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You love to travel, but you hate to pack. You’re lucky, then! In this piece, we’ll talk about the 7 best travel packing cubes of 2023.These cubes will make it easy to pack, and when you get to your destination, your bags will be neat and in order. We have everything you need, from small but useful items to packing cubes that can be used for many things. So keep reading to learn how to pack like a pro!
Do you prefer a nicely organized system that is easy to use or a jumbled mess of creased clothes when you open your bag? If the first, that’s great! We’ll get along just fine, and you’re definitely in the right place. If you’re the second type, don’t leave just yet. By the end of this guide, we might have changed your mind. (And we will still get along just fine. We are very nice.)
Packing cubes are exactly what they sound like: small, structured bags that fit inside your trunk and help you keep your things organized for a stress-free trip. We asked travel experts, writers, packing experts, and home organization experts about their favorite packing cubes and other general packing tips to find out which ones to buy.
Best Packing Cubes Comparison Table
| Packing Cubes | Set Size | Material | Compression Feature | Number of Cubes | Additional Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WANDRD | Varies | Durable nylon or mesh | Yes | Varies | Water-resistant, YKK zippers |
| Osprey Ultralight | 3 cubes | 40D ripstop nylon | No | 3 | Mesh top panel, grab handles |
| Gonex Compression | 4 cubes | Water-resistant nylon | Yes | 4 | Double zipper pulls, handle |
| Shacke Pak 5 Set | 5 cubes | High-quality nylon | Yes | 5 | X-design with double stitching |
| Away The Insider | 6 cubes | Water-resistant nylon | No | 6 | Mesh top panel, dual zippers |
| BAGAIL 6 Set | 6 cubes | Premium-quality nylon | Yes | 6 | Breathable mesh, handle |
| Bagsmart 7 Set for Travel Essentials | 7 cubes | Durable polyester | Yes | 7 | Transparent mesh, handle |
WANDRD Packing Cubes
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | WANDRD |
| Set Size | Various options available |
| Material | Durable nylon or mesh |
| Compression Feature | Yes |
| Number of Cubes | Varies depending on the set |
| Additional Features | Water-resistant, YKK zippers |
The Perfect Fit System of WANDRD Packing Cubes makes it easier to mix and match cubes of different sizes because the sizes of the cubes scale with each other and the Best Packing Cubes. For example, the large cube is the size of two medium cubes, and so on. They have YKK buttons and a 70D Nylon shell. The mesh top makes it easy to see what’s going on inside.
They have taken a more sensible and realistic approach, which might also explain why the names aren’t too fancy. It comes in three good sizes, has few extras, mesh that lets you see what’s inside, compression zippers, and a laundry section to keep dirty clothes separate. Even though these cubes aren’t perfect, there have been a few problems during tests, and we have thoughts on those as well.
The Good
- Modern aesthetics
- Long-lasting design
The Bad
- Costly in comparison to available alternatives.
Osprey Ultralight Packing Cube Set
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Osprey |
| Set Size | 3 cubes |
| Material | 40D ripstop nylon |
| Compression Feature | No |
| Number of Cubes | 3 |
| Additional Features | Mesh top panel, grab handles |
The Osprey Ultralight Packing Cubes are, without a doubt, some of the best packing cubes we’ve tried so far. They are light, easy to order, last a long time, and are cheap. Even though the fabric is a little slippery and there is only one zipper, this set of cubes is perfect for your one-bag trip pack.
Over the years, we’ve noticed that Osprey likes to put their name on everything, but these cubes have surprisingly little branding. On the top right is an Osprey image, and on the side of each cube is a small tab with the word “Osprey” on it. The end is nice to look at, and we like how these packing cubes look in general.
The Good
- Minimalist in size and weight
- Superior longevity
The Bad
- Inadequate range of colors
Gonex Compression Packing Cubes
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Gonex |
| Set Size | 4 cubes |
| Material | Water-resistant nylon |
| Compression Feature | Yes |
| Number of Cubes | 4 |
| Additional Features | Double zipper pulls, handle |
We love the Gonex Compression Best Packing Cubes because of how well they save room. During six months of testing, we found that these cubes were a huge help when it came to putting clothes of different sizes together and putting them in the right place. The compression cubes let you pack more things than a regular packing cube, and the strong zippers made it easy to squeeze the packed cubes.
Even though nylon isn’t waterproof, we splashed a little water on the outside and found that it does repel some water. The clothes should stay dry with the extra security of a suitcase, too. Also, the handles on top of each cube make it easy to grab the bags for packing and unpacking, and we love that the set comes with an extra-large, large, medium, and small bag for variety.
The Good
- The space-saving compression function
- Strong, tear-proof fabric
The Bad
- Items that are too big or cumbersome might not fit.
Shacke Pak 5 Set Packing Cubes
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Shacke Pak |
| Set Size | 5 cubes |
| Material | High-quality nylon |
| Compression Feature | Yes |
| Number of Cubes | 5 |
| Additional Features | X-design with double stitching |
These Shacke Best Packing Cubes are a great deal, whether you’re going on a trip with your family or by yourself. The set comes with a cleaning bag for dirty clothes and extra-large, large, medium, and small packing cubes. The cubes were made for trips of up to 14 days, and we found that they lived up to their promise of having enough room for pants, toiletries, shirts, jackets, and other types of clothing.
The cubes fit easily in the carry-on bag we used, and because they come in different sizes, you can choose how many to pack based on the size of your suitcase. Even though the mesh tops of the cubes probably won’t keep water out, you can easily see what’s inside so you won’t have to take everything out to find a piece of clothes. During our tests, we found that the nylon material and buttons are strong enough to last for a long time. The price for the whole set is also hard to beat.
The Good
- Packing your belongings in five distinct sizes
- Strong and long-lasting construction
The Bad
- Inadequate range of colors
Away The Insider Packing Cubes
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Away |
| Set Size | 6 cubes |
| Material | Water-resistant nylon |
| Compression Feature | No |
| Number of Cubes | 6 |
| Additional Features | Mesh top panel, dual zippers |
Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon one of the Best Packing Cubes, who goes by the name JetSetSarah, is a travel writer who keeps a bag packed almost all the time. These Away cubes fit easily into one side of her carry-on and hold her most important things: “Three pairs of shoes, another packing cube with things like glasses, exercise bands, and a Nike raincoat, and then my toiletries bag,” she says.
The mesh screen on these cubes lets you see what’s inside without opening them up, just like the view window on Paravel’s cubes. “And I love the sunshine-yellow color, which makes me happy every time I open my case,” says Greaves-Gabbadon. Even though her exact color is sold out, you can still get them in a nice sky blue.
The Good
- Contemporary style.
- Superior hardware and supplies
The Bad
- Comparatively costly
BAGAIL 6 Set Packing Cubes
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | BAGAIL |
| Set Size | 6 cubes |
| Material | Premium-quality nylon |
| Compression Feature | Yes |
| Number of Cubes | 6 |
| Additional Features | Breathable mesh, handle |
Jenna Milliner-Waddell the Best Packing Cubes, an associate editor at Strategist, wasn’t sure about packing cubes, even after her mom gave them to everyone in her family as Christmas presents. Then she moved to a tiny apartment in New York with only enough room for a carry-on. She couldn’t pack five pairs of shoes for a three-day trip and count on a checked bag to hold them all. She finally used the cubes that had been given to her but she hadn’t used yet.
She says they’ve cut down on her need to pack too much, but she can still fit in a few outfits that might not be necessary. Corky Pollan, who writes cookbooks and travels a lot, also likes the set and likes that it comes with a variety of sizes. “I pack too much; I can never get myself organized, but with these, it’s so easy to set one size for underwear and bras, another for tops and blouses, and the other for pants,” she says.
The Good
- The six sizes cover a wide range of storage requirements.
- Long-lasting and not too heavy
The Bad
- Inadequate range of colors
Bagsmart 7 Set Packing Cubes for Travel Essentials
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Bagsmart |
| Set Size | 7 cubes |
| Material | Durable polyester |
| Compression Feature | Yes |
| Number of Cubes | 7 |
| Additional Features | Transparent mesh, handle |
“If Best Packing Cubes are all the same size, it has a detrimental effect,” says Marina Radlinski, home organizing expert and owner of Palm Beach Organized. “Think about the space you need for underwear and socks versus the space you need for sweaters,” she adds.
She suggests purchasing this Basgmart set, which includes cubes of varying sizes to play with. The set consists of seven cubes made of nylon and mesh, which enable you to see the various items of clothing that are contained therein.
The Good
- Materials of the highest quality and longevity
- Features that show careful organization
The Bad
- Inadequate range of colors
FAQs
A: Packing cubes are small, lightweight organizers that are made to help you put your things in a trunk or travel bag in a neat way. They come in different sizes and shapes and are usually made of cotton or mesh, both of which are strong.
A: Packing cubes work by dividing up your luggage into different spaces. You can put things like clothes, cosmetics, and toiletries in their own cubes to keep them organized and easy to get to. The cubes help make the most of the room and keep things from getting wrinkled or moving around while traveling.
A: The number of packing cubes you need relies on how much you are packing and how big your suitcase is. Most people should be fine with a set of three to five cubes of different sizes. But everyone has their own tastes, and you can change the amount to suit your wants.
