One our most recent trip I used some cubes (that I’d gotten free) for the first time ever – I’m sold! What else is ‘out there’ to help make travels easier / more organized?
***also I am also looking for something like ‘stashers’ for food but not made in China since we must be certain about the product being as advertised as it is for food safety
I use a Rick Steves mesh packing cube for my shirts & dresses (I pack four outfits.), Eagle Creek shoe bags for underwear/nightgown, and one for dirty clothes. I also use a 3-pack of colorful zippered “envelopes” - one for my iPad, one for reservation papers, and one for adapter plugs & cords. I use a Clinique free zip bag for toiletries. Otherwise, I throw in a few assorted Ziploc bags for organizing anything else along the way and to store picnic food leftovers or for snacks on the plane.
Sistema plastic food containers are made in New Zealand, I believe.
RedOxx.com makes American made packing cubes with American made materials. Unfortunately, RedOxx just majorly hiked up its prices which kept me from purchasing some of their cubes.
I think the RS hanging toiletry kit is the best thing ever. My only complaint is it doesn't seem super durable - we've had to replace both of ours because they've come apart at the seams. I've tried another brand and the fabric was too stiff so it didn't smush down to fit in the suitcase quite as well and generally it was too big.
Pretty much everything that goes in my suitcase goes in a packing cube or bag of some sort except maybe a jacket if I think I'll need to get to it in route. I have them in various sizes and configurations so they will work for both of us in whatever season we're traveling.
I use the Eagle Creek compression cubes, Medium size for shirts ( they fit perfect when folded) and small size for socks and underwear. I use the large Eagle Creek Folding packet for pants and any other shirts or jackets. Once you start using the packing cubes you'll never go back to how you use to pack.
Jean yes – very good to keep travel papers safe - we keep all our RS travel papers in a manila envelope – I use a tiny RS roller bag to be able to not check luggage – don’t think cubes for clothes would work but also don’t seem necessary the way cubes are for smaller items - I use ZipLocks bags – looking for safe / reusable alternatives
Oh yes - celeste RS hanging toiletry kit is wonderful – I got mine about 20 years ago & got one for daughter as well – no problems – maybe you are filling it too much
Sun-Baked in Florida
My common sense guess about prices of American made goods is health insurance for workers –
I looked up Sistema: Proudly New Zealand Made.
Every food storage container that leaves our state-of-the-art factory in New Zealand is made from material that is both BPA and Phthalate free. Sistema® uses our post-industrial material to produce some products, as part of an effort for waste-free manufacturing.
If packing organization is new for your travel style, beware the urge to buy lots of cool stuff, especially from the Amazon. I happen to like several objects from Tom Bihn and Osprey. Shop prudently.
Nylon stuff sacks that you can get at any outdoor store, one for socks and underwear, another for dirty laundry, and a variety of sizes of ziplock bags. That's it.
I am hooked on Tom Bihn. Especially their LARGE TRAVEL TRAY - go to the site and watch the video on the TRAVEL TRAY.
I have gifted it to all our friends over the years. We each keep one on our nightstand when we travel for cables, cords, electrical adaptors, etc - we also have one on our nightstands here at home.
Also love the Tom Bihn DOUBLE ORGANIZER POUCHES - the small is great for receipts, a passport, a power bank and cords. The large is great for travel papers, trip insurance papers, maps, etc.
Tom Bihn makes some of the best travel gear and it's all made in the USA. My husband uses the CoPilot as his personal item. I love their Large Zipper tote around town at the German Xmas Markets for purchases and here in the USA. Their POP TOTE is great. Their pouches sizes 1-4 are also very useful. They make the best backpacks on the market.
I like the RED OXX PUP as my Personal Item bag and I also like their toiletry bag.
I've loved packing cubes for years as I like the level of organization it gives me. This year I was obsessing about having the lightest suitcase possible to use for carry on due to having a leg of my outbound travel on Air France and they have a 12k weight limit combined for the carry on and personal item. I was well under the weight limit but no one even blinked an eye when I boarded.
I weighed ALL my packing cubes, pouches and various other organizer tools. I changed from the packing cubes that fit vertically in my suitcase back to the Eagle Creek sil nylon compression cubes because they were the lightest. Also weirdly, I have both with and purple and the purple were just a bit heavier. While I have the shirt sized one, I went with the small cube and just folded my shirts over. The small cube was of course lighter than the medium shirt cube. It worked for me as I only took 4 shirts for this trip.
I also found a set of inexpensive but very lightweight zipper pouches made of that nylon mesh stuff that are colorfully striped. They were much lighter than my Travelon cubes that I had previously used so I used them for charger cords, over the counter meds and non-liquid toiletries. Here is a link to a Travelon set but the ones I got are Travelon knock offs I think. They did start to fray around the zippers by the end of my 3-week trip. I'll have to see if I can trim the frays or if they are actually falling apart. I got them at TJ Maxx and did not expect a lasting product BUT they were so light I went with them. I liked that because they were colorful and I wanted to make sure I had visual cues in my room and suitcase.
I'd been using an ebags toiletries kit but decided that was too heavy so went for the smaller zipper pouches and a plain freezer ziplock bag for my liquids and that worked fine. In many hotels in Italy there was really no place where I could have hung my other toiletries kit anyway so it worked just as well to have them in the "wet" ziplock and the "dry" ziplock.
For the few documents I had, I just put them in a sheet protector. I've previously used those nice sturdy envelopes or larger sized plastic folders but this time I was very conscious of the weight of things. I also was trying to make myself use digital for everything I could - tickets for trains, museums, other timed entry sights. I am not particularly technologically advanced but I managed all these digitally which made me happy. I have a phone and iPad mini in case there is some problem with one of the electronic items. Next time I will also take a power bank as I was running out of juice in Venice with my mapping app.
IF you are going to have to "make a weight" for carrying on your bag, be sure you invest in the sturdiest lightest weight packing cubes you can find. The Eagle Creek sil-nylon ones work well for me being both light and strong. They are a bit expensive but if you are interested watch for the to go on sale for Black Friday or Cyber Monday.
I also love the Tom Bihn products. He recently sold the company but I haven't heard about any loss of quality in his products. Like China Lake, I also love the Travel Tray - it's a great product that is very versatile. I even use it at home.
And also like China, I love his organizer pouches - again, I use them for everything.
I also have the clear organizer pouch, which is so handy for my toiletries. It's clear so it does not have to be opened (well, there are a few exceptions, but I've been using mine for over 12 years and the only time I had to open it and remove some things was at CDG). I have an older style but the new one looks great, too.
If you have an IKEA nearby, they have some nylon stuff sacks (like the ones Paul mentioned) that are very inexpensive. I picked up several recently and used them on a long weekend trip and they worked great. I used one for putting dirty underwear in.
I was not a fan of packing cubes because of extra weight (every ounce counts) and extra packaging. I always considered backpack or bag to be one large compression cube. However on our upcoming trip I decided to try packing cubes. Ironically, the reason is because we are flying Lufthansa and they have a very restrictive 8 kg carry-on limit. We plan to try to meet the limit and will each carry a heavy personal item which we need to pack and unpack rapidly from our main bag in between inspections by Lufthansa staff and security. We figure the packing cubes will help us do that without all our stuff spilling out.
We purchased a 6 piece set made by Bagail from Amazon, which was divided equally between myself and my wife. The dimensions of the 3 packing cubes fit perfectly into our respective carry-on dimensioned bags. (CAD$29 pricing, the import duty fee was waived because price was under $40, and the shipping was free with Prime). On test packing they work very. The three cubes adds about 12 ounces. IMO, compression cubes with extra zippers will add more unnecessary weight. The cubes are puffy when full, but will compress down within the backoack or luggage.
The funny thing is that the cubes shipped from a Washington State depot about an hour's drive from the Canadian border. The cubes had to be flown to Toronto and then flown to YVR, which is only a 15-minute drive from our home. The cubes were then transported by truck to a Langley distribution depot, which is about 40 minutes away. Finally it was delivered to our door. So these cubes are already well traveled.
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01IB8QFLK/ref=twister_B01MAUKN1R?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
It is so easy to get carried away with fun gadgets and things made for travel. I try hard to keep it simple and use what I already have.
Packing cubes: I use the RS brand. An additional benefit to them is unpacking at your hotel/B&B, etc. I take the whole cube out and stick it in a drawer so that I am not digging in my backpack/suitcase. When it's time to go, zip it up and throw it in.
RS gadget bag: I was frustrated with all the charging cords and things I have to carry now due to technology. I bought a large one. and I can get my chargers, my plug adapters, and other extras (sewing kit, etc) into it. I liked it so much I was going to buy a second one to hold my bedside stuff. I found a cosmetic bag I already owned that was about the same size and use it in stead. I use it the way the "table tray" is used. When it is time to go, I just zip it up.
Shoe bags: I bought mine years ago, but I would not travel without them. I also put stuff in my shoes for flights.
RS Hide away tote bag: It takes up almost no room and we use it frequently. (carrying back grocery items, laundry, etc)
I have been happy with the Rick Steves brand, and I appreciate their prices.
"The three cubes adds about 12 ounces. IMO, compression cubes with extra zippers will add more unnecessary weight."
Sometime the weight is worth it. I actually weighed my entire collection of cubes. The Eagle Creek sil-nylon small compression cube was 1 3/8 oz as opposed to the Eagle Creek sil nylon small regular cube which came in at 5/8 oz. For myself the compression was more important than the negligible weight for 2 small cubes.
If you are using bigger cubes of course, bigger zippers and more weight although the sil-nylon fabric is very lightweight and strong. The medium size EC sil nylon compression cubes came in at 2 oz which is still pretty lightweight compared to other packing cubes.
My heaviest packing cubes were the Compass Rose cubes which fit into my suitcase like a book and they were 2 5/8 oz each. The maker of these marketed them as "compression" cubes but they were not really, just fairly strong fabric that you could stuff a lot into.
My recommendation is to get out your kitchen scale and weigh everything!
ChinaLake67 I looked up your picks & OMG I think your husband choosing the Tom Bihn CoPilot as his personal bag is brilliant & plan to get my husband one for upcoming occasion
I may get the Tom Bihn travel tray for gifts for both DIL
Julie, welcome to the packing cube fan club! It took me a while to get there but once I did, there is no going back. I preger the cubes that RS sells. They are mesh and weigh almost nothing and you can see through them. I have a couple other brands of packing cubes but they are heavier and just don't seem to work as well. I don't have any other suggestions for you beyond what others have mentioned, I don't tend to use anything beyond the packing cubes and a toiletry bag.
I use 2 gal and 1 gal Zip-Loc Storage Bags. Easy, inexpensive, works beautifully. Keeps everything organized and wrinkle-free.
I learned a few years ago to split my toiletries and makeup into 2,3,or even 4 smaller pouches rather than one big one.
That way you can stuff them into nooks and crannies in your suitcase more easily.
One big one just takes up too much room.
I like mesh bags that I can see through.
S J, i do the same… i put toiletries in 2 Rume bags. I use a 3rd Rume bag for my charging cords, charging bricks, converters, etc.
Tribe! I adore the little steps which in the collective counteract the proliferation of 'stuff' and finds additional use for extraneous ephemera. Small ziplock bags containing an extra button or thread from past clothing purchases are employed as individual necklace containers that eliminate potential tangles while keeping things nicely organized in repurposed zippered makeup bag used as travel jewelry case. Sturdy paper cardboard name brand tags keep hoops and stud earrings in smart array and easy access. Having a small 'box of awesome' (thank you packing guru Sarah Murdoch) with helpful items for typical minor attire/health related mishaps, can really save the day.
I may get the Tom Bihn travel tray for gifts
The small TB travel tray is too small; the large a bit too large. There is no middle, unfortunately.
Small is merely good for holding things one does not need instant or constant access. You cannot easily see into it and it's deep enough to require rooting around. The large tray can sit on a table or shelf and opens wide enough to allow visual inventory and easy retrieval of whatever's in there. I tend to think of it as a junk drawer. As long as I don't put my stuff anywhere else, it's all in one place and can easily be sorted when packing up: room keys, readers and sunglasses, eye drops, lip balm, sunscreen, receipts, nail trimmer, charger, &c.
The other Bihn doodad I like is their clear zippered cubes with the ever-so-convenient hanger hook. Being able to see what's inside is terrific and, yes, I have deliberately elected not to use ziplocks except to double bag liquids.
After abusing half a dozen toiletry kits over decades of backpacking and cycle touring, I have arrived at a compact rollup unit from Osprey. Men's and ladies' toiletry requirements differ, of course, but packing lightly requires ruthless editing.
Shop for this stuff carefully. Easy to spend a bunch of money on poorly designed or made travel thingies you may not need or enjoy using.
The small TB travel tray is too small; the large a bit too large. There is no middle, unfortunately.
I actually like the size of the small travel tray, but I think it depends on how you use it. I use it for just my electronics. I keep my chargers/plugs in there, my Airbuds, my power bank, and anything like that. I find it very handy and also a good thing to make me remember to grab all my chargers from wherever they're plugged into in the hotel.
I adore the little steps which in the collective counteract the proliferation of 'stuff' and finds additional use for extraneous ephemera.
I love reusing stuff like that. I buy the Izipizi reading glasses and use the sturdy small boxes those come in for storage of toiletry items. Before I retired, the bookkeeper at my law firm would save the little metal boxes that the electronic staples came in. I still have them all today and use them for many things, including travel items.
I use the free shower caps they have in hotel rooms to wrap my shoes. If you have hiking boots like I do they are grungy and I don't want the dirt to get in my bag.
Leslie - very creative use of the shower caps - I bring plastic bags we get at the grocery for fruits / veggies for my dirty shoes
My favorite packing organizer is my significant-other. All that I am allowed to take always fits with ease.
I really like using smaller packing cubes. For me the ideal size is 11"x4"x6.75". I bring four of them, one for each type of clothing. One for tops, one for bottoms, one for undergarments and PJs and one for sweaters and jackets. The higher end manufacturers don't sell sets of just this small size so I hunted around on Amazon and found an off brand set. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08DRQ934H/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I use the Eagle Creek Specter line packing folder and cubes (see sample here: https://a.co/4xlFlaF) plus a selection of ziplock and other lightweight zip bags I've acquired over the years (mostly repurposed packaging). It took several trips to figure out what works best for me. I also use disposable shower caps to cover shoes and keep my socks stored in the shoes for space saving. Though not as lightweight as other options, I like the eBags pack flat toiletry kit (https://a.co/2uFy9Ig) because of the shape - it sits nicely on top of my packing folder or in the outside pocket of my bag. As for your request for silicone food storage, IMHO those are too heavy for travel use. I instead bring high quality freezer style ziplock storage bags and wash/reuse them many times.
I did a five-week trip to Europe in the Spring with just carry-on and it changed how I pack. I fell in love with the Eagle Creek Specter cubes and pack-it sleeves. (I use small and medium sleeves). I also love the Eagle Creek pPack-It Isolate Compression Cubes. I used a combination of those items for my roller-bag and it made packing so easy. They sort of fit in my suitcase like Tetris but it makes staying organized easier. I also use the packet that my laundry detergent sheets came in to store a Tide To Go Pen, sink stopper and Shout stain remover packets along with the sheets. It became my "laundry center".
For my backpack, I use the Tom Bihn small travel tray which has eye drops, chargers, chapstick, wipes, tissues, hair ties. I pull it out of my backpack if I need it on the plane (I fly Delta One so I can have it on the side table). On planes and hotel rooms, I put room card, glasses, contact cases etc. in it. I have it in a bright color so I don't forget to grab it. I bought a seat pack organizer by Travelon for my tablet and I love it. It weighs very little, and I can store my headphones, extra cords, ear plugs in the pockets. There is a tab on it so I can hang it from my tray on the plane. https://www.travelonbags.com/shop/world-travel-essentials-seat-pack-organizer/43511.html?catid=World-Travel-Essentials The 5-week trip and the need to not check in luggage (which turned out to be a life-saver) this past Spring really changed how I pack and now I am a big fan of only bringing enough for carry-on travel. Using these items has helped me create a system that makes travel even easier.
I discovered that the website Sierra.com has a lot of the above items at deep discounts (including some of the items mentioned by others) so I really scored some savings. In fact everyone in my family is getting these items for Xmas, all bought at big discounts.
