Low stakes question for today: How do you like to organize your bags? Do you like it when bags have interior organizers, such as in the lining of the bag, or do you prefer to use your own organizers to more easily switch between bags? (Off topic but slightly related: When you travel, are you Team Packing Cube or Team Shove All the Clothes In the Bag?)
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For my $.02, I tend to prefer to use my own organizational systems rather than the ones that come with bags. I have two tiny makeup-sized pouches in my current crossbody. One of the pouches has my super slim wallet, a lip gloss, and a few loose Advil (yeah, I know).
The other pouch has less-needed but happy-to-have type stuff, like a tampon, bandaids, Neosporin, earplugs, and so forth. These days I also carry a Ziploc bag full of masks for the entire family (whee).
There are some free-floating items also that move into whatever organization system the bags afford — hand lotion, a sunscreen stick, gum, maybe an extra pair of sunglasses or a few wrapped lollipops to buy myself time or sanity when running errands with a whiny child.
(I haven’t done a “what’s in my bag” post in years, but I’ve used similar systems in both my work bags and my diaper bags, back when we needed those.)
For packing, I wish I were Team Packing Cube, but I tend to be Team Shove All the Clothes in the Bag and then separate them into drawers at the destination.
(If you’re Team Packing Cube I’d love to hear your methods — do you do by day or by clothing item? If you’re packing for multiple people, does everyone get their own packing cubes or do you combine, say, Day 1 stuff from multiple people?)
Readers, over to you: How do you like to organize your bag(s)? Do you prefer included organizers that are part of the bag, removable organizers (like these removable ones that can move from tote to tote), or do you have your own little system?
Reader-Favorite Products to Organize Your Bags
As of 2023, these are some of the reader-favorite products to organize your bags…
Stock photo via Stencil.
Anon
In a purse I only carry phone/wallet/keys/sunglasses/AirPods, so they’re all just in the bag. I have one purse: a black crossbody. In the zippered interior pocket I usually have some cash, a bandaid and usually a pair of earrings left over from the last time I traveled (this is how I store earrings/jewelry when I travel). My wallet is a card case, so it’s pretty slim. Sometimes I don’t even carry that and just throw my credit card and license in my phone case’s pocket.
On occasion I need something else (chapstick or Advil), I just throw it in the zippered pocket.
I carry more to work – I throw my phone,work phone, work badge, keys, sunglasses and AirPods in the side internal pocket. I throw my laptop, water bottle, wallet, notebook, pens, and whatever “other things” I’m carrying (breakfast and lunch, travel mug, gym clothes, school assignments, etc) in my bag.
Im always looking for a better work bag: I often have to carry work stuff, school stuff, workout stuff, and food on my mile walk to work.
Cat
Covid taught me to carry a lot less stuff. If I’m just running out for an hour or so to do errands, I might or might not even bring a bag. If I’m wearing jeans or jean shorts, def not because of the good pockets. Phone, credit card (if needed, most places do Apple Pay), house key.
Anonymous
I never go anywhere without my driver’s license, insurance cards, AAA card, two credit cards in case a place doesn’t take AmEx, and some cash. You think don’t need all of this until suddenly you do.
Cat
I live in a city so think I can make it the 10 mins to Trader Joe’s without needing AAA :)
Cat
*Walking, that is. My errands are all on foot.
Cat
oh and I am 100% Team Packing Cubes because it makes life much easier when unpacking and they are great at preventing wrinkles.
If we’re doing a combination of carryon and checked bags, the carryon always has our key toiletries and a full day’s worth of outfits for the trip for both of us (PJs, swimwear, dinner outfit, sandals).
One cube would have the PJs so that if we get in late, we only have to pull that one out rather than do a full unpack immediately – everything else stays folded or rolled neatly and doesn’t get mussed up when digging out the PJs, etc.
Anonymous
I tried the insert things, but I hated them and sent them to Goodwill.
I prefer bags with internal zipped pockets and keep as little extra stuff as little in the bag. Which might mean hair clip, Advil, antihistamines or other medication, mints or gum, cloth for cleaning glasses, antibacterial gel, mask if relevant, pen, phone, cardholder and keys.
I do use packing cubes, but not for all the stuff. I use one for electronics, and I like to have one for knickers, bras, sleepwear, hose or socks. And one for shoes. I might have one for going out clothes. Anything else is rolled or folded.