Pack Smarter With Packing Cubes
February 23, 2010 | Krista Stryker
Get organized and fit more into your bag with packing cubes
I’ll admit I’m not the most organized packer in the world. I pride myself on packing light, but before I know it my formerly empty suitcase is filled to the brim with clothes and accessories and every corner is bursting with essential items like socks, cell phone cords and iPods. I can never find the things I want while traveling and by the end of my trip my suitcase is in an unbelievable state of disarray. That is until my avid traveler parents introduced me to packing cubes, a wonderful, obvious invention for all the world’s unorganized packers.
Packing cubes are just what they sound like: small, rectangular bags that hold just about anything you want to keep organized. I usually bring three to four with me on one trip, and fill them accordingly with t-shirts, socks, underwear, electronics, etc. – just about anything I want to actually be able to find later. They squish easily into my carryon suitcase, and seem to take up less room than a pile of unfolded, unkempt clothes would.
While there are several different brands of packing cubes out there, Rick Steves, the Edmond, Washington-based travel guru, sells my favorite ones because unlike most of the choices out there, these are made of mesh and consequently collapse into nearly nothing when not in use. So if you find yourself with one too many on your next trip, you can be sure it won’t take up any extra precious space in your bag.
And Rick Steves’s packing cubes won’t cost you an arm and a leg – a set of three (one large, two small) costs $17.95, cheaper than most of his competitors, and completely worth it if you’ve made any sort of resolution to actually stay organized this year. Just think of it as an investment in your travel future, because you’ll likely keep them forever (and become the most organized person you know!).
Looking for more handy tools to organize your suitcase? Try these handy mesh bags – they’re perfect for laundry! Plus, they’ll only set you back $6.95 for a pair of two.
