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Reading Time: 4 minThere are many items I always take with me when traveling. But before I even hit the road, there's one product I swear by: packing cubes.
Whether I'm traveling solo or with my entire family, packing cubes have become a staple in my packing process. Not only do they make it easier to pack, the cubes allow me to pack more in a smaller suitcase. And when I arrive at my destination, having similar items in their own cube keeps my suitcase significantly more organized.
But with so many packing cubes available, which ones are best? I packed 17 t-shirts in my suitcase, then re-packed those same t-shirts in three different packing cubes to see how well they fit in my suitcase, and how much room was left afterwards.
Here are the three packing cubes I tested:
As you'll see, all three brands saved a ridiculous amount of space. So let's take a look at the pros and cons of each.
The BAGAIL Compression Packing Cubes are slightly different than the other two cubes I tested. Once your clothes are packed inside, you can fully compress the cube with a secondary zipper. This helps flatten the cubes — and your clothes inside — so you can fit even more in your suitcase.
If your main goal is to try to pack as much as possible, then these compression packing cubes are the best. I truly felt I could fit more clothes in my suitcase when compared to the non-compression cubes.
However, if you're looking to purchase packing cubes more from an organization perspective, then a traditional packing cube is probably the way to go, as packing your clothes is slightly easier.
The BAGAIL Compression Cubes come in a few different options — you can opt for mesh paneling or full cloth. I personally prefer mesh so I can see what's packed inside, but both options perform similarly.
The Amazon Basics Packing Cubes offer some of the best pricing you'll find. The cubes come in multiple colors and four different sizes — small, medium, large, and slim — so there's lots of variety to choose from.
I really like that each cube has a handle, and that there's an extended zipper. The cubes also keep their shape well, making it easy to pack clothes within each cube.
The top mesh panel allows me to see my clothes — something I look for when it comes to packing cubes. I've been using these packing cubes over the past few years, and despite a low price point, the material has held up extremely well, with no loose threads or tears.
The Away Packing Cubes are some of the most expensive cubes you'll find. If you're one to care about aesthetics, they definitely have a more premium look to them. All sides are the same color, including the mesh paneling and the zippers.
At around $45 — which is more than twice the price of the other two — these cubes are not worth it, in my opinion. However, one thing that stands out on these cubes is the sides are slightly taller and the material is more flexible, so you can fit more in a cube of similar length and width.
But, with no handle, smaller zippers, and a significantly higher price point, the pros don't outweigh the cons.
Ultimately, if you're looking to pack as much possible into your suitcase, I recommend the BAGAIL Compression Packing Cubes. But, if you don't need your clothes to be fully compressed, then the Amazon Basics Packing Cubes are my first choice. And while the value wasn't there for me, if aesthetics are important to you, you can pick up a set of the Away Packing Cubes.
But no matter which ones you choose, before you go on your next trip, make sure that you have a set — or two — of packing cubes on hand. For my family of four, we have four different sets, with everyone having their own color. Not only does it make packing significantly easier, but everyone knows how to find their clothes while sharing suitcases and living out of a hotel.
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