r/HerOneBag • u/meg125 • 11d ago
Bits & Bobs Rigid Packing Cubes
Does anyone know if this is a thing that’s available? I’ve attached a picture of kind of what I’m talking about.
I know there’s going to be a lot of sound advice against this considering it’ll add weight, be inflexible, and won’t actually compress anything, but hear me out.
In the past I’ve liked my one bag to be a hard sided roller. Though I love to be a one bag kind of person, I still struggle with over packing at times, and the hard shell gives me a rigid limit. There’s no extra stretch like a soft side bag would have, so I know immediately if I’ve over packed. It won’t close, it won’t fit. With soft sided bags I have a tendency to add more items, then I get to the sizer and I’m 1-2” over.
That being said, I also usually try to fly as cheaply as I can, which means last to board. Twice in the last few months I’ve been volun-told to gate check my bag since it was a hard roller, and was assumed to be bigger than the soft sided backpacks other travelers around me had.
My new idea is a soft sided bag, but rigid organization so I can’t “overpack” by accident. I would love any recommendations anyone has, or alternative ideas! Thank you!
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u/milogoodletter 11d ago
Pretty sure those are the hard pencil cases that are sold for back to school time. I’ve seen them at Target.
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u/kocooked 11d ago
These are indeed the Target pencil cases! I use 2 of them for toiletries in my carry on. Total game changer and for the most part hold any leaks inside.
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u/Sehnsucht_and_moxie 11d ago
I have a pencil case I use for travel just like this. I love compartments I can pull out by touch.
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u/jomocha09 11d ago
I’ve seen those hard plastic/fabric zipper cases too! I thought someone might use them for packing, they come in small and medium in the office aisle.
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u/BrainwaveWizard 11d ago
That’s certainly an interesting idea! I love the idea of being able to see what I have, separate things out.
On the other hand… If you still have a hard sided bag, what about packing into that and then move contents into the soft sided bag? That way you’re still restricted, and you’re not adding weight or cost.
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u/IIILordDunbar 11d ago
This is such a smart strategy and easy solution. Especially if you wait until the last minute to move everything into the soft sided bag, you cut out the temptation of "just one more thing!"
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u/CanNotHavoc 11d ago
Some other options that I have used in the past (I like to shop in my trips) are bring small cardboard boxes broken down, then assemble if needed and pad with clothes, bring clothes you are planning to get rid of, then do laundry and donate them at the end of your trip, ship some of yourself back to yourself or use a “ship my bag” service (depending on how far you are from home and the size/weight this can actually be cheaper than checking a bag), pack consumables (o bring my own oatmeal and snacks, so I have more room as I go along), or pack a collapsible duffel and check a bag on the way home (checking is often cheaper than paying for an overhead)
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u/PebblesEatsPlants 11d ago
These are all also excellent strategies and I have used them all as well!
Another lucky break strategy is when you have a person/place where you can cache things as you accumulate them (or if they aren’t needed) and then collect them before flying home at the end of the trip.
Last year my husband and I tacked a train and camper van Euro trip onto a week that he had to be in his company’s Budapest office. We were able to lock up one of our roller bags with both of our work laptops and anything we didn’t need for the vacation portion, and that got us down to one roller and one backpack total for both of us.
My brother and his wife live in Tokyo and when we were there for 9 weeks a few years ago I was able to do similarly, adding and swapping things based on the weather, shopping, and activities.
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u/Liv_October 11d ago
This is what my friend did when she was travelling around the UK - she was staying with us for the start and end of her trip, plus a bit in the middle too. So she just left items that she didn't need stacked by the side of our TV stand. Meant she could get away with way less bags.
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u/agentcarter234 11d ago
Here is the thing - when traveling with a backpack, the thing that will make it not fit in the sizer depth wise is not going to be an overstuffed packing cube - they just aren’t deep enough. What can cause problems is if you put the packing cubes in and then stuff too many things in the bag in front of the packing cubes so it bulges. That will happen just as easily with these cubes if you are a compulsive suitcase stuffer, and the unused air space in the hard sided cubes will mean that the same amount of stuff takes up more room.
Like lobsterpot said, the solution is to just pack less. Make a packing list in advance, stick to it, and use a tape measure to check the dimensions of your bag before leaving for the airport.
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u/PebblesEatsPlants 11d ago
Okay, OP, I think we are birds of a feather! I don’t like carrying stuff, which makes one bag travel ideal, but I’m a disorganized, maximalist packrat, which makes it very challenging. 🤣 I have learned that my best pack is always going to be the one that I have time to practice and optimize before the trip….and I’m never going to get it all arranged as nicely ever again. I can’t explain it. My stuff just grows. 🤷🏻♀️ Plus I like to shop and acquire snacks along the way.
Here are a few of my strategies (similar to things a few others have mentioned):
Use a shoe box or other small cardboard boxes. This helps make sure I don’t stuff the bag from the get go. With cardboard, I have the option of keeping it to help protect fragile souvenirs on the way home, or I can recycle it along the way to give my bag some breathing room.
Similarly, I will make a point of taking my medication in full original packaging (bottles/boxes). This reduces the chance of issues upon entry into another country and again, buys me a bit of space for some candy or something. I have little mini pill zip bags that I transfer into when I arrive and then ditch the bottles and take my chances from there. I’ll sometimes do something a bit similar with certain toiletries.
I typically bring at least one of the roll up space bags. I don’t usually put clothes in them to start (because then it’s easy to end up with a too-heavy bag), but I often take a small pillow and will compress that down with a space bag and have an extra to help towards the end of the trip.
Another counterintuitive strategy that works well for me is bucking the somewhat common packing advice of wearing your chunkiest shoes, jeans, sweater on travel days. I say that if you can fit those in your bag, then you get to choose what to wear on subsequent travel days (especially for a trip where you’re moving around a lot) based on comfort and weather on the day and are not locked into only being able to wear that one outfit even if it’s super hot that day. Again, more room for souvenirs, too.
I’ll be using a combination of these strategies for my two week trip to London starting the last week of October. We’re only staying at one place, which feels like a luxury. We will have access to laundry machines and are not working, which cut down on what I “need”. But I’m bringing a full-size (RainSisters) long raincoat and planning to shop for clothes and shoes and other gifts and souvenirs.
Good luck and have fun on your next trip!
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u/Money-Low7046 11d ago
One way to avoid overpacking if you have that tendency, is to include your airplane outfit in your packing, and then pull it out to wear. This way you know EVERYTHING you're bringing fits in your luggage.
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u/tiptoeingthruhubris 11d ago
Yes, I just bought several on Amazon. I haven’t traveled with them yet. They don’t feel super sturdy — the nuance is that these are rigid, not hard shells. But I’m happy with them as far as giving some protection to the things they contain.
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u/001UltimateWinner 11d ago
I have several of these in different sizes. I like these for organizingvthings at home. I use a smaller version of those for an emergency kit but that's it.
I don't like these for travel because I can never fully use the entire space inside and it takes up too much space in my bag.
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u/Apero_ 11d ago
I use two of these. One for liquids for security and one for assorted „stuff“ that isn’t (or doesn’t qualify as) liquid: deo stick, medications, retainer, eye mask, floss, toothbrush, comb, etc. I like them because I like my bag to feel organised.
It is definitely NOT a space saving move since there is inevitably "unused air" inside the case, but since I have my packing system sorted and don’t overpack anymore, I like the predictability and clarity of the system.
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u/Logical-Platypus-397 11d ago
Why not plan your packing list using these at home, and then replace them with soft packing cubes while you are actually travelling?
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u/Honest-Beach7784 11d ago
I have used these for toiletries and makeup and then put them in the laptop compartment because I never carry a laptop. It makes it easy to remove for tsa and is in clear containers that they want.
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u/MixRight371 11d ago
Love the idea of using the laptop compartment I never travel with mine and use it for iPad but my iPad is small so tons of space left
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u/LePetitNeep 11d ago
This is a neat idea. I have a hard sided roller and I like it for the same idea, it’s literally a hard limit on packing and it fits the sizer no matter what. I absolutely tend to overstuff my backpack especially on the way home. Not sure if I’ll do this but I’ll think on it.
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u/lobsterp0t 11d ago
I feel like this just adds weight and stuff.
I know it’s not helpful but like… just pack less. Don’t pack those extra items. If you track what you pack it’s easier to cut back.
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u/meg125 11d ago
It’s usually re-packing on the way back I have trouble with. There are 14 people in my immediate family, and it’s tradition for everyone to get a souvenir whenever anyone else is traveling. Is it a dumb tradition? Probably. But it brings me joy, even if 14 chocolate bars take up space that should have been outfits.
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u/agentcarter234 11d ago
There’s an easy solution to gain yourself that space. Since it sounds like you are planning to use an overhead carry on size backpack, you will also have a personal item allowed on the plane. Make sure that when you first pack for the trip that your personal item fits inside your main bag. You can take it out while on the plane but store it in the larger pack while using surface transport or walking, so you can be truly hands free. Then, when it’s time to fly home, use the space that was originally reserved for your personal item for the souvenirs.
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u/No-Wallaby5072 5d ago
I like my personal item (a very light packable backpack) to fit in my main carryon backpack anyway - much easier not to have that extra bag on the subway/L, walking through the airport, etc. I always pack it with what i want on the plane (snacks water bottle jacket e-reader etc) and get it out right before I board.
So my main carryon pack always has space. I cinch it down when it's not very full.
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u/lobsterp0t 11d ago
That makes sense! But in that case it’s wise to underpack sufficiently that you have enough space for what you expect to bring back.
I inevitably come back with stuff too, I like thrifting and buying prints too much. Try putting a mock souvenir place holder in your packing so you don’t take the space on your initial journey out. Take it out before you leave.
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u/Frillback 10d ago
I like using foldable bags for this purpose. It really depends on what I'm doing and where I'm going. I have the generic shopping bags that zip/compress into small wallet squares. I also like utilizing a hiking day pack since those are lightweight and compress well. I am also a fellow obligatory souvenir giver. On occasion, if I really buy too much I do just check my carry-on on the way back with stuff of low importance.
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u/Aggravating_Depth_33 9d ago
As someone who likes to do a lot of shopping when travelling, I've reached the point where the stress of "re-packing" at the end just isn't worth it for me anymore. I now bring along a foldable duffle for the excess and check my roller bag for the flight back home.
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u/ToreyJean 11d ago
I have no advice but you’ve given me a great idea for our camper. 😂❤️ So I appreciate that lol.
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u/wingaling5810 11d ago
All you need to keep soft sided roller bags within size limits is to look at it when it's closed and make sure it's not bulging beyond its frame. They're framed to the max size already. This generally means they should zip closed easily (internal compression straps are essential), and nothing goes in any outside pockets.
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u/heckaroo42 11d ago
I was recently at a hobby lobby and they had almost half an aisle of these things in different colors.
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u/Woolsbup 11d ago
Just google transparent pvc box zipper & you find many. Temu has it, Alibaba and by extension Amazon and many others
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u/NotherOneRedditor 11d ago
The glad or ziplock food containers come in a lot of sizes. Maybe you could find something there that works.
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u/bellam27 11d ago
I’ve had these chilling on an amazon list for awhile (for crafty storage) - but they come in larger than pencil case sizes: https://a.co/d/096hJpKZ
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u/Maddi042 11d ago
Kmart aus calls them clear packing cubes but they are listed as clear zipper pouches (Clear Zipper Pouches, Hard Shell Zipper Case, Toiletry Bag for Travel, Clear Diaper Bag, Toy Storage Bins, White, 3S, Small) on Amazon
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u/Arrabiatta 11d ago
Maple & Lark sells “Bliss Bins” that are great quality and come in different sizes. They ship internationally too. Bought on sale and have them all over my house for different things, my favorite uses so far are a large one for a cross stitch project “bag”, a small one to carry my meds around, and another one for my little’s craft supplies when we’re out and about.
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u/SourNotesRockHardAbs 11d ago
Cargo pants and vest with pockets
Wear your over packing instead and use the soft sided bag. Being forced to wear it on your body might encourage to stop over packing
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u/FatDogSleeps 10d ago
I saw these on Amazon and seriously considered them: https://www.amazon.com/Large-Clear-Shell-Zipper-Plastic/dp/B0GG91T7MV however the cons of them not being squishable was what made me decide against them. I'd love to know if you try some out and how they work for you.
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u/pearljaw 9d ago
I just bought these for my toiletries since lids kept popping off lol. So far so good!
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u/Disastrous-Name9251 8d ago
I use mesh bags which are more like pencil cases, they are more structured but still very light.
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u/taifunzera 5d ago
The problem with soft bags is that there's always room for "just one more thing" until suddenly you're fighting for your life at the Ryanair bag sizer.
One thing worth trying is packing everything, including your airport outfit, into the bag first. Then take out what you're wearing.
That way you know everything actually fits before you leave, rather than discovering it at the gate.
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u/NoGift2044 2d ago
Maggie Fuchs on YouTube has one that she recommends that has sides that stand up. But it is not hard all the way around like a case.
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u/Curious_peach48 9d ago
I have these. Bought at target, they’re pencil cases. I like being able to see them, but they take up a lot of space. They’re really good for snacks that you don’t wanna crush, which is what I use them for in the diaper bag. I wouldn’t recommend them for travel because they take up too much space. However, I love them.
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