Semi-hard cubes for electronics?
 

Hi all,

Would appreciate recommendations on a semi-hard packing cube to carry electronics (laptop AC adapter, plug adapter, some usb cables and connector etc.). Footprint should be about an A4/letter size paper and about 3 inches/7cm deep. Should be rectangular to maximize space usage.

The soft-sided cubes are inadequate since these items tend to be small and relatively heavy so they end up piled at the middle of the cube with the cube bottom bulging outward.

EC has the Protect-It cubes but they seem a bit heavy and possibly an overkill here since the electronics I carry are not that fragile.

Thanks,
Mike.

Cube to pack electronics or just electronic cords?

If just cords-
Grid-it is meant for cord organization and has a stiff board in it http://www.containerstore.com/shop/o...uctId=10028414

The REI toiletry organizers are "cube shaped" with a handle and fairly well padded, though not rigid. Elastic inside will help corral cords and odds and ends. LL Bean makes several sizes of their personal organizer and some are close to the dimensions you listed http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/51638...#ppMoreDetails , though I don't know how well they're padded. If it can hold full bottles of shampoo, it should be able to hold some chargers.

If you're mixing in small electronics and need more padding-
Check out a neoprene sleeve. Built NY made one for chargers
http://www.amazon.com/Built-NY-Charg.../dp/B000NGWPV8
It is similar to their wine bottle holders or the camera body/lens bag insert.

Craft stores usually have a wide variety of plastic boxes for very little money. Some with dividers, some without, some adjustable, etc.

Thanks.

Tupperware? Or maybe the cheaper/semi-disposable variety of food containers.

+1. I was just about to post this same suggestion for semi hard organizers. If things are inexpensive, figure they are one to three trip items and then replace when they get tattered.

Think outside the "travel goods" box. Wander through your megastore mart plastic box aisle or home improvement mart tool box area for boxes and organizers. Lowes has some canvas zippered bags in various sizes in the tool area that are excellent lightweight tough organizers.

For the OPs description of a semi hard letter size by 3 inch container, go to a large office mart and look at expanding file pockets with folding cover. Some are tyvek plastic and tough as heck with little weight. ^ Great organizers. The brown ones are also tough enough for several trips.

add regarding non traditional packing cases: I have a NW J amenity kit zipper case that is just the right size to hold my laptop charger and a travel mouse.

I have also looked at zippered book covers when looking for semi hard travel cases. Sometimes called bible covers.

Office supplies carry the zippered notebook three ring binders which I looked at but they are just a little toooo big.

Although pricy, I did find a leather Roladex brand zipper case at the office supply store which is about 11 x 8 x 2 inches and a great packing aid. Drill out the rivets to remove the ring binder and it is a great electronic packing case.

Also from LLBean, these might be an option:

Fleece Lined Packers (set of 3)

Weight-wise, the larger EC Protect-it weighs 10oz, the same size (quarter, as I recall) unpadded EC cube is 3oz. The 'hard' isn't so hard that the case won't bulge if you over fill it. It has 2 dividers inside. The current retail price at EMS on the larger EC Protect-it is $25, the smaller one is $22.50.

The biggest concern I've had with EC Protect-it was theft. Mine once wound up where it shouldn't have, where I didn't put it, at the TSA checkpoint. I think I was about to have it stolen "lost". Since then, I leave it out of sight inside a larger carry-on. I think there might have been something about the appearance that said 'valuable worth stealing.' The items inside were worth a bit, but not having a laptop charger at the other end of the trip can be negative 'priceless.'

I changed to using zip lock bags -- less for protection and more to keep things together and to prevent cords from turning into a tangle. Cheaper, and since they are clear, it's easier to see inside.

The 'disposable' food containers they sell near the baggies at the supermarket would probably do the job and are cheaper than EC. My only concern would be the lids popping off if squeezed, something that a decent rubber band should help prevent. I haven't used these much for travel, but they are useful everywhere else, such storing a pile of batteries that aren't in their factory packaging, electronic items with their manual and recharger, and so forth.

http://www.pelican.com/case_category...e=Micro%&New=%

These Pelican cases are pretty heavy duty and come in all sizes. May be a bit more than you're looking for but they're worth a look.

Thanks all for the suggestions. EC used to make padded cubes (which would have been perfect for what I need) but alas no more:
http://www.backcountry.com/store/rev...18/Awsome.html

Will do some "exploring" following the posts.

Cheers.

Mike, sorry to be so direct. But in my humble opinion special cubes for the items you mentioned have absolutely no merit, indeed they make no sense. They do for the mfr, separating you from your money.

Cables don't need padding. What cables profit from is wrapping them neatly and not too tight, as to prevent breakage. They are totally shockproof. You can throw a cable from the Empire State and it will still work. :)

AC adapters are not very fragile either (though please don't throw off a building). Again, wrap the cords around them in a way that the part that comes out of the adapter doesn't bend sharply. Secure with a rubber band.

Throw them in a plastic bag among your clothes or in a packing cube with your underwear. That's more than enough protection.

And how bad can it be when a packing cube bulges? :p

Seriously, any hardsided packing cube for these items would be a giant waste of space, weight and money and an indication of utter OCD. Not that I don't have it myself, just perhaps a lesser case. :D

Hardsided packing cubes make sense for liquids, glass, ceramics and really fragile things. For the items you listed they are useless and by extension counterproductive if space and weight savings are paradigms of your packing effort. A Pelican case for cords is the worst scenario. It would only make sense if they had to be protected from anything liquid or from humidity. A tupperware with the lid scotched on will fulfill the same purpose for 1/10 of the price and 1/8 of the weight.

You are taking lab equipment in a raft down the Amazonas? Use the Pelican case. You are taking the usual PSU and cables, plastic grocery bag and rubber bands will do nicely.

Till

I agree that cables don't really need padding. I line the inside of my suitcase with them so they're not kinked and they don't take any room.

I have a FT friend who is so proud of his packing system. He's got a cube for his GPS and its pieces. Another cube for a travel WiFi router, ethernet cables, etc. Another cube for miscellaneous cables. Yet another with every adapter known to man. And more that I can't remember. Each cube has the items rattling around in it. My first thought was that the reason he's carrying a second suitcase is to carry all those cubes. His rationale is that with his frequent flyer status he doesn't have to pay for a second bag so why not.

See, that's smart. Using the cables to line the suitcase and create a shock absorber zone. I hadn't even though of that. Similar to how a belt is best wrapped around the perimeter of the suitcase rather than wrapped around itself. I like it a lot!! ^

As for your friend, OCD is the disease of the 21st century.

Till

Although they are fairly thin, the old Qantas J amenity kits were of hard plastic outside and some sort of mouse fur on the inside. Size is about 190mm x 240mm and about 50mm thick. I use it for electronic bits and pieces. The only thing that doesn't fit well is a UK adapter!
Unfortunately QF have 'enhanced' their J kit, probably because so many complained about this one.


Found one on ebay http://cgi.ebay.com.au/QANTAS-BUSINE...item19c2e7f4a4