I really like to be able to see inside my cubes, so I like at least one panel or portion to be mesh. That way I can see at a glance which cube I’m looking at. I also prefer the compression cubes with a 2nd zipper. They can create more space. I often start the trip with things compressed and then don’t compress on the way home.
1 Like
My compression cubes are more like these.
https://www.mountainsteals.com/product/eagle-creek-pack---it-compression-cube-set_10271606?ad_id=GooglePlusBox&utm_source=GooglePlusBox&utm_medium=PLA&utm_campaign=Eagle-Creek&cm_mmc=PLA-_-
I use them with some semi-rigid mesh zippered bags and soft mesh laundry bags and even some semi-rigid mesh makeup bags. I choose the specific set of bags that best suit what I’m trying to pack.
I did buy the shirt folding board with the cool nylon and velcro cover but it’s redundant because my Briggs & Riley has a similar feature built into my suitcase. As out son pointed out, it’s excessive to use both and the integrated B&R can’t be removed.
Anyway, packing is an evolving skill. The better you get at it, the more enjoyable.
2 Likes
Here’s an update.
Unpacking was super easy with the cubes.
Last night and this morning I am wearing the slim joggers that I nearly took out of my bag. They are perfect for the weather.
I took my sneakers out of the shoe bag that came with my cube set and I rolled up a skirt and put that in the shoe bag that I then put in my purse. When I go to church I will take it out pull it in over the joggers.
The Revlon dryer brush is worth the space it takes up.
And lastly, one pair of underwear is already in the trash. 
10 Likes
To really minimize for short trips, I’ve started taking only a small ‘personal item’ bag. I used to do backpack (could fit in a lot) but recently used a small roller bag (meets the personal item dimensions). It was great! So easy to navigate (much much better than an overloaded backpack - ouch). Could fit in tons of stuff, including hot curlers, heels, several changes of clothing and big cosmetic/toiletries bag!
2 Likes
Packing to come home and unpacking after I got home was super easy with the cubes. I was always a slow unpacker but this time my suitcase was emptied and everything put back where it belonged the day I got home. In the past, it could sit for weeks. I’m a packing cube convert!
Thank you all for helping me!!!
8 Likes
OK, I’m going to admit that I don’t really get the packing cube thing. 
1 Like
I think I am not naturally good at organizing so maybe that’s why they turned out to be so helpful.
I even put the small ones in my back pack to have some things handy on my way hone which beat tossing a bunch of loose stuff in the air when I needed to find something.
2 Likes
How do you think you did for this trip vs. previous trips? Did you use everything (more or less) that you took? If not, what were your “space wasters?”
Yes, quickly try to remember the things you didn’t use, the things you used, the things you wished you had had, the things you had but could have done without.
2 Likes
I have a question for all you packing mavens.
We recently went to a Caribbean Island (recently meaning 1/20). We had a bunch of sunscreens and the like that we could not carry aboard. It seemed to cheaper to pay the extra $35 to check one bag with Jet Blue than to have to buy when we got there given the inflated prices. What do you do with your “liquids” if you only have a carry on? Having the checked bag also helped carrying back some local rum.
1 Like
If you have liquids, due to TSA & 911, you have to have them in small 3 oz containers or checked luggage or can mail them to your hotel or wherever ahead. I’ve done a bit of each—transferring things into small containers, mailed things to destination and checked luggage with things TSA doesn’t let me bring on the plane.
1 Like
If flying, I take a small amount of liquid with me and just plan buying more if I need it.
On a trip to Florida with only carry ons, I though I had outsmarted the liquid law by buying roll on sunscreen. Yep, I was able to carry it on, but we got burnt (the roll on didn’t work at all). Better to buy it when you get there.
1 Like
@HImom - Yes the lack of liquids is a result post-9/11 restrictions. For most things I would transfer things from large to small bottles but that would never be enough sunscreen - I have a lot of skin to cover.
@Sweetgum @kiddie - If we were were staying somewhere that had easy access to stores we would have been able to buy there. However, we were at a somewhat remote resort that only had a “guest boutique”. One bottle of sunscreen cost more than the checked baggage fee!
Thanks for everyone’s help
1 Like
Each of you could put sunscreen into multiple 3 oz containers. Of course each person can only take as much as will fit in the quart sized bag, but in our house the men don’t have much else to add, so could fit quite a bit. (I can’t remember how many 3 oz containers you can have, but I know it’s at least a couple per person). That said, I would have done what you did and paid for 1 checked bag.
3 Likes
We packed and took sunscreen with us in the checkin bag. Was the spray kind - somehow, this entire bottle was empty by the time we got to use it! Wasn’t great considering that I didn’t check until we were halfway up the mountain and did get burnt on the hike.
Bought a bottle at the resort after. Boy, was it expensive! This was in Costa Rica…
1 Like
We emptied an entire can of spray sunscreen in our dry bag this summer. Still no idea how we managed that since it was brand new.
I also agree about just splitting up the liquids and sucking it up and buying more at the destination if necessary.
No limit on 3 Oz containers, but they all need to fit in the 1 qt plastic bag.
2 Likes
A bag like this is my favorite for carrying my
liquids. I swear that it holds more than a quart-size ziploc bag.
https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/blueavocado-reg-eco-zip-travel-bag/1042202622?skuId=42202622&mcid=OS_googlepla
I also put creams that I only need a small amount of, including prescription creams, in contact lens cases. I have different colors of contact lens cases, so I don’t have any problems knowing what is in each case.
2 Likes
We like spray-on cans for sunscreen on arms and legs. (I usually also have a small tube of face-only sunblock). However we’d be leery about packing it in luggage due to pressure changes in luggage cargo. If we pack a big tube, we put in ziplock. Most of our travel is US/Cape Cod, so we typically purchase at destination.