Packing Cubes: What I learned after living out of them for 1.5 years carry-on luggage only

Peak Designs packing cubes made it into my favorite travel accessories of 2023 list: https://youtu.be/_m2yFIXHWF4 🤓

Roll in non-compression cubes to maximize space. Rolling makes the clothes denser and pushes out all of the air so you can get more into the cube. However! If you are using compression cubes, folding works a lot better because the compression itself will get the air out. If you roll in a compression cube, the bag will become deformed, and then they don't stack as neatly together, meaning you get wasted space between the cubes. It's like putting spheres into a square box. Remember that the packing cube should still have flat edges when it is fully packed. If it's bulging, you're losing space in your bag where the next item / packing cube will abut the first one.

A good clothes rolling tip is to roll your clothes on a hard surface, you’ll get a much tighter and smaller space saving roll

When I use packing cubes I stick pieces of painting tape on the outside of each and write on it with a marker pen what is inside the cube. (Can be peeled off easily at the end of the trip). So, if I want to find my swimsuit, or my just-in-case-it-gets-cold-jumper I can see immediately which cube it is in.

I'd never seen anyone rolling outfits together. That was clever!

I like to use ziploc-type bags that are clear to see everything and it's easy to get all the air out. Plus they're inexpensive compared to some of the packing cubes.

I have traveled extensively. I started out with standard packing cubes. I down sized to small packing cubes. and only put one to two days of clothes in each. I numbered each cube for the day of use. I found the small cubes fill every space easily. I only have to grab the correct numbered cube for the day. I also carry plastic shopping bags. I put my dirty clothes back in the same cube. As the days go by I move the current days cube to the top. By changing to this system I found I could travel only with "my under the seat" bag or a backpack. Never looked back. I went to Israel for days TRAILS.....

Zip lock baggies work also....may help eliminate hands of inspection personnel from need to open containers and touch your items.

thank you for your honesty

Very much enjoy your videos! Love listening to the rationale for why you do things the way you do. Please keep them coming!

Thank you. This was very clear. I appreciate your thoughts.

Your hiking outfit roll is brilliant!!

I think of all the videos out there on packing your’s is the most helpfull. It is different, you show things in your videos that are practical and i like that you choose quality in everything. I don’t understand why you do not have more subscribers because in my opinion your the best ! Hope to see more videos from you and happy travel !

Thanks, I really appreciate the tip about how to fold the clothes and also using plastic bags as well. I never would have thought about that.

I’ve learned so much about the cons and pros. Vielen Dank.

Perfect video! I also think it depends on your trip. I'm learning to travel with only a backpack and also the best way to bring things, to pack and to carry in each trip.

Great video! I love the lightweight Eagle Creek white/clear compression cubes for clothing, in my personal bag. For the rest I am undecided. Opening & closing the zippered bags looking for something gets annoying. I must be using them wrong. But I do like the shoe bags! Always great to hear other opinions or tips. Thank you for sharing!

This was a very helpful post.ty

Thank you very much for all your information. I am zapping through all your videos and I am impressed by your ideas of minimalism traveling. It helped me really a LOT. 😊

Great ideas. I travel a lot and have to do laundry. I like to take the packing cubes to the laundry so i can roll and pack my clean clothes directly into them. Something I like about the eagle creek cubes that don't open completely is that I can stuff my rolled clothes into the bottom of the unzipped cube and zip it up as I fill it while compressing the clothes as much as possible. It is easier than trying to compress the whole thing after I fill it.