Stuff sacks for dirty clothes / shoes?

[pretzelb]

While browsing REI I noticed a variety of stuff sacks for backpacking like this one http://www.rei.com/product/766293. What I was wondering is if it would work for keeping my dirty sneakers from smelling up my luggage. Right now I take a plastic bag and wrap my sneakers in them and then pack them into my bag. This works but it's not really green because of the plastic bag. These stuff sacks say they can keep water out so would that mean they keep the smell in? I'm not a backpacker so this isn't something I'm familiar with.

[ratdeau]

TB Packing cubes Fabric/Fabric are done for that

[pretzelb]

TB Packing cubes Fabric/Fabric are done for that

Don't all the packing cubes have at least some mesh to allow air to flow back and forth? That won't keep the smell of my running shoes away from the rest of my stuff at all.

[Darcy]

No: the Fabric/Fabric packing cubes have no mesh.

[pretzelb]

No: the Fabric/Fabric packing cubes have no mesh.

I must have bought the mesh ones then. Do you think the zippers are air proof? Or to be crude, are they smell proof? If you put a bunch of dirty laundry in one next to your clean clothes, wouldn't the clean clothes start to smell if in the same bag?

If the fabric/fabric cube would work I could get one to solve my issue.

[aiethabell]

You could try a fabric/fabric cube, but for really stinky, wet (damp shoes/socks, wet bathing suit/trunks), and/or hold-it-at-arm's-length dirty there's nothing like a plastic bag.

You could try an Eagle Creek compression bag for really smelly stuff; just make sure you burp all the air out when you seal it and nothing's going through that plastic. Heavy, reinforced, and durable, it will outlast any grocery bag or trash bag on the market. Dr. Martens also makes a zip-up shoe sack in clear plastic for dirty shoes, it's smaller than the Eagle Creek one.

Don't get me wrong: I love Tom Bihn's Cubes. But really stinky stuff means you'll have to wash the fabric sooner or later, and that just hastens wear. I'd use the cubes for clean and still use plastic for the dirty or smelly.

Want to reuse something plastic? Old American Tourister or Samsonite Wetbags are usually at Goodwill or Salvation Army. Mostly $1. Do a good deed and reuse something that way! Or buy a used oilcloth tablecloth and sew up your own shoe bag. If you're worried about smell you could sew in velcro and use a roll-down top like a kayak bag.

Matter of fact, you could buy a Seal Line wet bag (it's for boating) and be done with it; if you're into boating, you might already have one. They're airtight and pretty indestructible. Just spring for the lightest, smallest one which will fit your shoes. Don't like the price? Try Craigslist.

[backpack]

Shoes and dirty laundry are far too "yukky" for my beautiful TB Fabric Cubes.

A disposable grocery bag can be used at least three or four times.

1 for holding the groceries from store to house.
2 for transporting groceries, wrapped snack or clean things.
3 to wrap shoes or dirty laundry while traveling.
4 to be used as a garbage bag.

Using reusable bags is always better but sometimes grocery shopping is done on the spur of the moment.