Kiva RSK-05201 Packing Cube Set - Black

These organizers are sensational! Light, sturdy, partially see-through, compressible, and conveniently sized. The zippers work easily and well. And the clever design maintains airflow, so clothes stay fresh and fabrics don't start to disintegrate (as they do in air-tight containers). I use them even at home, especially for accessories and for different types of clean underwear, so I can stack multiples easily and yet quickly identify which ones I need for today's outfits. When I need to travel, it's a simple matter to grab the right organizers, take out any of the contents that exceed my requirements for that particular trip (leave the excess on the shelf for use on my return!), and toss into any size luggage (even just an attache) for space-saving convenience. Even a single piece of underwear can be conveniently stored in a case in practically no space, because the case compresses (and can even be twisted or scrunched somewhat if needed, which is not true of many competitive cases). Keeps loose things from cluttering up a suitcase, and also keeps TSA handlers from having to touch individual items (they can see AND squeeze from outside -- which probably makes their job easier, too -- and yet still open each individual case conveniently if they need to do so). This system keeps both home closet and suitcases en route organized, while also streamlining my packing. Even makes laundry simple to put away, and eliminates need for bureau drawers. Hard to beat! I love 'em.

After 25 years of international business travel, I only recently discovered packing cubes. Honestly, I thought they were a gimmick until I tried them. If you take trips where you're moving to a different city/hotel every couple of days, packing cubes are terrific, as they let you "unpack without unpacking" -- i.e., you can remove the cubes to get at your stuff, but still repack your suitcase in under a minute the next morning just by popping all the cubes back in place. They also keep items (especially business shirts) neater, and they're very handy when a security screener needs to go through your bag. My packing cubes paid for themselves the first time I had to go through a secondary security screening at the airport. In terms of specific brands and models of packing cubes, I prefer the eBags medium-sized cubes over the Rick Steves cubes. Two of the eBags medium cubes fit perfectly side-by-side in a typical 21" carry-on roller-style suitcase (e.g., the eBags TLS mini or the Rick Steves 21" carry-on roller, both of which I use), whereas the Rick Steves smaller cubes leave a lot of extra space on the sides. Also, the eBags cubes are shorter (about 3" vs. 5" for the Rick Steves cubes). Personally, I prefer to use more of the shorter cubes, with different types of items in each cube (e.g., shirts in one cube, underwear in another, etc.), rather than stuffing a lot of different stuff into a larger cube. Having said that, packing style is a matter of personal preference, and others may prefer the deeper and smaller Rick Steves cubes, so the real question is quality and durability. Both the eBags and the Rick Steves cubes are well made, and the zippers on both work well. I think the eBags cubes will be more durable over time, though. The Rick Steves cubes are mesh on all sides. The eBags cubes use a very light, solid fabric (like parachute clothe) on the sides and bottom, with mesh on the top so you can see what's in the cube. I think the parachute clothe (which is reinforced with mesh) will last much better than pure mesh, and it doesn't get snagged on things as easily. The fabric doesn't add any discernible weight relative to all mesh, as far as I can tell. Whichever brand you get, it's worth the investment. Packing cubes really do make travel easier. UPDATE 4 July 2012: When I wrote the above review, I speculated that the eBags cubes would be more durable. Sure enough, the mesh of the Rick Steves packing cube has torn around one of the seams, but the eBags cubes (which I've used more heavily) are still going strong with no signs of wear.

These are our 2nd set. I purchased these for myself several years ago for a 2 week trip to Italy. I could not believe how helpful they were in keeping my clothes neatly organized and easy to find. We've taken several other long trips to Europe and in the US, and these have become indispensable to me. My wife finally "borrowed" a couple of them from me on our last short trip, and realized how great they are. So - I bought her this set for Christmas this year (so I can have mine back!). They really are terrific in helping you stay organized. I will usually use a small one to keep my socks & handkerchiefs, another for underwear and maybe a belt or two (rolled up of course), and the large one for shirts or other larger items, depending on the nature of the travel. When we arrive at our destination, I simply pull out a cube and remove what I need, zip it back up and put it back. Everything stays in place and easy to find the next time. Once I've emptied a cube, it is then used to store my dirty laundry (smaller items), again, reducing the clutter in my suitcase. Obviously, I highly recommend these for any traveler. (NOTE: There are a few other brands that look equally good, so I wouldn't necessarily say the Rick Steves version are the best, though mine have held up well despite some rigorous use over the past 6 years).

I recently used these to pack for my honeymoon to use with my RS suitcase/bag, I enjoyed the structure they provided to the softsided luggage! I was really able to pack a lot and have it compressed into convenient cubes for travel; at the airport it was easy to open my bag and have them check my stuff, tidy and swift through security. I would recommend two sets per RS bag if you want everything in these travel cubes. One set let you lay down a full base layer and then I was able to add larger folded items on top so it was still great, but I would have liked having 2 sets. Each cube has two zipper pulls so you can get at the contents easily. The material is vented with a bit of stretch, so it is nice to overpack a little and then zip it all down -- like a packing girddle :) Highly recommend!