Friends! I am so excited about TODAY’S POST!!
Today, I am shouting from the rooftop how much I am in love with…
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKS!!!!!!!!
Why didn’t I listen to you ladies sooner???? So many of you have been telling me for years how I should try them, but for some reason, I just didn’t AND I WAS WRONG.
I bought three sets of THESE and used them for our ski trip to Park City and WILL NEVER NOT USE THEM AGAIN! They are life changing!
Yes.
I called them life changing.
Let me start from the beginning.
I did a post last year about LESSONS FROM OUR FIRST SNOWBOARDING TRIP that you can read HERE and in it, I share these different ways that we pack for trips…
…but this year, I decided to try the packing cubes, so I bought THESE on Amazon and quickly fell in love.
Here’s what happens at my house…I give my two big kids each a sticky note with what they need to pack for the trip (clothes, undies, socks, coats, etc) along with an empty laundry basket. They must fill their basket and bring it to my room. Meanwhile, I take an empty basket up to the little girls’ closet and fill theirs and then bring it to my room. Andrew and I have all of our stuff organized and on the bed and then he brings in the suitcases. And then…I’m ready to pack everything up. Now, I like to pack my suitcases by days (you can read all about that HERE), and having everyone’s stuff in one central location (my room) helps me do that.
Here is Kensington’ laundry basket of clothes/things to bring. I would say it was about two years ago that they started being responsible for bringing down what they need for a trip. Ashby is just about there herself!
So, I had everyone’s stuff (minus the little girls’, I was too excited to try the cubes, so I hadn’t packed up their stuff yet), and was ready to try out our new packing cubes (each set comes with five cubes in three different sizes).
For those of you who have never used a packing cube, you’re about to be SHOCKED.
Look at my five sweaters stacked here…
…next to the empty packing cube. And now, look at this…
HOLY COW!!!!!!!!!
Five sweaters (three on one side and two on the other plus four tanks and five t-shirts/turtlenecks) all inside…
…one packing cube.
You’re shocked right?
My mind was BLOWN!!!!!!!!!
Then you just place this in your suitcase and not only is your stuff organized, but it’s packed so tight that nothing moves and gets wrinkled.
CRAZY, RIGHT?!
Next, I took a smaller one of the cubes and packed up pajamas, my blardigan, undies, bras, socks and workout clothes (one set) all inside!
I did this for the kids’ stuff too. Look at Kensington’s stuff…
…I have it all sorted out there and then…
…it’s all folded up.
I ended up packing up Ashby and Madeley’s in their closet because it was just SO SIMPLE TO DO!!! Here is their stuff and then…
…it’s all packed up and ready to go!
Guys, I was freaking out!
WHY DID IT TAKE ME SO LONG TO DO THIS?! I AM SO DUMB.
Next, it was super easy to toss everything in the suitcases…
And when we arrived? Everything was all organized and still neatly folded.
Brilliant.
Absolutely brilliant.
So, here are some random thoughts…
1: They’re not heavy at all. When you buy a set, you get five cubes and online it says that total, all five cubes weigh only one pound. At first, Andrew was concerned that the cubes would add too much weight to our already heavy bags (and we don’t want to go over the weight limit and have to pay more), but nope. They’re light.
2: I bought three sets but have already bought three more for our next trips. I would like every person to have one or have one set per day (either way you slice it). I like to divide up everyone’s things so that if a bag gets lost, everyone still has some stuff, so I was just mixing up the cubes between the suitcases, but next time, I might say “all the pink cubes are for days 1 and 2 of the vacation” and so on. (Again, to read more about my packing system, go HERE.)
3: This system just kept everything so organized when we arrived. Instead of looking around for socks, Smith knew that he had one packing cube that held his pjs, socks, and undies. It was all right there nice and neat.
Seriously, I’m in love.
So, tell me! Do you use these? Do you have other tips? Are you obsessed like me? I WANT TO KNOW!! Hahahaha!
Like seriously, in love. These are the kinds of finds that really can transform your whole world. I cannot imagine traveling without them again!!
Happy Monday! xo
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog says
I’ve always used packing cubes from Muji – the day I discovered them, waaaay before packing cubes became trendy – was Godsend! I can totally vouch for packing cubes!
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Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
SU says
I love this idea and will be ordering sets for my husband and daughter for Valentine’s Day! My best packing tip…I use my shower and hair products up until they have about one week’s worth of use in the bottles. Then I save them for travel. I take those products with me when we travel and then I can toss the bottles at the end of the trip. I always have extra room to bring home goodies I buy on vacation!
Eileen says
I do the exact same thing! So nice to toss it all at the end of the trip. When I pack up our toothbrushes, I put new ones out at home so I can toss the old ones at the end of the trip as well.
Sarah @ Foxy's Domestic Side says
OH this is a good idea! I like it!
Kimberly C says
Oh man do those seem perfect ? I feel I should buy a couple sets just to store off season clothing! And definitely a couple more for vacation ?
Erika Slaughter says
You texted me while packing to STOP WHAT I WAS DOING AND ORDER THOSE CUBES. Hahahaha!! We took them on our trip too and it made it crazy easy for everyone to locate their things! I’m anxiously awaiting you to find the product that puts the clean laundry away!!
Rae Danielle says
Yes we love these!!! I pack cube one for day one of everyone’s clothes. Also I pack a cube for day one pjs so when we arrive I grab that one cube and everyone has everything they need to go to bed including a diaper and everything for baby! No more searching! Also means I pack less because everything is planned out!
Lauren C says
We have used these for years and love them! My husband travels a lot for work and uses them to separate work clothes from casual clothes from workout clothes. When we travel together we use them to separate his clothes from mine and also our daughter’s (we share one giant suitcase when we can). They’re amazing!
Beth Knecht says
Oh my goodness! YES! I just bought our first set of packing cubes in December for a cruise we went on after Christmas! Life changing!!! Everything was so neat and tidy! I would say I could fit more in the suitcase now than I ever could before!!
Francesca says
I’m always concerned if the suitcase gets wet, will colors bleed onto the clothes. Do you see that being an issue with these?
Mix and Match Mama says
That’s a good point that I haven’t considered. I don’t think those colors would bleed any more than other colors that are inside my bag. I really am not concerned about that.
Leah says
They won’t bleed – we always put ours in the wash when we get home from a trip and have never had an issue. I just took a bunch out of the dryer this morning!
Elspeth Mizner says
Genius idea!!! I’m definitely going to look into getting them! I love your packing system too! So easy and makes so much sense
Janelle Fox says
YES!!!!! I’ve been using them for several years now the “e bag” version, and have added extra sets/sizes for our family needs!!!!! CANNOT live without them now! I even throw in empty extra large bags for dirty clothes. Bags wash beautifully as well on delicate!
Denise says
Do you have a link for those? The reviews on the ones Shay posted talk about them or being machine mashable. TIA!
Debbie Wheaton says
We have the exact same set of packing cubes. I have four kids too so each family member has a color and we pack by days (2 days/nights in a medium). When we get to the destination, the cube from suitcase goes right into the hotel dresser. Then we pull out the clothes when needed and keep it the rest in the cube so it keeps everything organize on our trip as well.
Liliane Dunham says
These have been in my Amazon cart for some time now as we are going on our first cruise in February. I am definitely buying 2 sets for sure now…thanks for the info and your excitement is contagious…
Kelly M Sites says
I love packing cubes. We traveled to Greece and Israel this year, and I revamped how I use them. I have one big cube for all my beauty/shower/skin care and that way when we get to the hotel (we switched hotels constantly on this trip) I could just grab my beauty cube and take it to the bathroom and everything I needed was there. Easy- all in one spot. And I use one in my back pack for the plane so I can have all my must-haves close at hand, in one spot.
Lesley McFarland says
SOLD!!! my 15 year old daughter likes to pack 1/2 her closet for a weekend trip. These would be PERFECT for her!!! Thanks so much for sharing
Angela says
I’m soooooo intrigued!!! And that stack of sweaters with all the tops?!! Blew my mind that it fit!! I need to put these on my next Amazon order!!!! Can you share a link of what suitcases you guys use? We’re needing a new large one! Also, how did it work for bringing the dirty laundry home? Did you fold it back up & put the same stuff back into the same cube?
Mix and Match Mama says
They’re just basic Samsonite from Kohl’s! And we had a washer and dryer in our unit, so we brought back mostly clean clothes.
Narci says
How amazing is this??!!! This makes me want to pack a suitcase ASAP. These packing cubes are so cool! Definitely grabbing some for our next trip. 🙂
Crystal D says
How do you handle dirty clothes (ie. Packing for up to go home)? Do you still fold everything tightly? We usually bring a bag for the really dirty items and then cram it in a suitcase, classy huh? Just curious if you fold up dirty socks, undies, jeans, etc.
Mix and Match Mama says
So, we had a washer and dryer in our unit which meant most of our clean stuff was repacked. All of our dirty stuff, we packed separately in a garbage bag.
cami says
I usually take one or two empty packing cubes and start putting dirty stuff in it just because it’s smaller than a trash bag. Usually, I take one that is big and a small one for underwear, etc. Things that can be worn again stay. I also put dryer sheets in mine and take downy wrinkle release which helps any smells and wrinkles. I want to try the wrinkle spray you have shared about but it is more expensive.
Tina says
My packing cubes are two sided. We put the dirty clothes in the opposite side of clean clothes. Everything stays separated and packs back just the same.
Amanda says
I just ordered some packing cubes after reading this post! I’m so excited to pack for my next trip! Hahaha!!
Amanda @ Cupcake N Dreams says
I want to incorporate these into my packing system but I never end up ordering them. I know they would keep my stuff organized which I curse by the third day on vacation lol. I think they make so much sense for families!
Amanda @ Cupcake N Dreams
Carrie says
Does it increase wrinkles??
Mix and Match Mama says
No! I think it DECREASES it!!!
Valerie says
I got 4 sets of the ones from eBags, one for each of us, for our trip to Disney World last year. Each person had their own color and I had pre-planned outfits for each of us plus a couple of extra shirts. I packed each of these in their own cube: outfits, swim, underwear, pajamas and socks and finally shoes. I also bought packable nylon laundry bags to stuff our dirty clothes in so that we could just put them in our luggage to go home. No worries on lost items and it was so easy to drop the bags off in the laundry room when we got home.
Becky says
Quick question on packing by day – how do you account for weather changes? We’ve been to places where it can be cool and rainy one day but pretty warm another. Are you checking weather in advance and planning that way? You have great ideas – always appreciate your tips! Thank you!
Mix and Match Mama says
I do check weather in advance! If for some reason the weather is different from what I packed, we’ll just accommodate and use things from different days to make it work.
Alexis deZayas says
I’ve been dying to try these too! I need to bite the bullet and do it!
Rachel says
Just last year I started using packing cubes and I will never go back! Most of the time I can get all my stuff in a carry-on, which means no luggage fees!
Tara G. says
Yes! We’ve had ours for 15 years & they’re still in great shape. They’re also handy when TSA needs to rummage through if you aren’t checking a bag…everything stays tidy.
Mix and Match Mama says
Yes!!!! Great point!!!
Cassie says
I usually like to roll my stuff to fit into my suitcase so everything is nice and compact. Do the cubes take up more room than that? .. because I like to do a lot of shopping on my trips 😉
Mix and Match Mama says
I have friends who roll their things and put them in the packing cubes. I’m more of a “fold” kind of a girl, but I would assume you could roll and tuck away more with the packing cubes.
Missy says
So for a family of 7, do you think you could pack by day and fit one outfit per person in one cube? Going skiing for four days, so trying to decide how many cubes we would need and how best to pack.
Mix and Match Mama says
I would probably split it for 7 people needing to wear heavier winter gear.
Kerri says
So awesome! I will definitely have to check them out for our next trip. Question: What age do you think is a good age to just let them pack completely on their own? Or would you always try to keep all of their things together with yours? My daughter is 13 and wants to do it all on her own terms (own packing list,suitcase etc.) The control freak in me gets all kinds of anxiety about it, but I know she needs to build her independence. Just thought I’d ask your thoughts on it. ☺️
Mix and Match Mama says
I always provide the packing list (including the number of each items they’ll need like: 8 pairs of socks, etc.). I think my bigs were around 7 & 8 when they started having to collect those items and bring them to me in their laundry basket. This lets me take a look at what they packed and if there are items that don’t match up with our destination, I can easily say “hey, go exchange this for that in your closet and bring it back down”.
Sarina says
Love packing cubes – great for work trips when you are trying to stuff a bunch of clothes plus heels into a carry-on! If you roll your clothes you can fit even more in your packing cubes! Some packing cubes on amazon come with mini laundry bags too. It’s nice when everything matches!
Brooke Richardson says
I have some but I haven’t used them yet. Can’t wait to though. I’ve seen so many positive reviews on them!
Sydnee says
Oh my goodness, you’ve convinced me! Ordering a set now.
Design by Sydnee | A Lifestyle Blog ?
Rebecca says
Thank you for this post. I’ve seen many bloggers extolling the virtues of packing cubes but no one has demonstrated just how much MORE you can fit in a suitcase because of them. And I love that you put it all in a laundry basket (or have your kiddos do it). I always get nervous to have our kids pack themselves in a suitcase because who knows what they will pack (!!!) but this way, I can do a double check. Thanks so much for this!
Kelly says
Has anyone experienced their clothes being really wrinkled after being in the packing cubes? That’s my question before I order them.
Mix and Match Mama says
I honestly think it decreases wrinkles because nothing is moving around. It stays folded and packed tightly.
Ashley says
As long as you either roll or fold neatly and have the cube rather full (versus having not enough stuff in the cube where it can move around) I feel that everything stays just the way you put it in. Certain fabrics are just prone to wrinkling now matter what but that’s when I roll and I find that they come out just fine and I can hang them as soon as I arrive at my destination.
Allie says
Your #2 suggestion is exactly what I did for a 7 day cruise this summer. I have four sets and the day by color didn’t totally work out, so I used painters tape on the handles with labels of what cube was for which day. Then once in the cabin (family of 4 in one cabin), I unpacked and stacked all of the cubes in the closet and we would just pulled out one each day, putting the previous day’s dirties inside. It worked like a charm, and my skeptical hubby was bragging to everyone.
Laura says
I bought three sets and used parts of two for our NYC trip last week along with our new carry-on size backpacks. I was completely not impressed. That being said, I think maybe I didn’t really test their capacity like you did. We’ve used Ziploc bags for years (stuff them full, mush the air out, stuff them more, etc.) and the packing cubes felt like they didn’t conserve space in that same way. That being said, putting all the dirties back in did show they saved some room. We will be trying them again!
Lolly says
You should try the compression cubes. They save a lot of room compared to the regular ones that Shay highlights here. I will never go back to the regular cubes after using them. The thing the bugs me about ziploc bags is how slippery they are, they seem to slide all over the place when I try to pack them in the case. But the compression cubes aren’t slippery. Check out some youtube videos of people showing how much more space they save over regular cubes.
Sarah says
That sweater picture has me convinced to try them out. I was always on the fence about packing cubes and now I think I need them.
Jan Fisher says
yes! And the best part is on the way home, you put the dirty clothes in them with any clean clothes in a separate cube. When you get home, drop the “dirty” cubes in your laundry room and boom, unpacking is easy and all that laundry is ready to get started. I LOVE packing cubes!
Rachel K. says
Sold. I ordered a set today and there is a 20% off coupon right now. My daughter is competing at the IASC cheer competition at Disneyworld in March. Since I booked the cheap flight option United doesn’t allow a full size carry on so one of the smaller ones will be perfect to store her uniform and warm up suit in her allowed under seat carry on. Thanks so much for this post.
Erin says
I LOVE packing cubes! Another option beyond doing a different color for each day is assigning a different color per person! This helps us know exactly whose stuff is in each cube at quick glance 🙂
Sarah E says
We are sold on packing cubes too! We are a family of 5 and have taken 2 bug trips with them. However we used them differently for those trips. In 2017, we drove out west and was gone almost 3 weeks. Everyone took a suitcase and in the suitcase they had 2 large packing cubes. One had their clean underwear and socks and the other was for their dirty clothes (so momma wasn’t having to lug around a big dirty clothes bag). When we got to places I could so laundry, they brought theirs to me. Last November we traveled in Europe for the entire month. We went to 4 countries, so we only took 2 suitcases for our family of 5. It worked out well because my husband and 15year old son handled the heavy suitcases in the metro stations or walking down the street. There is no way all 5 of us could have physically carried them up and down stairs or jump off the train with more than 2! So,packing cubes became everyone’s tiny suitcase in the big suitcase. Everyone has their own color and we divided up what we packed in each (for example, a pair of jeans and a couple shurts, socks and undies in each packing cube). Then everyone packed a cube in each suitcase so if one suitcase got lost, we all still had some clothes.
Emily says
I love the idea of these, I just have a question…when going through security at the airport, do they not try to go through these??? I don’t travel that much, so maybe they don’t open them. But I would hate for them to destroy them at security!!!
Alicia says
I just bought two sets of packing cubes for my husband and I and really like the organization. Super easy to pull the underwear / pajamas and have all shirts / sweaters together in another. Another recent find is shoe bags in the same nylon material. I feel better having the shoes packed without concern for the nasty soles touching everything. In the bag Its easier to cram them in without making sure the sole is positioned against the suitcase wall.
Eileen says
Since we have kids, staying at rentals while we travel is a must. We always book one with a washer and dryer unit. I always wash everything before we head home. I put clothes back in the cube by person and also how those clothes are organized at home (example – son’s pajamas, socks, undies, undershirts). So when we get home, everyone grabs their bags and it literally takes a minute to put everything back in their drawers and closets.
If you haven’t already, buy reusable laundry bags! I bought mine on amazon. We bring two with us (one is black for colors and one bag is white for whites). So helpful!!
Alicia says
When you blogged about these when you bought them I bought them too! Used them for my family of four for our Christmas trip. I am a changed woman! We had so much room for presents and other stuff. I will never not use them!
Jenn says
I appreciate all of the travel tips- almost as much as the book suggestions! Just ordered three sets of these cubes- have never even heard of them but trust your recommendations so much that I know I won’t be disappointed! Thank you!
Kerri says
I have these sets and use them when we travel! I also put them in my family yankee swap this year and it was a huge hit!!!!
Jen says
Packing cubes came with my new luggage and I can’t wait to try them out! I have a trip to Quebec coming up in February where I’ll be backing a lot of thick, cold weather clothing, and I hope the cubes help me keep it all in a carry-on size bag! Also, I have the wrinkle release spray your friends developed and it is amazing! Way better than Downey’s, so thanks for that tip!! And so glad they made a travel size!!
Sharon says
ahhhhh I knew your organized mind would love them!!!! For all the laundry questions, for me, depending on length of trip I sometimes use one or two of the larger cubes for packing all the dirty clothes in for the return trip home and then its easy to get those cubes to the laundry room. I also have a nylon laundry bag I always pack that dirties go into as we go to keep it all seperated.
For the cubes themselves – my advice to people (I travel for work and a fair amount personally – so I have uniforms for work trips) is to choose one of three methods 1. by day or 2. by item or 3. by outfit. Sometimes it might even be a combination of two of those methods – oh the adventure of it…lol. I also mix up suitcases when my husband and I travel together in the event of a lost suitcase and the cubes seperate our items so nicely. Lastly, put the cubes directlyy into the hotel dressers so your clothes aren’t actually touching the surface of who knows what from previous guests. They truly are the best travel tool – I’ve been using them for years and can’t imagine not using them.
Kim says
There are also shoe cubes and plastic lined cubes that we use in our household. We have used packing cubes for years and the next step when you start using packing cubes is traveling with only a carry-on…your next challenge! We use the plastic lined cubes especially in the summer when we are traveling with wet bathing suits that don’t fully dry overnight, and they are great for dirty clothes too. A quick amazon search of “waterproof packing cubes” shows lots of options
Michele says
After seeing so many bloggers post about packing cubes, I got a set for Christmas. I LOVE them!! They make packing so neat and organized and I feel like I now have extra room in my suitcase!
~B~ says
I love our packing cubes!! Even my oldest 23-year-old son raved about them: Instead of digging through his bag for things, he loved (like Smith) knowing grabbing one particular cube = all his shirts, for example. They’re like having separate drawers in your suitcase!
Curious how you pack up dirty clothes after a trip? A friend of mine taught me the handy tip: I bring super lightweight nylon bags with us (or have used the packing cubes for smaller loads, also washing the cube when we get home). Before we head home, I separate the clothes into the bags just like I would at home to do the laundry. Then when we get home, the dreaded task of sorting that laundry is already complete. Sometimes to keep things even weight-wise it’s a small process, but it really does make the dreaded task of returning to all that laundry a wee bit easier!
Mix and Match Mama says
I love this tip!! I typically just pack a garbage bag and then bring home dirty stuff in that.
Kelley Stoll says
Oh wow those are amazing! We don’t travel a whole lot, but those would be wonderful to have on hand to keep packing organized!
Lolly says
It is probably because we travel very differently but I’m confused how your ‘packing by day’ strategy works after the second day. We mix and match our clothes throughout the trip which thankfully limits the amount of clothing we are dragging around. We travel with carry ons only, kids too–even for a 2 week trip to Europe. I mean, we wear things on repeat at home, why not when we travel? Do you really bring a different outfit for every day of the trip? If not, doesn’t everything get messed up when you need to grab a sweater/pants/shirt for day 5 that is sitting in day 2’s bag? Or do you have a master list of everyone’s outfits and put that sweater in with day 5 after worn on day 2? And what if it is colder/wetter that day than expected and you need to find other clothes in other day’s bags? At a high-level, the strategy sounds great. But when thinking through how it works in practice, I just envision a logistical mess. I must be missing something since you swear by it and make it sound so easy peasy.
Mix and Match Mama says
We wear jeans more than once, but tops and shirts typically only get worn once on a trip. So, the subsequent days have things like underwear, socks, a shirt, maybe a sweater or something and then if we’re swimming, the next swimsuit, etc.
Ann Reedy says
One of the reasons I love them (we have the eBags ones a couple of people have mentioned) is that if you realize you need one thing you remove a couple of neatly packed cubes, select the one you want, get the thing out, put the cubes back into the suitcase – no having to unpack and repack every single, individual piece of clothing! Also if you don’t have good storage where you are going you just set the cube out and remove clothes as needed. Or if kids are in separate rooms you pick up their cube and take it through. I think you can tell I absolutely love them too!
Patricia says
I started out using the bags linens came in, like sheets and tablecloths. Not quite the same but they helped me sort and organize. After a month long trip along the east coast with multiple stops, I was sold. They also work great when traveling on safari in Africa when monkeys and baboons sneak into your tent looking for food … granted, not an everyday occurrence. I’ve since graduated to the real deal cubes and they work even better!
Patty Anderson says
We’ve used them for ages and LOVE them! We buy Shacke Pak cubes on Amazon because we can tailor sizes/colors to our needs. I find I need more smaller sizes to keep things organized but less of the larger ones, so this works for us. Shacke Pak allows us to buy long and narrow ones, too, which fill up unused space in our suitcase. A couple of hotels “down under” didn’t have dressers, so the cubes allowed us to live out of our suitcases without having a mess all over the room. I also throw in a large trash bag so I can bring home laundry. We’ve taken the idea one step further and use the very small Travelon cubes to organize things in our carry-ons. (I find them at Marshall’s or Eddie Bauer.) Life-changing!
Carly says
Great idea, going to order some! FYI saw the new clothes tags on kiddos clothes. Manufacturers after sewing clothes rinse clothes in very dirty water. Please wash all clothing items before wearing as the fabric is exposed to who knows what in the water. This advise was given to our family by an industry executive who witnessed this practice daily.
Tanya Latch says
We have used packing cubes for years and love them back last year we bought the “compression” packing cubes. Even more of a life changer! You really need to try them. They have 2 zippers, so the second zipper compresses down the space used. Amazing!
Kayla Bruce says
Love, LOVE me some packing cubes. Tried them for the first time a couple years ago, and now I never take a long trip without them. I roll everything in them other than like, sweaters and jeans. I can usually fit all my clothes for a trip in three large cubes. We’re packing up to head to Thailand this week, so they will be coming along for sure!
Courtney says
Okay, you’re convinced me – I am ordering these NOW! Did you also use these for your bathroom stuff? I have one of those folding Vera Bradley things that you can hang up in the bathroom, but it SO bulky in my suitcase.
Lindsay Dyer says
I love this for toiletries for travel! It packs flat. https://www.ebags.com/product/ebags/pack-it-flat-toiletry-kit/54638
Maureen says
We have been using these for years and years. Our cubes are colored coded per child (and my husband and I) so everyone knows which ones to grab. Easy peasy
Laura says
I’m thinking these would be GREAT for my four teenagers to use for Youth Camp! The girls always want to take more clothes than will fit in their bags…
Susy says
Since our travel mantra is We can ‘sleep when we get old’–we tend to maximize what we see and do on a trip and move from place to place a lot whether stateside or around the world. Travel cubes make moving from one small hotel to the next such a breeze! I can’t imagine traveling without them! In and out of the suitcase in a minute!
We rented a villa this summer to use as a home base for a family celebration! Can’t wait to get out our cubes! We pack them differently for short stays vs. longer stays. Short stays clothing ‘by day’; long stays by ‘clothing type.’
P.S. While I, too, have always been a folder rather than a roller, I’ve been completely won over by the Konmari Method–home and away!
Arika Sprecker says
I just ordered and there is a 20% off coupon on Amazon for this product. Not sure how long it will last, but FYI!
Dawn Scheurich says
I absolutely believe in the magic of packing cubes! I bought a couple of sets on the recommendation of Cassie of Hi Sugarplum and for our group of 4 going to Disneyworld for 5 days, we didn’t check one bag! Everyone was able to pack in just a carry on! Now, I was skeptical because I have a lot of hair products and I have to take my own blow dryer and flat iron, plus an assortment of brushes and I even packed those things in packing cubes—brilliant!!
Even for weekend trips, I use them—my ultra organizing selfies in love!
marianne b says
These are what I had emailed you about a couple of months ago as I was sure i saw them on your site. Glad you liked them. I loved using them when I packed for my trip overseas – you can pack by day or subject (undergarments, pants, and so on… love them
Priscilla says
I absolutely love my packing cubes. I bought them after Hi Sugarplum recommended them. I’ve even used my smallest cube in my carry on.
Elizabeth says
I have used my cubes for a while, but use them slightly differently. I like to pick what I wear everyday on trips depending on my mood/weather, so I keep like items together which keeps my suitcase organized. I also like to pack a small cube in my carry-on so if my luggage gets lost I have about 24-36 hours of stuff with me. With the cube, I can do that and still have room for other things in my carry-on.
Liz says
Good idea on the carry on.
Randi L says
We love them! I completely see your point about packing “by day,” but I can’t really wrap my brain around it! LOL! I like things to be sorted by person. It totally works on road trips, but I can see how that could be rough on flights. We are headed to Scandinavia this summer, so I’ll definitely have to use your method!
Carly says
These seem awesome but I must know….did Madeley get to use the pink cube? Love your insta stories!
Mix and Match Mama says
Hahahahaha! She and I ended up sharing pink 🙂 .
MELANIE says
JUST BOUGHT A SET! THERE’S CURRENTLY A 20% OFF COUPON ON AMAZON NOW TOO! SCORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dana says
We just booked 8 days in Holland. Buying these now!
Lauren says
Was having 3 sets enough for your family of 6? We are a family of 5 and am wondering how many sets we would need. Thanks!
Mix and Match Mama says
I ordered three more sets when we got home. We made it work, but I like the idea of each person having their own set.
Marcy Norman Cox says
Love packing cubes !! But I would say that not all are equal. The compression cubes with double zippers are worth the extra money.. really helps to compress large sweaters and jeans down and keeps things from shifting and wrinkling..
Anna G says
Just ordered some!!
Amanda says
Also a big packing cube fan.. my best tip is to pack 2 flat for getting started with dirty laundry (one for blacks/colours and one for whites/lights)! Then as you use clothes from the others, they too can be repurposed to dirty laundry cubes. When you get home, your laundry is sorted and the cube goes in with the dirty laundry too for a good wash!
Lori says
Packing cubes made it possible for us to take a 10 day trip to Spain with ONLY carry ons! I honestly thought my husband was nuts when he said he wanted to try going carry on only for our Europe trip but it worked! And I loved the ease of having no checked luggage while flying internationally. I’m intrigued that you opted for just folding the clothes. I’ve always seen the technique of rolling clothes for the packing cubes, which is what I did, but I think I’m going to try just folding next time. I don’t love the rolled clothes method and it seems you were still able to get A LOT in them!
Susann says
I’ve been using ebags packing cubes for over a year now and they’re awesome! I mainly use the medium and smaller sizes. You figure out what sizes work for you and you can buy them separately, which is what I’ve done. I have a lot of the medium/small sizes so I can pack one outfit per day in each cube and that includes the bra and undies for that outfit. Workout clothes are in a separate cube. All swimsuits and cover ups in one cube together. When I packed for my youngest child, I did the same thing. One outfit per cube. His are a different color. All he had to do was pick a bag in the morning and it had his clothes plus undies and socks inside. Super easy! And everything is wrinkle free! I have older teenage boys and they don’t use them. They pack for themselves, obviously, and they’re boys…so they could care less about the cubes, haha. After using these for a while, I decided I wanted a really small bag for all my chargers and found one on Amazon. You can get all sorts of sizes now in packing cubes. It seriously makes such a difference and seeing everything inside your suitcase so neat and tidy is such a thrill for me, lol.
Tia says
All my friends use them and now I’m convinced to get some too!! You’re the best! I love your blog! ❤️
Rachel says
I LOVE packing cubes! As a family of 6, luggage can get out of control and these cubes help so much!
Megan says
Do you think 2 sets for a family of four would be enough for our Spring Break ski trip? Ski vacations require so much clothing!!
Debbie says
You have inspired me to be a better packer so I just purchased a set in black and pink! Can’t wait to try them! ?
Alexandra C says
Shay, do you have any tips for men’s clothes to not get wrinkled? I LOATHE ironing and our godsend housekeeper usually irons my husband’s things, but he wears a lot of button down shirts and travels with suits/sport coats so I always wind up having to iron a bit on vacation. (Mizzen and Main is a godsend for tall athletically built guys in case Andrew hasn’t tried their stuff yet, and also for women who hate ironing 😉 )
Mix and Match Mama says
We bring along Tom & Sheri’s Iron in a Bottle!! That stuff works so well!!
Lauren Barnett says
Okay, you’ve convinced me that I need some for my upcoming honeymoon cruise! Ordering now!
Kelley B says
We also just got back from a park city ski trip too We have 4 kids between 13-18, so adult size. Just wondering how many suitcases you had total? Our kids carried their helmets on the plane with theme With all the ski gear and clothes for 6 people, it was a little crazy.
Mix and Match Mama says
Oh gosh! We each had one suitcase…so SIX! All of that ski/snowboard gear adds up!!!
Veronica says
My daughter spent 4 weeks in Europe last summer and was able to pack everything in a carryon size suitcase using packing cubes. Each day/outfit planned assuming only 1 wash day. She converted my husband and I. 2 months later we do ent 2 weeks in Greece/sailing. We each used a set of 5 cubes that all fit in 2 carry-on suitcases. Didn’t wear 1/2 the clothes we took. Low/no wrinkles and finding things in the cramped quarters of a catamaran cabin was a breeze. Only thing we did different was tight rolled our clothes using hair elastics! The things our kids teach us! Love the cubes!!!
Savannah says
I love packing cubes! They are seriously my fave and make packing so simple. My husband and I used them on our backpacking trip when we trekked through the Himalayas in Nepal. They made it so easy to pull out what I needed (especially in a backpack!!) instead of pulling out everything each night.
We also just used them recently on our two week trip to Europe. Simple, easy, & organized!
Mikala says
I have used packing cubes for years! Here is one of my favorite tips – especially for those of you concerned with wrinkles!! OK, first in a small/medium cube, pack all your socks, undies, pjs, anything that can be wrinkled.
Second – lay all your shirts/dresses/nice pants out flat, stacked on top of each other with the wrinkles smoothed out.
Third – sit your filled small/medium pack toward the ‘necks’ of your shirt stack. Fold in the arms and then the bottoms up and around the small pack so you end up with a tidy bundle of clothes with no creases.
Fourth – Sit the whole bundle into the large packing cube and zip it up! When you take them out … NO WRINKLES because everything was flat! I’m telling you, it works awesome!!
Also – at the end of the trip, use an empty cube to stuff your dirty clothes in. You can pack it super-tight to get more in, and you can throw the bag right in the wash too so it doesn’t smell like dirty clothes!
I also use a separate small cube for for things i want to corral, like sunscreen, cords, etc.
Lora LaRosa says
This has nothing to do about packing cubes. I had bought a bottle of Tom & Sheri’s Iron in a Bottle spray around the holidays when you blogged about it. I am always a little skeptical about stuff until I use it myself. It is indeed a miracle spray. My husband told me he hadn’t worn a pair of chinos because they needed to be ironed and he did not feel like ironing. I told him about the spray so we tried it. Oh my goodness, the pants looked just as good after spraying them as they would have if I had starched and ironed them. It is indeed worth the purchase.
Mix and Match Mama says
Yay!!!! I think it’s a miracle spray too!!!
Jan says
So I’m 78 years old and don’t travel as much as I’d like BUT I’m ordering a set of cubes right now and might give a few sets as gifts to my son’s family (mom, dad, two teen age girls and a 10 year old boy.) Woo Hoo! Thanks a lot.
Amy says
I just got some to try for a trip on Wednesday, I’m so excited to pack and try them out haha! I can already tell we’re all going to need them. I like the idea of mixing items so no one person is left stranded, I don’t remember reading that in your posts before!
Addison says
I need to try these packing cubes! I am SUCH an overpacker (who isn’t?!) and I think these would be such a life-saver for carry-on bags! Thank you for showing us how much room they truly save!
Lea Culp says
I ordered these when they first came out, probably about 10 years ago when we went to Alaska. I don’t use them for every trip but seeing this made me realize that I should. I love organization to every area of my life and these make packing very organized for sure!
Michelle says
Have you tried washing them yet? The photos in the reviews people posted after washing them are a little scary!
Mix and Match Mama says
I haven’t!
Katie Marshall says
Packing cubes are an absolute life saver!!!! I’ve found you can pack even more inside if you roll your clothes!
Tamra says
I’m curious as to whether or not an airport team has been more apt to open up the cubes in anyone’s suitcases?
Mary Jane McNeill says
I’ve been using the eBags version for years. May I add that if your children go to summer camp, these help keep their clothes so organized!
Katie Stuen says
I bought these after you recommended them on your Friday Favorites in December! My husband and I just came back from San Diego and I used each cube per day. Day one, I packed both of our clothes, socks, undies, jammies in one cube and then did the same for day 2. For the smaller cubes, I packed extra undies and socks and then bathing suits in one. However, we are going to Maui in February for a whole week so I will have to buy more cubes for those long trips. You always recommend things that forever changes my life, thank you Shay!
Karen McAlister says
Our daughter discovered packing cubes in 2015 when she was part of The World Race > 11 countries in 11 months carrying one 50L backpack. We never travel without them now.They are wonderful!
Emily says
I am def wanting to get these! Look awesome, one concern, does everything arrive wrinkled?? From being jam packed? Thanks for help!
Mix and Match Mama says
I actually think it helps prevent wrinkles because everything isn’t loose and flying around inside your suitcase.
Tanya says
I love packing cubes. I started using them this year and will never go back. I find I can fit even more in the cube by rolling the clothes instead of folding. I packed for 11 days in Switzerland this summer and fit it all in a carry-on. It’s so efficient! Thanks for sharing this post!
cami says
Packing cubes are life changing! Been using them for years and love them! I really like these https://www.ebags.com/hproduct/ebags/ultralight-packing-cubes-super-packer-5pc-set/309406?productid=10408193&cat=packing-aids&country=US¤cy=USD&couponid=94790994&sourceid=ADWPRODUCTH&adtype=pla&gclid=Cj0KCQiAg_HhBRDNARIsAGHLV53CAFqJ0qdKRs4RPdxh-5LGKHagOw2QTXkFj-VUfHvhHSdA7o-dnEMaAlTcEALw_wcB and these are good compression cubes: https://www.ebags.com/search?term=compression+cubes+eagle+creek&pl=hdr_srch_sf_l1
Julia says
Would you recommend these or think they would work in a carry on bag? I.e., when you’re really tight in space!!
Mix and Match Mama says
Absolutely!!!
Sara says
I swear by these!! I am an over packer and it lets me fit just a few more things.
It also kept our stuff organized when we went backpacking to europe. I reccommend them to everyone I know!
Ruth Poat says
These definetly trump the zip lock bags I’ve been using! ?
Heidi says
Just an idea on teaching kids to pack for themselves. We travel more weekends than not throughout the year. I found online a double sided packing list for kids that even had pictures of the clothes for non-readers. I laminated it and use a dry erase marker to write the number of how many of each item the kids need to pack. Depending on the location most times I don’t even double check what they packed. THere have been times someone has forgotten socks or didn’t pack their favorite hoodie. And I have only boys and for the most part do not care at all if they are matched or looking a certain way. But giving them this sense of responsibility has been great for them and a burden relief on me. My boys are 10, 8, & 6 and seven been doing this for almost 2 years now.
And I’ve used packing cubes for myself, but I’m definitely ordering a family set before our two week vacation this summer. I’m thinking a different color/person.
Joanne Golden says
Love packing cubes—if you really want to up your game, try the compression ones from Container store!!
Lacey says
I’ve been wanting to try these and now you’ve convinced me!
cassie // hi sugarplum says
Yep, life changing!! I can’t travel without them!
Ginger says
I LOVE packing cubes. There are 2 kinds: compression and not. I use the compression so they take up less space in the bag. (We, too, had used Ziploc bags in the past) On our cruise this summer, I was able to pull the cubes out and lay them on the shelf of the closet so we could easily access when we needed, then stored the suitcases under the bed. Some brands are better than others. Before you buy multiple sets of the same brand, I would buy a set of at least a couple and compare. The zippers on one of my sets gets caught more easily than the other 2, generally when I’m stuffing a lot in. I’ve bought on Amazon and eBags. The ones that work best for me are Lewis N.Clark., with BigFoot being the next. Gomex had the biggest sizes, but I have to be careful with the zippers. I intend to try the eBag brand next. It is life changing; wouldn’t travel without them. We roll and fold, depending on what it is. Never had any problems — though with the compression, since you can put more in the suitcase, you do have to be careful about weight.
Shalimar says
Yep, LOVE packing cubes. I’ve been swearing by them for years. Here’s my tip: if you roll your clothes, you get less wrinkles and will actually fit even MORE into the cubes. I blogged about them and my other travel tips here:
https://ishalc611.blogspot.com/2017/09/tuesday-talk-travel-tips.html
Kim Rose says
I just bought some!!! Great idea!!!
Jenn says
I love to pack by days and usually fold one days clothes together for each person. Do you think one of these large bags would hold a family of 5’s clothes for one day? Were you looking for which set had the largest sized bag when you purchased? Thanks you!
Mix and Match Mama says
I liked this set because it comes with two large, two mediums and one small. I think it depends on where you’re going and what you’re packing. I think you could fit a day’s worth in one large if you’re wearing shorts, tees and such…but maybe not if everyone needs heavier/bulky items. I don’t know…maybe though? I sure did get a lot in mine!
Nichole says
I started using packing cubes last year and they are totally a game changer! We use a different color for each person in our family. Another tip is to take them out of your suitcase and place them in the dresser drawers at the hotel/house you’re staying at! Makes it even easier to find what you need.
Cristin says
YES to packing cubes. We just spent 3 weeks in Germany over Christmas vacation…we had all of our ski/snow gear, Christmas and New Years outfits, regular clothes…all of it. And guess what? We only used our carryon BACKPACKS! We did not pay a cent to check any bags to fly there or back (we live in Europe, so a checked bag is always expensive). I noticed your bags are not compression bags. Ours have a regular zipper and then a second zipper to make the cubes even denser/smaller. We bought them at REI.
Anna says
My boyfriend and I used these for out month long trip to Vietnam and it was such a lifesaver!!! We each had a carry-on size suitcase and a backpack, and still managed to bring stuff home from Japan!
Amy Leonard says
Thanks for the tip!! I’ve got 2 sets ordered to use on our trip to Poland that WONDERFUL Clare is planning for us!! We are so excited. She’s been awesome to work with!
Mix and Match Mama says
Clare is AMAZING!!!
Sam says
I just got some packing cubes on Black Friday. We used them for a road trip to the grandparents. Our stuff didn’t need to be tight, but it was SO nice because all of my kids could find what they were looking for rather than digging through their bags.
Audrey Robinson says
How do you pack your ski clothes? We are headed to Deer Valley in February and packing for 5 with ski pants and jackets is hard! Any suggestions?
Mix and Match Mama says
That was a different story. We didn’t use packing cubes because we didn’t have enough (at that time, I’ve recently bought more). I think I’ll pack them next time with everyone’s stuff in one (so all of my stuff…socks, under stuff, gloves, pants, etc in one).
Pam says
Ugh! The Amazon link isn’t working! I want to check out the exact ones that you have and recommend!
Mix and Match Mama says
It’s working for me! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075LXDCGD/?ie=UTF8&psc=1&tag=sscuid4569-41270587-14-20&ascsubtag=3551341386
Liz says
Ok so I am gonna get David to try them. He leaves for Africa in a couple of weeks. He normally travels with his stuff in a carry on and stuff for the country leaders (things they can’t get there or things supporters have sent for them etc…) in a larger checked bag. He’s a light packer anyway but I think these will help. I wish I would’ve know 10 years ago. Again. ??♀️