The Ultimate Travel Accessory You Didn’t Know You Needed
There are two types of travelers in this world: those who pack for a trip with wild abandon, tossing in multiple outfit changes, their entire beauty and skincare regime, three hair tools, and enough pants to change underwear three times a day. And then, there are those like me, who will do almost anything to avoid having to check a bag into the hold, priding themselves on packing a tight edit of essentials into an even tighter space, and investing in a clever underseat cabin bag.
If, like me, you are adamantly against checking a bag into the hold, you know there are certain hacks you need to utilize to avoid a complete packing meltdown. If you’re uninitiated, I can explain the secret to carry-on only luggage in two words: packing cubes. The magic trick of this product becomes all the more magical when you add a third word: compression packing cubes.
The Best Packing Cubes at a Glance
- Best packing cubes for price: Nere Stori 3 pack packing cubes
- Best packing cubes for quality: Antler Chelsea 4 packing cubes
- Best large packing cubes: Gomatic packing cubes
- Most stylish packing cubes: Paravel packing cube quad
- Best lightweight cubes: Tumi packing cubes
Top Tips for Using Packing Cubes
- Pack Outfits Together – and in the Order You’ll Need Them. Throwing a bunch of bottoms, tops, and outerwear into your carry-on luggage willy-nilly will not work. Plan your outfits before you travel to stop you from packing unnecessary items; try to prioritize items that will go with many other things, and then pack these items together in the order that you’ll reach for them.
- Roll, Don’t Fold. Rolling your clothes will make them more compact, saving much space.
- Wear Your Chunkiest Items. Wearing your largest jumper, coat, and chunkiest shoes will make all the difference.
- Edit Down Your Skincare and Beauty Regime. Make sure your liquids will fit into the allotted space to eradicate any possible airport disasters.
- Packing Cube Sets Can Be Used for More Than Just Clothes. The various sizes make these cubes very versatile. Use one for wires, electrics, chargers, and more. A small cube can double up as a toiletry bag and can be reused as a laundry bag for dirty clothes during your trip.
The Best Packing Cubes for Travel
Here are some recommended packing cubes:
Antler Chelsea Packing Cubes
Pros: 6 colors, mesh windows, expandable zips to allow for more or less volume, good quality
Cons: No handles
What’s Better: Compression Bags or Packing Cubes?
For the vast majority of travel, we’d recommend using packing cubes over compression bags. The vacuum bags you’d use for storing clothing inevitably leave garments terribly wrinkled once the air has been removed. However, if you’re packing for over a month or need to pack lots of bulky winter clothing, vacuum bags can help claw back valuable space in your suitcase.
Do Packing Cubes Work Better Than Rolling?
Utilizing both methods is the best way to pack. By rolling your clothes inside each cube, you’ll maximize the amount you can squeeze into each cube while keeping your clothes as crease-free as possible.
Do Clothes Get More Wrinkled in Packing Cubes?
No. As long as you roll your clothes carefully, they should come out of the cubes looking as fresh as they entered. Bringing along a travel steamer will help tease out any stubborn creases after unpacking.
