If you’ve ever opened your suitcase to find a chaotic jumble of clothes, cables, and rogue socks, you’re not alone. However, an easy fix has become a staple among seasoned travelers: the humble packing cube. Once dismissed as a trivial accessory, these zippered bags are now essential for everyone from minimalist backpackers to style-conscious globetrotters.
Why Packing Cubes?
For years, many of us were confident in our own careful rolling and folding techniques, believing packing cubes only added unnecessary bulk. But the moment you try a set, you’ll see they’re transformative. Not only do compressible options—like Eagle Creek’s Pack-It Reveal Carry-On Set, Thule’s Compression Packing Cube Set, and Bagsmart Compression Cubes—help maximize precious suitcase space, but even non-compression cubes, such as Beis’ color-labeled sets, slash your packing and unpacking times and keep your items tidy and cleaner.
Packing cubes are especially useful with duffel bags and backpacks, protecting your clothes from dirt, spills, and sand, and minimizing wrinkles. They offer privacy during TSA searches, as agents can check a single cube rather than rummage through your entire bag. Shared bags? Color-coded cubes let families or friends keep items separate—no more sorting at your destination. And if you must lighten your bag at the airport, it’s far easier to remove a cube than dig through loose clothing.
When you arrive, unpacking is a breeze: simply move your cubes to the drawers, mess-free. For both frequent flyers and occasional vacationers, packing cubes have become a travel essential. If you’re curious about trying them—or ready to upgrade your old set—here’s our curated guide to the best, road-tested options for any type of trip.
Why Not Just Use a Ziplock Bag?
“Why not use a ziplock bag?” skeptics ask. While cheap and practical, ziplocks have key shortcomings. Packing cubes are breathable (no musty clothes after a trip), far more durable, and some offer compression to squeeze in days’ worth of outfits without risking splits or squished snacks.
How We Tested
Over several months, various packing cubes were tested for quality, zipper smoothness, compression ability, and organization. Packing and unpacking speeds, as well as real-world durability, were scrutinized. Only the sets that aced cross-country trials made our list below.
Our Favorite Packing Cubes
- Best Overall: Eagle Creek Pack-It Reveal Carry-On Set
- Sturdy, well-designed, good compression, breathable mesh panel, water resistant.
- Lifetime warranty. - Best Budget: Bagsmart Compression Packing Cubes
- Affordable, compression, sleek fabric, mesh window for privacy, label windows.
- 30-day warranty. - Best Compression: Thule Compression Packing Cube Set
- Super compressive, lightweight, water repellent, translucent for easy content ID.
- Limited lifetime warranty. - Best Luxe: Monos Compressible Packing Cubes
- Sturdy, stylish, antimicrobial, compression feature, designed to fit Monos luggage.
- 2-year limited warranty. - Best Structured: Dagne Dover Roma Packing Cube
- Holds shape well, perfect for wrinkle-free clothes, sturdy mesh.
- 2-year warranty. - Best Lightweight: Peak Design Ultralight Mesh Packing Cube
- Featherweight, packs small, weatherproof, stretchy mesh, lifetime warranty. - Most Versatile: Gossamer Gear Packing Cube Bundle
- Extremely light, roomy, varied functions (compression, dirty/clean cubes, clear cube for liquids/tech). - Best Machine Washable: Cram Packing Cubes
- Fully machine-wash and dryable, rugged design—ideal for camping and dirty trips. - Best for Obsessive Organization: Beis Packing Cubes & Calpak Packing Cube Set
- Beis cubes come with label inserts for precise categorization, sturdy mesh windows.
- Calpak cubes have mesh panels, label windows, and come in many prints. - Best for Keeping Things Folded: Eagle Creek Pack-It Reveal Garment Folder
- Keeps shirts/pants crisp; includes folding board and secure Velcro flaps. - A Carry-On With Built-In Packing Cubes: Travelpro Versapack Compact Carry-on Spinner
- Expandable spinner bag, contains two small packing cubes built in. - A Suitcase Designed for Packing Cubes: Royce & Rocket Castle
- Suitcase features shelves tailored for packing cubes—neat, organized, but bag is heavier due to shelves.
Other Brands We Tested
- GoRuck: Rugged, mesh front, American flag patch, pricey for features.
- Amazon Basics: Great budget value, sturdy mesh windows.
- Away The Insider: Trendy colors, relatively thin material.
- Shacke Pak: Sturdy handle, lots of color options, not actually YKK zippers.
- Gorilla Grip: Low price, includes shoe/laundry bags, but material is thin and zippers are subpar.
Other Travel Accessories Worth Considering
- Calpak Luka Zippered Passport Wallet: Stylish storage for travel documents.
- Gorilla Grip Luggage Straps: Reinforce expandable bags and help spot your suitcase.
- Kusshi Travel Jewelry Organizer: Space-saving, flat-folding, organized jewelry solution.
Why Not Use a Ziplock Bag?
- Packing cubes are breathable (no bad smells).
- They’re more durable and won’t pop in-transit.
- Compression cubes pack far more than a plastic bag can.
Final Thoughts
Once you experience the order, speed, and space-saving functionality of high-quality packing cubes, you’ll never want to return to shoving everything in one big pile. Choose a set that matches your travel style—and enjoy stress-free packing from now on!