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One of the hottest trends in travel accessories the last few years has been packing cubes. But, what are they? Do you really need them? And are they really worth all the hype? These are some of the many questions I had before I tried them. But, let me tell you: they will revolutionize the way you pack your luggage! Here is everything you need to know about these amazing packing cubes!
What are they?
Packing cubes are small, zippered pouches that keep your suitcases organized by containing like items together. The theory behind them is that you pack all your shirts in one, pants in another, and undergarments in a third cube. Then, when you want a particular shirt, you pull out the shirt cube to easily find it instead of having to rifle through your entire suitcase looking for it. The cubes come in a variety of sizes and colors. You can either get compression cubes or non-compression ones. They are usually made of nylon, mesh, or a similar lightweight but durable material.
When filled, packing cubes easily stack inside your suitcase to keep it all nice and tidy. When they are not in use, they fold flat for easy storage. I just store mine inside of my suitcase. They usually come in a set of 2-6, costing anywhere from $9 and up.
Do you really need them?
This is a question I asked myself many times before buying my first set. And, literally speaking, no. You don’t need anything but a suitcase to travel. But, practically speaking, if you like keeping your suitcase organized and hate digging for things, then yes, packing cubes are a necessity! I traveled without packing cubes for years, but now that I’ve tried them, I can’t imagine traveling without them. They really are a game changer!
Are they worth the hype?
The short answer is YES!
Now, to be honest, before I tried packing cubes, I was pretty skeptical. They just seemed redundant to me. They felt like you were putting clothes in a bag that you then put into another bag. I just didn’t see the point in using them. But, I decided to try them anyways because so many people raved about them.
Anyone who knows me knows that I take great pride in being organized. I like packing and organizing our suitcases in such a way that I know where everything is. But, my husband will rummage through the entire suitcase looking for a particular item. When he’s done, everything is out of place and neither one of us can find what we’re looking for. Packing cubes were the answer to this problem.
Once I tried them for the first time, I realized why they are such an essential travel item. By putting my husband’s clothes in packing cubes, I can minimize the disruption he does to the overall suitcase. He can now look through just one cube for his favorite shirt instead of the whole suitcase. It allows him to find what he’s looking for while leaving the rest of the suitcase neat and organized.
Packing cubes also keep clean clothes separated from dirty ones when they are all in the suitcase together. And no matter how much we are dragging the suitcase around, packing cubes keep clothes folded up neatly.
Which ones to use?
This seems to be a personal preference because everyone I know who uses them likes a different one. I have the Veken brand. I really like them. They are durable, but lightweight. Each cube has a mesh and clear panel so you can easily see what’s inside. They also come with a folding guide to teach you the best way to fold or roll your clothes. I plan on buying two more sets in different colors so everyone in my family will have their own set of cubes in a unique color. The Veken cubes come with 4 cubes of various sizes, a laundry bag, and a shoe bag. The only thing I don’t like about them is that the laundry bag is a tad too small. So, I prefer to use a larger laundry bag and then use the Veken laundry bag to pack socks in. These cubes will pack and stack flat or can be stood up on their sides and placed in the suitcase like books on a shelf, which seems to be a big space saver.
Conclusion
Packing cubes are a hot trendy travel item for a reason-they keep your suitcase organized like nothing else can. They make it easy to pack, find, and keep your clothes separated no matter how long your trip is. I highly recommend packing cubes. Try them on your next trip and see what all the hype is about! Then come back and leave me a comment letting me know what you thought. Need more packing tips? Read how to pack for road trips like a pro, essential items for road trips with kids, our must-have unconventional travel items, and the best snacks to pack for road trips and flights. Happy travels!
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