CNN story on packing cubes

Good news that Eagle Creek cubes are still available.

CNN wants some commission from people clicking the links - packing cubes must have great commission based on the number of blogers and vlogers who promote them.

I still just use plastic bags, Ziplock bags, dry bags and similar depending on what I'm packing. The vast majortiy of my clothes in the big packing cube which is called a suitcase/backpack.

All of the different sets they show each have the packing cubes as a set of all one specific color.

If you’re picking out a few packing cubes, it’s nicer to have them in different colors, so you can easily grab the blue cube which contains a pair of shoes instead of the yellow one with shirts, for instance. I bought a couple of Eagle Creek shoe bags - one white and one lime green, so it’s quick to grab the right now. (I pack other items instead of shoes in one of them.)

I also love my Eagle Creek compression cubes, but they do slide around a bit, just like ziplock plastic bags. I have many other cubes in different sizes and shapes and typically combine them for the most efficient use of the space in whatever 2-wheeled carry-on I pack.

Going the total opposite direction from compression cubes, I'm intrigued by the REI expansion cubes, partly because I'm a folder not a roller and partly because their 6 inch expanded depth as well as their other dimensions appear to be more useful for the interior dimensions of my carry-ons.

The features say:

Expansion zipper lets you adjust size from 3.5 liters up to 6 liters (small); 8.5 liters up to 13 liters (medium); and from 14 liters up to 21 liters (large).

The tech specs say:

Small: 8 x 6 x 3 in.; 2 oz.

Medium: 12 x 8 x 3 in.; 2.8 oz.

Large: 14.5 x 10.5 x 3 in.; 3.5 oz.

(all 3 expand to 6 in. deep)

Has anyone tried these or seen them in person?

https://www.rei.com/product/195445/rei-co-op-expandable-packing-cube-set-smallmediumlarge

Lo:
I have two of the small REI expansion cubes that are similar from several years ago. I usually use one (not expanded) for underwear/socks.

I haven't bought the larger sizes. My feeling is that they are too big for carryon size luggage when expanded. I don't take that many clothes so the clothing would be slipping around inside of the expanded cubes. I pack bottom and tops separately.

I'm an Eagle Creek Specter compression bag fan and strive to pack light with a carryon size bag.

Just my opinion.

I’m like Lynn in the above reply, I use the Eagle Creek compression cubes. They allow me to pack my backpack with all the clothes I need (summer or winter) with room to spare to bring some things home with me. The cubes are really effective for socks, underwear, and T-Shirts. I put my pants and button up shirts in my Eagle Creek Folder Pack-it, This makes packing so easy! I can pack and unpack quickly when traveling from place to place.

I use a 45 liter backpack by Pacsafe that is the perfect size for fitting into overhead compartments yet only weighs 18-20 lbs when loaded. It has an ingenious locking system that takes the worry out of traveling on trains and subways, or crowds where pick pockets like to operate.

I have the Bagail cubes and gave a set to my dil as a Christmas "stocking stuffer". She was delighted, but neither of us has had the opportunity to use them. She and my son have a Portugal trip in May, and my husband and I have a trip to England in June in which we will try them out. I also have a stack of clear, zippered bags that new sheets/pillowcases/comforters came in. They look to be much the same as the "packing cubes". They are clear, so items can be easily identified. Has anyone used those?

Lindy, yes I have used them, and seen others use them. They're just a bit heavy if you're counting ounces. All solutions do not have to be fashionable or high tech, or made to last forever.

Comment: I have tired using Zip-lock bags in the past and they work well until they broke. Maybe I'm to hard on my gear but after dealing with broken zip-locks and trying to repack for the next stop I invested in the Eagle Creek stealth compression bags.

Donald, I use off-brand freezer bags. The freezer bags are much stronger than regular zip baggies; I've been using mine for years, and have only had one go bad. I get the 2 gallon size for shirts and pants, the quart or gallon size for undies and socks.

I am considering using packing cubes if I decide to use my RS "Euro Flight Bag" as my personal item. As some people have commented, the main problem with that bag is its lack of structure. A couple of years ago I used that bag for a domestic trip. We were attending a wedding, so I had to pack a nice dress and the go-withs. That has been the only time I used packing cubes, and I did find them useful.

I've been using a freebie bag I got for renewing our Sierra Club membership as my personal item, but I'm thinking of upgrading to the Euro bag; if so, I'll use cubes. Some folks with whom we travelled on the 21 day BOE trip sent me the cubes, but I'm not yet convinced they'd be better for my regular backpack. We're set for a longer trip this time, so I may well appreciate the larger Euro bag.

I like the Bagail ones from Amazon too.
I've got a set of different sized rectangular ones; and for carryon only, a set of ones that look like the shape of a golf shoe bag.
SO useful!

Lindy, I’m not familiar with that brand of packing cube but I suggest you do some trial packs well ahead of time to work out your system. Really, I would start this week if you know what you are going to take, lol.

I used to be a fairly quick packer but honestly last Fall for my first international trip in 2 years, it took forever to get things into the suitcase and personal item. The really dumb thing is I was taking the same clothing as 2 years ago, lol!! I’d just lost my touch as far as getting things organized. I will add that after that trip which included some hotel moves, I’m back to feeling good about my skills, lol.

I love the cubes to keep myself organized and sorted. I never did well with ziplocks as they are too “* slide-y*” for me although there is not too much room to slide in the 22” rollaboard.

I tried for a while those bags where you roll them and all the air gets squeezed out. More trouble than they were worth.

Thanks for the advice, Lynn. I shall not be tempted by REI.

I truly am a devotee of the EC Pack-it Specter compression cubes. I have them in all three colors (red, blue and green) and 2 sizes. I also have a variety of shapes, styles and sizes of non-compression ones in the same fabric that work perfectly for my paperwork, medications and other odds and ends, making whatever I put in them easy to slide into and out of where ever I put them -- an advantage of the fabric being slippery. And I have some older, more structured EC packing cubes in yellow and turquoise that I just couldn't give to the grandkids when a did a packing purge about 4 years ago.

I did buy a couple of Eagle Creek Garment Folders a few years ago and I just couldn't get the darn things to work with any of my pants or tees or shirts. Plus they are heavy (17x12-8oz, 14x10-7 oz) compared to the compression cubes (14x10-2 oz, 10x7-1.5 oz). Back then I was much larger so at 2-3 sizes smaller, I might try to use one again, but I'm more likely to just stick to my compression cubes.

Yes, I do download or take pictures of almost everything and add text to them listing the brand, type, style, size and weight. I like having the visual with the details. I can create a document with the pictures as a visual checklist, add some real checklist bits and have almost all the packing info I need to know for any trip.

My only problem with the compression cubes is that I'm tempted to pack more than I can carry and it gets too heavy,. I still remember when I sold my house in Ohio to move to Minnesota. I was packing up the bedding and looking for ways to save space, so I used those vacuum bags to suck all the air out. It worked great for space but when I lifted one of the bags up, my arm almost came off. I couldn't believe how heavy the lightweight down comforter and pillows had suddenly become.

(REI expandable packing cubes) Has anyone tried these or seen them in person?

Heck, yeah. I have two complete sets, erm, maybe three, because they showed up at REI's garage sale so, you know, cubes! These things are built like tanks and have features no one really needs (label holder, hanging loops), w-a-y overkill, but they're good tools. No reason at all to consider them at full price but, if you find them at 50% (and you simply MUST have one more set of cubes), think only once and snap 'em up.

Between all of my sets, there are at least six different cube configurations, some of which are no longer made. I see the new version includes a mesh panel and may have eliminated the label holder. I have found an efficient use for each, including the largest, two of which happen to fit the Tom Bihn Aeronaut 45 quite well. Some of the odd-shaped cubes are in use as simple organizing bags where compression is unnecessary.

I use the long narrow cubes by Ebags (just like the Compass Rose cubes) but in assorted colors. I use these cubes because they work like drawers in my carry on bags. I never have to unpack my bag with this shape.

EBags. Lightweight and variety of sizes. I have some Eagle Creek too but EBags have great colors and quality.

Mardee, we have the same trouble with the zip baggies. When I've packed everything I plan to take, why, there's plenty of room left! Why not add some more shoes? Or books? Or.... So I do weigh as I go, and keep the total of both backs, my backpack and my personal item, at 20 lbs or less.

This goes out the window on the way home, though. Stan usually carries whatever gifts or souvenirs we've picked up along the way, so I take the dirty laundry and his clothes that no longer fit in his bag. Then I feel the weight...

Clear compressible space bags for us!
Knowing we would be too busy to pack just before a two week Europe trip, we did a trial run two weeks ahead using the clear compressible space saver bags. We labeled each bag with the contents written on masking tape then unpacked them to keep clothes neat until the day before we left. Since then we learned the best advantage to clear bags is seeing the contents inside, which saves us from unpacking the entire bag during travels, a real time saver when just staying a night or two in one place. Often we place each entire clear bag of clothes inside the hotel or ship cabin drawer, much faster to see and decide what to wear that day. Added bonus is compressing the bags saving space inside luggage. We find the bags last for at least three to four trips before needing to be replaced.
Motivated to purchase these clear sealable bags when we saw our luggage opened and unprotected contents examined at the Ontario,CA airport years ago.

Jane, that made me laugh! I'll tell you, packing can become an obsession. I belong to 2 subreddits on Reddit - one is called OneBag, which is about minimalist packing, and the other is ManyBaggers, which is for people who love to buy bags. What's funny is that most OneBag people (including me) are also members of ManyBaggers.

What can I say? I just love to buy bags and packing accessories.