What did you pack that you should have left at home and what should you have packed that you didn’t?

I should have left the fleece jacket at home. While it is possible that I could use it before I return home in October, I doubt it and it takes up too much space.

I should have packed an extra pair of shorts or lightweight slacks instead. It has been warm.

Similar to Laura: too many clothes for cooler weather we usually experience and not enough summery options. That will probably change during our next 4 weeks, though. It is getting harder to park with such extremes!

After my May trip to Scotland, I came home and realized that I had only used 25% of the toiletries I brought with me. I also brought vitamin and supplements that I hardly took at all. So those stay home next time. I packed too many “just in case” chargers and tech items, which I did not need. And I also brought a travel umbrella that I never used - no more umbrellas! From now on I rely on a raincoat or jacket with a hood.

I left out my magnifying mirror, assuming my hotel would have good lighting if not a good mirror. Wrong and wrong! The mood lighting made me look wonderful while in the room, but my selfies from my first day looked like I had only one eyebrow. Ha! Fortunately, as I always say, "I've heard they have stores."

One trip I forgot to pack one of my prescription drugs.

Now I pack all my meds days in advance and am very careful that all are included.

I have a few packing cubes and have one for meds both prescriptions and OTC

I always bring a bathing suite which I usually never use but still I like to have it and it really does not take up much space. I also bring a few items in case I want to use the gym which again I almost never do but like to have just in case but workout things do take up a little space in my small rolling bag.

Have a good trip

Beware the "just in case" packing. The problem is that even if the "just in case" item is small and/or lightweight, you add too many and next thing you know, you're carting around stuff that you never use.

Better option is if you need it and don't have it, then buy it at your destination.

BostonPhil, you're in a different situation since you are on a cruise and are not traveling to different destinations every few days. I do know you tack on a few days in a city at the end of your cruise (or the beginning - can't remember) but for those of us who are on the go and especially using public transportation, all those just-in-case extras add on the weight.

I’ve said it before, but if I will not use an item 3 or more times on any trip, I don’t bring it.
I used to take a thin robe, but now I’ll just use my long cardigan for that if I need to.
Double purpose items take up less room.

Nowadays, I make a list of what I am actually taking, and when I get home I look back at it to see what I didn’t use.
So the list gets smaller for each subsequent trip!

And….the shops in other countries are so interesting if you forget something !

I’m very disciplined to evaluate my packing before/during/after a trip and note comments on the packing list as reminders for the next year to keep reducing down. My priority for all of this (could be perceived as craziness? LOL) is to enable me to keep traveling the way I prefer - lots of train rides with frequent moves. If I was only staying in 2-3 locations, I would probably pack differently. It looks like you will be going to Paris. Don’t worry about forgetting something; you can purchase a Parisian one! : )

For my last trip, I really debated whether to bring a second pair of shoes besides what I was wearing on the plane. I did bring them - hardly wore them, but I still think it’s good to have a backup pair that you know is comfortable.

Some people on my recent RS tour didn’t bring masks. I would at least pack a few & at least a small 2-pack of home tests.

I forgot to bring a couple of pens on two trips. Hint: check your purse, especially if you switch purses for the trip to remember the items that are normally in a purse. That’s how I only had one pen on my recent trip when I thought I had a second one in my purse.

I would always bring a book and usually only read a few pages on the plane. I don’t even download them anymore. I’m usually too tired after a full day of touring.
Also, too many chargers, adapters, etc.

I was traveling in the fall in England and did not think to bring a swimsuit. We got to use a time share on Rutland Waters as guests for a week. It had a wonderful indoor pool and spa. Try to find a swim suit for sale in the fall!

I’m in Edinburgh right now and wish I had brought my nightie that has longer sleeves and more length as the hotel room has a radiator that doesn’t keep me warm enough. I’m happy with my new hooded London Fog jacket but also glad I still brought my travel umbrella—hoods are great but an umbrella keeps the water off my face. I always bring 2 books—one is so good I am almost done so enjoyed poking around Blackwell’s today, excellent selection of Scottish authors.

Went Italy in late April through 3rd week of May, ending the trip on the Amalfi Coast. It rained almost the entire time and I needed more spring clothes than summer clothes. I regretted bringing my sandals, summer dresses, and swimsuit. They didn't get any use.

I have always taken a 22” suitcase so it would be difficult to make too many mistakes. I always pack my rain jacket. We dress for dinner but, for me that is same black pants and a couple of different, easy to pack tops, costume jewelry only. I leave my good jewelry at home.
I always have used packing cubes. One for underwear, one for casual daytime tops. Then other categories as needed.
Carry on bag has electronic devices, RXs, chargers for devices, toiletries.

Always overpack, always regret it.

And I can't recall ever leaving something at home that I needed. Never.

I just returned from a 2.5 week trip to Northern Italy. I will do a more detailed packing report/trip report once I've dug out from the mail. In the meantime I learned that I didn't need two long sleeve shirts (only needed the one I wore on the plane), and didn't need the solid shampoo and conditioner which I brought "just in case". I should have packed my swim goggles since one of the hotel pools was a salt water pool and it really stung my eyes.

I think the “just in case is challenging”. We went to Sicily in May and had unusually cool and rainy weather.

I didn’t bring my water repellent hiking pants as I reasoned I would not need them unless we had the worse case scenario (but we did!).

I could have done without the skirt I brought (only wore once) but I wore it a lot the year before in Crete where during the same time it was warm and sunny.

I packed for 60s, 70s, and 80s. We had 50s, 60, and 70’s. And lots of rain.

Climate change regardless of destination is also adding another challenge because historic weather doesn't apply anymore.
I assume most here on the packing forum, like me, plan and start packing well before any trip. I think once you find a system (and items) that work for you it becomes easier in every way.
I have only a few things that aren't clothes. I have a Sea-to-Summit toiletries pouch I use for first aid supplies. Rather than a list I just keep the stuff in it and then can check for anything well past its expiry and replace. It's comprehensive (now including several Covid tests) but I've never regretted not using something from it, because that means I never had a blister, headache, food poisoning, etc!
This, a 3-1-1 bag with my products, a duffel that zips into a little pocket, a Tom Bihn pocket purse for daily use, a backpack that also is a pocket- size thing, flip flops for hotels/bathroom and a few other small things that either come or don't depending on how long the flight is, if there's a lot of hiking, etc. I keep all this in a large packing cube with my two suitcase options.
Then I never have to think about anything but the clothes. For me anyway it has really helped simplify the packing process, because those things are always needed.

I made a few blunders on my trip in August to Orkney and Shetland. I’m a pretty good light packer but erred this time on choosing light over function.

• Needed a 2nd or of jeans. I debated because I saw it was cooler but in the end took lightweight travel pants instead of a 2nd pair of jeans because it brought my total suitcase weight down. I hadn’t counted on being on my hands and knees a couple of times crawling into cairns or of days when it was quite cool with wind and rain.

• Needed a long sleeve tee shirt

• Bought a LS button up tencel shirt which appeared on the front of the Lands End catalog the week before travel. Washed it but didn’t wear it and it wrinkled like crazy. I’d have done better to take another LS drifit quarter zip. I will wear this at home but it will NOT make the travel team in the future!!

  • Needed a stocking hat. No big problem as it enabled me to buy a souvenir type hat on Orkney and a lovely knit one on Shetland! 😏😆

Over the years l've developed a travel uniform that I adjust based on weather: long or short sleeve tee, long sleeve button up shirt, pants, ankle high waterproof lace-up boots and the scarf I use to coordinate those garments around.

I'm also a 3-times-per-garment-is-mandatory person. Since all but one of my trips have been for 4+ weeks, that's not a problem. I wear each thing 3+++ times each on my trips. My basic limits are: 8 tops, 3 pairs of pants, and 2 pairs of shoes, one being the boots above and one pair of very comfortable and supportive flats. Pretty simple.

I learned from a very slippery shower pan on a trip in 2018 that I needed to start wearing non-slip shower shoes, so I added some like these that dry quickly and fit in a 1 quart ziploc bag.

Last summer I went over my top limit and wished that I'd left 2 tees at home and replaced them with one button-up shirt.

I also packed long underwear which I never used. What I really need to take is 2 pairs of pajama bottoms, but I haven't yet met the challenge of finding any that are loose (no leggings need apply), have pockets and are lightweight and modest enough for me.

I typically take only my coordination scarf, but I would've taken a second one if I had one that worked with the colors inspired by the main one.

I'm not going to count the multiple Covid tests I took last year. I took 8 and used 4. That was legitimate "just in case" packing.

Have a great trip and remember that if you find you really need something, you can find it there. The opposite is also true. If you discover that something isn't working and you don’t want to lug it around anymore and it's in good shape, there are charity shops where you can donate it. I've done both.

After my last trip I made a note in my phone with everything I packed. I traveled in June, and was in France.

What I didn’t use/wouldn’t bring again:
-Hydroflask water bottle- there was almost never a place to fill it with ice or cold water. I just refilled a half liter plastic water bottle.
-Laundry detergent sheets- used hotel soap.

What I wish I brought:
Benedryl stick for bug bites
Mosquito repellent wipes
Small reusable shopping bag
A glue stick for my travel journal
A hat

One more dress or skirt

Good luck with the final packing and have a lovely trip!

I wish I would have brought my down jacket to Norway. And, I lost my wool beanie, so I should have brought an extra one.

The mood lighting made me look wonderful while in the room, but my selfies from my first day looked like I had only one eyebrow

I laughed out loud! Reminded me I brought makeup - again - and have not used it. I try to remember to fill in my brows, but on the trail, it seems silly.

First of all, congrats on getting the weight down as low as you have, I bet you won’t need much more at this time of year. I always look at the weather a few days before departure, just in case.
Agree with @Karen, when I get back to CA, the reusable, travel ready things like first aid kit & things I always use on flights go straight back into the pre-departure packing bag. I add to it throughout the next season, replacing whatever looked worn. (OMG I SO need a new multicolored blue wool /cashmere scarf! Any ideas?!). When I get ready to pack for next trip, the always category is mostly ready. I keep a running list - for some strange reason I forgot my Bose headset, thank goodness no crying babies nearby! So that’s on my To Pack list for next trip at Christmas.
I don't think I buy much that won't travel well, when I occasionally shop, I'm always thinking what would work on the next trip.

Not sure where you're heading but it sounds like maybe Paris? Then I'm going to wear nicer clothing. I bring a pair of flats I can change into sitting on a park bench before going into a restaurant, put other shoes in shoulder bag.

As to buying things when you’re on the road, that works for things like an umbrella, which I wouldn’t carry unless I ran into lots of rain, but I don’t want to go bathing suit or clothes shopping, just no. I froze in a chilly under-heated B&B in Ireland, never again traveling to a cold weather destination without a long-sleeved top that could double as sleepwear!

@Lo - LOVED those water shoes!! CUTE! And about the second pair of PJ’s, have you considered SOMA ‘Cool nights’, not cheap but really alsts & runs true to size, usually has pockets - https://www.soma.com/store/product/cool+nights+pajama+pants/570350926?color=001&catId=cat3700009.

Fun topic, psea as I'm myself now 2 days out from departure and going through the same thing. Great job on your packing weight!

I also have a master packing list that I update when I return from a trip, including notes about what worked/didn't work so I remember them the next time; I keep the notes from the prior two trips as they're often different. In the last couple days I've done some brutal culling of "just in case" stuff and my clothing choices. Like Karen noted, I take a mini-pharmacy that I rarely need but wouldn't want to leave behind. My usual regret is packing clothing that is in theory good for travel, but in practice not so great, usually because it doesn't fit well or doesn't wash well. I always swear to trial run everything before hand but in last minute panic don't always do that. Always room for improvement ;)

Bon voyage!

"Have a great trip and remember that if you find you really need something, you can find it there. The opposite is also true. If you discover that something isn't working and you don’t want to lug it around anymore and it's in good shape, there are charity shops where you can donate it. I've done both."

Echoing what Lo said. I needed hydrocortisone for bug bites so I stepped into the nearest pharmacy to get some. And I noticed in a number of the Italian towns and villages we visited donation boxes for used clothes. Personally, I would at least sink wash the clothes before donating them. :-)

Reminded me I brought makeup - again - and have not used it.

Laurel, ha ha! Yes to this! Makeup was part of the 75% of my toiletries that I brought and never used. Never again. :)

I LOVE my SOMA Cool Nights night shirts. Don ‘t take up much room

I always pack a few days early and then weigh the bag. Then I look again at my list and see what I can remove. Bringing an umbrella is always a question for me. I have recently quit taking one, but just checked the weather forecast where I am traveling next week and am possibly rethinking that. I used to bring a light robe & slippers. I now use my rain jacket and swim shoes for that. I also have found the swim shoes are really comfortable on the long flight over. I just give them a good soak and wash after I arrive. I love to find double purposes for anything I bring. This trip will include at least 2 swimming possibilities. I don't usually pack a swimsuit. This year I bought bermuda shorts and a flowered tee which are made for swimming and also contain a sunscreen component. Even if I don't take advantage of the swimming opportunities I know I can wear these in my room at the end of the day. I review my packing spreadsheet before I start to pack and when I return evaluate it again to add or subtract based on my travel experience. One thing I never forget is my travel pillow-an absolute necessity because getting to sleep is a real chore for me and my comfy travel pillow really helps.

More than one Covid test. Italy, Spring 2023. I’ll spare y’all the story but I needed more than the one that I brought, which could give me just the initial diagnosis. I had to go out and find a pharmacy to buy more (while I was still contagious).

Ok, here is my takeaway for our trip to Paris, Metz with biking along the Mozelle river.

Purchased a magnifying travel mirror. I am old enough to have old lady whiskers.

Threw in

my skin so soft mosquito wipes
After bite stick
Bathing suit

Thanks everyone!

I wish I had packed a casual dress for my trip to Greece that only weighed 8 ounces,

Posted by Laurel

I try to remember to fill in my brows, but on the trail, it seems
silly.

Get your hair stylist to dye your eyebrows. Just make sure to tell her/him that you don't want the Joan Crawford look.

psea, what an appropriate topic for me right now since my trip is in 10 days. Just did my pre-pack to see what stays and what needs to be tossed back in my clothes cubbies. Carryon only flying with airlines that have pretty restrictive size/weight dimensions (IcelandAir and TAP). So, today, I pulled the binoculars and tiny flashlight out of my personal item to reduce weight and rearranged some items by placing them in my very small Travelpro “under seat” roll aboard. Im still pondering whether or not to bring the RS Portuguese Phrase Book or leave it home. After all, there’s Google Translate to help me navigate the language barrier. Like other posters here, I like to have dual purpose items. Therefore, instead of pajamas, I will pack a TShirt and leggings that can also be used as layers when I’m out and about touring. Laundry will have to be done at least half way through my 3 week trip to Iceland and Portugal. Personal bag is now 5.5 lbs and my Travelpro is now 18 lbs.

After many trips traveling solo during the last 15 years just having carryon luggage, I’m starting to really get tired of lugging them around the airport, into the restrooms and airport eateries and may start checking the roll aboard in.

Let’s just say that I will be wearing quite a few layers while boarding the plane. Ha ha! Hope I won’t look ridiculous and this may be my last time doing carryon only.

Happy travels psea - you have probably left on your journey. Have fun!

"Purchased a magnifying travel mirror. I am old enough to have old lady whiskers."

Hahaha....well, my solution to this is what a friend gave me....a Flawless Hair Remover. It's usually in a pharmacy like RiteAid or Walgreens on the As-Seen-On-TV end cap.

https://www.amazon.com/Finishing-Touch-Flawless-Painless-Remover/dp/B071KW9GTT/ref=sr_1_5?crid=2A3U9P4IBV5QX&keywords=ladies+facial+shaver&qid=1695085120&sprefix=ladies+facial+shaver%2Caps%2C193&sr=8-5

It's a small battery operated shaver that I can use without having to look in a mirror!

Update here

Absolutely loved having the magnifying lighted mirror. It was a win.

Should have left the second nice shirt home.

Should have brought a long sleeve layer like a sweater and more packets of laundry soap.

Still have one week to go and have worn and washed everything.

On our three week BOE trip Fall 2022, DW and I took only our 40L Farpoint backpacks. What we didnt use was the Ipad, it became dead weight as we used our phones for everything.

What we used by may not bring again, was the clothesline, Collapsible Water Bottles, Drain Stopper, dry bag for washing cloths, Portable Fan.

We found the cloths line was difficult to use in most bathrooms, I might give it another go on our next trip. Collapsible Water Bottles, we ended up just buying a bottle of water and never used the refillable ones we brought. We never needed the drain stopper as every sink we encountered had a plug. And again never needed the dry bag for washing cloths in as we could use the sinks.

What we did not bring that we needed. Mosquito repellent and anti itch cream, anti chaffing cream. We were able to obtain these from a pharmacy in Rome. Dryer sheets, these do not exist in Europe.

khansen, I do have this done. But it doesn’t last two months.

Update from me after 5+ weeks in Switzerland and one week in Annecy: I needed more summery clothes than ever this year. Downright HOT in Kandersteg and Annecy. In the mid-70s nearly every day so far in Lauterbrunnen. I purchased a second short sleeved hiking shirt a few weeks ago. My wool tees are not the right choice over 70. I have barely used my long sleeved wool tee and my nice cashmere cardigan for cool evenings made it out of the apartment only twice so far.

It is increasingly hard to guess the weather so plan for everything.

I'm packing now for 5 weeks in Italy - ending in Sicily in Mid-November. What I'm seeing is that the daytime highs will probably be quite nice. (70's and 60's), but the night time lows could even get into the 40's. But who really knows. it could be 10 degrees colder.

Anyway - that's a wide range of temps. I will try what I did in Bhutan and Nepal with a few days in India. I made 2 stacks of tops that went from light, short-sleeved tops to thicker, long-sleeved tops. Any of them could be worn in any combination. That seemed to work fine. I'm finding that long-sleeved button-up shirts work well as 2nd layers. I always also take a fleece jacket and a rain shell that can go over it. That acts like a wind-break as well as a rain jacket. On another trip, I found that I didn't need the short-sleeved shirts. It was colder than I thought it would be. I did use them as undershirts under the long-sleeved shirts, though. Now, I plan for that.

I like having my umbrella - it help keep both me and my day pack dry. However, I'm wondering if I can make do with a wide-brimmed rain hat - and maybe a waterproof cover for my day pack. The hat packs pretty flat.

Back to work.......

It's been three weeks, already feels longer, since I returned from Scotland.

What I wished I had packed:
- flip flops to wear in hotel rooms. One of my hotels felt warm and I couldn't bear to wear socks any more at the end of the day. The carpet felt disgusting!
- hydrocortisone cream - I have mild eczema and it's in always in my big toiletry bag - this time | pared down into a small cosmetic case for my toiletries and it didn't make the transfer
herbal tea bags- yes I can and did buy them but easier to bring from home and could have saved some time to do something better than finding a grocery store for peppermint tea.
- ibuprofen instead of acetaminophen- stronger and better for aching muscles after walking all day
- wooden foot massager - I have a small corrugated wooden cylinder shaped one- - just a minute or two of using it helps aching feet.

What I'm glad I packed:
- shampoo and hair conditioner- the three star hotels only had liquid hand soap and shower gel.
- light weight wool/cotton knitted beret style hat - wore it most days.

Only very minor regret. I packed a cheap, small collapsible umbrella - it packed small enough that I could fit it in my large purse or deep rain coat pocket. No surprise that it broke after one use on a windy day.

As other have mentioned - I too have a master packing list based on the RS list - I 've removed some of the outdated items and added a few items that I need. I added my regrets noted above to my master list.

Another thought…keep your packing list.

We had a close connection in London on the way home. My suitcase made it, but my husbands did not.

Having a good packing list helped with doing an inventory of the contents!

My packing list is in a google doc, but I also put all my stuff neatly on my bed and take a photo or two of everything I'm packing. Not exactly sure why I bother to do this, but I'm used to doing it when we are going back and forth to our cabin throughout the year so I know what is at the cabin and what is not.

Posted by psea OP

Another thought…keep your packing list.

We had a close connection in London on the way home. My suitcase made
it, but my husbands did not.

Having a good packing list helped with doing an inventory of the
contents!

This.

I'm still working on packing light.

I think I did pretty well for a long weekend road trip last week.

But a packing list would have helped.

I left something in the hotel room. Luckily I was still there when housekeeping found it and returned it to me.

If I had made a packing list to check off for going there and coming home, I would probably not have left it.

AND I did make a post-trip list of what I took and what I wished I'd taken. Seasons changed from warm to pleasantly cool during my trip. What I packed did fine, but I had the luxury of putting a light jacket in the backseat instead of the suitcase just in case.

Learning, learning, learning with each trip.

Thanks for all the tips on this forum!

I print a short “List for hotel room,” smaller than cocktail napkin. On the list are things that have gotten left behind in the past.

I place the list with my prescription eyeglasses, on the night table. On checkout morning, working the list becomes routine.

Some items on my list: ”check shower stall,”“check hotel safe,” “check back of bathroom door,” “adapter and charging cord” and “look under bed.” Yup, I’ve left items behind in all of those places in the past.

I have my big packing list as Google doc on my phone. As the weeks go by, and I get used to checking the small list, I can do it without looking. But it’s best if I really work the list.

Some people leave one shoe in the hotel safe with their wallet so they don’t forget to check it.

Some people leave one shoe in the hotel safe with their wallet so they don’t forget to check it.

For anything I have put in the safe during my stay, I remove it the night before check out. Why would someone leave valuables inside a locked room safe while they are in the room and prepping to leave the next morning?

I lay out clothes for the getaway day the night before, and otherwise pack all my stuff, ready to go. Usually the only thing left to pack for me are toiletries like my toothbrush.

@Pastelholic...that is a very clever idea. I usually make a sweep starting at the far corners of the room to my suitcase. One of the travel vloggers I follow has suggested putting your personal item near the charger cords/electronics if you are charging them overnight. That works well particularly at home before I leave.

One of the travel vloggers I follow has suggested putting your
personal item near the charger cords/electronics if you are charging
them overnight.

And if you have zip-ties or velcro wraps or some other type of "tie, wrap or wrangler" for your cords, make them a bright color, not black to match the cords. [Which also matches the dark wood of the table-top, the dark floor, the dark room.]

Hard-to-leave-Behind Red or Arrest Me Red or whatever color stands out to you.

I use these multi-color cord wraps.

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=B012A5D9BO&crid=1NRZ78NXS51UH&sprefix=b012a5d9bo%2Caps%2C218&ref=nb_sb_noss 8th

Khansen, yes for sure with the bright colors!!

And Frank, great idea for stocking stuffers!

I should have packed a garbage bag or two. This would help with separating clean and dirty laundry, although we did have enough other plastic bags to use.

I don't use packing cubes and have not found them necessary so far. We recently went to Portugal for 8 days and each of us has a carry-on bag and a personal item (essentially a handbag). We each had more than enough room to spare. While we always bring plastic bags with us (grocery bag size), I realize after the fact that a new garbage bag would have been simpler. It was not terrible that we didn't have one; it would just have made re-packing to move from Lisbon to Porto just a little easier.

This is our first international trip (that did not involve going home) that we did not check bags and it was wonderful that we could pull it off and have room to spare in the carry-on. I did have the foresight to bring two canvas bags that we could use as needed which we did for grocery shopping and carrying goods to the hotel in the middle of the day.

My logic initially with those bags was if at the end of our trip we accumulate some goods that we could not easily stuff into our carry-on, we could see if we could just hold them in canvas bags and see if we make it across the boarding gate without being caught ;-). Luckily we didn't need to. But, the canvas bags, as I said, turned out to be wonderful to carry stuff we bought back to the hotel. During the day, we only have our handbags otherwise.

Here are a number of things that I discouraged either my husband or myself from bringing, or ended up not bringing:
- Water bottle. Don't need it. Just buy a bottle of water at the destination and re-use. We only have carry-on so we don't want valuable space taken up with an empty bottle. A water bottle we buy from a grocery store can be quickly discarded at the end of our trip.
- Extra shoes. Don't need it. Just wear one pair of shoes that will fit for all occasions we'll be in. Don't worry about needing to match that well unless formal attire requires it. The only time I would bring an extra pair would be my running shoes for, well, running. However, on this trip, it was very unlikely that I would want to spend the time everyday to engage in a common habit that I do at home: running.
- Backpack that could be stowed away in the carry-on. As noted, we have never done international travel with just carry-on until now. As such I was initially uncertain if I would need and extra backpack to hold items on the return trip home and check the carry-on bag. At some point during the packing, I decided I was going to "risk" it and not bring this backpack because it was making things heavier and taking up space. I ended up not needing it and instead, substituted it with canvas bags which turns out had a use in Portugal that I did not intend!

I did bring an extra pair of trousers and shirt that I ended up not using because I wore some clothes 3 times. I don't think it was a mistake to bring that trouser and shirt because I could have been in conditions where I would need it. Plus, we had space and more to spare.

I don't use packing cubes and have not found them necessary so far.

We use them, and in addition to saving space in our bags, they are helpful for keeping clean and dirty clothes separate when in the suitcase, and we also find them useful to take them out of our bags in hotels and put them in drawers, rather than always having to pull clothes out of the suitcase. Allows us to store the suitcase (we have rolling duffels) and if there is no closet in the room, we can at least stand them on end in the corner of the room and leave the bags zipped up during hotel stays...

Susan ToCA posted
hydrocortisone cream - I have mild eczema and it's in always in my big toiletry bag - this time | pared
down into a small cosmetic case for my toiletries and it didn't make the transfer*

I have the same eczema issue so always travel with hydrocortisone. Sometimes I have a mostly used tube that doesn't take much space in my liquids bag, otherwise I put some in a contact lens case to save space. I use contact lens cases for all sorts of things, they are small and never leak. (Of course if you wear contacts this could be dangerous)

We use them, and in addition to saving space in our bags, they are
helpful for keeping clean and dirty clothes separate when in the
suitcase, and we also find them useful to take them out of our bags in
hotels and put them in drawers, rather than always having to pull
clothes out of the suitcase. Allows us to store the suitcase (we have
rolling duffels) and if there is no closet in the room, we can at
least stand them on end in the corner of the room and leave the bags
zipped up during hotel stays...

I do hear an advantage of packing cubes is the compartmentalization and facilitation of pulling out clothes as needed. I haven't found it necessary though, as we are pretty neat and simple packers. I have never found that I made a mess of my luggage just living out of it for a week or more. More often than not, the rooms we stay in are small enough that we can't even unpack much to store things beyond toiletries and hanging two jackets.

Thanks, Frank, I ordered the cords.