Hey everyone - I’m looking to buy a set of packing cubes so that I can be more organized when I travel. There are so many different options, though and I want to make sure I'm making the best choice. Any suggestions?
#1 eBags Hyper-Lite
#1 eBags Hyper-Lite
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Have you considered the eBags Hyper-Lite packing cubes? They’ve completely transformed the way I pack. It’s a set of five packing cubes (two large, two small, one slim) that can hold everything you would normally put straight into your suitcase. The mesh on top makes it easy to see what you’ve put in each cube, and they don’t slide around, so when I unzip the suitcase, everything is exactly where I left it. These cubes make unpacking ridiculously easy, too. I used to leave my clothes in my suitcase during short trips, but now I always move the cubes to the dresser or wardrobe when I get to my hotel.
@Horace Erickson, when they’re full, will all of these fit in a typical carry-on suitcase?
Yes, I can fit all five of mine in my carry-on. It’s amazing how much more room I have in my suitcase when I use these.
They easily fit into my carry-on, and I usually combine them with a second set of packing cubes when I’m bringing a larger suitcase.
I love the eBags Hyper-Lite packing cubes. They really help maximize suitcase space and protect our clothes from getting wrinkled. My whole family uses them when we travel. We love the colors, and the cubes are tough enough to deal with my kids overstuffing them and tugging on the zippers.
I always travel with these packing cubes. They’re lightweight yet structured, so they stay upright while you’re filling them. The nylon seems to be really good quality and the YKK zippers are excellent. I was enticed by the lifetime guarantee on these cubes, but I haven’t needed to use it.
@Sheryl Fletcher, I’m having trouble visualizing how big these are. Could you give me an idea of how many shirts you can fit into the large cube, for example?
Depending on the thickness of the shirts, I’d say at least six or seven?
#2 EvolutionCubes 6-piece
#2 EvolutionCubes 6-piece
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I’d like to recommend the Evolution Cubes. It’s a set of six bags -- one extra large, two medium, and two slim, and a huge drawstring bag which is great for holding a few pairs of shoes, or dirty laundry. ... The Evolution Cubes actually have some shape to them, unlike others I’ve seen that are just zippered bags. The material feels really nice, and they look a lot more professional than most packing cubes. The top has a small mesh panel so you can see what’s inside the bags. There’s a strip across the top that’s supposed to keep clothes from getting wrinkled.Read more
I like these packing cubes, but it would have been nice to have another extra-large cube. The medium and slim cubes are a little small for holding much besides shirts, socks, and underwear. ... These are heavier than a lot of other packing cubes, but that might be a plus since they’re pretty sturdy. I think these are a bit too fancy for backpacking or camping trips, and they’re not really designed for kids.Read more
I bought a set of Evolution Cubes because I wanted packing cubes that could be compressed, without having to forcefully squeeze the air out. When they’re not full, you... use the second zipper to reduce the height from 4” to 1”. Read more
#3 Osprey 3-piece
#3 Osprey 3-piece
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I’m a big fan of Osprey backpacks, so I purchased the three-piece set of Osprey packing cubes last year. They’re definitely designed for backpacking, rather than a suitcase. ... Although I would prefer a mesh top to actually see what’s inside the cubes, I’m pretty pleased with them so far. You get a large, medium, and small cube. The quality is really good compared to some cheaper sets I’ve had in the past. They’re super lightweight, which is exactly what you want when you’re backpacking. Read more
For the price, I expected a bit more from these. I’ve only used them once, but the material seems so thin ... I hope it’s stronger than it looks!
@Alonso Bray, will these fit in a 40L backpack?
Definitely, with lots of room to spare. I think the large packing cube is only 5 liters, so that should give you some idea of how much space they would take up in a backpack.
@Eileen Waters, yes they will, but they were smaller than I expected. I had to buy a second set because these weren’t big enough to fit everything I wanted to take on my camping trip.
#4 Bagail 6-piece
#4 Bagail 6-piece
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If you’re on a budget, Bagail packing cubes are very good value. In the 6-piece set, you get two large, two medium, and two slim cubes. The large cubes are almost too large to be ... useful in a suitcase, unless you want to store big items like winter coats. The medium size is perfect for shirts and pants, though, and the slim ones are good for underwear and socks. I usually take an empty cube to use for dirty clothes.Read more
I have to say … these are definitely on the flimsy side. The lack of structure can be annoying when you’re trying to pack and the sides just fall over. They’re really more like bags than cubes.
Getting the six-piece set has been very useful for me and my husband. These cubes have helped us stay organized and you can’t fault the price. Three packing cubes is plenty for each of us on a weeklong trip. It was a bit disappointing that he couldn’t fit his shoes in the slim cube, though.
I’ve taken these on a few trips now, and overall they’re adequate. I’ve had some issues with the zippers, though. They seem to stick a lot, especially on the corners, which is a pain when you’re in a hurry.
#5 TravelWise 5-piece
#5 TravelWise 5-piece
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I have a set of TravelWise packing cubes and they’ve always been fine for my family. There are probably better quality packing cubes out there, but these were a good price. ... I try not to overfill them because the seams aren’t very strong. Read more
@Claudia Snyder, have you ever washed these? I’m considering taking them to the beach.
I really wouldn’t recommend it … I washed mine without reading the care label and the inner coating began to flake off. It’s probably best to spot clean these cubes with a wet cloth if you have to.
I really like the concept of packing cubes but I don’t rate this set very highly. They’re fine for keeping clothes separated and organized, but they don’t have any structure to ... them. Maybe rolling your clothes instead of folding them would give these more of a fixed shape.Read more
#6 trtl 3-piece Packing Pods
#6 trtl 3-piece Packing Pods
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If you want to try something a bit different, take a look at the Trtl 3-piece packing set. These are pods, rather than cubes, and they come with a strap to hang them on a hook or ... a closet rail, or to carry them with you as a day bag. You can also link them together or compress them into a smaller size.Read more
These are pretty much unusable if you fold your clothes. They’re designed for holding rolled up clothes, which I guess is better for eliminating creases. I use the small one as a ... toiletries bag because I can hook it to the towel rail in the bathroom. Read more
I was given a set as a gift and although they’re a neat idea, they don’t really work with heavy clothes, since you have to roll up all of your garments. I also would have liked a ... couple more of the bags to store things in my large suitcase. On the plus side, it’s cool that they’re made from recycled plastic bottles. Read more