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I can divide my life into two main eras: before I traveled with packing cubes, and after. Pre-cube, I tended to just stuff all of my items chaotically into my suitcase, which meant I was in a constant state of unpacking and repacking my clothes. These days, I compartmentalize everything down to the very last sock. It’s a system that works for all kinds of trips — I use packing cubes for weekend getaways but also found them useful while living in a camper van for eight months.
The best packing cubes hold their shape and have reliable zippers as well as a mesh panel that means you can see what’s inside without having to open them up. They should also be relatively water resistant, especially if you’re planning to use one of them to store toiletries. Compression packing cubes can be handy for over packers, although I’ll note that any cube with strong zippers will compress your clothes and save space to some extent.
To find packing cubes for different kinds of travelers, myself and fellow Strategist travel writer Rachael Griffiths spoke to travel experts and frequent fliers about their favorites and then tested a bunch out for ourselves. If you want to hear about the other essentials I won’t travel without, you can read my guide to the best carry-on suitcases and Dopp kits.
What we’re looking for
Size
Most packing cubes come in sets that range in size. A variety of sizes makes it easier for you to set up a system — you’ll know to look for socks or underwear in your set’s smallest cube, for example. I’ve listed the dimensions of each packing cube, below, to help you figure out how much you’ll squeeze inside.
Compression vs. non-compression
All packing cubes work as mini-compression packs — but some cubes are actually designed with specific compression capabilities. Compression cubes have an extra zipper that slims the cube down in size when you close it. Many travel experts prefer compression cubes for that reason: They let you fit more in a smaller bag, ideal if you’re trying to avoid checking a bag on a flight.
Water resistance
If you’re planning to hike or camp somewhere wet, or just want to avoid the gooey mess of a toiletry leak, you’ll want to look for a packing cube made with waterproof material. I’ve highlighted those, below — but note that some packing cubes are only water resistant, meaning they won’t keep your clothes entirely dry, but will repel small amounts of moisture.
Best packing cubes overall
Sizes: Envelope (13 x 10 x 1.5”); Small (12 x 8.8 x 3”); Medium (15 x 11 x 3”); Large (17 x 12 x 3”) | Non-compression | Water resistant: Yes
Even as a packing cube advocate, I’ll admit that most of them are deeply ugly. Not so with this Calpak set that Griffiths says has gotten her loads of compliments and comes in numerous colors and patterns. (She went with the polka-dot.)
These pretty cubes are also highly practical. They have mesh panels and label cards, so you know immediately what’s inside without unzipping. Griffiths has found them to be incredibly durable; during a year of constant use she’s never had zipper trouble, despite overstuffing them several times. Summer Hull, director of travel content at the Points Guy, has also really tested the cubes’ durability: She launders her bags every time she travels after a bad experience with bedbugs on a vacation. “I’ve been through some that can’t take the (literal) heat and also that have zippers that quickly failed,” she says. “But they’ve survived the wear and tear of travel and several whirls around the tumble dryer.”
Best less-expensive packing cubes
Sizes: Extra large (17.5” x 12.75 ” x 4”), Large (13.5” x 12.5 ” x 4”), Medium (13.75 ” x 9.75 ” x 4”), Small (11” x 6.75” x 4”), Laundry Bag (20.5” x 15.75”) | Non-compression | Water resistant: Yes
For around a third of the price of the Calpak set, you can get this set of four cubes and a laundry bag from Shacke. They’re also made of a water-resistant fabric, and have a mesh panel allowing you to see what you’ve packed inside. While there’s no toiletry bag, there is a water-resistant laundry bag included, which helps you keep track of what you’ve worn so far on your trip. As for their durability, founder of Buoyant Briona Lamback tells me she’s used her set for six years. The bags are made with machine washable nylon, so they’re easy to wipe clean between uses. And while I prefer the look of the Calpaks, the Shacke cubes do come in a range of colors, including a neutral cream.
Best minimalist packing cubes
Sizes: Medium (14” x 10” x 3 “), Small (10” x 7” x 3 “), Extra Small (7.5” x 4.5” x 2.5”) | Non-compression | Water resistant: Yes
If you’re traveling with just a carry-on suitcase or even a personal item only, you probably need no more than three small packing cubes to separate your tops, bottoms, and underwear. We’ve been recommending Eagle Creek’s cubes for this purpose since 2016, when militantly light packer Foster Kamer declared that they were an “absurdly cheap, high-yield investment” that has helped him dial in his luggage and plan outfits in advance. I own these cubes too, and like that they have large central mesh windows for seeing which items are inside, as well as sturdy handles that can be used as hanging hooks. They’re lightweight and durable — Eagle Creek’s products come with a lifetime warranty.
Best compression packing cubes
Sizes: Shoe bag: (21.5 x 12 x 5”); Small (13 x 5 x 5”); Medium (13 x 9 x 5”); Large (15 x 10.5 x 6”) (all bags have a width of 1.75” when compressed) | Compression | Water resistant: Waterproof
Compression cubes are great for travelers who don’t have much space in their luggage (like if you’re trying to avoid a carry-on fee) or for those with lots of luggage, like families. While we’ve written glowingly about the Eagle Creek compression cubes before, they cost almost $40 just for two cubes. I think this set of six cubes from Bagsmart — for the exact same price — offers much better value. Travel blogger Isabelle Lieblein first brought them to my attention last year: She used them when she had limited luggage space as she backpacked across Europe. The set includes a mixture of five compression packing cubes and a shoe bag to keep dirty shoes away from the rest of your luggage. Like the Calpaks, the bags have mesh panels and an ID tag to help you keep track of where you’ve packed what. I also like that they have handles that can be slung over a carry-on, or be used to pull the bag easily from your luggage. There’s plenty of color and style options, too.
Best monogrammable packing cubes
Sizes: Small (8.2 x 3.75 x 6.25”); Medium (12.75 x 3.75 x 10”); Large (18 x 3.75 x 12”) | Non-compression | Water resistant: No
If you’re traveling with a partner and want to keep track of whose luggage is whose, try monogrammable packing cubes. Brooklyn-based writer Diana Tsui told me about this set she and her husband took on a snowboarding around Niseko, Japan; they helped her keep track of which snowboarding gear was hers as she and her husband shared one suitcase. As well as the embroidery, Paravel’s packing cubes have enough space for garments as large as jackets and can even store towels. They also have the easy-to-view windows that I love, so you can see what’s packed inside the cube without having to unzip it.
Best waterproof packing cubes
Size: 12.6 x 6.69 x 12.6” | Compression | Water resistant: Waterproof
Peak Design’s cubes and organizers are highly regarded among gear experts, and I especially like using the brand’s thoughtfully-designed cable organizer when I’m traveling with lots of tech. The brand uses a thick, waterproof nylon to make its cubes — you could definitely take these on hiking or camping trips to organize your pack. They also have useful compression zips. It is roughly the same price for one Peak Design cube as it is for a full pack of any others on this list, making them a more expensive option. Austin Tucker, a writer at Pack Hacker, told me they’re worth every penny, though, as they’re so truly waterproof (not just resistant to a little rain) and come with a lifetime warranty.
Best backpack with internal packing cubes
Size: 20 x 12 x 10” | Compression | Water resistant: Waterproof rain cover
Sometimes I take my love of packing cubes one step further by traveling with this Cotopaxi backpack that has multiple mesh packing cubes sewn into it. It functions like a soft-side suitcase, opening like a clamshell to reveal its various compartments. There’s also a hidden laptop sleeve. It’s small enough to function as an underseat bag, but Strategist contributing writer Margaret Eby says she can fit a “shocking amount” of items inside thanks to this clever use of space. The pack itself isn’t entirely waterproof, but it comes with a rain cover, and you can switch between holding it with multiple handles while you’re on the move.
Best backpack with external packing cubes
Size: 20 x 12 x 9.5” | Non-compression | Water resistant: Waterproof fabric
Matador’s SEG28 also has packing cubes sewn in, except these ones are handily located on the exterior of the pack. It still fully unzips to reveal a large internal compartment that’s useful for storing coats or shoes; there’s also a hidden laptop sleeve at the back. I’ve used this backpack on a couple of weeklong trips, and enjoy how it functions as a soft-side dresser — you can organize your clothes just as you would in your drawers at home. One downside is that there are no mesh panels to see inside each of the four main “cubes,” which means you’ll have to memorize which items you pack in each. Still, for anyone who loves to stay hyper-organized by utilizing lots of separate compartments and zippers while they travel, this is a winner.
Best packing cube organizers
Size: Small: 14 x 20”, Medium: 16 x 24”, Large: 20 x28 “ | Compression | Water resistant: Waterproof
Hear me out: If you’re an overpacker it might be worth investing in some packing cubes for your packing cubes. These clear plastic compression bags are like “Ziplocs for clothes,” explains Travel Fly Sexy podcast co-host Natasha Wilson. “Several of them can fit inside packing cubes — so you can organize your outfits but keep them all in one cube.” This is a particularly useful solution if you’re traveling personal-item-only and don’t have room for a full set of Calpaks set inside your backpack, but still want to stay organized.
Our Experts
• Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon, travel writer
• Christina Guan, travel blogger for Happy to Wander
• Summer Hull, director of travel content at The Points Guy
• Foster Kamer, editor-in-chief of Futurism
• Lauren Keiles, contributing writer at The New York Times Magazine
• Emily Krause, travel writer and blogger
• Briona Lamback, founder of Buoyant
• Isabelle Lieblein, travel blogger
• Jenna Milliner-Waddell, Strategist associate editor
• Corky Pollan, cookbook author and frequent flier
• Aly Simmons, operations partner at REI
• Diana Tsui, writer
• Austin Tucker, a writer at Pack Hacker
• Natasha Wilson, co-host, Travel Fly Sexy
Update on May 24, 2024: Updated prices and checked stock for all products.
Additional reporting by Rachael Griffiths.
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