Are Packing Cubes Worth It?
When we first started out on our Adult Gap Year (now into it’s fourth year!) packing cubes did not feature in our packing routine.
We rolled, folded, squashed, and pushed stuff into our suitcases, sat on them to allow us to zip them closed, and that was that.
About 18 months later, for my birthday, our daughter gave me a few packing cubes as a gift.
And thus started the great family debate around packing cubes and whether they:
a) help or hinder the packing process and
b) improve or frustrate the whole travelling experience.
Common cause has it that these lightweight, zippered organisers help travellers stay tidy, maximise space usage, and reduce packing stress.
But do they?
The Thinking Behind Packing Cubes
Packing cubes are designed with one core purpose in mind: to bring structure to your suitcase.
Instead of stuffing everything into one large, jumbled space, packing cubes allow you to divide your belongings into neat, manageable categories.
In theory, this means you can pack faster, stay organised throughout your trip, and unpack with minimal effort.
The idea is simply that small containers create big efficiency.
Pros of Using Packing Cubes
Group items by category (tops, underwear, gym gear, etc.) so you always know where everything is.
Maximise luggage space . Cubes help compress clothes slightly, and that together with squared off edges allow you to fit more into your bag.
Stay organised no matter how often you open and shut the case throughout your trip
Stress-free unpacking. Place cubes directly into drawers or leave them as they are for short stays.
Ideal for families. Colour-coded cubes make it easy to separate belongings.
Cons of Using Packing Cubes
They add a small amount of weight, especially if you use multiple cubes.
Over-packing may be tempting, because cubes make it feel like you can fit more.
But the real conundrum is this: Where does your dirty laundry go? Do You just stuff it into your case on top of the other cubes? Or empty a cube and use that as your “washing cube? Or pack a spare empty cube and use that as your washing bag?
And then of course there is the million dollar question – where do you put the bottle(s) of wine, and whatever else you might be taking as a gift that has to travel in the hold? Generally these don’t fit into your standard packing cube!
Vexing questions that need to be considered before you fill up your case with packing cubes 🙂
Popular Types of Packing Cubes
Despite that, packing cubes have gone from strength to strength and travelers can now choose from several styles of packing cubes:
Standard packing cubes. The original design -lightweight and breathable, perfect for the average traveler.
Compression packing cubes. These feature an extra zipper to squeeze out excess air and reduce bulk.
Water-resistant cubes. Ideal for toiletries, wet swimsuits, or trips where weather is unpredictable.
Structured cubes. These offer firmer sides for those who prefer a more rigid packing system.
Our Compromise with Packing Cubes
After many trips with and without packing cubes, here is what we have settled on:
- They are extremely useful for stuff that it’s useful to keep together. Read socks, underwear, T shirts and the like.
- Don’t stuff your suitcase to the brim with packing cubes. Leave some wriggle room for odd shaped stuff (wine bottles!) and things like jackets or formal shirts that don’t do well when scrunched up for long periods of time.
- Buy dark coloured cubes. That way it’s easier to hide the dirt if you are in one place for a few days and take them out the case and throw them in a draw somewhere.
- The dirty laundry conundrum is real. You don’t want to mix clean and dirty clothes in a single cube, and if you start moving clean socks in with clean undies then that kind of defeats the purpose. And confuses things when you repack the clean stuff. We tend to carry a washing bag (modified pillow case) that we put in the “wriggle room” space.
So yes, they are well worth using but leave yourself some space where you don’t use them – it’s a good combo!
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