sleeves that our newspaper is delivered in for my shoes (one shoe fits perfectly per sleeve). I only wear flats, though.

oh, nice tip about those bags for shoes

I use them and continue to be impressed at how well they really work. This is my favorite brand and style. The fabric is ultra strong & lightweight.

I am a huge fan of packing cubes. Ebags are my favorite and I have a couple sets of them. I bought different colors so I can grab one not only by size but sort what's in them by color. You can see into them, they are flexible and they can go into the washer and dryer. Actually I should own stock in Ebags. I have a convertible carry on (Ebags) that can hold tons of stuff. Plenty of pockets, a laptop sleeve,expandable, designed for cube packing and hidden backpack straps. You can use it as a regular case or a backpack. I also a smaller lighter version for weekend trips. I can do a short week with the lighter version and up two weeks with the other depending on the weather I may be in.

I gave up on most wheeled cases. I often travel alone so I have to carry my own stuff. Wheels take up packing space, don't fit well into overheads and add weight. I do have a lightweight wheeled medium sized pullman I take when I travel by train since they don't have restrictions on what you can bring on and I usually take the train to the northwest where the weather changes constantly requiring more clothes, boots etc.

I just love packing cubes. I travel abroad once a year or more . The cubes keep everything nicely organized in categories. I also can squish more stuff into a smaller suitcase when I use the cubes. I don't use a backpack.

Elmer, I could have used that advice when I was packing for our recent cruise!

The trick to using packing cubes efficiently is to roll most of your clothes instead of folding them. For instance I can get 6 - 8 t shirts into a small packing cube that take only about 7 by 10 by 2 inches of space. The only thing I don't find packing cubes useful for are jeans. I either overlap fold them and place them at the bottom or roll them and stuff the voids of the case with them.

I like packing cubes with mesh for organization rather than space savers because when we travel often multiple people are sharing a bag.

I prefer rolling bags and most places in California that should be fine. On the other hand, in Europe, for example, some towns will have bumpy streets, sidewalk stairs, and buildings without elevators where a backpack is very handy! We have wheeled backpacks we like to take to Europe but to LA/SD we would just take our usual rolling luggage.

Hope you have a great trip.

I like the smaller packing cubes for organising socks and undies, t shirts and shoes. I prefer a lightweight rolling case and DH a backpack. But I don't like wrinkly clothes (and I _really_ don't like the no iron, wrinkle free kind) so a backpack just doesn't do it for me.

I have not used them yet and am somewhat intrigued with them - I do usually un-glamorously put all my undies in a plastic grocery shopping bag, and use the ziplocks and all for other things. I do like the idea of having like with like, and not letting it touch the drawers in hotels.

I love my packing cubes. I used them at first for underwear and socks, but now have expanded to using them for leggings, shirts, and anything else I can roll up and stuff into them. I can take the cubes out and put into a drawer when we get to our destination and really not unpack or worry about how clean the drawer might be. Or worry about TSA pawing through my underwear.

Thanks everyone, great insight!!

i was thinking of both of us just using a backpack for the week and not having to check a bag at all. the back packs i am looking at are all TSA approved for a carryon. just wondering if they are easier to manage than a rolling carryon? when we went to CA a couple of years ago, we both had a carryon and we checked one bigger bag. trying to avoid a checked bag, save time & $$.... and we hardly used anything in the big bag since i washed clothes on the 5th day... i guess it will depend on the weather. if the temps are going to be consistent that week, it will be easy to just use a backpack... if fluctuating, might not be enough room to pack different seasonal clothes....i do find u never use as much as u think you will!!!

i guess my question is are backpacks easier to manage/have more room vs. an allowed roll-on? or would the weight be a PITA? i know i would have to pack light and the hardest is shoes, but i could do it if i have to :).....the cabin max metz backpack carry on bag . & this one: osprey far point 40 the nice thing about these is they are made for travel, so they open up like a suitcase instead of just on the top like a school bag....

i think the cubes are a great idea and will def. be getting them......

yes, we are staying in hotels/airbnb etc... most places just one night....

Before you buy anything, check that the measurements fall within the guidelines of the airlines you will mostly be using. Each airlinehas its own requirements for maximum baggage size, and while many luggage companies advertise this bag or that as "perfect cabin baggage size", too many people buy them and then find they are oversized for the flight they are planning to take.

I use lg & exlg zip-loc type bags for packing. I can see what's in them. I do roll underwear, socks, t-shirts, almost anything except pants and dress clothes(that's on a cruise) and if someone has to open suitcase, things don't go flying, and no one is handling my undies.LOL

I love traveling light and am okay with just a backpack for a short trip by plane. I like the compartments for little things (chargers, cords, etc.) and that it can be placed under the seat on the plane instead of worrying about overhead space.

Most of all, I like the feeling of being unencumbered with just a backpack!

Thanks for mentioning the washability of the ebags cubes.

Still, I think it's kind of funny to put your stuff in a bag... and then another bag.