Best Packing for Europe: Packing Cubes or Rolling Clothes 

I put rolled clothes in the packing cube! 😅 this technique has been working quite well so far, especially with the compression cubes that I purchased last year

I agree with you 100% that you can definitely fit more in your suitcase when rolling instead of packing cubes. Thank you for posting! Best, Angela

I also roll my clothes and use packing cubes. I find them especially helpful when on a cruise. I don’t unpack the cubes just put them on the shelves or in the drawers. I also bring an empty packing cube that I fill daily with dirty laundry. I can pack up on the last night of my trip in just a few minutes because everything except dresses are already in the cubes. Using the cubes also works well when traveling from hotel to hotel.

I swear by rolling my clothes in my suitcases whether it be my carryon or checked baggage. It saves much space. I also have things grouped so it's still fairly organized. My under garments I keep on the side pouches that are usually built inside most cases; they're extremely helpful.

Lol. I’m packing TODAY for a two-month Europe trip that starts tomorrow. I’m all about packing cubes for big trips. Such a convenient way to organize.

I have watched your video years ago on rolling clothes and never looked backed since! Game changer, and no creases!

I've sworn by packing cubes for years! However, lately I've found that rolling w/out cubes (except for undies) actually affords me more space in my luggage. I'm strictly a coo traveler. Great video!

This is the video I need. Idk why but I’ve yet to get on the packing cube train. I prefer rolling but I do a lot of smaller trips with carry on only

Jocelyn, Great job in packing. My dad taught me to pack my clothes by rolling them up. He was in the military and had to take many trips home and this is the way he could carry more things in less space.

Packing cubes every time, it doesn't matter if it's a long or short trip. Everything is kept neat and organized, a messy suitcase is just not something I want to deal with.

Maybe not a popular opinion but I tried compression cubes and didn’t like them. They ended up a weird shape, bigger in the middle no matter how hard I tried. It made it more difficult to use all the space in my carry on. We just got back from 12 days in Italy and I laid my pants flat first, then packed under clothes in one regular packing cube and my shirts in another (both rolled). One pair of sandals, toilet bag and a few small necessities like laundry sheets, hand wipes etc. I didn’t have to expand my suitcase and I could lift it up by myself. That’s another potential issue with compression cubes. They make more space, you pack more and your suitcase ends up heavy. This has also worked for a week long trip to France in December. I did use the bags you can roll out the air for outer wear but we had the lightest weight winter jackets we could find. It’s all doable for carry on only.

I agree: big cubes are hard because they take up a lot of space and since they're packed tightly, they make it really unflexible vs when you roll clothes, you can really squish them in. When we went to Europe for three weeks with just a backpack, I kept undergarments in one small bag and three dresses and three tops rolled up in another smallish one. I ended up liking the set up and had extra room for pajamas, sweater (both of which were outside the cube/bag), bag for toiletries, make up and one extra pair of shoes. But yes, everyone is different so do what works best for you!

I rolled in my cubes and did carry only for 2 weeks in europe. I even brought stuff i ended up not wearing. Cant wait to do it again!

My 13yo is away with school for 3 weeks, (staying in a different place every few days). There’s no opportunity for laundry - probably because there’s about 100 kids. (I’ve supplied hand wash for underwear anyway). Decided that packing cubes where the only way to go! One cube for tops, one for shorts and trousers, etc. She just needs to grab the cube she needs and pick the item she needs. Otherwise, her whole case is going to be chaos within two days….

My daughter and I packed most clothing and toiletry stuff in ziplock bags of different sizes. We also took dryer sheets and downy unstoppable samples from Costco in our suitcases and extra gallon ziplocks for dirty clothes and wet bathing suits, etc. We could use the extra bags for sandwiches, picnic stuff, etc. I also used a "butterfly" wallet that is small and fits in my bra and my phone on top and room keys went in the other side of my bra! I didn't have to worry about being pick-pocketed since no one knew where my stuff was!! 😉

I love the "SP" from the good ol' VHS days.

Always used packing cubes for shorter trips, but went away for a couple months with just a 40L bag and compression sacks saved my life! Had one tiny packing cube for smaller things but the rest of my clothes were in two 8L compression sacks 🙏🏻🙏🏻

I sometimes try both plus vacuum bags for items that I don’t mind being wrinkly.

I use packing cubes to keep things neat, but I find the large cubes aren’t great in a carryon sized suitcase. It’s hard to arrange them to maximize space. The small ones are great for organizing socks and underwear, and also electronics and other accessories. I need to find some medium-sized packing cubes that are just big enough to hold folded, rolled shirts or pants. I think that’ll make it easier to maximize the use of space inside the bag. I do roll almost everything I put into the packing cubes.

I tend to roll my clothes into a medium size and small compression cube, versus folding them in. A shirt folder is also used on top of everything in 35L bag. My camera and toiletries will be with my personal item.

This is very helpful. Thank you for posting this.

I have gotten my things down to ONE BACKPACK CARRY ON and a multi-pocket vest. The bottom portion of the backpack is all my camera equipment. I also pack socks and underwear as packing material for lenses. I carry the camera around my neck. Three changes of pants and shirts, toiletries and back up itinerary are in the upper pack. The vest has ID, passport, keys, money (US and country traveling to), maps, any other details. This means I save huge amounts of time waiting. I just check in, get on, get off and go out the door. 😊

We used to pack socks into our shoes.

I prefer rolling, you proved that the little rolls fill all the available space, especially at the start of packing around the handle areas at the suitcase bottom that is not flat.

What do you do with the duffel bag filed with items you buy? Are you allowed to carry that in the plane as well as your personal item bag?

My husband is a pilot. He packs for a couple weeks at a time, and for multiple climates because he could be in Costa Rica one day and Iceland the next. He would be the first to tell you not to use packing cubes, and rolling doesn’t work as well as most think it does. He gets really good at Tetris. 😂 Learn to fold clothing different ways to make them smaller, and pack bare minimum.

compression packing cubes with rolled clothes inside the cubes are the perfect match. compression cubes are the real game changer.

I don’t use compression cubes but I do use packing cubes to keep organized. I use a combo of rolling and folding inside the cubes. This has worked extremely well. Using compression creates an illusion of being able to pack more resulting in too heavy luggage!

How about packing rolled clothings in the cubes? That's how I usually use them! Also using multiple smaller cubes, instead of a big one might helps as well :)

I like packing cubes. That said, my favorite way to pack is to take all the clothes, underwear, socks that my hoarder self has found so difficult to part with...and dump it into my bag. Then, I discard the clothes as I travel--either giving them to hotel staff in underdeveloped countries, or simply leaving them behind. By the end, I just have a few favorites and outerwear. And then I have a huge suitcase for souvenirs. I also keep a collapsible LeSportsac duffle bag.

Great video Jocelyn! You are clearly the superhero of your traveling family! My secret to packing is be flexible. Clothes are different weights and sizes depending on when and where you go. Learn how to roll, use packing cubes and fold. Downsizing makeup always helps me. How much eyeshadow am i actually going to use.

Came for the packing fun, stayed for the hanging book lamp. How did I not know these existed!?

I've done carryon for two days and will be doing it again for four days next month. I used to be a horrible packer and have learned a lot from my mistakes. For me, cubes are a big part in being a better packer. I roll my clothes up in them and won't use them all if it's not needed. I've gotten a lot into my 20 inch suitcase. I also carry on a backpack for my laptop and camera gear. Packing cubes keep me organized and I'm not having to spend time repacking before leaving. I've been using them for a few years now. My husband doesn't use them and he rolls as well but he is always having to repack before we leave, which starts with a big messy pile of clothes outside of the suitcase. Then he spends an good hour or so packing lol. Maybe it's just him.

Great example of the differences in how you pack make. One size or packing method does not fit all! We all take different items depending upon our needs and preferences.

I like the packing cubes for organizing.

Good job! I use smaller packing cubes and roll my clothes in them, more to reduce wrinkles than space. And it makes it easier to stay organized on those trips where I move every other day. I don't like compression bags; it makes me pack heavier and I want to keep the filled suitcase at 20 pounds or less.

Hey Walter! I just met you in Leonardo’s hotel with my dad. It was exciting to see you! I hope you enjoy your stay in Isreal!

If you call that a carry on bag, how do you get past the weight restrictions that so many airlines have? By the way I am a packing cube fan, particularly for longer trips with multiple stops.

I agree. Roll, roll, roll. We usually head to the UK & Ireland (or Europe, too) for 3 weeks at a time. However, we do take 1 medium suitcase each (never large) and share one carry-on. That seems to cover what we need for our adventures, weather and shopping. We also tend to base at an AirBNB for a week before moving on so aren't lugging the luggage about too much. I have the same Longchamp bag. :) Perfect if we need an extra carry-on for the return trip.

I find compression packing cubes are helpful for winter stuff that is bulky but can be squashed down a lot, and I only use the small/medium sizes. But yes for warmer weather being able to shove rolled up clothes in whatever space you can find works better! Haha

I’ve had success with the clothes burrito method, aka alternating folding.

I packed my 14 year old for a school trip to Europe and rolled everything. We discovered it's not just about how you pack the the clothes but what the clothes are made of. Her 100% cotton tshirts rolled up a lot bigger than little polyester blouses. We rolled everything and she had room for two pairs of shoes and a whole box of kind bars.

Excellent ❤

I roll my clothes and then put them in packing cubes

1) It is the best idea to roll clothes and then use cubes, 2) few smaller cubes are better option/easier to pack then 3 big ones - you can put them in different ways to use whole space of suitcase, 3) not all cubes would be good to all suitcases/backpack and even if most of the time you would pack successfully with owned cubs doesn't mean it would be that way all the time. It depends on what else you need to pack (for example sometimes you would have chunky trainers on thick sole and other time two pairs of flat sandals, and even though they take same amount of space, they don't take the same space), 4) it didn't seem like you used that compression cubes to the fullest - they looked quite empty, hence : didn't worked as they should. I think you would be able to fit all those clothes to 2 of 3 of your cubes - and one of those 2 would be that smallest one! EDIT: It is also good to have more types/sizes of cubes, so you can switch to what you need on that exact trip. My first ones was waaay too big for carry on I usually travel with, so I bought smaller ones (set from IKEA) and it is easier to pack now.

Tell us about that suitcase. It looks like what I'm looking for.

I found packing cubes are great to keep yourself organized, nothing sucks more than being disorganized in your bag. I have one cube for shirts and jeans, one for underwear, one for socks and I have one empty for laundry. This way you know how much of which item you have and it all stays separate and clean. If I can't bring one or two things because of having to make room for the cubes, then so be it.

Now I want to see a companion packing video of hoe w Mark packs his carry on!

Whoa!! …And the Packing Queen 👸 award 🥇 goes to…….🎉😂 Great job

Nice video! What brand is your rolling carry on bag ?

Please tell us the brand/model of the carry on suitcase you are using. Thanks.

I stuff everything in a large personal bag so I don't pay any fees and it makes it easier.

Which Osprey bag is this? I’m obsessed with bags and always looks for ideal bags for different trips. My wife and I took 36L Osprey rolling backpack bags for our 2 week Italy trip last year. Loved them, but ended up not using the backpack straps (got that because of Venice).

what if you rolled and then put in a compression cube? i did something similar with zip lock bags. i don't have compression cubes.

I wonder if rolling the clothes and then putting them into compression bags or packing cubes could work.

What is that suitcase? Looks cool

Once I learned the rolling method when packing I never looked back. Only recently I began also utilizing packing cubes. I roll all my underwear, sleepwear, and shirts and pack them in the smaller packing cubes. My jeans or trousers are rolled but not packed into the cubes as I found the larger cubes to be less efficient for those and take up too much room. I don’t use the compression bags because I found them too unyielding/stiff and not sufficiently “squishable” when playing the Tetris packing game. My cubes are the regular cubes and if I pack correctly I find it works better for me as it organizes each type of clothing in its own cube. If I am really efficient I can pack a smaller cube into a larger one if there is room. It just keeps things neater and tidier for me. Socks are stuffed into the toes of shoes if I happen to pack a second pair and shoes have their own shoe bag to keep the dirty soles from touching clothes. I’ve pared down my makeup to a bag about half the size shown in the video( mascara, blush, tinted moisturizer, tinted lipgloss, 4 color eye shadow palette), and sometimes pack a curling/ flat iron. I keep a gallon ziplock bag to put my dirty laundry in. Jocelyn shows just how much you can pack into a carryon if you do it right.

I always use just one small packing cube for socks, pjs and underwear and roll everything else. On the way back home my dirty clothes end up in the packing cube.

What type brand is your bag ? Is it a backpack or suitcase on wheels ? I am goi g to Europe for 7 weeks and not sure which way to go

Hi! How do you handle loundry in Europe? Do you make sure your accomodation has washer/dryer? TIA

What’s the brand of the carry on? I love it

Team Roll! 😁

Nice experiment. Thanks for doing this comparison. I’m in the market for a carry on suitcase, “roll aboard” style, like yours. Do you recommend it? Thanks.

I also rolled the clothes before putting them into the cubes. I prefer smaller packing cubes, I think the big ones are just too bulky.

Best of both worlds… do both together. That's what I do.

G'day from Telopea Sydney Australia

Which makes less wrinkles in the cloths cubes or rolling ? Also love you saying tennis shoes and not sneakers!!

Love my packing cubes for my checked bag, they don’t work that well for my carry on.

I roll my pants, use packing cubes for underwear & socks, but I stack my shirts on top of each other and fold them up into one unit. I try to smooth them out as I fold them so they are not too wrinkly. I wear my bulkiest shoes and try to stick to only 1-2 extra shoes. Lately, in England the hotels are not putting a top sheet on the beds, just the comforter. It is way to warm for me, so remember to add a small twin size top bedsheet if you have room. I guess you could ask for an extra sheet at the hotel though…

Look up Grunt Roles ( making roles out of a compete outfit with the socks or Leg portion folding in as a shell ). That's one of the tricks the Military uses for packs and hiking with a lot of weight and stuff when it needs to be evenly distributed also. If you put grunt roles into a water proofing bags that will compress and let air out and keep it out when you press down on it you can pack even more then what you packed. The military saying is make it fit. Everyone who goes through boot camp says no way I can fit all that I am screwed. Then they are shown how and trust me you can make it fit haha. I am pretty sure if you combine some military techniques with hiking and prepper techniques you can work some crazy magic. Somethings preppers do are better because they consider what items they can use for multiple things that might look unconventional at first. I say hiking also because you still have to be practical with what you take through an airport or drive with. Nothing wrong with how she packs either, that's the way I used to pack but man it sucks when it is time to leave and check out. Just keep it in a role until you need it. I have traveled a lot also and gotten small classes on it in the military for what that is worth. I hope that helps someone who struggles with packing hardcore like I used to. It won't take you longer then a few videos of that stuff to completely change the game for you.

I use packing cubes, but I roll the cloths and place them in the cubes.

I just packed for my trip to the UK by rolling and using a couple packing cubes. I had more room than using packing cubes for everything

Rolling my clothes seems to work best for me.

Rolling for me, never used packing cubes. If I'm packing shoes I'll also stuff my socks into the shoes so that space isn't wasted!

Could you please do a video on what shoes to bring to Europe?

Great video, I am always in the same situation with space so I choose to take a larger bag and check in if it is non stop if connection I take less. When rolling clothes I end up in a mess. Is there is special trick to roiling clothes to stay neat and organized?

👍😊

I love compression cubes. You have to be sure to flatten items thn and use the corners .I use a small lightweight backpack that folds into the palm of your hand for shopping.

Interesting. I use 2 or 3 packing cubes and fill them with a mix of folded and rolled clothing. I like the organization of having an underwear/sock cube, a shirt cube and a pants cube. But realistically, i really need a dirty clothes cube because i generally keep them rolled up in a sturdy plastic bag. I travel for 5 to 8 months at a time w a 44 liter pack, no wheels so this is something i enjoy seeing other people explore. I am currengly looking for a messenger bag, 15 to 25 liter, to complement my 44L pack but no luck so far.

For me, it’s the shoes that never fit! I can get the clothes in the carryon but I always end up w/my shoes in my personal item backpack 😩

Love this video. I use a combination. Just depends. (Do you have a link for the duffel you pack? Thanks!)

Hi Joslyn, interesting video thanks, I always bring a large case but overheated luggage is what I’ll try next time I fly. Question - do you incur a penalty fee on your return flight for filling that empty duffle bag with shop bought sales clothing?

For carry on, medium cubes are the largest one should use. Also, perhaps you could have put the same items in the back pocket for both packing trials. Also when I don't use packing cubes I find myself unpacking the whole thing everytime I need something. BTW- do you have a clear bag for liquids? And where would that go?

Lots of smaller cubes instead of using the big ones seem to work.

Why just one? I do both. I place rolled clothes inside packing cubes

Interesting...my question is what other shoes are you bringing on your trip? Because the tennis shoes looked bulky. Why not wear those and bring say a pair of sandals and put the sandals in the bag? Also the jacket...why not wear it on the plane? It can always be taken off and used as a blanket or rolled up as a pillow. Then you would have more room in the bag. I prefer the compression cubes because they are an extra layer of protection from getting dirty.

Hi! Thanks for the video! I was wondering about weight....most intercontinental flights are strict with weighing. TAP Portugal is 22 lbs. combined for both carryon and personal and that's including the weight of the luggage. Mine was a 5lb. carry on so that left with me with only 17lbs for all items including a hand purse/under seat personal bag. Air France is similar.. I rolled everything as tight as a Tootsie Roll and barely made it. How has that been for you as that is a lot of stuff you skillfully managed to get in your carry on.... Thank you.

Suitcase on the bed?

Your bag is also much bigger than almost all European airlines will allow these days as carry on baggage

I'm confused. You did a combo of rolling and packing cubes, right? So it wasn't an either/or solution.

Pack, then remove half of it for a 7 to 10 day or under trip.

What about the weight restrictions?

Are you going to Egypt and Ethiopia this year

Too many things for a carry-on luggage. If you buy something during your trip: no space available. Shoe bags are necessary, for hygienic reasons. Packing cubes are a must, even if it takes more space than to roll.

Why not roll clothes in packing cubes?

Vacuum bags beat both

Jocelyn, you have made a rookie mistake, you put the shoes in and there was nothing in the shoes. My goodness, that is a bunch of wasted space. Perfect place to store smalls - like socks, underwear, etc.

Personally love checked bags because there's so much space I can just toss stuff inside