Travel Products Luggage + Bags Organizers + Accessories The 8 Best Packing Cubes of 2023, Tested and Reviewed We love space-saving packing cubes for long and short trips, and these are the best out there. By Anna Popp Anna Popp Anna Popp is a Commerce Writer at Travel + Leisure where she tests, researches, and writes about travel products. Since living overseas in 2018, Anna has been a travel writer and began reviewing products in 2021. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Updated on April 17, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email In This Article Expand Jump to a Section Our top picks Reviews Others We Liked Our Testing Process Tips for Buying FAQ Why Trust T+L We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Travel + Leisure / Vicky Wasik Packing cubes are hands down one the best travel hacks out there. Whether you’re a meticulous list-maker or planning procrastinator, investing in a set of packing cubes is a game changer for staying organized and saving space without having to put in too much effort. At Travel + Leisure, we take our travel hacks seriously so we put 23 sets of regular and compression packing cubes to the test both in our New York City lab and out during real travels to find the best ones on the market. Our top pick is a set of four Gonex Compression Packing Cubes that thoroughly impressed us with the space saved thanks to the compression zippers on each cube. We understand that everyone has unique preferences so we also found picks for travelers embarking on long trips, outdoor adventurers, and minimalist packers looking for one single cube to do the trick. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Gonex Compression Packing Cubes at Amazon Jump to Review Best Value: Shacke Pak 5 Set Packing Cubes at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Long Trips: Veken Packing Cubes with Laundry and Shoe Bag at Amazon Jump to Review Best Single Cube: eBags Classic Medium Compression Cube at Ebags.com Jump to Review Best for Camping: REI Co-op Expandable Packing Cube Set at REI Jump to Review Best Sustainable : Peak Design Packing Cubes at Peakdesign.com Jump to Review Best Personalized: Paravel Packing Cube Quad at Amazon Jump to Review Best Style: Calpak Packing Cubes 5-piece Set at Nordstrom Jump to Review Best Overall Gonex Compression Packing Cubes 5 Amazon View On Amazon View On Gonexsport.com Our Ratings Capacity 5/5 Design 5/5 Quality 5/5 Value 5/5 Why We Love It The lightweight cubes easily compress clothing down to save space in a suitcase. What to Consider They repel some water but are not waterproof. We love the Gonex Compression Packing Cubes thanks to their impressive space-saving ability. During six months of tests, we found these cubes to be monumentally helpful when it comes to consolidating and organizing clothing items between the different-sized cubes. The compression cubes help you get more items packed than a regular version of a packing cube and the sturdy zippers made compressing the packed cubes easy, leading us to believe that these cubes will last over time with the durable zippers and stitchwork. Although the nylon material isn’t waterproof, we splashed a little water on the outside and found that the material repels some water (but the clothing should remain dry with the extra protection of a suitcase, too). Plus, the handles on the top of each cube make it easy to grab the bags for packing and unpacking, and we love that the set includes an extra-large, large, medium, and small bag for variety. Price at time of publish: $36 for 4 The Details: 3 or 4 bags included | 17.3 x 13 x 3.54 inches (extra large), 14.5 x 10.6 x 3.54 inches (large), 11.8 x 8.9 x 3.54 inches (medium), and 9.8 x 7.5 x 3.54 inches (small) Travel + Leisure / Vicky Wasik Best Value Shacke Pak 5 Set Packing Cubes 4.6 Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart Our Ratings Capacity 5/5 Design 4/5 Quality 4/5 Value 5/5 Why We Love It The set includes four cubes and a laundry bag. What to Consider The mesh tops aren’t waterproof or resistant. Whether you’re traveling with family or heading on a solo trip, these Shacke packing cubes are a steal of a deal. The set includes extra-large, large, medium, and small packing cubes, as well as a laundry bag for dirty clothes. Designed for up to 14 days of traveling, we found that the cubes lived up to their promise of providing plenty of space for a variety of types of clothing like pants, toiletries, shirts, and jackets. The cubes easily fit in the carry-on suitcase we used and with the various sizes, you can customize how many cubes you want to pack depending on the type of suitcase you have. While the cubes likely won’t prevent water from seeping through due to the mesh tops, you can easily see what you packed inside so you won’t have to unpack everything to find a piece of clothing. During our tests, we felt the durable nylon material and zippers will hold up well with prolonged use, and you can't beat the price for the full set either. Price at time of publish: $22 The Details: 5 bags included | 17.5 x 12.75 x 4 inches (extra large), 13.75 x 12.75 x 4 inches (large), 3.75 x 9.75 x 4 inches (medium), 11 x 6.75 x 4 inches (small), and 20.5 x 15.75 inches (laundry bag) Travel + Leisure / Vicky Wasik Best for Long Trips Veken Packing Cubes with Laundry and Shoe Bag 5 Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart Our Ratings Capacity 5/5 Design 5/5 Quality 5/5 Value 5/5 Why We Love It The set includes four packing cubes, a shoe bag, and a laundry bag. What to Consider These have to be hand-washed and air-dried. If you’re traveling internationally or taking an extended vacation, consider picking up a set of these Velken packing cubes from Amazon. The four packing cubes are thoughtfully designed with a clear strip on the top so travelers can easily see what they packed, and there are small graphics printed onto each cube recommending what type of clothing item could be stored inside. This set also includes a shoe bag and a laundry bag so you can keep your items separated and organized. We like that there are several different sizes so you don't have small items moving around in a cube thats too big or trying to cram a larger sweatshirt into something too small. We think these nylon and polyester packing cubes are made to last with a thick fabric exterior and sturdy zippers and stitchwork. After six months of use, there is no sign of wear and the zippers are holding up well. Although, we found the cubes to be slightly heavier than others we tested so keep that in mind if you’re an overpacker or striving to stay under the standard 50-pound limit for checked luggage. Price at time of publish: $29 The Details: 6 bags included | 17.5 x 12.15 x 4 (extra large), 13.75 x 12.75 x 4 inches (large), 3.75 x 9.75 x 4 inches (medium), 11 x 6.75 x 4 inches (small), 16.96 x 9.06 x 4.72 (shoe bag), and 20 x 14 inches (laundry bag) Travel + Leisure / Vicky Wasik The 11 Best Travel Laundry Bags of 2023 Best Single Cube eBags Classic Medium Compression Cube 4.8 eBags View On Ebags.com Our Ratings Capacity 5/5 Design 5/5 Quality 4/5 Value 5/5 Why We Love It It’s a compression packing cube that makes room for other items like shoes or a toiletry bag. What to Consider The compression zipper could snag a bit. For travelers looking for a simple hack to make room in a suitcase, a single compression packing cube is the best bet. This option from eBags will save you nearly four inches of height thanks to a compression zipper that condenses the clothing packed inside the cube. In testing, we were thoroughly impressed with the cube’s ability to fit five clothing items and a bulky winter jacket. We love the size and versatility plus the lightweight material and handles makes it effortless to carry. After six months of regularly using the bag, we noticed that the zipper sometimes snags if the cube isn’t packed full so you might find it easier to zip if you pack the cube to its maximum capacity. While most of the packing cubes we tested didn’t repel water, this one is made with a nylon material that proved to be water-resistant after splashing a bit of water on it. This single packing cube is ideal for frequent fliers or travelers simply looking to save space without investing in a set of packing cubes. Price at time of publish: $20 The Details: 1 bag included | 14 x 10 x 1.5 inches Travel + Leisure / Vicky Wasik Best for Camping REI Co-op Expandable Packing Cube Set 5 REI View On REI Our Ratings Capacity 5/5 Design 5/5 Quality 5/5 Value 5/5 Why We Love It The tent-like material is lightweight and has a rugged look. What to Consider The mesh top doesn’t feel as durable as we hoped and these bags lose their shape when fully packed. Outdoor enthusiasts should consider REI Co-op’s lightweight packing cubes for upcoming camping trips. The set of two comes with large and medium packing cubes that remain at the standard three-inch height or they can be expanded another three inches to double the capacity. After six months of regularly using the packing cubes, we found that all seams and zippers are holding up extremely well, even after packing heavy winter clothing. In testing, the tent-like nylon proved to be water-resistant as advertised, however, the top of the cubes are made of a breathable mesh that doesn’t repel water and felt a little less sturdy than the nylon portion. Though the mesh top isn’t ideal for waterproofness, we like how easy it is to see what we packed through the little mesh holes. Plus, the lightweight materials are ideal for campers or backpackers looking to stay organized without sacrificing weight. Price at time of publish: $33 The Details: 2 bags included | 14.5 x 10.5 x 3 inches (large) and 12 x 8 x 3 inches (medium) Travel + Leisure / Vicky Wasik The 13 Best Pink Luggage Pieces of 2023 Best Sustainable Peak Design Packing Cubes 4.5 Peak Design View On Peakdesign.com Our Ratings Capacity 5/5 Design 4/5 Quality 5/5 Value 4/5 Why We Love It Peak Design uses 100 percent recycled materials to make the cubes. What to Consider The easy access zippers were finicky to use. San Francisco-based Peak Design is known for its slew of sustainable outdoor gear made with carbon neutral and recycled materials, including their expandable packing cubes. We tried the small- and medium-sized cubes and found them to be spacious, well-built, and resistant to water after splashing a bit on the exterior. After regularly using the cubes for six months, we loved the capacity of the medium cube and found the smaller option to be good for packing undergarments or even toiletries. We especially love that the cubes are made from 100 percent recycled nylon that is solution-dyed to prevent excessive water use following the brand’s carbon neutral footprint, plus each bag expands to fit even more items. The cubes can compress down to a height of 3.1 inches, but we found that they function best as an expandable packing cube that can increase in size, rather than a compression cube that is designed to heavily consolidate clothes. Additionally, the cubes feature an “easy access” zipper so travelers can reach inside the bag without opening the whole thing, but we think this feature is unnecessary to use due to the zipper getting snagged. Price at time of publish: $40 for medium The Details: 1 bag included | 12.6 x 12.6 x 6.7 inches (medium) and 12.6 x 6.7 x 6.7 inches (small and shoe pouch) Travel + Leisure / Vicky Wasik Best Personalized Paravel Packing Cube Quad 4.6 Amazon View On Amazon View On Maisonette.com View On Tnuck.com Our Ratings Capacity 5/5 Design 4.5/5 Quality 5/5 Value 4/5 Why We Love It The cubes can be monogrammed with up to three letters for an additional $25. What to Consider The large cube is so big it takes up most of the space of a carry-on bag. Indulge your love for matching with this set of personalized packing cubes from Paravel. Although it costs an extra $25, you can get up to three letters embroidered onto the set of four packing cubes with 11 color options. The set comes with one large, one medium, and two small-sized packing cubes that can hold an impressive amount of clothing and still fit in most carry-on bags. These cubes are great for any type of traveler, but especially for those looking for water-resistant cubes for checked bags that will be handled outside in different weather conditions. After six months of use, we found that these cubes provide exceptional organization with room to pack bulkier items in the larger bags and toiletries or undergarments between the two smaller cubes. As an added bonus, these cubes won't take up much space in between trips. They're easy to store and stack right inside one another. The size variety is also convenient for different types of trips and we love having the option to use one, two, three, or all four bags in a checked bag if needed. Price at time of publish: $65 The Details: 4 bags included | 18 x 3.75 x 12 inches (large), 12.75 x 3.75 x 10 inches (medium), and 8.2 x. 3.75 x 6.25 inches (small) Travel + Leisure / Vicky Wasik The 9 Best Carry-on Backpacks of 2023, Tested and Reviewed Best Style Calpak Packing Cubes 5-piece Set 4.8 Nordstrom View On Nordstrom View On Calpaktravel.com Our Ratings Capacity 5/5 Design 5/5 Quality 5/5 Value 4/5 Why We Love It There are 14 designs to choose from including groovy blue, retro sunset, and cheetah prints. What to Consider The set might be better suited for frequent fliers. If you travel often and are looking to invest in a splurge-worthy set of packing cubes, you can’t go wrong with these from Calpak. We love the unique design options with 14 colors and patterns to choose from including classics like solid pink and gold marble, or limited-edition prints like a wavy retro sunset and groovy blue picks. The set includes one large, one medium, and two small cubes, as well as a water-resistant envelope for cosmetics. After six months of using these packing cubes during international trips, we found that all the bags were spacious enough to fit a variety of clothing options for organized and efficient packing. We love the diversity of sizes to hold things like undergarments as well as shoes if needed. We also love the option to bring a folded large cube to keep dirty clothes separate. The polyester material feels well-made and built to last, and the zippers zipped without any issues which helps justify the higher price point for this set. And, if you’re traveling with your family, we think the set would be great for separating and organizing clothing for several travelers thanks to the removable identification tags where you can write what clothing went into each cube. Price at time of publish: $68 The Details: 5 bags included | 17 x 12 x 3 inches (large), 15 x 11 x 3 inches (medium), 12 x 8.8 x 3 inches (small), and 13 x 10 x 1.5 inches (envelope) Travel + Leisure / Vicky Wasik Other Packing Cubes We Liked There were several sets of packing cubes we highlighted below that almost made our list of best packing cubes, but they fell short during testing due some minor flaws we noticed. Well Traveled Compression Packing Cubes: This set of compression packing cubes is great for budget-friendly travelers but our top pick is also a compression set that had a better overall performance in testing. Lean Travel Premium Compression Packing Cubes: The set of three cubes is made with thick polyester that still feels lightweight, but besides that, there weren’t any standout features compared to our other top performers. Briggs & Riley Packing Cubes: These cubes were spacious and water-resistant, but for $59, we expected a higher performance to match the price for three standard packing cubes. Our Testing Process Travel + Leisure / Vicky Wasik Our testing experts spent a day in our New York City lab evaluating 23 sets of both compression and regular packings cubes based on traits like capacity, design, quality, and value using a rating scale of one to five. First, we unpackaged the sets of packing cubes and examined the quality of the bags by twisting and pulling them to check the stitchwork, and using the zippers to see if they snagged or glided smoothly. The cubes with the highest quality ratings left us confident that the materials and stitching are built to last and withstand use over time. After packing the cubes with a variety of clothing items like pants, jackets, undergarments, and shirts, we placed the cubes in a carry-on suitcase to see how well they fit in a piece of luggage. Our top contenders for capacity and design provided plenty of space for a range of clothing items with useful and thoughtful features that made packing easier and more organized. Travel + Leisure / Vicky Wasik For compression-specific packing cubes, we paid close attention to how much space the packing cube saved once we zipped the compression zippers. And for all cubes, we splashed a bit of water on the exterior and felt the inside to see if any of the packed contents were damp or wet. Lastly, we were unaware of the price and only saw after testing was complete where they judged the value of each packing cube set. The sets with the highest values performed as advertised or better, and left our testers satisfied with the cost or willingness to pay even more for the cubes. After testing each set of cubes in our lab, we sent them home to be tested during real travels around the world for a period of six months. We regularly collected insights on durability, functionality, and overall quality during this period to ensure each cube continued to impress. Travel + Leisure / Vicky Wasik Tips for Buying Packing Cubes Travel + Leisure / Vicky Wasik Compare compression versus regular packing cubes Compression packing cubes are designed to condense clothing by using the compression zipper to pack down the clothes in order to save space in a suitcase. Regular packing cubes are mainly for organizing clothes efficiently rather than consolidating clothing to make more room in a piece of luggage. Compression packing cubes can usually be expanded or compressed which gives travelers the best of both worlds. Consider the type of luggage you use For travelers who usually use checked luggage, consider purchasing a set with five or six cubes included so you can maximize space in each suitcase. And, if you’re a carry-on-only type of traveler, one or two packing cubes in small or medium sizes could be better suited for your needs, and you won’t have to worry about storing of a large set either. Backpackers or campers should consider getting just one or two compression or regular cubes that can fit in a backpack or weekender bag for lighter packing. Look for sets that include multiple sizes One of the best parts about packing cubes is staying organized on the go with little effort. To help you keep like items together, consider buying a set of multiple packing cubes with different sizes. That way, you can know without opening the case what cube holds your pants, your shirts, your undergarments, and more. The various size options also let you mix and match the cubes to fit whatever luggage you're bringing from weekender duffles to large checked bags. Frequently Asked Questions Should I roll or fold my clothes to save space? When it comes to saving space, experts say you can either fold or roll clothes, it ultimately doesn’t matter. The most important thing is maximizing your space and packing cubes are great for doing just that. Besides saving space, packing cubes can help you stay organized before and during your trip making them a must-have packing hack. How many packing cubes should I get? To choose the right amount of packing cubes in a set, consider several factors like how often you travel, what kind of suitcase you use, and how organized you prefer to be. Some travelers might like having a set that includes four packing cubes with laundry and shoe bags for variety while packing and others might prefer just one or two for a carry-on or weekender bag. What is the best material for a packing cube? Flexible fabrics like nylon or polyester are best for packing cubes as they'll allow you to pack the most number of items. These materials also tend to be water-resistant, keeping your items extra safe throughout your travels. Why Trust Travel + Leisure Anna Popp is a commerce writer at Travel + Leisure, where she writes and reviews travel products. She has been travel writing since 2018 and product testing since 2021. Anna worked with travel editors to determine the results for the best packing cubes based on a series of tests completed by our testers in our New York City lab and she is currently participating in long-term testing a set of packing cubes included in this roundup. The 6 Best Compression Packing Cubes of 2023, Tested and Reviewed Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we'll send you our favorite travel products each week. Updated by Taylor Fox Taylor Fox Instagram Taylor Fox is a Commerce Updates Writer at Travel + Leisure where she tests, researches, and writes about travel products. 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