c/carry-on-only-packing

13

beth_green•1d ago

Was super skeptical about packing cubes for years, finally gave in

I always thought they were just another gimmick to sell you more stuff, but I tried a set on a 2-week trip to Portugal last spring. I fit 5 shirts, 3 pants, and 2 pairs of shoes in a 40L bag without any wrestling. Has anyone else found a specific brand that actually holds up after 20+ flights?

23

the_river•2d ago

My toiletry bag exploded in security last week

Took a 6am flight out of Denver. Got to the TSA belt. Pulled out my liquids bag. Zipper gave up. Toothpaste, shampoo, face wash all over the scanner. Agent was not happy. Had to throw half my stuff away. Now I use a hard plastic case with a latch. Anyone else had a bag fail at the worst time?

6

riverknight•3d ago

Compression cubes seemed gimmicky to me at first, but I caved after a Europe trip last fall

I was totally that person rolling my eyes at everyone raving about them. Then I packed for a 10 day trip to London and Paris in a 35 liter bag and couldn't fit my jeans plus a sweater without a struggle. A buddy let me try his set of Eagle Creek cubes and I fit everything plus an extra jacket. Has anyone else had a similar turnaround on something they thought was overhyped?

14

victor_carr54•6d ago

Warning: that $40 packing cube set from Amazon fell apart after 2 trips

I bought a 6-piece packing cube set for $40 last summer thinking it was a steal for my carry-on only trip to Chicago. By the second trip, the zippers were getting stuck and one seam split open, spilling my socks inside my bag. Has anyone else had cheap packing cubes crap out on them like that?

7

hugo645•6d ago

Packing cubes used to be my go-to but I swapped them out for ziplocs on a trip to Denver

Ngl I thought I'd look like a mess but the gallon bags actually saved space and I could squish them into weird gaps in my bag. Has anyone else ditched fancy organizers for something cheaper?

15

derekgibson•8d ago

Tried rolling clothes vs. folding them for a 2 week trip to Chicago

I always rolled my stuff but last month I folded everything using the bundle method and packed way more in my carry on. Had room for an extra pair of boots too. Has anyone else experimented with different packing styles?

17

river_adams25•8d ago

Vent: Spent $60 on a packing cube set and it was the worst buy for carry-on trips

Those cubes took up more space than my clothes because they forced me into weird shapes and I had to ditch them in a Tokyo airport bathroom after 3 days of frustration has anyone else had packing cubes backfire like that?

15

felixb25•9d ago

My cousin laughed at my packing method, but one change made him quiet

I was telling my cousin about how I roll all my shirts for a 10 day trip to Chicago, and he said I was overcomplicating things by not using packing cubes. He showed me his bag with just two cubes and a jacket stuffed in, and it somehow held twice as much stuff without looking bulky. Anyone else tried switching from rolling to cubes and found it actually works better for certain trips?

26

laura_knight54•9d ago

Picked a soft-sided bag over a hardshell for my Europe trip and it saved me at least 3 times

I chose a soft duffel that squishes under seats instead of a hard roller suitcase, and on my flight to Lisbon last month the gate agent made me stuff it into a tiny sizer while the lady with the hardshell got checked for $75 has anyone else dealt with that panic of the sizer test?

9

jason73•12d ago

Overheard a flight attendant arguing about roller bags in the terminal

Was waiting at gate B12 in Denver last week. Two flight attendants were talking near me. One said she packs for 2 weeks in a duffel bag under the seat. No roller bag. No overhead bin. She said it saves her 10 minutes boarding and deplaning every flight. That made me think. I've been obsessed with my hard-shell carry-on for years. But maybe the real hack is going smaller, not just carry-on sized. Anyone else ditch the roller bag completely?

6

lee_ward54•12d ago

Lesson learned in Tokyo: stop overstuffing your bag

I went to Tokyo for 10 days last fall and took my usual carry-on. By day 3 I realized I only used half the clothes I packed. The hotel had coin laundry downstairs for 300 yen a load so I could have washed stuff mid-trip. Now I pack for 5 days max and plan a wash day. Anyone else find they overpack for longer trips too?

26

lisa820•13d ago

I think packing cubes are overrated for carry-on only travel

Everyone swears by packing cubes, but after a 2-week trip to Portland last month, I found they just add bulk and make me cram things tighter. I'd rather roll everything loose and use the dead space in my bag's corners instead. Anyone else ditch the cubes and go back to basics?

26

lunawilson•13d ago

Had to pick between my hiking boots and my sandals for a 10 day trip to Portland

I was packing for a work trip to Portland last month and really struggled with footwear. I knew I wanted to carry on only, but I couldn't decide if I should bring my Merrell hiking boots for exploring Forest Park on the weekends or my Chaco sandals for walking around the city. I ended up going with the sandals because they're flat and take up way less space, but I seriously regretted it after my first hike. My feet were killing me after 4 miles on the trails and I spent the next two days limping around client meetings. Has anyone found a good way to fit two pairs of shoes in a carry on without going over the weight limit?

14

evan_anderson•1mo ago

My packing cube system fell apart on a 10 day trip to Japan

I thought I was being smart with packing cubes for my carry-on trip to Tokyo last month. I used those cheap ones from a discount store and they ended up busting open by day 3. My socks and underwear got all mixed up with my shirts and it was a total mess trying to find anything in the hotel room. The zippers broke on two of them and the fabric ripped right along the seam. I watched online tutorials before the trip and thought I had it all figured out but I guess you get what you pay for. Has anyone found a brand of packing cubes that actually holds up for longer trips?

12

faith12•1mo ago

My quick-dry towel trick saved space on a 2 week trip to Portland

Last month I packed for a trip to Portland with just a 30L backpack. I brought a thin microfiber towel instead of a bulky cotton one and it dried in like 2 hours on the hotel rack. That freed up enough room for an extra pair of shoes. Has anyone else tried these for long trips or do you stick with regular towels?

6

dakota479•1mo ago

Overheard a guy at the airport gate complaining his rollaboard didn't fit and had to check it

I was waiting for my flight to Denver last week and this dude was furious his bag was two inches too tall for the sizer. He swore he had the right dimensions but it was stuffed so full it bulged out. Anyone else find that packing too tight actually makes your bag fail the sizer test?

20

iris_stone28•1mo ago

I was totally wrong about packing cubes - gave in after my 4th trip to Japan

For like 2 years I thought packing cubes were just an overpriced way to organize socks. But after my last trip to Tokyo where I spent 15 minutes digging through my bag for a charger in the airport bathroom, my friend loaned me her set. Honestly? They actually save space if you roll clothes tight inside them. My bag zipped easier and I didn't have to repack after every hotel stop. Still not sure they're worth $40+ but I grabbed a cheap 3-pack for $12 at Target. Anyone else change their mind on a travel gadget after trying it once?

3

richard_ramirez•1mo ago

Everybody swears by packing cubes but I think they are a waste of space

I tried packing cubes for a 10 day trip to Seattle last fall and they just took up room that could have been used for actual clothes. Rolling my shirts tight and stuffing socks in shoes gave me way more space. Has anyone else found cubes to be more trouble than they are worth?

14

chen.jade•1mo ago

The flight attendant who called me out on my overstuffed backpack

I was boarding a flight to Chicago last month and this older flight attendant stopped me at the door. She pointed at my backpack and said "that thing is gonna explode if you try to shove it under the seat." I laughed it off but then we hit turbulence and I heard a zipper rip. Now I pack my carry-on like a Tetris game, rolling everything tight and using packing cubes to keep it flat. Anyone else ever get called out by crew for bad packing?

12

sethp26•1mo ago

Gave up my roller backpack for a duffel on a 10 day trip to Chicago

I always used a roller carry-on because it felt easier on my back. But last month I had to take the train and stairs at Union Station and that roller was a pain. My buddy lent me his 40 liter duffel bag and I packed everything in packing cubes. I fit 5 shirts, 3 pants, shoes, and a jacket without checking anything. Has anyone else switched from wheels to a duffel for city trips?

7

jamieh76•1mo ago

Spent $60 on a collapsible water bottle and it actually saved me at airport security

I bought one of those silicone collapsible water bottles last month for a trip to Chicago. It rolls up smaller than my fist when empty. At security I filled it up after getting through instead of buying a $5 plastic bottle at the gate. I drank water the whole flight and didnt have to ask for tiny cups from the flight attendant. Anyone else tried these or do you just stick with the disposable bottles?

14

leelewis•1mo ago

Unpopular opinion: I used to think packing cubes were a waste of money

For years I just stuffed everything loose into my carry-on, thinking cubes were for people who liked organizing for the sake of it. But last month I took a 10-day trip to Portland and tried a set of three cheap cubes for the first time. The surprise was that I could fit two extra pairs of shoes and a jacket because the cubes compress things so much. I also stopped losing small items like chargers and socks in the bottom of the bag. Now I'm wondering if anyone else had this same change of heart about something they dismissed for years.

19

luna_sanchez•1mo ago

Tried rolling my clothes instead of folding them for a 2 week trip to Chicago

I always folded everything neat, but last month I rolled all my tees and pants to save space. Ended up with way more wrinkles than I expected and had to steam stuff in the hotel bathroom. Does rolling actually work for most people or is it just one of those travel myths?

22

morgan_lewis18•1mo ago

Wasted $45 on packing cubes that didn't fit my bag

Bought a trendy set of packing cubes after seeing them on social media, but they were too tall for my 20-inch roller - barely closed the zipper. Ended up leaving one cube behind at the hotel. Anyone else measure their bag first before buying organizers?

5

mary614•1mo ago

Friend called my packing 'a crime scene' after our Europe trip

She said I looked like I was moving out, not traveling. Now I roll everything and use packing cubes. Cut down from a stuffed 40L to a half-full 28L for a 10 day trip to Lisbon last month. Anyone else get roasted by their travel buddy?