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ABOVE: Eagle Creek's Pack-It Double Cube
(left) and the smaller Padded Half-Cube (shown enlarged at right) are useful
tools in the battle against suitcase clutter.
When Eagle Creek
introduced its packing cubes a few years ago, it made the world a better place
for travelers who'd been organizing their packables with shoeboxes, corrugated
cartons, and hotel laundry bags. The cubes, which are available as the
Pack-It Cube system, combine a lightweight but sturdy synthetic fabric with
a zippered mesh top. I have a set of three that I got from Magellan's, and I'm
addicted to their convenience. The cubes offer several benefits:
They make it easier to pack and unpack. Once you've
figured out the most efficient way to organize your suitcase, you can load up
the cubes and just drop them into your bag. Later, when you reach your hotel,
you can take the cubes from your suitcase and transfer them directly to a closet
or drawer.
They protect items from loss or wrinkling during security and
customs inspections. Instead of rummaging around in your suitcase, the
inspector can quickly lift the cubes for visual inspection, squeezing, or
chemical swiping and put them back without creating a jumble.
They make it easier to pack up guidebooks, brochures, and
other items for the trip home. After I've been on a trip, I use the
Pack-It
Half Cube to carry large-format books, magazines, brochures and press kits.
The
Pack-It Quarter Cube is used for smaller books, brochures, and maps.
Newer products in the Pack-It system include padded cubes for
fragile items (use socks for additional protection), a two-sided cube (move
clothes from one side to the other as they get dirty), and a variety of folders
and sacks. (I use a
Pack-It Folder to hold shirts.)
Magellan's now offers its own brand of
Mesh Packing Cubes. These products are designed for easier security checks at
airports, where they allow inspectors to view the contents of a cube or pocket
from all sides.
Finally, if you're carrying bottles or other breakables,
consider the inflatable
Protect-a-Wrap to cushion your fragile items.
Next page:
Folding suitcase
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