I use packing cubes to keep my clothes organized, and Ziplock bags for the smaller items like toiletries, medications, cords and chargers, etc. I could probably pack more tightly if I abandoned the cubes in favor of compressible Ziplock bags for the clothes as well, but the current system works for me. I can travel for three weeks out of a carryon using my combination of packing cubes and plastic bags - and like manneca, I'm female. (But not a shoe or cosmetics addict, which helps!)