Cubes vs folding

[pretzelb]

Anyone have lots of experience with packing with cubes vs folding (ala Doug at One Bag)? I briefly tried folding using Doug's method and an Air Boss and after an adjustment period it did appear to result in nicely flat and unwrinkled clothes upon arrival. I am starting to get used to the cubes but I think it's going to result in wrinkles no matter what. Since I lack experience on this I thought I'd ask for others to chime in. I resisted the folding idea and the value of tie downs that Doug likes so much but as I use cubes more I start to see the wisdom in what he was saying.

[ratdeau]

I do bundlewrapping for the biggest packing cube. It works well. I use a rectangular core to wrap cloth around.

[GaryS]

In her Aeronaut my wife uses the bundle wrapping method and puts it in a 17.5" x 12.75" x 3.25" packing cube. I use an Eagle Creek 15" "Pack It" folder for my shirts and just fold up pants and put them into my 17.5" x 12.75" x 3.25" packing cube. She likes her method and I like mine.

[thalweg]

I don't have an Aeronaut (YET! ) or any TB packing cubes but I have tried a variety of packing strategies with other bags and Eagle Creek packing supplies. I love the organization of packing with all the special folders for shirts, trouseurs, etc. plus having my socks and underwear in separate zip up fabric containers but I'm starting to come to the conclusion that I am more of an Oscar than a Felix and packing takes a lot longer and my bag is much heavier with all these extra containers.

My solution has been to mostly buy special wrinkle free travel clothes from places like Travelsmith. The stuff doesn't seem to wrinkle. The other part of me is that I am comfortable being a bit rumpled and virtually any hotel I stay at has an iron. I figure why iron before traveling when I can do it there if I really need to (goes along with my Ocsar nature).

I also think that as long as you don't just crumple your clothes in a wad they will arrive fairly unwrinkled whether you roll, pack-in cubes, or whatever. Happy solstice!

[moriond]

Anyone have lots of experience with packing with cubes vs folding (ala Doug at One Bag)? I briefly tried folding using Doug's method and an Air Boss and after an adjustment period it did appear to result in nicely flat and unwrinkled clothes upon arrival. I am starting to get used to the cubes but I think it's going to result in wrinkles no matter what. Since I lack experience on this I thought I'd ask for others to chime in.

Try reading eristick's post and surrounding posts in that thread, then follow the link in her post to pictures showing bundle wrapping combined with using the packing cubes.

[BJ Nemeth]

I carry a small (empty) spray bottle in my toiletry bag, which I use to wet down my hair with water after showering. (I'm a guy with very short/thin hair, and it dries very quickly.) Whenever I arrive at my destination, I immediately unpack my clothes and put them on hangers. Then I spray them all with a light mist of water, stretching out the wrinkles on the clothes. Then I hang them up, still moist.

By morning, my clothes are effectively wrinkle-free. (At least for my purposes; I'm not a suit-and-tie guy, but I do wear long-sleeve button-down shirts when I work.) I have never had to use an iron.

I tried the Aeronaut/packing cube combination for the first time on an 8-day trip (I just returned), and they worked great!

[backpack]

I use plastic zipper bags in various size to transport non wrinkle clothes.

Shirts, jackets and pants go into two Pack It folders (same as GaryS) for travel in one area.

Extended travel in many cities with the need of dress clothes at each location
mean a huge garment bag that gets checked and yours truly praying that a
a rain or snow storm doesn't start the minute this bag is slooowly making its way from the luggage cart to the plane.

[JoyR]

I've traveled a number of places with my Aeronaut, and find the rolling method of packing works best for clothing. I use cubes for items like socks and undergraments.