What are PACKING CUBES?

You can buy them at most travel stores and good luggage stores. They cube shaped cloth bags that you can use to organize your luggage. When I was a kid we used what we then called ditty bags to help us organize our backpacks when we went camping. They were draw-string bags. Packing cubes serve the same purpose, but are different shapes and usually have zippers. See the Travel Store for a picture. http://travelstore.ricksteves.com/catalog/index.cfm?fuseaction=product&theParentId=122&id=102 Pam

I use large, 2.5 gallon Zip-Loc bags instead. I find them really helpful to keep everything organized and easy to find.

Eagle Creek probably has the best known packing cubes and folders:

Eagle Creek Packing Solutions

Packing cubes fit into the generic category of "Organizers". I've used several kinds to organize my bag. At first I used "stuff bags" from the local surplus, camping store, color coded so I knew what was in each one (clean shirts, clean underwear, dirty clothes), then it was mesh Tide washing bags, now I have a set of mesh bags from ETBD, the lighter the better.

When I come into a room during my travels, I put the bags on the shelves of the clothes cabinet. If I need something, I just have to open the bag I know it's in. In the evening I wash dirty clothes and put them out to dry; in the morning I put them in the appropriate bag. Packing to leave is a breeze - just put the organizer bags back into my big bag.

Some packing cubes are rigid and too large for my small carryon bag; I avoid those. Flexible mesh bags are the best.

The first part of this century, I made five trips to Europe, perfecting this technique. In 2007 I made a trip up the Romantic Road and around Bavaria. I stayed 10 places in 13 nights (I really don't recommend this). The technique of using organizers really helped.

REI sells Eagle Creek's versions too if you want to see what they look like in person. If you want to buy online, The Container Store has them on sale right now for 25% off.

I like the Eagle Creek cubes so, Cheri. I'm not much on carrying extra ***p, but the bags are so handy, keep you so organized, and are easy to see where things are with the mesh! I use them, and Ziplocks as mentioned above.

For maximal organization, I put my winter Europe clothes in a compression bag and then in a packing cube, which then goes nicely in my backpack. My trips are during Nov & Dec, so my clothes are a bit bulkier. The compression sacks solve the bulkiness, and the cubes mold and shape the compression sack to a size that fits perfectly in my bag. My cousin, who traveled to Thailand with summer time clothes felt the compression bags did not offer any use but she loved the cubes.

I love packing cubes. I have both Rick Steves cubes and Eagle Creek cubes. The RS cubes come in 2 sizes. EC has many different sizes and configurations. If you are interested in using them you should figure out what fits best in your bag. I personally use the RS cubes more. They fit my bag perfectly, are lightweight, and I can more easily see what is in the cube.

I loaned my cubes to a friend who was traveling to Italy. She loved them so much she immediately went out and bought more.

The mesh ones are good. Flexible enough to cram into the nooks and crannies of your bag, but big enough to get your stuff into. I also like that you can see inside the mesh ones so I know what's in 'em. And, like others have said, you can easily take them out and put them on a shelf where you're staying.

They must be getting more popular because Magellans just started their own line called "Stowaways." I guess they're trying to compete with Eagle Creek and Ebags.

BTW...if your travel bag does not keep its own shape, like the OPEC and RS bags, the packing cubes help to give them form to make them more comfortable when on your back. The contents don't shift as much.

I've toyed with them but don't use them. I use an ebags weekender convertible carry-on. I roll the major items of clothing and pack them vertically to give my bag some rigidity. The misc socks, underwear, toiletries, paper all go in ziplock bags.