May 29, 2011 Gear Review: Tom Bihn Clear Quarter Packing Cubes
I like packing cubes. They help keep me organized, they make it easy to pack my bag and they help to add structure to the lightest weight ones. With my new found fondness of clear cubes, they also help me to easily find what I’m looking for as well as helping security personnel find what they are looking for without pawing everything I own.
One of the best clear packing cubes I’ve found is the Tom Bihn Clear Quarter Packing Cube. This two sided cube is made of Dyneema Ripstop Nylon, has #5 YKK zippers, is PVC free and comes in 4 colors. It measures 7.8” x 6.7” x 3” and weighs 4.2 ozs. There is also a carry handle/doorknob loop should you wish to hang the bag. $30 and made in the USA.
One side could be used as a non-3-1-1 toiletry kit:
While the other side could be for your laundry kit:
Or one side could be used for your miscellaneous electronics and chargers:
While the other side could be used for all those small items you take but are never sure where to put:
I know that some of you are saying you can use ziploc bags for the same things. This is true. The only downside is that they won’t help to shape a bag and they force you to take more bags offering a greater chance of forgetting one.
I have one and I’m going to have to get another. They’re just too useful.
(Frank II)
Tom Bihn supplied the Clear Quarter Packing Cube for review.
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Reader Comments (21)
Oh, and what's that yellow cup in the last pic? Stolen air mask after the cabin depressurized? Cool!
If this wasn't written by Frank, I'd say it's an "aditorial" for a TB product.
http://www.magellans.com/store/Health___Hygiene___Food___DrinkFP589
When traveling to areas where there is no in room coffee maker--which is most of the world--I take one of these fold-a-cups and an immersion heater. They work great to help me make that first cup of java in the AM. I'm one of those who needs some caffeine while trying to wake up.
That red tag at the bottom of the cube is attached to the immersion heater.
They really came in handy once when I caught a bad cold while traveling. I picked up some tea and while resting was able to make myself numerous cups without having to constantly go out..
The other two items are a spork and travel sized duct tape.
The photo above with my electronics/chargers has a Chargepod with adaptors, a Fueltank Uno and two adapter plugs--one for the UK, and one for continental Europe. (The latter is plugged into the former.)
While I'm at it, the laundry kit photo has a sink stopper, two Travelon inflatable hangers and an elastic clothes line.
Frank, mabe you could run a contest: Guess what aht contents are in a clear packing cube - and win the cube or one of the many thousands of products that you review.Or, you could give away some zipperlock bags.
A 1 gallon ziploc bag weighs 13 grams and holds 3.8l. I use the Hefty brand. Very sturdy. I never had one tear. Totally sufficient for putting the same kinds of items listed above. The added strength is not needed for those items and the use it gets. It is effort and money wasted. But the weight you lose with the ziplocs pays off immediately. And you can also get different sizes and even color code them, too. It's even a bit more waterproof.
Just to make that clear with an example. You could almost fill an entire MLC size carry-on with the contents packed and sorted in 1 gallon ziplocs and these packing devices would only weigh as much as the cube gadget. And for $30 you can basically get a lifetime supply of them.
In terms of spiffiness the packing cube is hard to top. Who doesn't like spiffy?
But in terms of smarts when it comes to cost, weight, efficiency, lower carbon footprint, ease of replacement and availability (all those are connected, mind you) the ziploc bag is absolutely unbeatable. I prefer smart when it comes to stuff only I see. I prefer spiffy when it comes to clothes or even real bags. But packing devices inside the actual bag must be smart more than spiffy for me.
There is a thread on lightweight packing cubes here: http://www.1bag1world.com/obow-light-travel-forum/post/1472659
Some prefer packing cubes, others prefer ziplocs, and still others prefer nothing.
But before anyone argues ounces...ask yourself are you taking anything that others might not that adds weight? Extra pair of shoes? Full sized laptop?
Or for that matter, why take a 4 lb bag when you can get one for 1 lb? If arguing ounces, then there is no reason. But practicality, comfort and preference might take precedence.
There is no right or wrong...only what's right for you.
Arguing grams might seem like a futile exercise then. But arguing factors isn't. It provides a really useful reality check.
So, let's not forget the factors involved. The weight factor is basically 10x. The cost factor is roughly 200x when you can get a ziploc 1 gallon bag (higher volume) for $0.16 a piece and the cube for $30 (other cubes are way cheaper, too, and hardly any are more expensive).
When I take a bag that is full featured and it weighs 4lb instead of 1lb, then it will have quite a few features the other bag just can't touch, given that the cube hardly has any feature that would make a useful difference compared to a ziploc. For example, the full featured bag will have compartments and interior pockets that make it unnecessary to even take packing cubes. And the weight difference will be factor 4 not factor 10, if at all. The cost difference, God beware, would not be factor 200. But factor 2-5 depending on what bag one chooses.
There will always be different philosophies of packing and buying things. If I buy an item that weighs 10x as much and costs 200x as much as an item that essentially serves the same purpose, there better be something that the more expensive item does A LOT better. There isn't in this case.
Even when it comes down to aesthetics and clothes the factors are not as huge as in this particularly egregious example with the cube and the ziploc. Take a jacket. Put a $400 Goretex jacket from Patagonia or, let's be hard, a $50 nylon jacket from Academy against a $500 Ventile jacket. The Goretex will be as good or better in function and will weigh about half. It will cost a similar price. The Ventile jacket will be twice the weight but also look twice as good (subjective, I know). So I'd give something up to get something else. But the factors wouldn't be so far apart.
The $50 nylon jacket will not perform as nicely as the Ventile. It will weigh only one third and cost just one tenth. The Ventile will look perhaps 5 times better. Mind you the 5 times better might make the difference between social acceptance or being looked down at. Because in clothes and bags looks matter a lot more than in packing accessories.
Now to offer an alternative. The Granite Gear Zippsacks come in different sizes and colors. The XXS model holds 4.6l. That's almost double of what the TB cube holds and still more than my beloved ziploc. :) Seams are fully finished, zippers are YKK, I'd dare to say that the Cordura 30D nylon is comparable to what TB uses. There are also hanger/grip loops. Here comes the good stuff: They cost $14 not $30 and they weigh 1oz not 4.2oz. I also find them even spiffier. Maybe a review would be in order since Granite Gear has enjoyed no review and TB is a staple here. Another regular forum member here had turned me on to them. Thanks for that.
While other TB products really convince me, e.g. the Aeronaut packing cube/backpack, this one is part of those that fail to convince me on all accounts but aesthetics. It looks nice. Otherwise, in terms of utility over cost and weight it performs quite terribly when compared to the competition be it the very lowly ziploc or the chic Granite Gear.
I'm not trying to convince anyone to do anything. I'm trying to present new products and ideas to let the readers have a choice.
But, you've never seen me write that my way is the right way. There is no such thing.
As an example you wrote: "Because in clothes and bags looks matter a lot more than in packing accessories."
Guess what, to me, the packing accessories are more important. I have numerous amounts of bags to choose from as well as packing accessories. I choose the ones that will be the most beneficial to me depending on the trip.
I don't try to reason why one is better than another. Some people pack to get the lightest load. Others to keep the cost as low as possible. Others care about style and brand names. Some think only of functionality. And you know what.....they're all right. Because they pack the way they prefer.
I'm not trying to get anyone to follow the leader and I'm not sure why anyone else would want to do the same. We're here to share ideas, not say why one is better than the other. If wearing expensive, designer name clothes makes you feel better, and you believe that's what's important, , then by all means do so. I can wear nice, good looking clothes at less than half of what you pay and spend the rest on other things like a great meal, or an airline upgrade. Two things I care more for than designer clothes.
I will pack the way I want, you pack the way you want. I would never do most of the things you do because it's not me.( And I'm guessing you wouldn't do a lot of the things I do.) It's not what makes me comfortable and I don't need to reason that out. I need to do what makes me happy.
If Granite Gear wants to us to do a review, they are free to contact us and send products. The reason Tom Bihn products get reviewed is because they are willing to send products for review. It gets to be expensive trying to buy everything especially since this website really makes no money. Brad and I keep it going because we care about the topic.
BTW--if anyone wants to help support this website, there are OBOW t-shirts and hats available. They may not be "stylish" but they get people talking. You can find them here:
http://www.zazzle.com/appamerican/gifts?cg=196138261151543260
If the site is in need of additional support I'd hit up TB. They have had at least a dozen of their products introduced and reviewed by OBOW. More than four times the closest competitor Redoxx. They seem to think it's an easy and highly efficient marketing and advertisement outlet.
But they don't even buy a little banner ad like Campmor, Magellan or Ex Officio.
A real conflict of interest dilemma. If they pay for advertisement and then get a favorable review, readers might think they bought you. It might even turn off some from buying. So this way, they don't pay for advertisement and still get a rave review without an inkling of critical thinking. Because the review doesn't mention that this cube is one of the most expensive and heaviest cubes on the market and that there are other alternatives. So much for "let the readers have a choice".
As for being judged by your appearance, I guess I don't have to explain that to you. It's a common concept. Therefore one can justifiably argue that it pays more to invest in "critical" things than in gadgets, especially if there are better alternatives for the latter. One can obviously also argue that one gets off on packing cubes better than on cashmere sweaters. In that case I recommend Hermes or at least Glaser Design. See here: http://www.glaserdesigns.com/Pages/InsidersOrganizers/8and11inchCordOrgPD.html
And of course, what is critical to one person might not be critical to another one. But how we are judged is probably quite universal and afflicts all of us to a greater or lesser degree. Only if we aren't concerned by that at all, do we need to worry. :)
Besides, I don't think there's even a spot of doubt that I'm a total luggage and packing junkie and that I spend way too much money on products that are totally overbuilt and too heavy. So at least I know what I'm talking about when I rant against inefficiency because I have committed that sin more than once. :)
Although, when I think of the price I got my Andiamo Valoroso gear for and I compare that to Redoxx and TB, I think I made a killing. I also recently bought yet another bag. Tumi McGuire duffel. $129 at the outlet. Really nice bag. It has a very similar weight to volume ratio as the reviewed cube. It holds 12 times as much and weighs 12 times as much. Cost at the outlet was only four times that. Normal price would be 11 times. So I think when a company, any company, sends you a product for review, it is nice for the readers to get a little perspective and not just "great product, I might buy another one".
I think the Packing Cube Backpack for the Aeronaut by TB is one of their best products all around. It has few competitors if any on the market. It is well designed and made. It looks good. It fits the Aeronaut (not a great bag if you ask me) perfectly but it can also be used with other bags or as a standalone bag. Finally, it is worth the not cheap asking price IMHO. So even a critical comparison with products from the manufacturer's own range would be useful. As it is, and I say that as one of the most grateful fans and most prolific contributors to this site, it just looks as if TB is pushing their products through OBOW. And I have no financial interest in this site or in any luggage company. I try to be neutral. For example, I think that Briggs Riley makes some awesome shoulder bags but I'd never recommend a carry-on roller from them. And I think the Travelpro Plat5 is the best thing since sliced bread but I think their newer lines are not as interesting and some of their stuff is non-descript. I also think that Tumi makes very good products but that they are a bit cliche and somewhat too expensive. In fact, it would be interesting to compare the TB Tristar and the Tumi McGuire. They weigh the same to the half ounce and hold the same to the half liter.
Now that would be one sweet comparison.
I can tell you....the site is barely breaking even. Whatever money is collected goes toward maintaining the website.
As far as reviews go....we're open to anyone who wants to supply something to review. I've contacted a few companies. Some have responded with products, others have sent emails thanking us for thinking of them and others have just ignored us.
I'm doing the best I can in letting the manufacturers of travel goods know who we are and what we do. It's time consuming but I'm convinced we can turn OBOW into one of the most visited sites for light travelers.
Thanks for the clarification on affiliate marketing. These guys should get on the boat and put TB banners in there. But probably TB would have to pay them. And I guess they can afford not to do that because the review with direct links to the direct sales site already works great.
What were the reactions of ebags (weekender), Travelpro, Tumi, Hartmann, Granite Gear, Glaser Design, SF bags, Rickshaw? They all make very interesting models and range from cheap to expensive boutique with made to measure products (Glaser).
I'd totally love to have Glaser design my perfect bag together with me. But for now that's out of reach and the alternatives I have so far work more than alright.
I will say that some of the companies you mentioned were not contacted because they make mostly wheeled bags.
This site is geared toward "light" travelers who use non-wheeled bags. I know there are a few who don't like that....but...that's our focus. There are plenty of travel websites that are mostly populated by people who take carry-on wheeled bags.
Every time I do a review, I am required by law to let you know if the product was supplied at no charge for review. If you don't see that mentioned, then we paid for the product.
With the plethora of travel websites/blogs on the net, it would be cost prohibitive for many manufacturers to give free "expensive" bags to anyone who requests one for review. That's why another one of my goals is to increase awareness of this site.
So what if Hartmann, Briggs Riley, Tumi, Samsonite, Travelpro make mostly rollers (not even true for all of them) and are very mainstream? They make great products, too, that are perfectly suitable for onebagging. Those are products that could interest the readers because they are easy to get and because there are actual stores where a reader can look at them after reading the review. And in some cases, the prices even for prestigious brands like Tumi can be less than the direct sales internet-based brands.
Briggs Riley has the 231x. A great bag according to accounts on Flyertalk. It's personal item size but expandable. Would be perfect for short 1-2 day trips or as personal item. I maintain that the discontinues 235x (still available) is one of the coolest carry-on bags out there. They also have a convertible duffle that is unique in the market afaik.
Hartmann has a two-zip and a three-zip model very similar to the Airboss both in nylon and in leather. In addition they have a number of leather satchels and holdalls. People have been onebagging it with satchels for hundreds of years. There's gotta be something to them. Might be good to find out and go truly minimalist with a single compartment on a single bag.
Tumi has a whole array of various bags and pouches (similar to the Cafe bags by TB) in a slew of materials and design options. All of which would perfectly fall into the onebag realm.
The nice thing about doing reviews on bags that are slightly more mainstream and not mostly from the same company is that it may actually reel some people in who aren't in the fold yet. They naively look for a review on a Tumi or Samsonite bag and google points them here. Bang. They discover the possibilities (and challenges) of onebagging and they also discover brands that are less mainstream. Win-Win, is you ask me. None of the onebag focus would be lost but the beam would shine brighter and reach more people by looking at spots that haven't been looked at for "philosophical reasons" because if they mainly make rollers they must be the enemy. In reality, they may make not so great roller bags but great non-wheeled bags. Now that would be a scoop. ;)
In the end the discussion of the little overpriced packing cube will have at least been useful for a strategic discussion and to possibly raise some ideas for the better of the site.
One Bag, One World--news, reviews and gear for LIGHT travelers.
Light Travelers....we define "light" travelers as those who want bags basically without wheels. Without wheels. I know there are some here who don't like that but this is not your website.
Because lighter wheeled bags are coming out, those that weigh under 6 lbs, I'm going to try to include some of them in reviews if the manufacturers will send us the bags.
I'm sorry if this does not please some of you. But those are the conditions under which we want to run this website. And the vast majority of people who come here are happy with that.
No more arguing. We are not going to become a copy of Flyertalk's gear section to make a select few happy.
To Till, you have a lot to offer to the readers of this website. I'm just tired of you arguing with us on how we run this website and want its focus to be.
To everyone else, unless you have a comment relating to the subject, please refrain from posting on this thread.
Thank you.
Frank II
One has items I carry every day, because it has 2 pockets I can use one side for accessories like glasses/sunglasses in their case and other things and the other as a lunch on the go kit:plastic fork/spoon/knife and paper napkin.
While packing for one trip, I decided to leave it home and I had a much harder time packing the items described above, I didn't know where to pack the glasses securely and the plastic fork poked my bag.
I also pack clothes in plastic zip bags because I can compress the air out until the bag is almost flat which means I can fit twice as much outfits in one bag.
Packing is a matter of personal preference and travel circumstances. One bag travel is great for travelling on a budget while many bags are the ticket for Orient Express and private jet users. :)
Interesting discussion about baggies versus these kinds of cubes. I'm a fan of going lightweight, but I have these problems with baggies:
1. They have no intrinsic shape, they just kind of spread out, so for me and my packing style, they do not use space efficiently.
2. I've had seams burst on me and the contents just stumble out. You gotta be really careful to try to get as much air out of the bag as possible so if it gets compressed by other bag contents, the air pressure doesn't explode a seam.
Being mindful of weight is great, but for me, splitting hairs over what weighs one ounce versus 4 ounces is not productive. In the 'trim the weight' game, most people still have a lot of low hanging fruit to be picked before these kinds of "1 ounce vs 4 ounce" issues become truly relevant.
Just my opinion, doesn't need to be anyone else's. Thanks again for the review.