If there is one tip I give to fellow travellers over and over again, it’s to use packing cubes when packing their bags. I’ve put together a list of the best packing cubes for travel, where to buy them and a rundown of which ones are best used for each purpose. Check out my handy comparison table of the best packing cubes 2019 and then read the packing cube reviews for each of the major brands that I’ve included below.
But first, a little intro on how to use packing cubes and why I love them so much. What are packing cubes? Packing cubes are zip up bags that you use to organise your clothing when packing your suitcase. Why use packing cubes? If you want to have easy access to your items when travelling without having to dig through your suitcase packing cubes are essential. They can also help you travel light and avoid overpacking as you are more conscious of what you’re packing in your travel cubes. Simple!
Don’t have time to read the whole post? My pick for the top packing cube set is the Shacke Pak Packing Cubes. They are well-made and come in 7 different colors so great for families who are color-coding their packing cubes. The set includes four packing cubes of varying sizes and a laundry bag. Click here to read more reviews and check the price.
What You'll Find in This Post
The Best Packing Cubes for Travel at a Glance
| Model | Set | Features | Colors | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Eagle Creek Pack It Packing Cubes Set | 3 piece set (3 different sizes) | - Double stitched high quality Nylon - YKK zippers with pull cord - Handles on packing cubes - Partial mesh top - Lifetime guarantee | 6 colors available | Click to Reveal |
 Eagle Creek Specter Packing Cube Set | 3 piece set (3 different sizes) | - Silnylon material is durable and water repellent - Zipper with pull cord - Handles on packing cubes - Top opening desgin - Lifetime guarantee | 10 colors available | Click to Reveal |
 Eagle Creek Specter Compression Packing Cubes Set | 2 piece set (2 different sizes) | - Silnylon material is durable and water repellent - Zipper with pull cord - Extra compression zipper - Handles on packing cubes - Top opening desgin - Lifetime guarantee | 10 colors available | Click to Reveal |
eBags Packing Cubes | 3 piece set (3 different sizes) | - Double stitched extra high quality Techlite diamond Nylon - YKK zippers with pull cord - Handles on packing cubes - Partial mesh top - Lifetime warranty | 14 colors available | Click to Reveal |
 Amazon Basics Packing Cubes | 4 piece set (4 different sizes) | - Polyster material - Double opening zippers with pull cord - Handles on packing cubes - Partial mesh top | 6 colors available | Click to Reveal |
 TravelWise Packing Cube System | 5 piece set (3 different sizes) | - High quality Nylon - Double opening zippers with pull cord - Handles on packing cubes - Partial mesh top | 5 colors available | Click to Reveal |
 Shacke Pak Packing Cubes | 4 piece set (4 different sizes) + Laundry bag | - Double stitched high quality Nylon - YKK zippers with pull cord - Handles on packing cubes - Partial mesh top | 8 colors available | Click to Reveal |
 Bagail Packing Cubes Set | 4 piece set (4 different sizes) + Laundry bag | - Double stitched high quality Nylon - YKK zippers with pull cord - Handles on packing cubes - Partial mesh top | 9 colors available | Click to Reveal |
Are Packing Cubes Worth It?
In my opinion… yes! Packing cubes are a great help when planning what to pack, deciding how much clothing to take on your travel and organising your suitcase or backpack. Do packing cubes really save space in your luggage? I think so. When combined with rolling your clothes, you’ll definitely save space in your luggage using packing cubes.
If you want to try out the concept before purchasing, you can make DIY packing cubes by using large and medium sized Ziploc bags. Obviously these are less durable than fabric packing cubes with zippers but it’s the same concept of separating and sorting your clothes when you travel. You’ll be converted in no time and will want to upgrade to real packing cubes of course!
Our family’s color-coded large packing cubes plus one medium packing cube for sleepwear and one for swimwear and our shared toiletry bag.
How to Use Packing Cubes
How to Pack Your Clothes with Packing Cubes
Wondering how to pack packing cubes? Roll your clothes first and then separate out into piles of underwear, tops and bottoms. All your underwear should easily fit into a small packing cube. Tops and t-shirts go into a medium sized packing cube. Pants, dresses and bulkier tops go into the large packing cube. Easy! Or if you’re travelling really light or as a family (see below) just fit all your clothes into a large packing cube. For me, a large packing cube easily contains enough space for all my clothes for a two week trip.
This is my packing cube, packed with a week’s worth of summer clothes.
Packing Bulky Items with Compression Packing Cubes
Some items, like jeans or large jackets, won’t go into a packing cube easily. It’s better to lay these items flat along the bottom of your suitcase and pack over them. Or just wear them on the plane. If you do want to pack these away you’re better off using compression packing cubes to help remove some of the bulk from these items.
Using Packing Cubes for Family Travel
Packing cubes are excellent for traveling as a family because it means you can pack everyone’s gear in the same bag but still be able to lay your hands on exactly what you need when you need it. We pack one large packing cube for each family member, each family member gets their own color. Then I pack everyone’s pyjamas in one medium packing cube and everyone’s swimwear in another medium packing cube. Sleeping or swimming is something we all do at the same so it makes sense to pack these items together. I usually pack a change of clothes for every family member in another medium packing cube and keep this in our carry on for long plane rides. You never know when you’re going to need it!
Video on How to Pack with Packing Cubes
Reviews of the Best Travel Packing Cubes for 2019
Eagle Creek Pack It Packing Cubes Set
Three piece packing cube set with a lifetime Eagle Creek guarantee.
- Three piece set
- Three different sizes -10″x1 4″ x 3″ (large), 7″ x 10″ x 2.5″ (medium) and 4″ x 8″ x 2″ (small)
- 6 colors available
- Zip open top with mesh panel
- Quick grab handle
- Two-way zippers with pull cords
Prices: Check the price for the Eagle Creek Pack It Packing Cubes Set here.
Eagle Creek Specter Packing Cube Set
Three piece set of ultra lightweight packing cubes with a unique top-opening design. Great for stuffing a lot in! I think these are the best packing cubes for backpacking.
- Three piece set
- Three different sizes – 14″ x 10″ x 3″ (large), 10″ x 7″ x 3″ (medium) and 7.5″ x 4.5″ x 2.5″ (small)
- 10 colors
- Ultra lightweight packing cubes, made from Silnylon Ripstop nylon, water repellent and very durable
- Grab handle
- Zip open across the top side They’re a lot easier to stuff with lots of clothing but the downside of the design is that you can’t easily see what clothing you have packed.
- Eagle Creek lifetime guarantee.
Prices: Click here to get prices for the Eagle Creek Specter Packing Cube Set.
Eagle Creek Specter Compression Packing Cubes Set
Two piece set of compression packing cubes for packing bulky items. Same size and top opening design as the regular Eagle Creek Specter cubes above.
- Two piece set
- Two different sizes – 14″ x 10″ x 3″ (large) and 10″ x 7″ x 3″ (medium)
- 10 colors available
- Compression zipper to pack bulky items down easily
- Made from the same ultra lightweight Silnylon Ripstop nylon as the regular Specter cubes above, water repellent and very durable
- Grab handle
- Zip open across the top side, easier to stuff with lots of clothing but the downside of the design is that you can’t easily see what clothing you have packed
- Eagle Creek lifetime guarantee
Prices: Get prices for the Eagle Creek Specter Compression Packing Cubes Set and purchase here.
eBags Packing Cubes Set
Ebags classic mesh packing cubes are great because you can see what’s in the cube and the clothes can breathe a little while they’re tucked away in your suitcase.
- Three piece set
- Three different sizes – 17.5″ x 12.75″ x 3.25″ (large), 13.75″ x 9.75″ x 3″ (medium) and 11″ x 6.75″ x 3″ (small)
- 14 colors available, makes it excellent for families who want to color code their cubes
- Techlite diamond nylon that is extra durable
- Ebags lifetime warranty
- Partial mesh top and YKK zippers with paracords
- Grab handle on cube for easy handling
Prices: Check prices on the eBags Packing Cubes set here.
Amazon Basics Packing Cubes
The Amazon Basics packing cubes has a four piece set with a slim line packing cube that is useful for packing longer items.
- Four piece set
- Four different sizes – 17.5″ x 12.75″ x 3.25″ (large), 13.75″ x 9.75″ x 3″ (medium), 11″ x 6.75″ x 3″ (small) and 2.8″ x 14″ x 5″ (slim)
- 6 colors available
- Polyester material with a partial mesh top
- Pull cord on double opening zippers
Price: Check prices on the Amazon Basics Packing Cubes here.
TravelWise Packing Cube System
A great five piece packing cube set with three different sized cubes, useful for a couple traveling together.
- Five piece set
- Three sizes – Two 4″x 12″x 17″ (large), two 3″x 9″x 13″ (medium) and one 3″x 6.5″x 11″ (small)
- Five colors available
- Double opening zippers with pull cords
- Grab handle on each cube
- Value for money set
Prices: Check the prices for the TravelWise Packing Cube System and purchase here.
Shacke Pak Packing Cubes
Great four piece set plus laundry bag. Slightly deeper than other packing cubes.
- Four piece set + laundry bag
- Four different sizes Size – 17.5″ x 12.75″ x 4″ (extra Large), 13.75″ x 12.75″ x 4″ (large), 13.75″ x9.75″ x 4″ (medium) and 11″ x 6.75″ x 4″ (small)
- 8 colors available
- Partial mesh top with material in clever X pattern creating a reinforced lid to hold your clothes in place
- Grab handle on each cube
- Slightly deeper than other cubes (4″ vs the standard 3″)
Prices: Get up-to-date prices on the Shacke Pak Packing Cubes and purchase it here.
Bagail Packing Cubes Set
This set of packing cubes is excellent value. It comes in a set with four different sizes and has an additional laundry bag.
- Four piece set plus laundry bag
- Four different sizes – Extra Large( 17.5 inch x 12.75 inch x 4 inch) Large (13.75 inch x 12.75 inch x 4 inch) Medium (13.75 inch x 9.75 inch x 4 inch ) Small (11 inch x 6.75 inch x 4 inch)
- Made from high quality, double stitched Nylon with partial mesh top and YKK zippers with paracords
- Grab handle on cube for easy handling
- Slightly deeper than other cubes (4″ vs the standard 3″)
- Very affordable! A great buy for travelers looking for a bargain.
Price: Check out the prices on the Bagail Packing Cubes Set here.
Other Types of Packing Cubes Available
- IKEA Packing Cubes – IKEA sell packing cubes so if you have a store handy to you then drop in and check them out.
- Kathmandu Packing Cells – If you’re from Down Under, you’re probably shopping at Kathmandu for your travel gear. Kathmandu packing cells (they call them cells, not cubes) are wonderful. We have these ones ourselves and I have used them for going on 14 years.
- Ziploc bags – As I mentioned above, gallon-sized Ziploc bags make great impromptu packing cubes. You can buy them cheaply and try them out then upgrade to packing cubes if you like them. You will!
Quick Packing Cube Price Comparison
Note: This section will only display if you do not have an Adblock switched on.
Where to Buy Packing Cubes
Where can I buy packing cubes? The best place is to look online at Amazon so you can have them shipped direct to your door. There are a lot of options on Amazon which I’ll go into in my list below. Some stores also carry packing cubes. IKEA have their own brand of cubes and REI stocks Eagle Creek cubes in the US. If you’re in Australia or New Zealand you can buy packing cubes at Kathmandu. This is useful if you need to grab them in a hurry or live somewhere with higher shipping costs but otherwise Amazon will give you the best prices and selection.
Other Must-Have Packing Accessories
In addition to packing cubes, these are my must-have packing accessories for organised, lightweight packing.
- Luggage Scale – Stop going over your weight limit when packing!
- GoToobs – Squeezy silicon tubes for your shampoo, conditioner etc
- Toiletry Bag – This flat ebags one is awesome!
- Laundry Bag – Many of the best packing cube sets about have one included but if you don’t then you should definitely bring one.
- Wet-Dry Bag – Useful if you’re doing a lot of swimming and don’t want a wet bathing suit in your bag!
- Electronics BUBM – Keep your electronics organised!
- Travel Document Wallet – Keep your passport and travel documents safe and organized. An RFID blocking travel wallet is a good idea.
- Packable backpack– Very useful for day trips and as an extra bag,
Quick Expert Packing Tips from Bethaney
- Lay out what you “think” you need for your trip and then put half of it back. You don’t need nearly as much as you think.
- Pack a capsule wardrobe i.e. make sure every top goes with every bottom and you stick to one color story.
- Use a packing list! I have packings lists for a ski trip, a Las Vegas trip, an Alaska cruise, a Caribbean cruise and a Florida vacation.
- No matter how long your trip is, you only need to pack for a week.
- Always roll your clothes to keep them neat, save space and prevent wrinkling. See the video above on how to roll clothes for packing cubes.
- Wear your heaviest items on the plane to keep your luggage light and easy to manage.
Pin this post for later!
Leave a Comment
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Thanks for the article! I’m a major convert to packing cubes. The best ones for me have been the Flight 001 spacepak cubes. These are more spendy than most of the cubes you find but I love the compression and dual-sided nature of them to keep my clothes contained and fresh. I’m a bigger girl and my clothes therefore are bigger. With the compression, I packed for 5 days in London in a carry-on while my two tiny girlfriends had to check their maxed out carry-ons! I love that I don’t need a separate laundry bag too, just flip the cube over and use the laundry side. By the time I was home I just had to carry them to the washer, unzip the laundry side, and dump my clothes in. The things I didn’t wear were still fresh on the other side. Anyway, huge fan. Had to share. My kids are just getting into packing cubes and will use their ebags for the first time in April.
I love packing cubes too and am always raving about them. My favourite are the amazon ones, they are super lightweight, come in great sizes and very durable. I’m travelling with husband and baby and we’ve all got different coloured cubes which also helps keep things organised.
I have the ten bag set from ProPacking Cubes. They also have a lifetime warranty.
How do you like them Janet? Do they come in multiple colors?