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Packing Cubes

jrewins

Member
Donating Member
Time of past OR future Camino
CF / Fin 2022
C Portuguese 2023
Ok, I’ll open with I know I’m overthinking this, but I’m prepping for the VdlP, so I have cause to err on the side of caution.

I’m testing packing cubes for clothing. In previous Caminos I’ve used the Patagonia and Thule. Both are too big / heavy for this trek, so I’m looking at a Peak Design, an REI, and now considering the Hyperlite 11L. My priorities are weight (duh), durability, and water-resistant (don’t need water-proof). The PD zipper doesn’t fully close (water?), but still possibly livable…the REI has a mesh lid (doesn’t pass the water-resistant test)…the HL is pricey, but I’m willing if it passes the durability test.

Any thoughts? Thanks.
 
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I am a big fan of these. Come in different sizes. Drybags.

 
Instead of cubes i opted for drybags. Due to the rolltop the are more flexible in terms of volume and with the clip i can hang my stuff of the bedframe most nights. Takes a bit of trial and error to get them into the right shape into your pack but not rocket science either. I use the "Sea2Summit Ultra Sil" in 4L and 8L, but they also come in bigger sizes.
 
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Why waterproof/resistant?
Either use something like an Altus that will keep both you and or your pack dry, or line your pack with a plastic bag of some kind. Then you can use really lightweight bags of any kind inside - even really lightweight zippered mesh bags used for delicates in the washing machine.
 
To me the easiest and lightest and 'roll down' are dry bags (cheaper too) .. as well as not being noisy to open them at night or early morning in a refugio bunk room! .. get a set in different sizes and different colours and you will always know which is which - like these - www.ebay.co.uk/itm/167076307583
 
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I use compression bags-- some are water proof, some not. I bought two back in the early 90s; they're a bit heavy. Newer ones are lighter. It's important to remember the compressing stuff makes the stuff smaller, but not lighter.
How many packing cubes do you use?
I usually walk in the early spring and so I take a lightweight sleeping bag in a compression sack. Then I have another one for my change of clothes. I suppose I could bring one for my jacket and rain gear, but I don't. I use a regular lightweight bag for my charging cords. And then my pack has a place for my toiletries and a book or two. Well, now I usually carry a kindle.
 
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My husband won a set of 6 Moon Design packing pods at a recent APOC Gathering raffle. He liked them and uses them to sort things in his backpack (which is also a 6 Moons Design pack.) Very lightweight.

Multi-Sized SMD packing pods set

Pack Pods are light weight, zippered, 7L stuff sacks that will help organize your backpack.
www.sixmoondesigns.com
 
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Enlighten me, people - why would I need these things at alll?

I hope I won't be carrying so much that 'organising' it would be an issue. I can understand maybe keeping dirty/smelly/wet stuff in its own separate container, but more than that seems unnecessarily fiddly.
 

Even with minimal content it can help to keep your things separated.
I have one drybag ( compression) for my sleepingbag.
One for clean clothes.
One small one for underwear and socks.
Then ziplockbags for toiletstuff and one for first aid and meds.
 
LeslieC said:
Enlighten me, people - why would I need these things at alll?
Click to expand...

For organization.

I've seen many people dump the entire contents of their backpack on the side of the road looking for one single item. I use very lightweight stuff sacks of different colors. I know what's inside of each bag by the color, so now I just have to grab the stuff sack I need.

Generally, I have one for my clean clothes and another for my bathroom items. When I get to the albergue, I simply grab these two and head to the showers. I have another that I use for my cold weather gear (hat, gloves, jacket, etc.) which I keep near the top and can easily grab. I have one more for my shower shoes, that keeps everything else dry and clean.

Works well for me.
 
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1: Secondary water barrier. While my backpack is waterproof by itself, for the odd case of water getting inside i would prefer a "second line of defense". I'd rather not have to sleep in a wet sleeping bag or get my spare clothing wet.

2: Organisation: I have a drybag for clothing and my sleeping bag. Electronics, hygiene, medikit get their own zip log bags. Instead of rummaging in my backpack for a pair of socks, i pull out the bright orange drybag, cause they are in there. Instead of putting out everything in my pack at the evening, i pull out the bags i need, take what i need out, and clip them to the bed frame. In the morning, if one bag looks suscpicously empty, i check if i still have stuf drying on the line. Every morning i pack my bags in the same order. All bags gone, good, i can go. Honestly, it helps in so many little ways i'd never walk without them.
 
Packing cubes are not only great for the organization of items, they also keep things clean when I have to dump out my pack on the dusty trail. They also help me to consistently distribute the weight throughout my pack. As the cubes all have their assigned places, there is no surprise fiddling because my pack isn't sitting right...

And, they are super for keeping things organized as well.

Buen Camino! And happy packing
 
Factors I would consider before buying:

How much weight and expense does a set of these add?

How long do they last?

Does the manipulating of them make unacceptable noise when getting organized in the mornings in shared accommodations?

Generally I am tempted to use the most economical and easily-replaced equipment that will do the job, except I invest much more effort into research when I am acquiring equipment that is mission- and health-critical such as footwear, socks, the backpack itself, sun-blocker, etc.

For me, the interior unit packs (cubes, stuff sacks, etc.) are neither mission- nor health-critical and I would first consider using grocery store produce department poly-bags (the ones on a roll in the produce aisles) because they are available almost anywhere, are super-economical, and are made of a polymer sufficiently soft and thin that it does not make rustling noises. If they only last two days, that's ok, I just replace them - the resource and environmental demand is exceptionally low so a two-day life cycle does not bother me, and anyway I am using them for twice as long as most grocery shoppers. But that's just frugal old me.
 
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I like and use Six Moon Designs packing pods. My set of 3 are each a different size and color. I use them to sort different items like handkerchiefs (yeah I'm of the generation where my mom required me to carry and use handkerchiefs), socks and underwear, etc. Since they are different color, it makes it easy to find what I'm looking for. They don't make noise like plastic bags. I don't know about water resistance, I use a poncho so my pack stays dry.

Hope this helps,
Phil
 
I like to organize my things in different containers, and I always have a plastic bag or two for wet things. Th e idea of packing "cubes" seems to me to be more suitable to putting things into a rectangular suitcase with fixed dimensions. However, I do love the look of them in the ads!

For my backpack, I prefer the lightest weight bags (roll-top dry sacks for the bigger ones, or zipper pouches for the smaller) of appropriate sizes. I think they are probably more efficient than cubes that have extra seams to make a cute shape that you then squish away.

I use one each, of different sizes and colours, for:
  1. sleeping bag and night wear
  2. clothes
  3. food and kitchen
  4. daily toiletries
  5. electronics, and writing
  6. spares or things I like to have for emergency or self-sufficiency
  7. items I might need during the day (spork, some first aid, tissues, sunscreen, etc.)
So, that is 7, but #4 to 7 are small! When I pack up each morning I can mentally count them off as I plop them into my pack, making it less likely that I'll leave something behind.
 
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Altus BALI Sleeping bag liner
Ideal sleeping bag liner whether we want to add a thermal plus to our bag, or if we want to use it alone to sleep in shelters or hostels. Thanks to its mummy shape, it adapts perfectly to our body.

€46,-
I can tell you what i use but i am kind of sloppy. I just go to the grocery store and buy those mesh ironing bags i think they are called. They have a zipper and i have 5 of them i use to seperate by stuff. It is easy and quick to pack and unpack. Clothes might get wrinkled but I am on the camino not getting ready to walk down the ramp at a fashion show haha
 
I use bags of different kinds. One is a stuff sack with all my CPAP stuff. The other is a dry bag for my clothes and the third is a stuff sack for my sleeping bag and then a ziplock bag for toiletries. There isn't much else, and what there is fits in my pack lid or my pocket. I pack my pack the same way each time. No rummaging on the side of the road or in the night needed.
 
The pods look nice, I see their usefulness, the zipper could be a weak point, mechanically, content capacity and moisture wise, verses a dry bag. Keep it simple.
 
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Both me and my wife use these. They are very light and water resistant. We have both the regular size and multi size ones. We both use the smallest ones for our chargers, wires, etc and the bigger ones for holding spare clothes and sleep gear. They fit into our bags well and are easy to open and close. Ideal really.
 
I prefer thicker storage or freezer gauge ziplock bags, found in any supermarket and in various capacities / volumes, to compression bags. I fill them with whatever, then SIT ON THEM to close. This more than compresses the contents. Plus they are:
  • Waterproof - can do double-duty as a tote for important items in the shower.
  • Compressible - more, IMHO than compression sacks because of my weight and the airtight nature of the bags.
  • Clear - so you can see what is in any bag
  • Reusable - once the vacuum no longer holds, they are still good for organization
  • Easily replaceable - I start with US Quart and Gallon sizes, then transition to EU liter and 3-liter sizes as the need arises. I even organize multiple smaller sizes into a large 2.5 gallon size bag for organization and extra protection.
  • Cheap - while some compression sacks are relatively inexpensive, ziplock bags are even less expensive.
Compression bags have a definite role to play for certain activities. For example, I regularly use them for tourist-traveling where I use a suitcase or duffel bag. Where water resistance and being able to see everything at a glance is less important, they are very useful. I still use ziplocks for suitcase packing, but not to the same extent as when I am on Camino, as the need is different.

Hope this helps.

Tom
 
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Pilgrim9 said:
Factors I would consider before buying:

Does the manipulating of them make unacceptable noise when getting organized in the mornings in shared accommodations?
Click to expand...
Absolutely! Nothing worse than a late arrival or early riser rustling through plastic carrier bags in a shared dorm, though using a head torch on full beam comes close! Though we did have a young woman with obviously no experience of hostels turn up at one after everyone else had turned in, and not liking the look of the bed, proceeded to spend 1/2 hr on a video call with her mum searching for non-existent bed bugs. She didn't find any, but in the end after waking everyone up, left anyway to find a hotel!
 
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I used three sizes of zipped, mesh laundry bags. They are very light. Not as “tidy” as cubes, but you can jam them anywhere in your pack.
 
I find that packing cubes of different sizes or colors are useful in organizing things (socks in the red bag, underwear in green) so that they’re easier to find in the pack.

As others have mentioned, address the waterproofing issue by keeping the entire pack and/or its contents dry with a single dry sac or plastic bag.
 
For regular travel I use cubes (Rick Steves brand) and then put them in a clear compression sack which looks like an extra large baggy. The latter is to save packing space. For a Camino, I use the clear compression sacks. They are waterproof and I can see what is in them.
 
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I liked having one for clothes, and a smaller one for toiletries that was also big enough to tuck the keeper that held my passport, debit card, money. It was a waterproof dry bag so it went right in the shower with me and I always knew my valuables were secure.
Having a small bags for off and ends, like sleep mask, charging cord etc just helps reduce the rummaging around.
 
I’m a convert to packing cubes. I love how they keep my clothes organized. We chose to buy durable compression cubes with good zippers and a mesh side (Gorex brand and available on Amazon). Your choice of which cubes or bags should depend on your needs and budget. Some context for our choice: my wife and I travel for 2-3 months at a time every year with just a carry-on bag. Our international trips include one or two walks of at least 14 days. We chose a variety of basic accommodations but not usually hostels.
 
I was scrolling through these responses thinking to myself why hasn’t someone suggesting ziplock bags. And voila, here it is. I have used ziplock bags for the Camino Frances, the TMB, Kumano Kodo and tourist travel. The bags are waterproof, you can squeeze all of the air out of them and you can compress them down into your pack OR even pack them in a compression bag which I have done twice. I just organize the clothes is separate bags, socks and underwear in one, sleep bottoms, sleeping bag liner, towel in another bag, hiking tops and extra pants (if taking) and rain jacket and pants in another. If the forecast is lousy then I leave the rain gear at the top.
 
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I use one medium size half-mesh packing cube (lightweight fabric on bottom and around, mesh on the top) for my "fabric" stuff -- clothes, socks, underwear. If I can't get it all in, then I figure I've packed too much (winter fleece and/or nanopuff not included). My other "groupings" (toiletries; equipment such as my headlamp and extra feet for my poles; sleep sack and towel; rain gear; etc.) each go in either stuff sacks or plastic bags depending on how much "stuff" is in that grouping.
 
I keep my clothing in one mesh bag, socks and panties in one, nightgown and towel in another.
I roll them so they aren't wrinkled.

Many of us dislike zip-lock bags (why no one has recommended them on this post) because of pilgrims packing their bags late at night, middle of the night or very early morning and the rustle of that plastic is rather annoying.
 
I use packing cubes from Eagle Creek. They make several kinds, I use the lightest. They come in different sizes. They are not waterproof but I don't need them to be. If it starts to rain, I pull the rain cover over my pack and put on a poncho which also goes over my pack.

I use the cubes to keep things organized and to keep dirty clothes from clean ones. They also don't make noise like plastic bags if you have to dig into your pack before your bunk-mates are awake.

All that said, I do have one tube-like dry bag from Sea To Summit that I hang from the bottom of my back. I use it to stuff my down blanket (don't use sleeping bag) and light fleece into. When stuffed it's 3-4" wide, 12-13" long. Not large at all.
 
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Oh dear! I think I am missing something...I can't imagine having so much 'stuff' that I would need colour coding to keep track of it, and honestly, I use good ol' Ziploc bags that are vacuum packed by sitting on them ( and they make no more noise than a fabric bag and I make sure I am packed up long before bed time anyway)...and when push comes to shove and nothing is dry, I triage my socks and undies ("black socks, blacks socks, the dirtier they are the cleaner they get"), so 'clean' and 'dirty' is a very blurred line indeed. I have walked most (if not all) of the 'long' caminos and see no reason to change my routine.
 
I use one “dry” bag aka my pack liner. Anything needing to stay dry goes into it. A small baggie for toiletries and one for electronics/cords. That’s my system. Easy peasy.
 
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I use several different kinds of bags and pouches to keep my things organized in my backpack.

I really like this 8 liter Osprey StraightJacket for my clothes. It has a wide zippered opening and compression straps.


My sleeping gear is in a stuff sack that I made from ultralight fabric. The fabric is waterproof because that's what I already had on hand. I have couple of lightweight zippered pouches that hold first aid, medicines, toiletries, etc. I keep everything that I will need before bed and when I wake up in one of them, such as my charger and cable, toothbrush, etc.

On a summer Camino I used a four compartment mesh laundry bag for my clothes, but it's really not big enough for the clothing needed in cooler weather. I'm thinking of making one and little bigger out of some lightweight nylon because it was great for organizing my clothes.

 
The amount of time I've spent obsessing about packing organization could get me committed to an institution.

For now....for my clothes, quilt, anything "soft", it goes in separate mesh bags that are used for washing delicates, as others here have mentioned. They weigh near nothing, and you can have one for a quilt, one socks and undies, etc. All the soft mesh bags go into a large drybag and that gets stuffed to the bottom backpack. Great for getting into the banana-shaped space at the bottom of my pack created by the trampoline suspension. It avoids the weight of a bunch of drybags, and forms a nice flat 'shelf' for anything on top. You don't have to spend a lot of money. At the low end, on Aliexpress, you can get a 20 l drybag for $9. USD
If you want to go high end (and I doubt there is any practical difference), Sea to Summit have nice bags that allow you to more easily press the air out, compressing it, and they are on sale at the moment.

Evac Dry Bag

LIFETIME GUARANTEE. Keep your compressible gear dry- air squeezes out, water can't get in. The Evac Dry Bag is a bluesign-approved recycled 70D nylon waterproof main body fabric and a 70D eVent® waterproof but air-permeable base that allows you to push air out while still keeping your contents...
seatosummit.com
A 20 l should do. I was gifted a 35 l Sea to Summit Evac bag at Xmas, maybe larger than I need but the weight difference is near zero and it will cinch down, and it was a gift, so there.

Other than that, I have one other much smaller dry bag (8l ?) that all my electronics and miscellaneous go. I got one of those S2S ones with a window (not needed but it was on sale at the time and...I like gimmicks tbh). I have a separate drybag for First Aid, unneeded for most, but I carry Epipens and...we do 'pack our fears'. I wanted one that attracts attention in case someone else is getting it from my pack.

Lightweight Dry Bag First Aid

LIFETIME GUARANTEE. The updated Lightweight First Aid Dry Bag is the perfect way to store medical supplies and keep them dry, visible and easily accessible. An added TPU window offers excellent visibility, makes it particularly useful in group situations. Made from a bluesign® approved recycled...
seatosummit.com


Something new I am trying next trip is an ultralight toiletry bag from Decathlon, only 43 g, toiletries are bulky and are awkward to roll up, so I will hang it from the (unused) hydration tab inside the pack, so it is inside that nylon sleeve that I often seem to lose things inside to. That way it is flat and takes up less space than if I had rolled it up, and it is ready to hang up by an S-hook on a bunk bed.

Ultralight Foldable Toiletry Bag - Dark petrol blue - Forclaz - Decathlon

This toiletry bag was designed to store and protect your belongings, and save space
www.decathlon.ca

I know this post became too long, but I did warn you that I was OCD about the packing.
 
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Ella L. said:
Oh dear! I think I am missing something...I can't imagine having so much 'stuff' that I would need colour coding to keep track of it,
Click to expand...

I don't actually have much stuff, but the stuff I do have is organized by usage (clean clothes, toiletries, cold/foul weather gear, shower shoes) and by colored stuff-sack to make is super easy to grab what I need at that time.

It's the same as a ziplock, just easier to use and easier to identify what I need by simply looking down into my backpack, seeing the colored stuff-sack I need and grabbing it. It does lack waterproof like a ziplock, but I'm okay with that. I have other means to keep them dry.
 
jrewins said:
Ok, I’ll open with I know I’m overthinking this, but I’m prepping for the VdlP, so I have cause to err on the side of caution.
Any thoughts? Thanks.
Click to expand...
For my alpine transvers in 2021, the CP in 2023 and my latest vacations in Tuscany and on Mallorca I had drypacks and meshpacks from different manufacturers in backpack or boardcase.
Meshpacks for clothing, drypacks for tech / toiletries. Lightweight, useful, waterproof (drypacks) and ultra-packable.
Both variants come in different color-options, so you can pre-organize your stuff.

Best purchase for travelling in the last 20 years for me.
I never thought that they'll ease the handling of the luggage-contents as much as they do!

HTH
 
Never felt the need for such complexities. I use a plastic rubbish bag to line my (old ) rucksack and keep a few things like soap in a ziplock type bag. Don’t carry enough stuff to worry beyond that. Tend to find my pack is self organising as after the first week or 2 all the stuff I don’t need/use is at the bottom!
 
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@MikeJS makes a good point above about packs becoming self-organising over time, but the 'put stuff in bags' contingent has convinced me.

Dear Wifey has this morning rummaged in her fabric stash and produced the following:

Should do the job for me. Not worried about waterproof/resistant; my pack has a rain cover and I'll have a poncho.
 
It depends on how strict you need/want to be on weight. Roll dry bags are generally better than cubes, but if you really want to decrease as many ounces as possible, do freezer zip lock bags. They come in quart, 1 gallon, 2 gallons, and either 3 or 4 gallons.
Double duty: If you want to be able to form a pillow and don't mind a few extra ounces, carry at least 1 dry roll bag as I do. Once your clothes are in it, you can use it for a pillow (size, in liters, would depend on how large is needed to carry clothing items and desired pillow size.
Double duty: I usually also carry one 16 liter dry roll bag and washer sheets that dissolve, to wash clothes in while in the shower, especially if no sink or at a place where it takes awhile to use a sink for washing clothes.
 
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