Packing the convertible carry-on

First off what don't you like about the carryon and WHICH one did you buy. Secondly, you unzip the cubes, fold your clothes, place them inside. Same with you toiletries, camera batteries, etc. Seriously, NOT that difficult. Lastly, not EVERYONE loves anything. Get and use what works for you.

Packing cubes are supposed to organize your bag, but there are other, more effective and less expensive, ways. One problem with packing cubes is they are a certain size, which don't fit conveniently in my "sub-regulation" carry-on bag. I use a mesh Tide washing bag for shirts. It's very light-weight and only uses the volume of the shirts. Similarly, I have a mesh bag from RS for my underwear. My toiletries go in a vinyl school pencil case I found at Walmart. Remember, these bags only add weight. If they are semi-rigid, they add volume. I think the most effective use of packing enclosure is to organize your bag. When I get somewhere, I take few of these internal bags out of my bag and put them on the shelves of the cabinet in my room. When I want something, I take it out of the small bag. When I wash and dry it, I put it back in the bag. When I leave, it's a breeze. I put all of the small bags in my big bag and I'm ready to leave. Read more.

I love the packing cubes. Basically you fold up your clothes to the size of the cube, stack them, and put them clothes in the cube. So for example, you might put all your shirts in one cube. Unzip the cube, take out the shirt you want to wear, zip it back up. I think the main benefit comes when it is time to repack and move on. Your clothes are already neatly folded in the cube and you just put the cubes back in your suitcase. Instead of having 20 items to fold and fit in the suitcase, you have a couple of cubes. I usually use just the two smaller cubes only with shirts, undergarments, socks, nightshirt, etc. The RS cubes aren't rigid; they are perfectly flat when nothing is in them. The Ebags website has some photos and a video of how to use packing cubes: www.ebags.com/product/ebags/packing-cubes-3pc-set/13032?productid=10150073

I've been using the cubes using the bundle pack method. I have the cubes from Magellan and use the biggest one which is about 14 inches X 8 inches. I fill that with underwear, socks, sleepshirt and it is the center of my bundle. Put your bag open on your packing surface, longest side toward you. My RS bag doesn't unzip so the top will lay back flat, so you may have to fiddle a bit with it. Start layering your pants, waist at one short side, legs extending over the other end. Next pair, waist at the other side alternating for however many pants or skirts you have. Next come your shirts and sweaters. Put the neckline against the long side with the tail extending out over the other side and alternate sides on that as well. When you have all that in, place your bundle in the middle, then start wrapping your shirts individually around the bundle smoothing them as you go. Flip your pants legs over and tuck in at the end, so you have one neat tidy, bundle of clothing. Put shoes, toiletries (non 3-1-1 items) and other things in around your bundle. There are a number of youtube videos on bundle packing. I will find one that I like and let you know.

I am not a fan of the packing cubes or the bundle method. Too difficult to remove a single item. We use one of the medium packing envelops for folded clothing and everything else goes into zip lock bags ranging from 2 gal bags to the quart size depending in the items. The envelops have the advantage of compressing the clothing. Everything else is packed in something else. That way it is easy to take the bag apart or put it back together. We also write on the zip lock bags what is in the bag so nothing gets left behind. More important when traveling with the two sons.

And here is a youtube video that shows you how to use them.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajaP5fx2S_Y

Nancy, first I think you need to be happy and comfortable with your carry on, as packing cubes won't do a lot to solve that issue. What the cubes will do however, is A) Keep things organized, and B) Add some limited "structure" to your bag when packed. I've used packing cubes on a 6 week, a 2 week, and two 1 week trips and think they are an excellent investment. In the large cube I pack my pants, sweater, and long sleeve shirts, in one small cube I pack my t-shirts(rolled), and in the third I pack my socks and underwear. What really surprises me is just how much each of these cubes can hold. I also use one of the mesh bags that come with Rick's luggage for miscellaneous items ( sunglasses, chargers, etc) All three are sized such that they fit perfectly inside Rick's convertible carry on, classic carry on, and 21" roll aboard. When I need something in my bag, I don't have stuff strewn all over the place looking for it, everything is neatly organized. For me personally, they are a natural compliment to the bag itself, and I don't leave home without them.

I use 1-gallon ziploc bags for undies and socks. It is easy to fill them, seal them almost all the way, then roll to remove most of the air, then finish sealing. I also use ziplocs for meds, makeup, toiletries, electronics, chargers, etc. It makes organizing and repacking easy. I don't like the bundle method- you have to unpack everything to get to anything. I do take a heavy duty plastic zipper bag that sheets came in and put dirty clothes in that as needed, in order to keep the clean and dirty stuff seperate until time to do laundry, or if the trip is short enough not to need to do laundry. I've tried both the fold-flat and the roll method, and find that flat packing works best for me. We have Rick's original 'convertable' bags- bought them more than 20 years ago. We've taken them on many, many, many trips and they still look new, and are very sturdy. I love that they are so light, yet durable and that we can 'wear' them like backpacks, or carry them like suitcases (in hand or with sholder strap). We get complements on them all the time.

I use a different method. I've tried packing cubes as well as putting everything into one pile then folding it to the size of your carry on (not sure what they call that technique). Currently (may change if I decide I like something better) I start by putting my extra pair of shoes (with extra socks inside) in the bottom corners pointing up. Between that I roll up my heavier items (like pants) and place them vertically between the shoes. I keep rolling items starting with the heaviest. I fill up the space between the shoes with enough layers to fill that part of the bag, then roll smaller items and put them in the top half of the bag. I use anything hard (like a journal) to help give the bag as much structure as possible. I only use the front pocket to hold something flat, like my plane ticket to keep the bag thin. I bring a laundry bag for dirties but then put it inside a plastic grocery bag to keep it from making my other clothes smelly. That usually goes on the very top, above the second row of clothes. As my dirty clothes bag grows, my clean clothes left take up less room. I like packing everything seperately. If I need a shirt, I want to pull a shirt out of my bag rather than multiple items to get to one. I only pack clothes that travel well, minimum wrinkles and drying times.

Nancy, I thought about you today! I went to a packing seminar at my local AAA. It was a packed house and a well-done demo. She did part rolling, part bundle. She placed shoes, toiletries kit, rolled Tee shirts in the bottom, then placed a luggage sized piece of thin foam-core (you know, the light board stuff available at Michaels or Joanns??) on top of that. Then she bundle wrapped her pants and skirt. The bundle center was packing cubes of undies, socks and sleep shirt topped by a packing folder with dress shirts. Of course this was a demo, so you might not have the dress shirt catagory unless you were doing business travel. Interesting how she could then pick up the foam core with all her clothing to get to the shoes and stuff in the bottom. Then she topped the whole thing off with a feather pillow in a large compression bag. She said her husband needs his own pillow when he travels and this gets it squished down really flat. BTW, on the foam core she had placed some plastic pockets in which she says she puts her passport photocopy, medical information and other miscellaneous paperwork. If you have a AAA near you , you might check to see if they have a packing demo any time soon. They did not check to see if anyone had AAA or not. Just did a quick check on the AAA website and it looks like this lady is doing demos all of May and June thru various places in Washington. Looks like Lewiston was the only Idaho destination for her.

Thanks to all of you for the incredibly helpful suggestions. Pam, you were sweet to think of me when you went to the packing demonstration.When I read your post I realized that I had seen the same demonstration years ago given by American Airlines and actually tried that method (I still have the cardboard divider I made for my suitcase.) It worked wonderfully well and kept me organized. Thank you.