Bundle packing and Customs

First- customs seldom inspects your luggage unless you say you need to 'claim' something. However, your luggage does get checked often at security when you check in for your flight. I don't really like the bundle packing method. I put socks, undies and electronics in ziploc bags. I do a combination of flat folding and rolling for tops and pants. Lots of folks on this board like to use packing cubes (or variations of that). The main reason I don't like to 'bundle' is that you have to undo everything to get to almost anything. With packing cubes or zip bags, etc. you can easily get to anything. I things that call coordinate. I might want shirt A with pants B today or shirt c with pants B. Especially if you only have one or two nights somewhere, you don't want to totally unpack and have to totally re-pack. It is mostly about limiting how much you take!

I travel light as well( one carry on bag that's it), but never bundle pack, although I recognize and appreciate that some people swear by it as a packing method. I use Rick's packing cubes ( very lightweight, yet can hold lots and take up next to no space), and either neatly fold my clothes before placing in the cubes, or neatly fold then roll them before packing. Shirts(5), pants(2), sweater(1), go in the large cube neatly folded, while socks(3-4 pr), underwear(3-4), etc go in a small cube. Since I picked up my cubes in 2009, I've never travelled without them as they pair very well with unstructured carry on bags such as Rick's Convertible Carry On( what I use) and Classic Back Door bags, the Campmor Essential Carry On, etc, etc. It's a method that works well for me, keeps my clothes looking presentable, and keeps things organized without having to unpack a bundle to get at that item that I need right at its core. Customs can rummage through my stuff without disturbing everything, as can I. And while some may, correctly, point out that they add extra weight, my bag, fully packed and ready for the road,, only weighs 16 lbs so I'm happy. One important note is that for shirts, I focus on lightweight cotton/poly blends ( 60/40) for travel as they are quite wrinkle resistant if packed properly, or at least shed wrinkles much more easily than 100% cotton ( I'm not fussy on 100% synthetic shirts but some folks love them ). They also dry quicker than 100% cotton.

I have never had European customs look inside my luggage because I have nothing to and walk through the green door. Far greater chance that US customs will go through your luggage than any European country. I think the bundle method is over sold. The big drawback, IMO, is the inability to remove a single item from the bundle. The bundle works only if going someplace where you will completely unpack. I use the folding envelopes for pants and shirts. Very easy to extract one item without bothering the others.

I don't like the bundle method for the very reasons the others have mentioned. Every time you need something, you disturb the bundle and have to rebundle it all. About 6 years ago I discovered packing cubes and have used them on every trip, foreign and domestic, since then. I have Rick's cubes and I also have some Eagle Creek cubes. I prefer Rick's, although the Eagle Creek cubes offer more sizes. Not only do the cubes keep your clothes and other items organized, but when I get to my hotel or wherever I'm staying I can just slip the cubes directly into the drawers or on shelves. No need to unpack them, the clothes stay in the cubes until I need something. Rick's cubes come in a set of 3, one large and two small. I use the large one for most of my clothes. I use one small one for socks, underwear, pj's, etc. The third cube I use for miscellaneous items like chargers, first aid kit and things like that.

I use large (2.5 gal) Ziploc bags for packing. You can separate types of items and compress them, and they are great for separating dirty from clean later. I put socks and underwear in one even if I don't use one for any of my other clothes. As Frank said, bundling only works if you are going to completely unpack upon arrival, and if you are going to do that, your packing method doesn't matter much.

Nancy, where do you find the really large ziplocks? I pack with cubes but would like to try the large ziplocks. Linda

Hi Allison. I have used that method several times successfully and never had a problem in the security lines at the airport. For the 'center' of the bundle ( that which you bundle everything around), I used the non liquid parts of my bathroom wash bag. It did not have much in it, baby powder, rubber sink plug, Baggie with 2 stretchy clotheslines, and a couple of clothes pins. I think that is the biggest challenge in security, don't put anything in the middle of the bundle that would show up more in the xray machine ( not sure of the proper term but hopfully you know what i mean). I made a list from the website about the order to place the clothes down before rolling. I used this method this year on a trip to Hawaii, where I stayed in 1 place for the week, worked great! The other posters are correct that you have to unroll the whole bundle, that is the reason I no longer use that method. I just purchased packing cubes and they willbe making their maiden voyage next month. I will roll my clothes in the cubes. I use the undies to stuff into my extra pair of shoes keeping that to only one psir is the biggest challenge! Have a great trip.

Customs will most likely be a non-event, as others have stated. If you have nothing to declare, you just walk through and it's hard to tell you even went through a "customs" area. TSA is another story. If you are checking luggage, there is a good chance they will go through it between the time you check it and it is loaded on the plane. I have picked up luggage on the other end that has clearly been rifled through, sometimes a complete mess, sometimes ok. Another reason for packing cubes or ziploc since they keep everything neat no matter what. If you are doing all carryon, TSA may want to look inside your bag at security. They won't let you unpack it--they will do it and you can be sure it won't be as pretty as you packed it!

Allison;
I've used the 2 gallon ziplock bags in the past, but prefer the packing cubes. I found was the the ziplock bags are slippery and would fall out of my suitcase when opened up. The packing cubes stay put. I do still take assorted ziplocks along for other uses i.e. dirty clothes, etc. The 2 gallon bags are harder to find, but I think I found them at Walmart.

Unless you are declaring something special, all you need to do is pick up your luggage from the carousel and walk out of the airport. No one is going to check inside your bag.

I get large ziplocs at a local grocery store. Places like Target never seem to have the big ones, but grocery stores seem to always have them.

Thanks Nancy ... I will look again. Linda

Hi Everyone, thanks so much for all the info and suggestions! I think I'll try the zip lock bags, I have a few boxes that I got on Amazon of all places! I think I'll test out my packing skills sometime this week to make sure I'm not taking too much!
Thanks again! Allison

I tried the really large zip locks and the problem I had was they kept leaking. I purchased both kinds-the ones with the plastic zipper and the ones that you close with your fingers and the zip changes color. I prefer my packing cubes.

I don't why people what to turn these types of discussions into an either/or question. I use one packing cube for certain items, and large zip lock bags for other items. It is a combination of packing tools that works best for me.

Posts like Frank's make me wish there was a "like" button for forum posts.

Well, I have not found any super size ziplocks. However, will report that I packed my carry on bag with what I would LIKE to bring and found out it weighs 25.6 lbs. So, I took the small guidebooks, my little umbrella, and my one pair of jeans out to bring the weight down to 22 lbs. I love my rollaboard carry-on because it is durable, but it is heavier than most. I use the roll-up method with packing cubes. Might have to delete some more items. We'll see. Linda

You can save a lot space with ziploc bags if you sit on them to squeeze out as much air as possible before sealing them.

I've bundle packed for years and never had my bag messed up and once when I forgot to take out my 3-1-1 bag, it passed anyway. For me, the bundle takes only a few minutes to pack and has never been a problem. In October, we're going to Italy and my daughter gave me an Eagle Creek double cube, which I'll try. Maybe I'll change my packing style.

Thanks again everyone for your great tips! Just out of curiosity though, is there some reason to keep the weight of your carry on to 22 pounds, or is that just personal preference? Allison

Some airlines have weight limits. I try to keep my bag as light as possible because I know there will be times I have to carry it (stairs) and lift it over my head (planes & trains). For some people it is a sport to pack as light as possible. I try to pack wisely, but if I bring what some would consider unnecessary things that add a few pounds I don't sweat it. As long as it fits in my carry on sized bag it's okay with me.

Large Ziplock-style bags can sometimes be found in the Storage section of general stores. They're intended for compressing clothes going into closets or under the bed. Be careful: You want the style that roll up to compress, not the ones that require a vacuum cleaner attachment.

What Southam is describing are compression bags. That is not the same thing as a large ziplock bag.

You can also buy the large Ziplocs online, if you can't find them locally. I found them on Amazon.

Allison, most US airlines, which I hate to fly, have no or very high limits on hand luggage, as long as it meets the size restrictions, and you can lift it into the overhead bin yourself. Most European airlines, on the other hand, have weight limits. A lot used to have 10 kg (22 lb) limits, but now all but a few limit your carryon weight to 8 kg (17.6 lb), and compression bags do not reduce the weight of your luggage. A few, Air France and KLM, have raised them to 12 kg (26.4 lb). I usually fly Lufthansa, so I could take 17.6 lb, but I don't want to handle that much weight. I have a very light (1.8 lb), non-wheeled bag and only take what a really need. For my last few trips, my bag, packed, weighed less than 12 lb.

Tara, thanks for the amazon idea. At this point, I managed to fit everything I need in my carryon using 3 packing cubes. Allison, Aer Lingus has a weight limit of 22 lbs. I don't want it any heavier than that anyway, so have managed getting most of what I want to bring in the bag for this trip. Even though I love the durability of my bag, it is heavy without being packed. Will be in the market for a lighter bag in the future. Ciao!

I use a combination of packing cubes (RS) and giant zip-loc bags (2.5 gal). My grocery store has them. I also use them for in-room laundry when I can't find a nearby self-service laundry or I don't want to spend the time (put water in the bag, mix in a packet of woolite, add the clothes, zip the bag and let them soak for a bit, then agitate the pack for a couple of minutes before rinsing in a "clean" ziploc bag). This has worked well for me on 3-month trips to Europe. The big bags also are convenient for carrying dirty clothing.

Wow, so many great ways to use those big ziplocks. Hmmmmm

Want another way to use large Ziplocs? I once slept overnight on a bench at Heathrow. I thought I would use my jacket as a pillow, but the a/c had me shivering, so I needed it as a blanket. I pulled an empty big Ziplock out of my bag, zipped it most of the way, blew some air into it, sealed it up, and used it as a pillow.

Nancy & Zoe, are you in any way related to McGiver (spell?) ? (maybe you are too young to remember the T.V. series)

I loved MacGuyver ( I think that was the spelling).