Packing Systems: Useful or just a gimmick?
 

I just recently learned about Pack-It Folders by Eagle Creek, a system for packing items flat & compact. They cost about $30CAD for an 18"X12" folder. Just wondering if they (or similar products) are really useful & practical or are they just a gimmick?

gimmick

onebag.com great site all you need and free!

I've seen posts on these forums by some people who use/like packing cubes. I have found that rolling my clothes works best for me. There's less wrinkling and better use of space. I put socks, underwear and other lightweight clothing (e.g. t-shirts) in large zip lock bags. It helps keep things organized.

I think it depends the type of trip you are taking. I don't bother with them when I am going on a vacation that is to one place, unpacking, and staying a week or two. I think they can be useful to keep things organized in your bag, say if you are going to Europe and moving city to city every couple days.

Thanks for your replies & suggestions!

I am a traveler who likes to unpack my bags unlike my husband who is happy to live out of his suitcase! So, I was looking for ways to make the process more efficient.

That said, I think I will save my $$$ and invest in XL ziplock bags instead! Any ideas where I can buy them?

"That said, I think I will save my $$$ and invest in XL ziplock bags instead! Any ideas where I can buy them?"

buy that stuff at places like Target, WalMart, etc.
have a great trip.

The 1-gallon size is the largest ziplock I use. They work fine for collecting socks, undies, a few tshirts, etc. You can get them anywhere.

I use the 2 gallon size zip lock which I get at Target.

I can get 2 or 3 prs of pants in each bag and at least 2 tops into another bag. I am a large size woman so mah stuff takes up more room!!! :)

I love packing cubes on a personal level because I struggle to pack, I struggle to unpack, and I struggle to keep things organized. I almost always use packing cubes (even just visiting family) because I prefer living out of my suitcase (why have to pack and unpack twice?!) wherever we go. In a worst case scenario I can throw my things into the cubes, shove them into my bag and be ready to go in a matter of minutes!

If you unpack into the hotel dresser and are staying in one place for awhile... use dry cleaner bags wrapped around small stacks of folded clothes. Upon arrival use the dry cleaner bags to line the dresser drawer and put the folded clothes stack on top of that.

I've never been big on packing cubes myself because to me it seems like they just make extra weight and take space in the suitcase & you can't even wear 'em!

You MAY like packing cubes/envelopes, but you won't know until you've traveled with them a few times. Ziplocs are an excellent way to test this premise without investing ~$100 to get a set of organizers. Ziplocs come in some many sizes, from 1 gallon up to 20 gallon (XXL size, about 2ft x 2.5ft), so I'd go this route for starters. You can find all of these at Target.

I'm an Eagle Creek organizer junkie, and probably have several hundred dollars invested in their Pack-It systems of cubes, sacs, folders and toiletry kits. I've given these items to many people as gifts, and most of them end up finding that they like using the system (but not everyone).

What suze said is very true - they are most helpful if you are moving your hotel frequently. If you are taking a cruise or renting an apartment for a couple of weeks they will probably just take up valuable space in your suitcase. It's more about your travel style than whether or not they are actually useful gadgets.

I saw them on SierraTradingPost.com

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/sea...criptions=True

might be a significant discount

I'm happy with ziplocks for keeping underwear and socks and assorted things that tend to scramble around in the suitcase.

Many thanks for your suggestions & packing ideas!

I see that Sierra Trading Post only ships within the US. Also, here in Canada, we are waiting anxiously for Target's arrival! So, I will be going to Walmart this week.

What did we do before the invention of ziplock bags?!?!;)

Yes it is absolutely right that its all depends on the type of trip you are taking. But it gives quick and easy access to our kit without having to unpack everything, and makes it easier to keep everything neat and organized.

Pack-it folders keep pressed clothing wrinkle free.shirts, slacks. Pack-it cubes help orgnaize my suitcase and I couldn't stand to travel without them. Both of these products are very useful, but different.

I had a successful shopping trip to Walmart where I bought XL (33cm x 39.6cm) Ziploc bags. The XXL were larger than my suitcase so I didn't get those!!!

I love the idea of keeping everything neat, organized & accessible in our suitcases so it's worth a try!

Thanks for everyone's suggestions & explanations!

2010 - Let us know how it goes. I've tried various systems in the past and found them helpful for the first trip I take.

But by the next trip I'm less enthusiastic about them and then I go back to just rolling my clothes.

I love the large Ziplocs but have discovered the Hefty bags XL size which will fit even more clothes. The zipclip makes opening/closing easy.

I love the large Ziplocs but have discovered the Hefty bags XL size which will fit even more clothes. The zipclip makes opening/closing easy.

I used to use Ziplocs, but I found they slipped around alot, and if my small suitcase was full, I could lose one easily. For me, the packing cubes and folders are great. I use different colors so I always know where everything is. Purchased them from www.rei.com after seeing a packing demonstration.
(I was a failure at rolling; my clothes were more wrinkled than ever)!