The 9 Best Packing Cubes for Travel

If you’re like me, packing a roller bag for a trip often consists of making sure you’ve remembered your passport, charging cables, socks, and underwear. Everything else is dumped into the bag (or rolled up if there’s time). But there’s a better way to pack a suitcase: with packing cubes. There’s a reason why travelers worldwide swear by this travel accessory.

Packing cubes function like mini-luggage inside your suitcase or backpack so that you can better arrange your bag: you can use them to group clothing types separately (think socks and underwear in one cube, shirts in another), keep dirty laundry away from what’s clean, or even—for the super Type A among us—organize your clothes by day. They vary in quality, price, and style and, at their most basic, feature a nylon or polyester body and usually a mesh zippered top so you can see inside. At the higher end, these cubes are made with more durable materials and quality zippers and feature more compartments.

Once you try packing cubes, you’ll be hard-pressed to go back. Afar editors have tested dozens to bring you reviews of the nine best packing cube systems worth the money.

Courtesy of Eagle Creek

Pack-It Packing Cubes by Eagle Creek

Best overall packing cube system

• Buy now: $77 for three, eaglecreek.com
• Pros: Covered by Eagle Creek’s Lifetime Warranty, made with recycled materials, easy to mix and match for a variety of types of travel
• Cons: None, really, but it may be hard to choose from all the different options offered

Eagle Creek’s popular Pack-It packing cube system comes in a myriad of colors and is frequently cited by travelers as their go-to choice for packing cubes. The starter set comes complete with a large garment folder and guide, a medium-size cube, and a small cube, and the latter two are water resistant. The folder helps to get shirts and pants to fit right into the cubes.

The Pack-It series comes in three styles: Pack-It Reveal cubes are made with recycled poly material and feature see-through mesh so you can easily glimpse your belongings. Pack-It Isolate cubes are made with an ultra-lightweight ripstop material, making them ideal for travelers facing a weight limit. Pack-It Gear cubes are the most durable and water-resistant option in the Eagle Creek line for those who are going camping or bringing lots of tech along that needs some more protection.

Added bonus: Eagle Creek products are free of chemicals such as PVCs, are covered by a lifetime warranty, and are made with recycled materials.

Courtesy of Thule

Compression Packing Cubes by Thule

Best compression packing cubes

• Buy now: $22–$28 for one, thule.com; $50 for set of two, rei.com
• Pros: Durable, water repellent, and made with materials that meet the highest safety standards for people and the environment
• Cons: Only 3 colors
  

Starting at $22 for one small cube, these Thule compression cubes are one of the priciest options on this list. But after using them for a few years, Lyndsey Matthews, Afar’s former senior commerce editor, can vouch that they are very durable.

Made with Bluesign-approved ripstop nylon (a label that indicates a lack of harsh chemicals and environmental impact), these packing cubes are semitransparent and water-repellent. Like other compression cubes, they feature a double set of zippers—one that closes the cube and another that zips it even tighter to eliminate extra air and reduce bulk.

“I’ve had the zippers on other compression cubes snag on the fabric or bust open on me when overpacked,” Matthews said. “But the YKK zippers on the Thule cubes are ultra-durable and slide closed so easily—even when I packed three bulky sweaters in the medium-size one.”

You can buy them individually or in a set of two with one medium and one small cube. A standard-size carry-on can fit either one medium and two small cubes or four small cubes on each side.

Courtesy of Mystery Ranch

Mission Packing Cubes by Mystery Ranch

Best extra-durable packing cubes

• Buy now: $24–34 for one; $75 for three, mysteryranch.com
• Pros: Durable, water repellent, and made with lots of handles for easy portability
• Cons: The 14-liter size L cube is almost too big to be useful in a standard carry-on suitcase.

Sold individually and in sets of small, medium, and large sizes, Mystery Ranch’s Mission packing cubes are made with durable YKK zippers and 210D Hitra Robic nylon that is more tear- and abrasion-resistant than regular nylon. In addition to being virtually indestructible, this lightweight yet thick nylon is sturdy enough to stand up on its own, making it easier to pack clothes in it without fighting floppy sides. (That said, the material is soft enough that you can squish the cube into the nooks and crannies of a duffel once you’ve filled it with clothes.) These cubes also come with handles on both sides and the top lid for easy portability.

One backcountry.com reviewer who took these cubes’ predecessor, the Zoid, into the wilderness wrote, “I woke up in the middle of the night to some scratching inside my tent vestibule, then heard something slowly being drug [sic] away from my tent. I then heard what can only be described as a cacophony of squealing as two raccoons fought over my food-filled cube. After the victor began to investigate his spoils, I slowly emerged from my tent and found a raccoon mauling the lid to my Zoid. In the end, the raccoon got none of my food, and minimal damage was done to my cube.”

Just don’t store food in your tent, OK?

Courtesy of Cotopaxi

Cubos Packing — Del Dia by Cotopaxi

Best sustainable packing cubes

• Buy now: $50 for three, cotopaxi.com
• Pros: Variety of sizes, made with repurposed materials, bright and colorful, handles, and see-through mesh siding
• Cons: They lack compression technology and only have one zipper. (Two zippers are useful when closing an overstuffed cube, but it’s not a deal breaker.)

We’ve long been fans of Cotopaxi’s Del Dia collection, which makes use of repurposed materials and ethical labor practices, and its Cubos Travel Cubes are a welcome addition to the line. The Del Dia set comes with three packing cubes—large (10 liters), medium (3 liters), and small (2 liters). Each includes a side handle to easily lift the cube out of your bag and mesh siding for peering inside.

While no two sets are exactly alike in design and color—they’re made from leftover fabric—they’re always bright and colorful, making them one of the most playful options on this list. “Surprisingly, though, the cubes’ sizes are what I loved the most about them,” said Jessie Beck, Afar’s associate director of SEO and video. “The medium is 6 x 11.5 inches, which is a tad longer than the 9 x 6 inch cubes I had been traveling with, making it a far better shape for rolled-up pants. The 7.5 x 6 inch small is also the perfect size for a week’s worth of underwear or four or five small T-shirts and tank tops.”

Courtesy of Away

The Insider Packing Cubes by Away

Best stylish packing cubes

• Buy now: from $45 for four, awaytravel.com
• Pros: Fun colors, see-through top, designed to fit popular Away luggage
• Cons: Not compressible

Sometimes the best travel accessories are the ones designed for the luggage you already own. Case in point: Away’s Insider Packing Cubes, sold in sets of four, are sized to fit specifically in its Bigger Carry-On luggage. Two sets fit inside its checked suitcases. These lightweight cubes are made with water-resistant nylon and have a mesh panel on top so you can see what you’re looking for in your bag. Each set includes a small wide cube, as well as a medium wide, medium slim, and large wide cube to keep your socks and pajamas organized and separated from bulkier items like sweaters. As with its suitcases, Away sells its packing cubes in a variety of colors.

Courtesy of Bluffworks

“BluffCube Pro” Compression Packing Cubes by Bluffworks

Best packing cubes for business travelers

• Buy now: $11–$16, bluffworks.com
• Pros: Machine-washable, lightweight, adjustable size
• Cons: Only two basic colors

Founded in 2012, Bluffworks has gathered a cult following for its travel-friendly pants, blazers, and dresses made from wrinkle-resistant, moisture-wicking, and machine-washable materials. Now the travel clothing company also makes “BluffCube” compression packing cubes.

In addition to a side-access zipper, these packing cubes can be packed from the elastic top access opening and compressed with a strap that has an adjustable buckle. The “Pro” fabric is a slightly structured brushed ripstop nylon designed with business travelers in mind. (There’s also a “Sport” option made with an ultra-light ripstop nylon.) Each type comes in two sizes—large (10.5 liters) and small (3.9 liters). The small is ideal for shorter trips, with room to fit one T-shirt, two pairs of shorts, three pairs of underwear, and two pairs of socks. The large can fit up to six shirts, two pairs of pants, two pairs of shorts, three sets of underwear, and two pairs of socks.

Courtesy of Matador

Packing Cube Set by Matador

Best packing cubes for clamshell-opening backpacks or duffle bags

• Buy now: $30 for three, matadorequipment.com
• Pros: Waterproof coating, dual handles, and simple, modern design
• Cons: No option to buy individual cubes

Like just about every item in Matador’s line of travel-friendly gear, the brand’s Packing Cube Set has a sleek minimalist aesthetic. Sturdily crafted from recycled nylon with a waterproof coating, these cubes are ready to stand up to the rigor of travel.

Available in a set of three cubes of different sizes—small (2.5 liters), medium (5 liters), and large (7.5 liters)—they’re designed to fit perfectly within the body of the Matador GlobeRider45 Travel Backpack or any other clamshell-opening backpacks of similar size.

The best parts of these cubes are in the details. The inclusion of handles on two sides of the cubes helps travelers tug their packing cube out of a tightly packed backpack or duffle. Plus, each cube has two zippers, which can help close a particularly overstuffed cube.

Courtesy of Hillsound

PackStacks by Hillsound

Best packing cubes for top-loading backpacks

• Buy now: $22–$25 for one, amazon.com
• Pros: Designed for top-loading backpacks, handles, weatherproof
• Cons: “Tall” packing cube is too large

While most packing cubes come square, as they are designed for suitcases, the PackStack by the Canadian gear company Hillsound stands apart for its semicircle shape that fits perfectly in a traditional outdoors backpack. A top handle makes the cube easy to pull out from top-loading packs, while the weatherproof fabric keeps what’s inside safe from any weather you might encounter. These cubes have remained sturdy and intact after several trips; Afar editors have taken them camping in California and backpacking in Borneo.

The PackStack system comes in four sizes, with short and tall versions specifically for 60-liter and 40-liter backpacks. The 40-liter short PackStack has room for 5.6 liters worth of stuff, while the 40-liter tall is 9.8 liters. The 60-liter short is 6.4 liters, and the 60-liter tall is 11.1 liters.

“I tested the 40L tall, but I really would have preferred two 40L shorts. The tall is quite spacious and I was actually able to pack all my clothes for Asia (which, admittedly, is abnormally minimalist) and had extra space left over,” said Beck.

Courtesy of Amazon

Packing Cubes by Shacke Pak

Best value packing cubes

• Buy now: $22 for four (plus laundry bag), amazon.com
• Pros: Affordable, bonus laundry bag, over 18,000 five-star reviews on Amazon
• Cons: Hand-wash only, not made from sustainable materials

The Shacke Pak set comes with four packing cubes whose zippers are made by the recognizable YKK brand, and the materials are nylon with a mesh cover. (A laundry bag is also included.) The product itself is simple, but it definitely gets the job done, according to reviewer Sandra-d, who wrote, “I was skeptical about the value or practicality of using packing cubes, but wow! They really do make a difference both for organization as well as allows more to be packed in less space. We ended up purchasing more so we had enough for two suitcases.”

How to use packing cubes

1. Find packing cubes that fit in your luggage. Optimize the space your cubes take up by buying ones that fit the dimensions of your suitcase or backpack. For example, Tortuga Backpacks sells packing cubes designed to fit perfectly within the main compartment of its backpacks.
2. Use cubes to sort your clothes or group similar items together. Underwear in one cube, hiking clothes in another.
3. Roll your clothes before you place them in the cube. This will make it easier to see everything that’s in a single packing cube without rummaging through it.
4. Layer flat items, like jeans, on top. Some items are hard to roll. That’s OK. Fold them and place them on top of your smaller, rolled T-shirts and dresses, before you zip your packing cube shut.

Can I just use Ziploc bags instead?

For the very budget-minded, there’s always Ziploc bags, including the gallon-size Ziploc storage bags. Look, we know Ziploc bags are incredibly useful, but they have a pretty short lifespan compared to proper packing cube systems. Be kind to the environment and go for packing cubes.

Related: 7 Surprising Things in Afar Editors’ Carry-Ons

Are packing cubes worth it?

Packing cubes are absolutely worth using to keep your luggage organized, separate dirty and clean clothes, or corral small items like electronics and cords. Generally speaking, packing cubes won’t save you space (unless you previously packed with the “shove all my clean laundry in a suitcase” method). However, a compression cube, which is like an expandable suitcase in cube form, can squish bulky items like sweaters and jackets into more manageable parcels. For frequent travelers, it’s certainly worth investing a bit more if you want your packing cubes to last.

This article was originally published in 2018 and most recently updated on February 20, 2025, with current information. Lyndsey Matthews and Jessie Beck contributed additional reporting to this story.