The advantages of using packing cubes to enhance your travel experience

I once believed that packing cubes (small bags for your luggage) were pointless — just an unnecessary cost and a jumble of fabric and zippers.

Then I decided to give them a try.

Packing cubes can make you a more organized and effective traveler, but that’s just one of their many perks.

As a devoted fan of packing cubes who regularly uses and promotes these handy little organizers, I frequently receive inquiries from friends and family who notice my neat suitcase and bombard me with questions.

"Do they actually make a difference? How do they function? Are they worth the investment? Should I purchase some? If so, which brand should I choose?"

This is what I share with them.

What are the actual benefits of packing cubes?

Packing cubes can assist you in organizing your suitcase and enhancing your overall travel experience in various ways.

The various sizes of cubes aid in organizing and categorizing clothing (consider: tops, bottoms, swimsuits). You can group items by outfit or clothing type (all your shirts in one, workout gear in another), or if you’re traveling with family, you can pack by day.

For instance, everyone’s outfits for Monday can go in one cube, while Tuesday’s outfits go in another.

This is especially useful for that first night when one cube can hold everyone’s pajamas and other essential items you need right away.

Packing cubes help keep your clothes wrinkle-free, whether you prefer to roll or fold them. They also allow you to fit more items into your bag, which can help you stick to "team carry-on."

Moreover, if you’re looking to minimize the risk of bringing bed bugs home from your travels, packing cubes can significantly assist with that as well. More on this shortly.

How have packing cubes transformed my life?

As I mentioned before, I wasn't always a fan of packing cubes. In fact, I was quite reluctant to try them.

I believed that, as a travel writer and a frequent Ryanair flyer, my packing skills were impeccable; I even used the app PackPoint to ensure I never left anything behind.

However, after a friend kept singing their praises, I figured it would be amusing to give them a shot, mostly to prove her wrong about their value.

Now, I’m a true believer in packing cubes.

After deciding to give packing cubes a try, I needed to find the right ones. I researched various brands online, including eBags, Amazon Basics, Eagle Creek, Away, Lean Travel, and Gonex, ultimately choosing Eagle Creek (specifically the cubes from their Pack-It Specter line). The brand had excellent reviews, and I liked that the cubes were more flexible and less rigid than others, making them easy to fit in a backpack.

Reviewers noted that the zippers were robust and the nylon material was lightweight and adaptable, so I decided to buy two different three-packs of the Specter: one set with small, medium, and large cubes, and another with a medium dirty and clean cube, a medium structured compression cube, and a toiletries cube.

At the time, I didn’t mind that they weren’t see-through, but I’d eventually like to get another set with mesh or transparent sections to easily see what’s inside each cube.

Fast-forward a few years, and I've used the cubes for more than 100 trips.

I don’t always use all of them — it really depends on the season, the length of my trip, whether it’s for business, and if I plan to check a bag or use a backpack — but I find that the compression cube and various sizes are the ones I rely on most consistently.

I especially enjoy using the cubes for items like undergarments and swimsuits, and for keeping my fitness or casual clothes separate from dressier attire. I also utilize the smallest cube for cords or miscellaneous items like adapters.

I’m quite pleased with Eagle Creek, as the cubes show no signs of wear and tear so far, though I could have easily been satisfied with another brand. In the future, I intend to order more structured cubes for larger trolley suitcases and transparent ones to easily see the contents without unzipping them.

As another example, TPG director of content Summer Hull swears by CalPak packing cubes, which come in a variety of fun colors, are durable, and most importantly, withstand hot air tumbles in the dryer, a rare quality among most packing cubes.

Are packing cubes the right choice for you?

Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or someone who rarely goes on vacation, packing cubes can be advantageous for everyone. However, they can be particularly useful if:

• You’re a backpack traveler. Backpackers can utilize softer packing cubes to compartmentalize items while filling their backpacks. This helps maintain organization in limited space and makes locating items easier, especially since you can’t open a backpack as widely as a suitcase.
• You prefer an organized suitcase. Packing cubes keep items separate, giving each its designated spot, making your suitcase appear (and actually be) much tidier.
• You’re packing for multiple individuals and want to categorize items by day of the trip.
• You need to hit the ground running upon arrival. Business travelers with immediate meetings may not have the luxury to unpack, settle in, and iron their clothes. Packing cubes can keep a change of clothes wrinkle-free and readily accessible for quick changes before important meetings or events.
• You aim to maximize space in a carry-on. Utilizing compression cubes when flying with low-cost carriers that have size restrictions allows you to pack all your clothes and then zip the compression cube to shrink it down, making it easier to fit more into your bag.
• You want to lower the risk of bringing home bed bugs.

I strongly encourage you to try packing cubes, even if you’re not fully convinced yet.

If you're still skeptical, it's worth noting that packing cubes can be quite affordable. Amazon offers a variety of options in different qualities, styles, and colors. One budget-friendly brand available on Amazon is Gonex. Another brand favored by some TPG staff members is Peak.

The previously mentioned CalPak packing cubes are on the pricier side (around $70 for a set), but they can withstand heat better than some cheaper brands.

If you’re uncertain whether packing cubes are right for you, start with a budget-friendly set. You can always upgrade later once you figure out which ones suit your needs and which features are most beneficial — or not.

Packing cubes can assist you in avoiding bed bugs.

While I haven’t encountered bed bugs myself (yet), many travel experts suggest using packing cubes as a preventive measure to avoid bringing luggage into your home.

After experiencing a bed bug horror story from traveling, for instance, Summer Hull took every possible precaution to prevent a repeat. This included never again bringing her luggage into the house — a challenging task for a family, to say the least.

Packing cubes made this daunting task much simpler. She can quickly toss her clothes (and the packing cubes) into a hot dryer cycle upon returning from a trip to eliminate any potential bed bug stowaways. After they’ve been heated, the packing cubes can be safely stored and reused at home.

It's significantly easier to swiftly pack suitcases (that have been kept in bins in the garage) by adding a few pre-packed cubes, rather than folding and organizing everything from scratch on the grass.

Are packing cubes truly worth the investment?

Packing cubes are far from just a gimmick; they are a valuable tool for frequent travelers to stay organized, optimize space in carry-ons, and even help protect your home from bed bugs. For a price range of about $20 to $40, depending on your choice of cubes, we find this investment to be absolutely worthwhile.