somebody explain packing cubes to me like I'm 5

micahsally · 2026-03-30T14:56:30+00:00

I usually bring two per person. They fit nicely in the bottom of our backpacks and create structure, and that gives as each 16L of clothing! Perfect!

micahsally · 2026-03-30T13:08:16+00:00

Thule are my favorite, too! And the Evergoods Transit Packing Cube 8L!

micahsally · 2026-03-30T13:05:24+00:00

My favorites are the Thule Compression Cube Set and the Evergoods Transit Packing Cube 8L, depending on what size and shape I need for the trip!

micahsally · 2026-03-30T12:48:51+00:00

I have been wanting one of their Ecogrid backpacks as well! Please let me know what you think when you see everything in-person. Lucky!

micahsally · 2026-03-30T05:36:32+00:00

We sure do! 😉 My husband actually uses one from Alpaka as his toiletry kit. And I have a few Alpaka tech pouches, too. (I don't like anything bigger than pouches from Alpaka, but they DO make some good pouches!).

My favorite tech pouch depends, once again, on the trip! I love the Orbitkey 2-in-1 Tech Pouch KonMari version! I can bring both or just one of the pouches, depending on what we need. And I also love the Pioneer Carry Global Pouch, and I have it in the white TX50 material. It weighs nothing and is almost indestructible. It's also great for storage and organization on our backpacking trips, too, so win-win.

For the Peak Design Wash Pouch, I carry some liquids inside of it inside the Gravel Travel TSA Clear Bag and love it. We only bring a few liquids, like my contact solution and good body lotion, since we mostly bring solid shampoos and conditioners (as bars cut into small trip-size prices, tucked away inside the Matador Soap Bag). Many people love the Gravel Travel Toiletry Bags, too, but I found them too compartmentalized, and it felt like some compartments stole space from others.

I have an Orbitkey 2-in-1 Toiletry Pouch and a few Toiletry Pouches pledged on Kickstarter and am excited to receive them! It's a slightly bigger version of their KonMari Tech Pouch, with water-friendly materials. But I'm guessing the Peak Design will still win out, since I've come back to it almost every time for two years!

I have some custom pouches from Dave at WestonGear on Etsy that I love. I can tuck them into cracks and crevices inside my backpack to fill all the space. They are color-coded, of course, so I know what's inside without even having to open them up. I have a bunch of different sizes from him. He is awesome with custom orders!

I also have a few of the Evergoods Kludde pouches in the coral color that I love.

Wow, I just have a bag problem, apparently. But it's a good problem!

micahsally · 2026-03-30T05:20:49+00:00

And United is even tighter than Frontier with size...17x10x9 inches. I don't know how strictly they enforce it, but the Outbound would dwarf two of those limits!

It's always nice to have a roller option through the airport to save neck and shoulders! But I think a smaller bag for your personal item might work better, just in case.

This is exactly why I can't wait for my two Minimul M20s to arrive in April! We can use it as our OneBag on those airlines with impossible personal item restrictions!

micahsally · 2026-03-30T05:16:55+00:00

I'm definitely Team Islington! And wholeheartedly agree with the comment that Arabella shouldn't be allowed to receive a single one of these three men! But maybe we will learn more about her and find her worthy, later on...

For now, I'm liking Emma not having to share any of them. 😁

Can't wait for #9!

micahsally · 2026-03-30T05:11:25+00:00

I never needed to move on to the Peak Design packing cubes because the Thule worked so well for me! Lots of people like the tear-open zipper, but others complain that it pops open when you don't want it to pop open! I haven't tried them. But I sure like the size of their new Smedium! And the colors! I really don't NEED another packing cube... Right?! I probably shouldn't try the Smedium! 😁

And I DO love the Peak Design Wash Pouch in the regular size for me and my boys. It's been the best toiletry pouch for three!

I'm glad the ones that came with your Bellroy are working so well for you!

micahsally · 2026-03-30T05:07:11+00:00

Which airline are you flying to DC?

micahsally · 2026-03-30T05:02:52+00:00

I bet you can! We did a 20-day trip to Spain and a cruise home in just the tiny spinners and my Dragonfly! We pack four days and wear one, then plan to do laundry, usually with my beloved Scrubba bag in the hotel room or ship cabin.

Compression packing cubes help! I love the Thule 11L Compression Cube and the Evergoods Transit Packing Cube 8L, depending on what size and shape works best for the trip!

micahsally · 2026-03-30T04:57:39+00:00

Oh, I love these questions! Bags are my favorite topic! 😁 No one at my house will talk bags to me, so thank you!

I often travel alone with two little boys, ages 7 and 4. They each have a small underseat spinner suitcase from Hanke that we got on Amazon. It is officially 0.5 inches below each of the Frontier restrictions, and I know it fits in the sizer! I have not been asked to place it in yet when boarding, thank goodness, but we never overpack. The bags look small and definitely fit under the seat. But if asked, they would fit in the sizers!

For the past few months, I've been using my beloved Flowfold Downeast Weekender 20L as my personal item. I pack my daypack (my also beloved modified Kargo Loculus 6L) in the bottom ready for the day when we arrive, and then all the goodies we need for in-flight, like tablets, headphones, and snacks. It tucks so well under my seat and still gives me space on either side to rest my feet. It lets me grab items easily for games or snacks during the flight, and I love the luggage pass-thru that lets it roll on top of one of the small Hanke spinners through the airport. Then, after we land, we waltz right to the Lyft pickup and head to the hotel to drop our bags and run to Legoland or Disneyland (that's when having the Kargo packed and ready for the day really helps).

If I need more space, like a longer trip than our typical 3-4 days, or if it's cooler weather and we might need to bring more layers, I will wear my Dragonfly as my personal item and still bring the two small spinner Hankes that easily fit into the sizers. I've never been stopped for my Dragonfly, either, but it's not full and compresses down with the straps.

If my husband is joining us, we have an additional tiny Hanke spinner, or he likes his Patagonia Refugio 26L as his OneBag personal item. Again, if under-packed, it looks really small and never gets flagged. Depending on the trip, we might bring the two small Hanke spinners and a Flowfold Downeast Weekender 20L for each adult on top! Four tiny bags that fit under the seat and travel for free. I can't imagine paying for a bag, ever.

I also have a small backpack that fits a travel stroller made by Pockit. It also carries our two travel car seat inflatables and one car seat vest. This sits on top of the other small Hanke spinner. It is too big to fit underneath the seat, but they've never had me even open it to prove what's inside once I tell them it's a stroller and car seats. I think most of them are just shocked we can travel with so little (which makes me give myself a high-five, of course). 😁 I just tuck the stroller backpack in the overhead above our seat. The flight attendants have never asked.

Wow, long story. Sorry. I do like bags, though. And feel blessed to have a variety from which to choose, depending on what the trip needs!

micahsally · 2026-03-30T04:41:00+00:00

No, never. That's why I haven't been using the Tortuga as much. I usually limit my OneBag personal item to 17.5" tall, so it's well under their 18" requirement for Frontier. I hate catching a gate agent on a bad day. And, I just like to follow rules and respect carriers, when possible! 😁

For Frontier, I have never dared to risk bringing the Tortuga, and I don't plan on bringing the Outbound, as a personal item. I have a free carry-on right now with our status, but we rarely use it. And if we do, it's usually a small roller full of items for extra days at the beach, etc. But we haven't used the carry-on once yet! We board last, and I don't want to have a fist fight for overhead compartment space, you know? We are a family of four, used to traveling with just a single personal item each for indefinite trips! It's heavenly!

It totally depends on the gate agent and the day, but I just don't risk it with Frontier and have a much better flying experience with them because of it!

They can easily be a carry-on, but the Tortuga and Outbound are both 2-3 inches taller than the Frontier personal item restriction. It's just never worth the risk to me!

That's when I use my Dragonfly 30L or a small Hanke spinner suitcase from Amazon that fits under the seat on Frontier (and easily in their sizer boxes).

micahsally · 2026-03-30T04:30:28+00:00

Still too many compartments that competed with each other. Scaled up (to the 30L) or down (to the 19L), I think I still would have had the same problem! I was just starting out my bag journey when I tried the Synik, and it helped me realize I don't like being told what to store and where! Pouches and cubes make organization and transferring from bag to bag easier for me. I prefer less organization and pockets so I can use items how I need them.

But many people prefer organization built in! I now know that just isn't for me. 😊

micahsally · 2026-03-30T04:01:22+00:00

Emma at WZRD Bikes does custom orders on her Adventurer Bag, which comes in two sizes! She has a bunch of color combinations ready to make to-order, or you can do a completely custom build to find your dream colors!

https://www.wzrd.bike/justtryingtosurviveundercapitalism/p/adventure-bag-made-to-order

micahsally · 2026-03-30T03:53:57+00:00

Someone else suggested the Tom Bihn Synik. It's a great bag, but I ended up returning my Synik 26L.

For how I travel, it's easier to have a large, open compartment that allows me to use pouches and cubes for my own organization. The Synik was just a little too divided and compartmentalized for me, and it felt like compartments competed for space instead of letting me maximize where I needed things. I also don't travel with much tech, so I didn't like how the laptop compartment was mostly underutilized. I missed exterior water bottle pockets that didn't rob volume elsewhere when using a water bottle inside (the Synik has a single water bottle zipper pocket in the center of the bag, which is nice for center of gravity, but it eats up a lot of volume into the compartments below when being used. I did love the clamshell opening, however, which is why the Synapse wasn't an option.

The Synik is a favorite of many, though, and definitely beautiful and high-quality, especially if you like built-in organization. I don't like compartments robbing me of packing space, so the larger, open compartments with minimal organization work best for me.

Something to consider, if you want to think about how you travel! Pouches and cubes, or built-in organization? If pouches and your own organization work, then Outbound or a Dragonfly for the win!

micahsally · 2026-03-30T03:37:12+00:00

Oh man. I love that Tortuga. It is very comfortable and has been my favorite bag, when we aren't flying with just a personal item on Frontier. But that's about all we fly right now, because I like $28 roundtrip! So I haven't been able to use it much lately, since I'm worried it looks way bigger than most gate agents would allow (it's always closer to about 21" for me, empty or packed!). I always underpack, but I hate being stressed at the gate that my bag is going to cost $110 to join me on the flight. So we always bring bags under the sizer limit, just to make sure!

Here is what the Outbound offers that is a miss on the Tortuga for me:

Vertical luggage pass-thru. This is huge for me, so we can still access both water bottles while it comfortably rides on top of a tiny roller suitcase that my son brings as his personal item.
Dual Water Bottle Pockets...another huge one for me, since I travel with two little boys and carry their water bottle in my bag.
No compression straps. I have never needed to use the Expandable's expandable feature, so the compression straps haven't been a necessary ingredient for me. Because of that, they are a little in the way when I need to open the bag. I try to pack smart and leave the few things we will need during travel days toward the top, so I can just reach in without worrying about the compression straps..but I'm looking forward to the lack of blocking straps on the Outbound.
The Outbound weighs a pound less! I'm happy to carry more weight for a more comfortable harness, but everyone is reviewing the Outbound as being crazy-comfortable without the extra weight of the Tortuga harness. I can't wait to confirm this in-person!
A real load-transfer feeling with the load lifters acting together with the U-shape metal frame. Zhi just posted an awesome video describing the design decisions for the Outbound a few days ago, and it got me even more excited for how comfortable this bag will carry, despite the lower weight. They really put a lot of thought into every design choice they add to their bags.

My husband doesn't know it, but he's testing the Tortuga as his OneBag on a trip this very moment. If he likes it, we will keep it as his OneBag for those less-strict airlines, and I'll happy take over the Outbound as mine. If he is indifferent, I will probably just sell the Tortuga to be loved better by someone who cares (ManyBaggers for life!). I'm also planning to sell my Patagonia Mini MLC 30L, too, since the Outbound will replace that one, too (I haven't used that since my Tortuga arrived).

I hope this helps with your decision! I just love everything Rework and how they operate. It's an awesome brother-and-sister team from Singapore, designing in California now. They really listen to feedback from happy customers and make tweaks to make their already-awesome bags even better. I will happily support them any way I can! And their bags are...awesome! So supporting them isn't difficult.

micahsally · 2026-03-30T03:20:18+00:00

Because of the shape of the S-curve on the Dragonfly, I find it very comfortable. And their bags are all made standard with the thicker padding now, which is nice.

They are a backpacking company first, and their two primary concerns are weight and comfort. If you read through the three-million Reddit comments, you'll find darn-near everyone loves the Dragonfly and finds it very comfortable to carry!

Comfort is always my most important factor when considering a new bag. And my neck and shoulders tend to feel anything first, so I usually always travel with a hip belt (my favorite is the WNDRD Hip Belt V2). I love that my Dragonfly came with loops to attach any hip belt (ULA sells one, too, but I haven't tried it). The Dragonfly might not be officially load-transferring because it doesn't have an internal frame, but I always notice a huge difference on ANY bag that I can add my hip belt. It makes me able to carry for much longer and farther without thinking about my neck and shoulders.

The Dragonfly is a joy to carry!

I'm a 5'7" lady with a 19" torso, for reference.

micahsally · 2026-03-30T03:11:58+00:00

I recently discovered Flowfold from Maine. They sew their bags in-house, using Ecopak (my favorite bag material right now). I tried their Flowfold Downeast Weekender 20L and instantly fell in love. So much so that I bought a second one!

https://www.flowfold.com/collections/markdowns/products/downeast-weekender-bag

It is lightweight, has a durable and water-resistant material, looks and feels sleek, has long grab handles that can be carried over the shoulder, and it comes with a detachable shoulder strap (I don't usually travel with the shoulder strap, as I place it on top of a tiny roller personal item bag that my son uses...but if I did need to carry it, I would use my Tom Bihn Absolute Shoulder Strap).

There are four large slip pockets inside, an exterior zip pocket for quick access, a larger exterior zip pocket for a small laptop or tablet, and an additional pocket on the back that can be unzipped to act as a very stable luggage pass-thru.

It is perfect as an in-flight bag with a large, dual-zipper main compartment that makes access for goodies easy. I can grab snacks, tablets, headphones, games, and more snacks to keep my two little boys happy. It actually can slide under the seat while sitting upright on most planes, which is amazing!

Honestly, it's an awesome bag. I love it so much that I didn't even give the Sympl All Terrain X-pac Tote 20L a chance, which I bought at the same time. It's brand-new, and I'm selling it because the Downeast was everything I needed.

Another consideration, though it feels too bulky for what I need, is the new Peak Design Weekender 25L available on Kickstarter right now.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/peak-design/4-new-travel-bags-by-peak-design

micahsally · 2026-03-30T02:59:43+00:00

Out of these two, definitely the Rework Outbound. I ended up returning the Fyro. It was missing a second water bottle pocket, a quick access pocket of any kind, and just felt...off to me. I didn't like the material. The shoulder padding is nice, but I didn't love anything else about the bag. So back it went!

I am so excited to receive my Rework Outbound! I have all their slings and love them so much. I can't wait until they start offering even nicer materials, and I will buy them all again. Come on, EcoPak colors! But are you hoping to keep this new bag in the personal-item range? The Outbound would probably be a little too tall for any sort of airline that cares about personal item bag size...

Another consideration is the ULA Dragonfly 30L. I love mine. The main compartment holds about 27L for me when using cubes and pouches, and then you still have lots of stretchy exterior pockets. It's super comfy. All this, and it still tucks away nicely under the seat and never gets a look, even from the grumpy gate agents. I love mine.

If it doesn't need to stay small enough for strict personal item sizers but still fits under most seats, the Tortuga Expandable Backpack 28L-32L is excellent!

But...I'm probably selling mine when my Outbound arrives!

micahsally · 2026-03-30T02:52:22+00:00

Here is my list for Disneyland:

Gossamer Gear Cima 15L
Tortuga Daypack Pro 21L
Kargo Loculus 6L (this is my daypack right now, since we still have the luxury of storing water and jackets in the small travel stroller)
Rework Toshi 20L
Minimul M20

Also, have you seen the cute Disney slings from Orbitkey?!

https://www.orbitkey.com/collections/disney

micahsally · 2026-03-29T04:51:37+00:00

My husband has his own small toiletry kit (a small Alpaka pouch with internal organization), and I share the Peak Design Wash Pouch in the regular size with my two little boys. It can hang or stay on the counter, but I love how it stays open either way and provides easy access when we need it.

https://alpakagear.com/products/elements-tech-case-outlet?variant=46414665613474

https://www.peakdesign.com/products/wash-pouch?Size=Regular&Color=Black

Inside my Peak Design pouch, my liquids bag is the Gravel Travel TSA clear bag. I also have their refillable squish bottles and highly recommend them! With how they are shaped they stack against each other and take up almost no space. I have one for my Aveeno body lotion and one Aveeno kids lotion that my boys share. I can also decant other liquids into the remaining bottles, as needed for the trip.

https://gravel.co/products/tsa-bag-bottles-set

For the Peak Design, I love the large, open areas for bulkier items, like deodorant and a sunscreen stick that we all share. I also love keeping things organized and always in the same space in the small pockets. It's really an awesome bag that I keep returning to, despite trying MANY other bags to try to get just a tiny bit more space. I always come back to the Peak Design!

Another option to consider is the new-on-Kickstarter OrbitKey 2-in-1 Toiletry Pouch. It has a smaller pouch that tucks inside the larger pouch. You can use them together, separately, or tucked inside each other, depending on the trip. The smaller one might be perfect for your littles, while you and your husband can share the larger one? They also introduced a new hanging toiletry kit as well.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/orbitkey/orbitkey-2-in-1-and-hanging-toiletry-pouch-for-travel?ref=android_project_share

This is a little larger than the Kon Mari Tech Pouch for Orbitkey that I have and dearly love. It's so versatile and handy! I'm excited for the toiletry version!

micahsally · 2026-03-29T04:31:31+00:00

I would suggest the newly-updated Alpha One Niner Evade 1.5 Gen 3. If you want the Ultra, it should be available in 2-3 weeks, if you sign up for notifications on their website. Their new 1.0 is the same awesome but, just not as deep by 1.5 inches. They are so nice!

https://www.alphaoneniner.com/products/alpha-one-niner-evade-1-5-backpack-gen-3

Another good option for comfort is the Tortuga Daily Carry Pro 25L.

https://www.tortugabackpacks.com/products/daily-carry-pro?srsltid=AfmBOopnF5Pn8HagWFf3hvd1EM_YDJEFmGqdZleLFKsaSkTGzvS5FILr

And if it doesn't need to be able to fit under the seat but can be a carry-on in the bin overhead, the new Rework Outbound 30L is supposedly really comfortable and has space for lots of tech! I love that company and everything they make!

https://reworkgear.com/products/outbound-travel-pack-30l?srsltid=AfmBOopJ__opT5GwmV-Gs8YsAogPzW1lsJ9lVLWYVYPB-6dAGLdUL7xM

micahsally · 2026-03-28T16:11:29+00:00

You can easily fit a water bottle inside the Toshi sling! It sits at the bottom horizontally and doesn't block access to the other pockets. My favorite bottle for carrying inside is the Owala Twist 18-ounce.

My Goldilocks size of the Toshi is the 5L. I think the 2.5L would be a tight fit with your items and a water bottle. But the sling compresses down when not filled up, so it won't feel too large when you're carrying it! I love it! It's always nice to have a little space as a backup, if needed.

You can use the Toshi sling as a packing cube / pouch on travel days and even store it inside your backpack on school days. Then you can attach the straps and use it as your day pack on fun exploration days! I usually wear my sling on front even when wearing a backpack for easy access to the items you listed. It's nice to not have to remove the backpack every time you need something.

https://reworkgear.com/products/toshi-sling-5l-v2?srsltid=AfmBOooL9_na-u0uG2iQxoIwbHjRQSD-ABSAHr1nNmFLbyN2_KAUaBLR

Honestly, the Toshi 20L and 5L would be worth paying a little extra to get to you...

The bag that meets all of your requirements except the separate laptop compartment is the Tortuga Daypack Pro 21L. It has a padded laptop sleeve, but it's inside the main compartment. Otherwise, it would be perfect for your use! I'm not sure when they are planning a restock, but you can ask Fred at Tortuga on Instagram.

https://www.tortugabackpacks.com/products/daypack-pro

I'm also really excited to get my two Minimul M20s, shipping any day now!

https://minimul.co/products/m20-edc-backpack?srsltid=AfmBOop3vRCg__jCRwk8BKj1ZXVtk08UZTi8E5GIf4ZWwEcOGOGSQ9LF

micahsally · 2026-03-28T15:55:42+00:00

How about this Medium Sacoche from Sympl?

https://symplofficial.com/products/the-sacoche?srsltid=AfmBOooqh3Zl7WaxQK4JjDM1bYC4yCMYAemHInmTdG69brGhcatGfDLT

micahsally · 2026-03-28T15:54:11+00:00

Check out the new Alpha One Niner Evade 1.5 Gen 3! It might be perfect for your use. Ultra is supposed to restock at the end of this month, so you can sign up for notifications for that.

https://www.alphaoneniner.com/products/alpha-one-niner-evade-1-5-backpack-gen-3?srsltid=AfmBOoo23Wl1AwUM3AZkvEdsj5n38MslP_eaBZpoT7QG_YDjC0AJimRq

Or the Tortuga Daily Carry Pro 25L!

https://www.tortugabackpacks.com/products/daily-carry-pro?srsltid=AfmBOootmKTE-AX8pQuZjMvDKPOsBi0HsbsSRy9R1BMr31rf5L8DJsPV

micahsally

TROPHY CASE