Now if you’re like me when you first found out about packing cubes you were thinking to yourself, why would anyone want or need these but let me tell you that packing cubes have changed the way I travel, forever!
Packing cubes have revolutionized traveling with such a simple concept by allowing you to essentially compartmentalize your suitcase like it’s your dresser from home. Plus it makes traveling with only a carry-on much easier and you’re not having to cram everything into the suitcase to make it fit.
For this packing cube post we looked at 8 different, very well selling, packing cube sets to figure out which ones were worth it in the end. Most packing cubes are very similar and don’t do much difference but its small nuances that make or break a product.
These packing cubes are not the end all be all of packing cubes and all of these sets come in small or greater quantity of packing cubes but we just picked a random assortment of packing cubes that have either sold well or were previous best sellers on Amazon.
| Packing Cubes | Dimensions | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
TravelWise | Large: 17" x 12" x 4" Medium: 13" x 9" x 3" Small: 11" x 6.5" x 3" | $$ | 9.3 |
Shacke Pak | Extra-large: 17.5" x 12.75" x 4" Large: 13.75" x 12.75" x 4" Medium: 13.75" x 9.75" x 4" Small: 11" x 6.75" x 4" | $$ | 9.5 |
Bagail | Extra-large: 17.5" x 12.75" x 4" Large: 13.75" x 12.75" x 4" Medium: 13.75" x 9.75" x 4" Small: 11" x 6.75" x 4" | $$ | 9.8 |
AmazonBasics | Large: 17.5" x 12.75" x 3.25" Medium: 13.75" x 9.75" x 3" Small: 11" x 6.75" x 3" Slim: 14" x 5" x 2.8" | $$ | 8.8 |
eBags | Large: 17.5" x 12.75" x 3.25" Medium: 13.75" x 9.75" x 3" Small: 11" x 6.75" x 3" | $$$ | 10 |
Mossio | Large: 15.7" x 11.8" x 4.7" Medium: 11.8" x 11" x 4.7" Small: 11.8" x 7.9" x 4.7" | $ | 8.5 |
HiDay | Large: 15.7" x 11.8" x 4.7" Medium: 11.8" x 10.6" x 4.7" Small: 11.8" x 7.9" x 4.7" | $ | 8.3 |
Eagle Creek | Large: 14" x 10" x 3" Medium: 10" x 7" x 3" Small: 8" x 4" x 2.5" | $$$ | 9.6 |
Packing Cubes
TravelWise Packing Cube System
What is it: This durable 5 piece weekender set is the TravelWise packing cube system. It’s Amazon’s best seller for packing cubes and has been since they were first available three years ago. The packing cubes are offered in 4 different colors to choose from, black, teal, purple and red.
Features: The TravelWise packing cubes have quite a few great features, some that are pretty standard across all packing cubes and some that are a little different that makes it standout from others. Some of the features include:
- Different sizes for each packing cube so you can adjust how much you want to pack and how to include it into organizing your suitcase or carry-on; the dimensions for each size are listed below
- Two large cubes each – 17” x 12” x 4”
- Two medium cubes each – 13” x 9” x 3”
- One small cube – 11” x 6.5” x 3”
- In total the packing cubes are very lightweight and weigh only a half a pound total
- These packing cubes are machine washable unlike many others. With these you can simply wash with cold water on gentle and let air dry
- TravelWise packing cubes are made in China
- The packing cubes are large enough to pack shoes if you don’t have a dedicated shoe bag
- Each packing organizer has its own handle to easily carry separately should the weight of the luggage be too much or there is not any space left
- All packing cubes are foldable for easy compressed storage while not in use
- Unlike some other packing cubes these do not have a strong plastic smell when you first receive them and actually keep your clothes smelling fresh
- TravelWise offers 100% satisfaction guaranteed and allows you to either give them a call or email anytime should you need support or return them for a replacement or refund
- Offers an open mesh design that makes it very easy to locate items without having to open and pull everything out
Concerns: There’s one small concern that might creep up on you if you decide to go with these packing cubes but it has to do with the zippers and seams. While most people find everything to work correctly there were a handful that had problems with the mesh starting to come undone after many trips. The zippers are sometimes a little difficult to use but well built.
Last thoughts: The TravelWise packing cube system has done a lot well with very few areas of concern. Although no packing cubes are considered expensive these would fall in a medium price range and for the costs these are tough to beat. And if you do have a problem just contact TravelWise and they will make it right!
Shacke Pak 4 Piece Packing Cubes
What is it: This is the Shacke Pak 4 set packing cubes with laundry bag. As Shacke Pak’s name implies they focus on travel gear and make excellent packing cubes. When comparing different packing organizers Shacke Pak is always in the running.
Shacke Pak offers their 4 piece packing cube set in 7 different colors that include aqua teal, black/blue, green grass, precious pink, orchid purple, mandarin orange and warm red; all excellent options to choose from.
Features: Obviously the Shacke Pak will feature many same qualities that you will find in other packing cubes but will also have some unique properties that make it stand apart on its own. Some of the features are:
- The Shacke Pak comes with 4 packing cubes all of different sizes to accommodate every packing need. Below are the dimensions for each cube:
- Extra-large packing cube – 17.5” x 12.75” x 4”
- Large packing cube – 13.75” x 12.75” x 4”
- Medium packing cube – 13.75” x 9.75” x 4”
- Small packing cube – 11” x6.75” x 4”
- Just like the TravelWise packing cubes, Shacke Pak’s cubes weigh only ½ lb combined
- As with many packing cubes, these are made in China
- The Shacke Pak is built with excellent zippers and are built to be durable as well as very strong seams which will keep the Pak useful for many trips to come
- We all know women tend to pack more shoes than men and luckily these packs can hold quite a few. The medium size is able to hold 5 pairs of shoes that include tennis shoes, heels and flip flops
- Each packing cube comes with its own handle for easy maneuvability
- Of course these Shacke Pak cubes are foldable and provide for easy storage
- There is no explicitly stated warranty or guarantee but they will replace your packing cubes without hassle should you have issues with them and they start to fall apart
Concerns: The packing cubes do unfortunately come with a distinct smell when you first receive them so you will want to make sure that you either let them air out or was them.
Unfortunately the packing cubes are not machine washable. Instead they are to be hand washed with soap in cold water and left to air dry. Sadly not all packing cubes can be machine washable.
Last thoughts: These Shacke Pak cubes are excellent for packing more than you normally could. They are built with an X design and double stitching which reinforces the lid to keep your clothes in place and prevents fewer wrinkles.
It doesn’t hurt either that with all the extra room you’ll save they decided to throw in a laundry bag as well to keep your dirty clothes separate from the fresh ones. This 4 pack from Shacke Pak will provide you with easy organization for years to come.
Bagail 4 Set Packing Cubes
What is it: This is the 4 packing cube set by Bagail. Another highly rated packing organizer set that provides excellent travel gear organization in 9 different colors to choose from. These are black, blue, dark blue, fuchsia, green, navy, orange, purple and red.
Features: The Bagail packing cubes pretty much get everything right, granted it’s hard to really do anything wrong with such a simple concept. This set features:
- Four separate packing cubes of different sizes depending on what you need to pack and bring with you. These sizes include:
- Extra-large packing cube – 17.5” x 12.75” x 4”
- Large packing cube – 13.75” x 12.75” x 4”
- Medium packing cube – 13.75” x 9.75” x 4”
- Small packing cube – 11” x 6.75” x 4”
- These packing cubes are slightly heavier than the Shacke Pak and TravelWise packs by ½ lb to bring its total weight to 1 lb
- Bagail cubes are machine washable, just make sure to use cold water on gentle and air or towel dry
- Made in China
- Seams are great and zippers are excellent without issue for either
- Great for packing shoes and can use laundry bag as well to hold shoes or leave it for the laundry
- Handles on each bag to easily carry separate from luggage should the need arise
- Can zip inside one another or fold for easy storage
- Excellent warranty provides a lifetime guarantee
Concerns: There’s really nothing wrong with these packing cubes but to point out the only issue and it’s a nonissue, is the fact they are a little heavier. However, the slightly heavier weight really shouldn’t be a factor when deciding unless you look towards the weight of your carry-on down to the ounce.
Last thoughts: The reason the Bagail packing cubes are slightly heavier is because they are made with a little thicker material to give them slightly more durability. These are also very inexpensive packing cubes and well worth the consideration.
AmazonBasics 4 Piece Packing Cube Set
What is it: This is the AmazonBasics 4 piece packing cube set. A very popular packing cube set that provides great visibility of your contents that are packed and a few colors to choose from. These include black, blue, gray, green, red and sky blue.
Features: These packing cubes are made with soft mesh that won’t damage any of your contents. Amazon is doing their own thing again here and providing their take on packing cubes but let’s see what other features these cubes specifically have to offer.
- Another 4 pack here of various sizes that include:
- Large packing cube – 17.5” x 12.75” x 3.25”
- Medium packing cube – 13.75” x 9.75” x 3”
- Small packing cube – 11” x 6.75” x 3”
- Slim packing cube – 14” x 5” x 2.8”
- They are very lightweight at only ½ lb
- These are fine to machine wash, just use cold water on gentle and air dry
- The fabric is 100% polyester and has a nice quality to it and increased durability
- Of course you are able to use one of the bags to pack shoes in with ease, in fact the large will hold 5 pairs if you need it to
- Each bag does come with its own handle to use as a separate carry-on bag should you need it
- The AmazonBasics packing cubes are not rigid and fold flat for easy storage
- A great thing when getting new travel gear is that it’s ready to use immediately and that’s the case with these as there is no plastic smell or anything you need to wash out
Concerns: Be wary of what colors you choose and where you leave your bags and/or luggage. If your packing cubes get soaked they can bleed their color onto your clothing which will ruin them. This did not happen with the black or gray bags so take this into account when deciding what color to get.
Lastly the zippers on here are not that great. They are poorly made and can potentially start pulling away from the fabric and breaking down after only a couple trips.
Last thoughts: The bags seem to be made of great quality and are very durable although I’m not sure that the zippers will hold as long. The color bleed is also a slight concern if you end up leaving your luggage in the rain.
The AmazonBasics packing cubes are just slightly smaller than most other packing cubes available which might be good for some depending on the size of their luggage but if I’m going to pay almost the same price as other packing cubes I would like them to be larger and not have the previously mentioned issues.
eBags Packing Cubes – 3 Piece Set
What is it: This is the 4 piece packing cube set by eBags. Ebags is one of the more popular and well known options on this list. They are known for all types of luggage at decent prices.
Features: eBags has great features and utilize the highest construction standards that you would find in packing cubes. Plus if you like option the eBags cubes are offered 13 different colors to choose from! Some additional features include:
- Each packing cube is a different size to provide you with options and help organize your luggage of different sizes. The sizes are:
- Large packing cube – 17.5” x 12.75” x 3.25”
- Medium packing cube – 13.75” x 9.75” x 3”
- Small packing cube – 11” x 6.75” x 3”
- These are as light as you would expect and since this is only a 3 pack it’s lighter than the other options on this list at under half a pound
- With these you are able to machine wash with cold water on gentle and air dry
- eBags packing cubes are made in China
- Made with premium YKK zippers and seams that are ensured not to snag
- Not only do the packing cubes hold an amazing amount of clothes but they also easily hold multiple shoes
- Each bag has its own sturdy handle to carry it separately from your luggage should you need to
- The packing cubes are not rigid so you’re able to fold flat and store away with ease
- These do not have a strong smell of any sort but in case you’re worried about your clothes picking up the smell of plastic in general I would wash these the first time you get them
- eBags guarantee these packing cubes for life with their lifetime warranty
Concerns: These packing cubes by eBags are well made and I’m unable to see any concerns with them. The only issue if you want to call it that is that they are slightly more expensive than most of the options on this list with the exception of Eagle Creek.
Last thoughts: ebags packing cubes are a great choice if you’re looking for complete functionality without any issues or concerns. Made of Techlite Diamond Nylon the eBags packing cubes are extremely durable. If for any reason there is an issue just utilize eBags lifetime warranty!
Mossio 7 Set Packing Cubes
What is it: These packing cubes are made by Mossio and they include a separate shoe bag! Mossio is one of the most cost effective packs you can select and do a surprisingly good job of it.
Features: These Mossio packing cubes are offered in many colors except the one you would expect, black. They have dark blue, dark pink, grey, light blue, light pink, orange, rose red and wine red. Let’s see what other features they have.
- This pack of 7 is broken up into 3 packing cubes, 3 laundry pouches and 1 shoe bag; providing you with plenty of storage space. Below are the dimensions:
- Large packing cube – 15.7” x 11.8” x 4.7”
- Medium packing cube – 11.8” x 11” x 4.7”
- Small packing cube – 11.8” x 7.9” x 4.7”
- Large laundry pouch – 13.7” x 10.6”
- Medium laundry pouch – 10.6” x 9.8”
- Small laundry pouch – 10.2” x 6.3”
- Extremely lightweight, it avoids adding any extra weight to your luggage.
- These packing cubes and laundry pouches are best hand washed in cold water on gentle and air dried
- The seams seem very sturdy and hold up well after multiple trips
- The separate shoe bag is always a nice to have and doubles as another laundry bag should you need it
- Handles on each packing cube provide easy maneuverability
- Material is not rigid so you are able to fold and store easily
- No smell when you first receive the packing cubes
- Mossio puts customer satisfaction first and guarantee you’ll enjoy and love the packing cubes or they will offer a full refund, no questions asked
Concerns: Although the zippers are YKK zippers there have been a number of reports stating the zippers on these bags are not the best and clearly the weak link of this product, it’s only a handful of issues out of countless orders shipped.
Last thoughts: Although the product does a lot right, issues with zippers are always a concern. With such lightweight material it adds no noticeable weight to the luggage and does a great job of containing your clothing in convenient sized cubes. A great price for the whole set is tough to pass up.
HiDay 7 Set Waterproof Packing Cube
What is it: This is the HiDay waterproof packing cube set that consists of 3 travel cubes, 3 pouches and 1 shoe bag that can also be used as a separate laundry bag. HiDay offers this set in 5 different colors for you to choose from: blue flower, navy circle, navy flower, pink flower and wine flower.
Features: This 7 set packing cube set allows you to organize everything you want to bring with just these few packing cubes. The mesh top design allows you to see through to locate your belongings without having to open the cube and search through each one.
- The HiDay packing cubes and pouches are different sizes to accommodate different sized luggage. Below are the following dimensions:
- Large packing cube – 15.7” x 11.8” x 4.7”
- Medium packing cube – 11.8” x 10.6” x 4.7”
- Small packing cube – 11.8” x 7.9” x 4.7”
- Large pouch – 13.4” x 10.2”
- Medium pouch – 10.2” x 9.4”
- Small pouch – 6.7” x 5.5”
- Shoe bag – 13.75” x 8.25”
- Weighing only half a pound the HiDay will not add any weight to your luggage
- Whatever you do, do not wash in the washing machine or use any detergent. Be sure to hand wash with clean water and air dry, this avoids damaging the waterproof coating
- Can simply use the shoe bag for your shoes or alternatively use the shoe bag for laundry and your shoes in the actual packing cubes
- Handles on each packing cube and shoe bag make it easy to carry around
- Packing cubes are not rigid and will fold flat making it easy to store
- Luckily there is no smell that comes with this packing cube set
- HiDay guarantees quality of their packing cube set although there is no official warranty
Concerns: The zippers give a reason for concern. If there is any issue on these packing cubes and pouches it is with the zippers. Though they do a fair job the zippers don’t look strong enough and don’t appear to be higher-quality zippers.
Last thoughts: The construction of the HiDay packing cubes utilize thicker polyester fabric that provides great resistance to tearing and waterproofing. It also helps with keeping your clothes wrinkle free and protecting them from dust and damage.
With the excellent choices of colors to choose from and the lowest price set of packing cubes available these are a consideration along with the 7 set Mossio packing cubes as well.
Eagle Creek Pack-It Cube Set – 3 Piece Set
What is it: eBags may be the most popular luggage brand on this list but Eagle Creek is one of the highest rated and for good reason. Eagle Creek creates incredible products that are built to last and are good looking as well.
Features: Eagle Creek’s “Pack-It” 3 piece packing cube set is offered in 5 colors for you to choose from that include black, blue sea, red fire, repeal tan, repeal red and daisy chain blue. Let’s see what features Eagle Creek brings to their packing cube set.
- The dimensions for each packing cube are a little smaller than other three piece sets but listed below:
- Large packing cube – 14” x 10” x 3”
- Medium packing cube – 10” x 7” x 3”
- Small packing cube – 8” x 4” x 2.5”
- Again as with most of the other packing cube sets, these only weigh about half a pound
- Eagle Creek’s packing cubes are able to be machine washed just be sure to use the hand wash setting using cold water and no detergent
- The zippers and seams are excellently made and the overall construction provides great durability
- You’re able to use the packing cubes to store your shoes on your trip or even purchase the separate shoe bag that Eagle Creek sells as it’s better suited to the purpose
- Well-made handles on each packing cube provide a comfortable grip and make it easy to use as a separate carry-on or under seat bag
- 100% nylon lining makes it simple to fold flat for easy storage
- No strong plastic smell when you first receive the bags makes it good to use right away
- Eagle Creek offers a lifetime warranty that covers workmanship and materials against any product defects
Concerns: The only concern that comes with these packing cubes is that they are slightly small. Sure they can be a perfect size if you don’t pack a lot to begin with but if you bring a ton of clothes then these might be a little tight.
Last thoughts: Being created with 300 denier polyester micro-weave makes these packing cubes exceptionally strong and durable and perfect for multiple trips without worry of fraying or tearing.
Eagle Creek is known for providing quality products and their pack-it cubes are no exception. Every part of their product including zippers, fabrics and buckles are selected only after being tested for their durability.
What to Consider
Material
When it comes to material there are a few things you’ll want to take into consideration. Firstly you’ll want to look at the durability of the material. Is it a flimsy cheap material that easily tears or is it a more durable higher count denier nylon or polyester?
Second, does the packing cube include mesh or some sort of breathable material that not only allows your clothes to stay fresh and not absorb the smell of the packing cube but also allows you to see through to find what you need without opening the cubes?
Then there is the issue of weight. This is not as big of a deal for most travelers but for those that weigh their luggage they want to make sure the material they are using is ultra-lightweight so as not to add any noticeable weight to their luggage. This helps avoid any surprises at the airport for overweight luggage.
Finally we want to take a look at the zippers and stitching and make sure they are reasonably well made. Now YKK zippers are regarded as the best in the business but there are plenty of other zipper companies that make equally competent equipment.
Sizes
Now some people might wonder why I bother including small packing cubes on here but obviously bigger is not always better when it comes to travelling. That applies to luggage as well as the packing cubes that go inside.
The reason for this being that some packing cubes might actually be too big for the piece of luggage you are trying to take with you. Which is why we not only looked at sets with varying sizes of packing cubes in each set but different sizes amongst the sets themselves.
What might work for a traveler who is using a bigger checked piece of luggage or even a larger carry-on might not work for someone who is only bringing a smaller weekender bag or duffel bag.
There are many more options in regards to sets than what are simply listed here and you can find individual cubes as well if needed. They even have sets of 10+ packing cubes, it just depends what you are looking for but whatever it is, I’m sure it’s out there.
Price
Overall, prices for packing cubes are not that expensive and most you can get for under $30. However there is a difference is what you get vs what you paid for.
In this list there are packs of 7 cubes, pouches and shoe bags that are much cheaper than the 3 piece sets and this is simply because of the quality and name recognition of the other sets.
I’m not going to tell you that you should buy the highest priced ones just because they are not expensive because what I consider expensive or inexpensive may be wildly different from what you consider to be expensive or inexpensive.
There is a plus side to purchasing some of the smaller packs though. Even if you are going for say a set of 8 or 9, there usually deals where you are able to buy a couple packs and get a nice little discount for purchasing multiple sets, just keep that in mind.
Conclusion
Packing cubes sound useless until the first time you use them. Before I purchased my first set I simply rolled my luggage and thought nothing else of it. But once you use the packing cubes they are extremely useful and I wouldn’t go back to packing without them.
It’s basically creating separate storage for your clothing so you can separate what you need and keep everything evenly organized without a mess of clothes going everywhere inside your luggage. Simply pack your undies and socks in one, pants and shorts in another, and shirts in the final one. Before you know it, it’s like having your dresser with you on the trip.
Each packing cube on this list has something to offer, whether it is more colorful options to choose from, different types of cubes, pouches and bags or even just a price difference that justifies spending your hard earned money on packing cubes.
Overall we gave eBags the Top Choice award because they did everything so well and their lifetime warranty is a great perk to have with any kind of luggage. The Bagail gets our Best Buy award because the price of the packing cubes for what’s offered is simply too good to pass up. Now Eagle Creek could have easily have been our Top Choice as well but there can be only one!
If you have any recommendations or comments of your own regarding packing cubes be sure to let us know in the comments section below!
