We are currently in the midst of our “big trip.” We are currently in the Maldives and then headed to Rome!
However, we are in a tricky conundrum. The Maldives is a beautiful beach destination, while Rome is visiting Europe…in February. As you can imagine, that requires very different wardrobes for both my wife and I. The Maldives requires swimsuits & resort-wear, while Rome requires pants & jackets.
We’ll also be gone for two weeks, which is a considerable amount of time. How do we pack suitcases to travel all over the world with even a small semblance of organization? How do we make sure we don’t have to spend a significant amount of time repacking at each location, particularly as someone who likes to fully unpack and put stuff in drawers and closets?
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The Packing Cube
One of my favorite items to use is the packing cube. Basically, they are zipper bags that allow you to organize your clothes however you want.
When I first got my packing cubes as a gift, I was quite skeptical. Why should I add another layer of complexity to my packing routine when I knew what I needed? Why add more things to do when I would just unpack as soon as I got to the hotel?
Let me tell you, they have changed how I approach packing and trip planning. I love them! Why do I love my packing cubes?
I can organize my clothes based on the trip
With the rise of “bleisure” travel, there are many times when I need to plan different outfits for different contexts. I might spend several days going into the office and then meet my wife for a weekend together wherever I’m at. I may work remotely from a location where I need to be presentable on camera, but want to be able to go to the beach in the evening.
Travel cubes help do that. I can pack “work clothes” in one packing cube, while putting “social clothes” in another packing cube. This helps me organize and see, both while packing and at my destination, what clothes I have and remove the cognitive load of trying to figure out where different outfits are.
Furthermore, as someone who has been on an extensive fitness journey over the past few years, I like to keep up with my workouts while traveling. This allows me to separate my workout clothes from my workout clothes easily. It just makes life easier.
It helps me be more efficient while using room in my bag
As a tall guy, I have big clothes. I often find it difficult to pack some clothes because they take up so much room. What’s great about my packing cubes is that they actually help save space, as the force me to pack more efficiently and get more clothes into my bag.
This is also useful when I’m on the verge of having to check a bag versus use a roll-a-board bag. By using the packing cubes, I am able to decrease the amount of space that each piece of clothing takes up in my bag. In turn, this allows me to fit more clothes into my carry-on bag, and I no longer may have to check a bag on that trip.
My bag is easier to keep organized
We all know the drill: we pack our bag without cubes and finally get to the hotel. We are excited to go jump in the pool, so we pull out our swimsuit. That can leave our clothes in a mess and completely disorganized in our bag. Furthermore, when we need to separate clean clothes from dirty clothes, we may forget what is clean and what isn’t.
Packing cubes help in two ways. First of all, when you pull out a piece of clothing, everything else remains organized. You only need to pull out one cube to use. Second of all, at the end of the day, we know which clothes are still clean (still in the packing cube) versus which clothes are dirty (not in the packing cube).
What packing cubes should I get?
I personally am a huge fan of the Eagle Creak Packing Cubes. I got mine as a gift a few years ago, and they have held up quite well. They have traveled all over the world with me, putting them in carry-on bags and checked bags. They have even helped me stay organized when sharing a cruise cabin with two of my best friends.
What makes them extra great, in my opinion, is that it comes with a bag that helps you keep your nice shirts from getting more wrinkly. It’s basically allows me to fold them up efficiently and not take up a ton of space. I highly recommend it!
I know they are pricey, so I asked around about what others are using. I’ve heard great things about the Veken set of packing cubes, as well as the Amazon Basics set of packing cubes. Either one should do a great job, and, given the price point, can easily be replaced if needed.
Conclusion
I wasn’t convinced that they would be useful. However, a good set of packing cubes should be at the top of any travelers checklist of items to purchase. I highly recommend them, as I truly believe they will make your life easier.
Do you currently use travel packing cubes? Do you like using them? How have they made your travel easier (or worse)?
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