Packing cubes have exploded in popularity in recent years as a ‘solution’ to make packing easier and travelling less stressful. These simple, organisational tools are on almost every travel blogger’s list of ULTIMATE travel hacks that you simply cannot live without… But what is the point of packing cubes? And are they really worth the hype? (Spoiler: yes they are).
If you are anything like me, having everything neat and tidy is important. Knowing where your belongings are and having a system in place keeps you more at ease. It’s one less thing to worry about, it’s aesthetically pleasing and I don’t lose things anywhere near as much as I would otherwise.
It’s no different in the world of travel. When my worldly belongings for the next few days, weeks or even months, are all packed in one holdall, it’s just as important (if not more) to keep things structured and organised. Enter, packing cubes!
If you want to learn more about what packing cubes are; what to do with packing cubes; and how to be more organised while travelling, you’re in the right place!
What are packing cubes?
Packing cubes are as simple as the name suggests. They are small, fabric pouches that you pack your belongings into to help organise the contents of your luggage.
They are not always cube-shaped. In fact, they come in all shapes and sizes giving you the flexibility to pack in any way you want.
Instead of jamming all your clothes into your bag loosely, these cubes are used to compartmentalise your bag. I view it almost like a game of Tetris!
Packing cubes are also known as packing cells, compression cubes, packing squares, packing pouches, and travel cubes (among other names).
How to use packing cubes
If you’re reading this, the chances are you’ve been packing your bags for your whole life without ever using a packing cube. So you may have a few questions about how to use them.
How many packing cubes do you need?
The number of packing cubes that you need depends on the length of your trip as well as the type of trip that you are doing.
This impacts the belongings that you want to pack. For example, you’ll need to pack different items for a short summer getaway versus an extended winter trip.
Similarly, the number of cubes you can bring is dictated by the size of your holdall. Are you travelling hand luggage only or are you planning on having checked luggage?
For me, one thing that remains consistent is packing at least one medium-sized packing cube. I use this for underwear (pants and socks). There’s rarely a trip where I want to bring more than 7 pairs with me, so I’ve found my cube to fit these in perfectly.
What size packing cubes to get?
Once again, the size of your packing cubes depends on your belongings and your style of packing. Some travellers use one big packing cube to put all of their clothes in. Whilst others prefer multiple smaller cubes to separate their clothes.
As someone who prefers order and organisation, I use smaller packing cubes (approx 30cm x 20cm x 10cm). This comes with the added benefit that they squeeze down smaller and allow me to travel lighter.
The benefit of having different-sized packing cubes is that you can tell them apart more easily without the need to open them up or remove them from your holdall. This is also a reason why you could buy different colour packing cubes.
The benefit of having cubes that are the same size is that they will stack in your bag more easily. Having cubes that are significantly different from each other often makes them more difficult to slot together and therefore harder to pack tightly.
How to use packing cubes when packing your bag
There is no hard and fast rule on how to pack your bag using packing cubes. It’s simply a case of filling your packing cubes with all the clothes that you want to go inside.
With my packing cubes, I group similar items together. For example, all underwear goes in one packing cube, whilst all T-shirts go in another packing cube. This makes everything easier to find and allows me to see all options for a specific item with one glance.
Alternatively, you can group your clothes by outfit. This involves grouping together sets of matching clothes. Personally, this option sounds more difficult but could be beneficial for a shorter trip.
Once you have decided how to group everything, it’s time to put your clothes in their respective packing cubes.
Roll your clothes to make it easier to see everything when you open your packing cubes. Folding your clothes is also fine.
Once you have filled up your packing cubes, place them in your bag.
Stack them on each other, and squeeze them within small gaps. Do whatever you need to do to close your larger suitcase or rucksack. Put heavier items nearer the bottom of your bag, and place packing cubes that you will need easy access to nearer the top.
What else can you use packing cubes for?
Packing cubes are extremely versatile and don’t need to be solely used for travel! If you’re not travelling every moment of every day, here are some ideas of what else can you use packing cubes for!
- Storing clothes more neatly to keep your wardrobe and drawers tidy
- Storing travel gear between trips (passport, passport holder, travel first aid kit)
- Keeping electronics neat and tidy
- Car tidy – great for your boot
- Organising your bag (gym bag, handbag, work bag)
For things like tidying clothes and storage, I would recommend a packing cube with more structural integrity. That way, your packing cube will hold its shape even when it’s not being squeezed into a bag.
Should you wash packing cubes?
In short, yes you should wash your packing cubes. At the start of your trip, you will be putting clean clothes in them, so you don’t want clean clothes to be held in a dirty pocket.
Most packing cubes nowadays are machine washable but they are also easy to wash by hand.
Thankfully, packing cubes dry quickly due to their thin material. Therefore if you do a quick wash while you are travelling, you can include your cubes as well.
Packing cubes vs rolling clothes vs folding clothes
Before packing cubes I was a huge advocate for rolling clothes. Rolled clothes take up seemingly less space, and rolling is meant to be less wrinkle-inducing, than folding.
Guess what? Nothing has changed – I’m still an advocate for rolling clothes. If packing cubes weren’t a thing, I’d still be using my tried and trusted method.
However, packing cubes can be paired with both rolling and folding methods. In fact, packing cubes improve both of them! Their structure minimises movement, which reduces any creasing; and they also ensure that minimal space is used up by locking my clothes into a tight compartment.
Therefore I roll up my clothes within my packing cubes to get the best of both worlds!
Are packing cubes worth it?
I’m not exaggerating when I say packing cubes changed my life. Well, at least they have changed the way I travel.
I don’t go on any trips nowadays without using at least one packing cube (even if it’s in my hand luggage). So let’s take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of packing cubes.
The benefits of packing cubes are:
- Save space
- Make packing easier and quicker (even for people like myself who are no good at packing)
- Better organisation
- Less creasing and wrinkles on your clothing
- Don’t lose things
- Protect your clothes
- Great for separating dirty laundry
The drawbacks of packing cubes are:
- Cost money
- Can’t always see what’s inside cubes
- One extra zip to reach your belongings
Do packing cubes save space in your bag?
I’ve been asked this question a lot. Many people still question whether packing cubes are actually space savers since you’re actually adding more items to your holdall.
The answer is yes (as long as you use them properly).
What packing cube to get?
With the demand for packing cubes increasing, so is the number of options available! Varying in shape, size, colour and material, there are packing cubes to suit every need.
I still use my first set of packing cubes. They’ve travelled with me across 6 months in Southeast Asia, 2 months in Central America, plus several shorter trips within Europe. I’ve paired them with my Farpoint 40 backpack, Farpoint 55 backpack, carry-on size suitcases and larger holdalls.
What makes a good packing cube?
A good packing cube should be reliable (good zipper, strong fabric that doesn’t rip); protect your clothes (waterproof/water resistant); and should wash easily. It should also fit whatever you need inside (ideally compressible); have structure but be malleable in your bag; and should provide easy access and visibility to what’s inside.
Packing cube recommendations
- Best value packing cubes: Amazon Basics Packing Cubes
- Best quality packing cubes: Antler Packing Cubes
- Best compression packing cubes: Eono Compression Packing Cubes
- Best packing cubes for suitcases: Level 8 Packing Cubes
- Best packing cubes for backpacks: Amazon Basics Packing Cubes
- Best sustainable packing cubes: Patagonia Black Hole Cube
- Best lightweight packing cubes: Osprey Ultralight Packing Cubes
How to keep your bag tidy without packing cubes
If you’ve read this article and still aren’t convinced. Or you’re going away but your packing cubes haven’t arrived. Here is how you can you keep your travel bag tidy without packing cubes or what can you use instead of packing cubes?
As mentioned earlier, the best way to keep your clothes fresh and uncreased is to roll your clothes.
Pack items that you will need easy access to nearer the top. This includes items like chargers, underwear, t-shirts or wash gear. At the bottom should go items that won’t crease as much, like jeans, swim shorts or shoes.
Ideally, you should pack your heavier items at the bottom of your bag to spread the weight so they don’t press down on everything else.
Group similar items together to stay organised and help you find things more easily. Then arrange items in the same way each time so you can remember how you pack your bags.
If you don’t want to buy packing cubes, the next best alternative is to use homemade packing cubes. Plastic bags are a handy alternative as they are lightweight, waterproof and easily accessible/cheap! Plus they come in different colours so you can differentiate between items.
Take the air out of the bags so they compress more easily, then tie a loose knot at the top so nothing falls out. You don’t get the same compression with a plastic bag, but it’s a similar concept to packing cubes.
Give these methods a try and see if you want to try out an actual packing cube!
Before you go
Thank you for reading my post and I hope it’s answered your question about what is the point of packing cubes. If guides, itineraries and travel content like this interest you, head over to my blog page to find out more.
If you are new to Matt’s Next Steps, check out the About Me page to find out a bit more about who I am, my travel adventures, and why I wanted to become a travel writer.
Please comment below and let me know your thoughts and experiences, or if there is anything else you want information on.
Happy packing!
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