The 12 Best Packing Cubes For Travel

Anyone that’s spent their fair share of time on the road or internationally globetrotting is no doubt well aware of the advantages offered by packing cubes. While once a fairly niche product space, the packing cube segment has exploded in recent years as more and more companies and consumers have both discovered the myriad of benefits afforded by these items. And while its rise in popularity has given way to more options available than ever before, the sheer number of models on the market can also make it extremely difficult to hone in on the few standout offerings that this segment contains — the latest and greatest of which we’ll be counting down today in this guide to the best packing cubes for travel. 

Packing cubes come with several key benefits and advantages over simply tossing your clothing or gear into a backpack, duffel, or piece of luggage. For starters, packing cubes keep clothing neatly folded, allowing them to look their best even after hours of being in transit. Additionally, packing cubes also not only make it easier to organize and pack a backpack or travel bag, but they also make it markedly more convenient to remove items from a carry solution, being able to locate and remove a single packing cube — and the clothing or items it contains — without making a mess out of the rest of the bag’s contents. Lastly, on top of keeping clothes looking crisp and wrinkle-free — whether they’re folded or rolled — packing cubes also allow one to ultimately make the most of a bag’s internal real estate, fitting in a larger number of items thanks to everything being neatly packed down and the packing cubes’ ability to “Tetris” into a piece of luggage. 

Unlike feature-laden everyday carry bags and travel backpacks, packing cubes tend to be a fairly straightforward affair where what you see is what you get. With that said, there’s nonetheless a trio of areas that one should be privy to when shopping for a new packing cube or cubes. Below, we’ll briefly touch on the three most pivotal factors to take into consideration before making your purchase. 

Size: Just like with the suitcases, pieces of luggage, duffels, and backpacks that they fit inside of, packing cubes can hugely vary in size. Because packing cubes are all about optimizing the efficiency of packing, it’s also important to review the size of a bag’s main compartment in order to determine how many packing cubes can fit. Alongside the outward dimensions of a packing cube (width, height, length), it’s also crucial to review a packing cube’s total storage volume — an area that’s typically measured in liters. Additionally, it’s also worth pointing out that, on top of sometimes being sold in sets, some packing cube models are sold in multiple size options. 

Shell Construction: The material used for a packing cube’s shell construction will determine both its overall durability and its ability to stand up to the elements. On top of the shell construction, it’s also worth exploring the type of material used for a packing cube’s liner. What’s more, some shell constructions have also been supplemented via expandable/compressible shell setups, breathable mesh panels, and transparent windows that make it markedly easier to identify the contents of a packed cube. 

Closure & Hardware: Ultimately, the overall quality and user experience one will have when using a packing cube boils down to a given model’s closure setup and hardware nearly as much as it does the type of materials used. When reviewing this area, you’ll want to check out the type of opening system a packing cube utilizes (such as a clamshell setup, which is the most common configuration) as well as how the closure is secured, which means looking into the type of zipper or hardware that’s being utilized. 

In the microcosm of travel organization, packing cubes leave traditional packing methods like folding clothes in the dust. If you haven’t used one before these compact units will certainly bring your suitcase infrastructure a heightened level of order and efficiency. Much like a Dopp Kit for grooming EDC, packing cubes provide a dedicated space for each item, eliminating the need to rummage through a messy pile. Not only do they keep your belongings neatly organized (there are dozens of ways to skin the cat here), but they also offer the added benefit of compression, saving precious space and preventing wrinkles. Plus, you’ll have quick and reliable access to all your essentials, knowing exactly where everything is at all times as items won’t shift if baggage claim’s having a bad day. While they may add a bit of weight to your pack, the overall advantages they bring make them an indispensable piece of kit for any traveler seeking a stress-free and well-organized trip.

But let’s take it a step further. What are some best practices for actually packing the packing cube? We have a few tips. First, when using a packing cube, it’s crucial that you roll — and don’t fold. While technically there is no hard and fast rule, rolling your clothes maximizes space within the cube itself. Rolling garments like t-shirts and button-ups tightly helps reduce wrinkles and creates a more compact and efficient packing infrastructure. However, as with most things, this ultimately depends on personal preference and the specific items you are packing. Some travelers may find that folding works better for bulkier items or garments that are prone to creasing. Testing out both methods and finding what works best for your individual gear is key. Regardless of the technique you choose, the use of packing cubes themselves will still provide the organizational benefits and accessibility that make them an essential tool for the modern traveler.

Considering packing cubes are designed and intended almost exclusively for travel use, we largely viewed our testing process through this lens. We began this process by first looking to the most trusted brands in the carry solution space and reviewing the available packing cubes from these brands, before performing a wider search to ensure we didn’t have any crucial picks fall through the cracks. On top of the brand behind the product, we also made our initial selections based on the sizing, features, and hardware and materials used on each packing cube. These criteria ultimately allowed us to generate a shortlist that we then proceeded to get hands-on with, putting each packing cube through it paces in order to determine which models would make the final cut and which would be falling by the wayside. 

As expected, hands-on first testing would help us to glean a much better sense of each packing cube’s overall build quality, how useful their respective features are, and how they actually perform in practice. This latter area is also of extreme importance as it includes pivotal factors such as how easy it was to load into and remove from a larger backpack, duffel, or piece of rolling hard luggage, as well as the smoothness and consistency of their zipper tracks. More importantly, actually utilizing these packing cubes firsthand allowed us to discover just how well each packing cube was able to keep its contents in place while in transit, and how neatly each cube’s contents arrived in upon reaching our destination. 

DSPTCH Packing Cube

Best Minimalist/Streamlined Pick: Backed by a lifetime warranty, the DSPTCH Packing Cube is a minimalistic yet immensely rugged travel packing solution that features an ultra-hardwearing ballistic nylon shell that’s been outfitted with a full-length, zipper-lined clamshell opening. Offering roughly 7.5 liters of storage space, this packing cube also comes loaded with a breathable ventilated mesh top panel for housing dirty shoes or wet clothes.

Inside, this spartan shell features a single compartment with a clamshell opening flap that sports a supplementary slip pocket. Completely devoid of any branding save for a small logo patch, this blacked-out item also comes outfitted with a nylon webbing grab handle. This packing cube was also designed to be used with DPSTCH’s other larger bags and carry solutions, though it can obviously be paired with just about any duffel or backpack on the market.

Topo Designs Pack Bag 10L Cube

Best Sustainable Pick: Sold in black, olive, or navy color options, the Topo Designs Pack Bag 10L Cube is a sustainably-focused item that features a 400-denier nylon pack cloth shell that’s been derived entirely from recycled materials and manufactured using Fair Wear-certified production. Measuring 10″ W x 7″ H x 6″ D, this packing cube also features YKK zippers running on a full-length U-shaped track that comprises the cube’s main opening.

In typical Topo fashion, this carry solution’s zippers have been bestowed with accent paracord zipper pulls and the Colorado company’s classic logo patch. What’s more, Topo Designs has also outfitted this 10-liter packing cube with a constrasting webbing grab handle and small matching webbing pull tabs as the base of the zipper track, making it markedly easier to open.

Aer Packing Cube

Best Lightweight Pick: Tipping the scales at just 0.25lbs, the plainly-named Aer Packing Cube is a 12” L x 10” W x 4” D item that’s both water resistant and incredibly lightweight. Constructed around a 100-denier CORDURA nylon shell, this packing cube features a mesh panel that affords the vessel breathability, while also making it a breeze to identify the contents within the cube.

Decorated via an Aer logo tag, this packing cube also comes outfitted with two-way YKK Japanese zippers. Also offered in a smaller 5-liter size, this second-generation design benefits from numerous tweaks including a slightly more durable shell and ever-so-slightly revised dimensions. While it doesn’t boast the most rugged construction, the simple streamlined design and use of quality hardware make the Aer Packing Cube a stellar budget-friendly, minimalist pick.

Peak Design Packing Cube

Best Divided Compartment Pick: While it is more costly, the medium-sized Peak Design Packing Cube offers a major step up in terms of features and amenities. Protected by a lifetime warranty, this cube features a shell composed of a self-healing weatherproof ripstop 70-denier nylon and poly shell with an abrasion-resistant coating. This model also sports top and bottom handles and Ultra-Zips zippers mated to the packing cube via proprietary abrasion-resistant UHMPE thread.

Offering 8 liters of storage space when compressed or up to 18 liters of internal real estate when expanded, the medium-sized cube sets itself apart from other models on the market through its use of an easy-to-use and highly-useful movable and removable auto-adjusting divider. This entire setup is concealed beneath a tear-away main opening. Also of note is the fact that, not only is this model crafted around a shell made from recycled materials, but it’s also backed by 100% carbon neutral and Fair Trade-certified manufacturing. 

Hyperlite Mountain Gear Pod Packing Cube

Best Ultra-Tough/Rugged Pick:  Equal parts lightweight and hardwearing, the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Pod Packing Cube is an adventure-grade take on the product space that boasts a shell that’s crafted by hand from one of the most rugged and lightweight constructions that money can buy; Dyneema Composite Fabric 11.

Capitalizing on the proprietary composite’s stellar waterproofing, Hyperlite has also pieced these cubes together using fully-waterproof, fully-taped seams before bestowing the organization item with a weatherproof zipper. Equipped with almost 7 liters of storage space, this cube boasts a clamshell design that provides unobstructed access to the entirety of its contents. Tipping the scales at just 1.3oz, this packing cube is also highly packable and stackable, making them even more conducive to both outdoor and travel use. 

MYSTERY RANCH ZOID CUBE

Available in five color choices and in 4, 8.3, or 14.5-liter sizes, the Mystery Ranch Zoid Cube is another rugged yet lightweight pick that sports a 210-denier Hitra Robic nylon shell with a Monomesh lid, #8 YKK zippers, and both, top and side carry handles. 

GORUCK PACKING CUBE

Offered in 10-liter and 20-liter sizes, the GORUCK Packing Cube is another rugged model that features a zippered mesh interior, two-way zippers, and a hook and loop patch. Pieced together around a shell made from 200-denier nylon, this packing cube was designed to pack flat, minimizing its footprint when not in use.

PATAGONIA BLACK HOLE CUBE MEDIUM

Constructed around an 8.7oz 300-denier recycled polyester ripstop shell that’s both TPU-film laminated and PU-coated, the Patagonia Black Hole Cube Medium is a feature-rich, weather-resistant 6-liter clamshell model that comes loaded with exterior daisy chain webbing, a large grab handle, plastic zipper sliders, and a divided main compartment with zippered mesh pockets. This model also boasts a PU-coated 3.3oz 200-denier recycled polyester liner that, like the exterior shell, has also been DWR-treated. 

BLACK EMBER PACKING CUBE LARGE

Made from a combination of 70-denier nylon, HYPALON, and expandable and breathable elastic mesh, the large-sized Black Ember Packing Cube is a flexible, 12-liter vessel that boasts a laser-cut construction, TPU edges, and ultra-smooth YKK racquet coil zippers. 

YETI CROSSROADS PACKING CUBE

Produced in a trio of sizes, the YETI Crossroads Packing Cube is a machine-washable, 9-liter item that boasts an expansion zipper system with YKK Zippers, a top grab handle, a three-year warranty, and a durable ripstop nylon shell.

HEIMPLANET CARRY ESSENTIALS PACKING CUBES SET

Designed to fit next to each other in a larger bag, the HEIMPLANET Carry Essentials Packing Cubes Set is a three-item bundle that consists of a 4-liter cube and two 2-liter cubes — all of which feature shells made from 300D x 150D polyester Dyecoshell fabric. Color-coded using dope-dyed fabric, this packing cube set also sports YKK zippers.

TRIPLE AUGHT DESIGN TRANSPORT CUBE VIEWPORT LARGE

Another insanely rugged choice, the large-sized version of the Triple Aught Design Transport Cube Viewport Large is a 9.2-liter bag that features a shell composed of ultra-hardwearing X-Pac VX21 fabric. Also sold in a smaller 4.3-liter medium size, this packing cube is built to Mil-Spec construction standards, can be secured to Helix, MOLLE, and PALS webbing, and sports a PM02 window and a YKK-zippered clamshell opening that together make it easy to identify and remove the packing cube’s contents. 

TOM BIHN PACKING CUBE SHOULDER BAG

Offering 4.5 liters of storage space, the Tom Bihn Packing Cube Shoulder Bag puts a versatile spin on the segment with a packing cube that can also double as a daily-carry bag when on the go. Equipped with #8 YKK water-repellent racquet coil zippers with rubber-coated pulls, Duraflex, Nexus, and Woojin buckles, a removable shoulder strap, and a triple O-ring design, this item also sports a 210-denier high tenacity 2×2 ballistic nylon shell. 

The Best Travel Backpacks

Now that you’ve got your packing cube situation all squared away, you’ll likely want to get your hands on a quality bag to house your new cubes, and our guide to the best travel backpacks contains a handpicked selection of carry solutions that have been designed from the ground up for the modern globetrotter.