Other Packing Cubes We Tried
GoRuck Packing Cube for $25 (for 1, 10L flat): I loved the 15 x 10 x 3-inch size I tested of this rugged, 200-denier nylon cube with a mesh front. It fit almost anything I needed for any occasion, with a convenient carry handle and signature GoRuck American flag patch on the front. However, they are pricey, and unless you need them to match your GoRuck gear, there’s nothing about them that stands out above comparably priced cubes.
Amazon Basics for $16 (set of 4): This four-pack of cubes with sturdy-mesh windows and ripstop-like fabric was comparable in quality to brands four times the price. However, Bagsmart’s cubes were the same price and even sturdier, so they just edged these out for the top budget slot.
Away the Insider Packing Cubes for $45 (set of 4): I like that these come in 10 trendy colors, many of which match Away’s luggage. However, after testing over 20 different brands and types at various price points, these cubes just didn’t stand out. The material was very thin and was indistinguishable from those of some of the cheaper Amazon brands, and the zippers were small.
Shacke Pak Packing Cubes for $25 (set of 6): These were pretty good quality for an Amazon brand; there’s a sturdy handle and the material is slightly thicker than other packing cubes at this price point. I like the mix of mesh for breathability and opaque fabric for privacy. They come in nine colors, but the colors are clownishly bright and the four-paneled mesh design reminds me of a jock strap. Shacke says it uses YKK zippers on all its packing cubes, but I peeled back the cord covering the zipper and could not find a YKK insignia anywhere.
Gorilla Grip Packing Cubes for $22 (set of 8): These were the least expensive packing cubes I tested, and unfortunately, it showed. The material was very thin, and the zippers were janky. I do like that they come with a shoe and laundry bag, however, and when not being used they fold down quite small. They come in a range of colors, with a nice mesh window while not being totally see-through. Hand wash only.
Other Travel Accessories We Like
Courtesy of Calpak
Calpak Luka Zippered Passport Wallet for $35: Whether you’re traveling internationally or just neglected to update your driver’s license before the US Real ID deadline (guilty), a passport wallet is a must. This stylish, puffy number from Calpak holds not only your passport, but cash, cards, and even your phone in a pocket on the front. The only down side is that it is quite large, about the size of a contemporary paperback book, and it doesn’t have a handle or loop, so it is awkward to carry if you don’t have a purse large enough to accommodate it.
Gorilla Grip Luggage Straps for $15 (set of 4): If you tend to travel with your hard-sided checked bag while it’s expanded, you might have noticed the somewhat alarming lack of structure. Both hard sides contain their own strapped-down loads, flopping around while connected only by a thin fabric zipper. I rely on these straps to hold my precariously packed suitcase together when it’s being launched off the scale onto the conveyor belt or thrown around on the tarmac. And as a bonus, the bright color (the company has nine to choose from) makes your bag easy to spot on the baggage claim carousel.
Kusshi Travel Jewelry Organizer for $49 (medium): I don’t know how I lived so long just throwing jewelry willy-nilly into a toiletry bag, but I don’t advise this unless you want to spend your first night on vacation untangling necklaces. For the ultimate in space-saving organization, you can’t top this hanging model that folds down to be perfectly flat. The medium size features three tiers of soft-lined, PVC-fronted zippered pockets for earrings rings, bracelets, watches, and whatever else you might need, plus a nifty necklace holder with loops and snaps. The large size has the same, but with twice as many sections. When closed, it folds up flat about the size of an iPad.
Photograph: Kat Merck
How I Tested
I’ve been testing toiletry bags and adjacent accessories for the past seven months, using them daily in my bathroom and taking them on trips every few months. For the initial testing round for packing cubes, I inspected each cube or set of cubes for features and materials. I tested how smoothly the zippers zipped open and closed, and how easy it was to use any compression feature. I packed various cubes with bulky sweatshirts and sweatpants to see how many pieces I could fit in the largest cube. Then, at the end of the testing period, I packed a cube from each set in three suitcases and took them on a weeklong cross-country trip, assessing how easy they would be to pack or unpack, or if anything bothered me or my family amid the stress and unpredictability of travel.
Why Not Just Use a Ziplock Bag?
This is the question I see most from travelers suspicious of using packing cubes. Ziplock bags are inexpensive, and you can see everything inside. Why would one spend $25 or even $100 on a set of packing cubes when a box of 2.5-gallon bags costs $5? It’s a valid question, and one I set out to investigate by packing a couple of slide-lock Hefty bags along with my packing cubes for a weeklong trip. I discovered few things.
• Packing cubes are breathable. This is especially helpful on the way back home when most or all of your laundry is dirty. If your clothes smell like anything—anything at all—you will be hit in the face with that smell after they’ve been sitting in an airtight plastic bag.
• Packing cubes are durable. Unlike a plastic bag, packing cubes won’t rip, burst, or develop unexpected holes.
• (Some) packing cubes are compressible. Can you fit five days’ worth of pants and shirts in a plastic bag? Probably not. But you definitely can in a compressible packing cube, like some of the options above.
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