These clever pouches help organise your belongings and squeeze more into your bag. I’ve tested a range to bring you the best for the job
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Rebecca is a commissioning editor for The Telegraph’s Recommended channel, specialising in health, travel, beauty and parenting product reviews, buying guides and deals advice.
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Rebecca is a commissioning editor for The Telegraph’s Recommended channel, specialising in health, travel, beauty and parenting product reviews, buying guides and deals advice.
The products or services listed have been independently tested by our journalists. We earn a commission from the affiliate links in this article. Read more >
If you’re a frequent traveller but a bad packer (it’s surprising how often these two things go hand in hand), you might find yourself searching for the best packing cubes. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, a packing cube is essentially a fabric pouch designed to organise your clothes in a suitcase or carry-on luggage, and they typically compress soft items to help maximise space.
However tempting it may be to jump on Amazon and order the first ones that can be delivered in time for your holiday, the best packing cubes for travel actually vary a fair amount. Some are more technical, others compress, expand or have pockets for dirty laundry.
I’ve tried packing cubes from the biggest brands, including Osprey and Antler. You can find my full reviews below, followed by advice from experts on whether to roll or fold and which brands are worth buying.
“Think about what sorts of trips you go on,” says Claire Robinson, founder of Weekend Candy, a travel site covering the best weekend breaks in the UK. “If you do a mixture of long-haul and short breaks, then choosing a set of cubes that vary in size to give you flexibility makes sense. Waterproof cubes are a good option if you’re doing a more outdoorsy trip.”
Robinson advises looking for packing cubes that can compress in size to save space – but first check how wide they open up, so you can fill them to capacity. “Handles are a good extra feature too, since you may run out of space and need to carry them.
The packing cubes below have undergone rigorous testing; they’ve come on weekends away in my suitcase to Edinburgh and Venice, they’ve been bundled into my rucksack for overnight stays at friends’ flats who live in different cities, and even helped me move house.
I tried each over the course of two months, looking for whether they added weight to my packing, if they had a good range of sizes, how good compression features (which squeeze out air from the cube) and expandable features were and how strong, robust and malleable each was when fitting into a suitcase.
You can visit our Who We Are page to learn more about our testing process.
Antler’s packing cubes come in a handy set of four; one large, one medium and two small. Each zips more than three quarters of the way around the cube and has a compressive feature.
I really crammed my clothes into these travel cubes when I was moving house and I’m glad to report the zips are hard wearing. Slightly less impressive was that the mesh snagged under the stress – but I won’t hold it against Antler. If you saw how many t-shirts I tried to squeeze into a small cube, you wouldn’t either.
The compression zip was a useful feature but I found it only worked if there was only a slim layer of clothes inside a packing cube. Otherwise, the compression zip was impossible to shut. It easily squashed a layer of pants and socks, but had no chance against jumpers. However, this was a common theme among all the compression packing cubes I tried rather than a specific flaw with Antler’s packing cubes.
These were still my favourite because of their depth, strong sides which stood on their own while I packed clothes inside and perfect sizing for my cabin-sized suitcase.
Away is known for its quality but reasonably expensive luggage, so it may come as a surprise to see it labelled as our best value pick. But £35 for four packing cubes works out as £8.75 each, and they also performed well in my testing.
Unlike lots of others I tried, the Away packing cubes are made from nylon rather than polyester. I found this gave them a little more stretch and flexibility. While they lacked any sort of compressing feature, they’re so lightweight and soft that once placed in a suitcase they easily squashed down to the desired size.
The one drawback to them being so soft and unstructured is that they’re slightly difficult to pack into because the sides don’t stay up by themselves. You find yourself having to hold a side up as you squeeze clothes against the walls.
However, that lack of rigidity also means you can pack these cubes even fuller and the nylon stretch means they can take it. These are my packing cubes of choice for throwing in a backpack.
If you’re worried that packing cubes will add extra weight to your luggage that you don’t necessarily have scope for, these Osprey Ultralight Packing Cubes should be your choice. They weigh just 100 grams and are the thinnest and most malleable I tried.
Design-wise, they’re quite basic. There’s no compression feature, no dirty laundry department and the zip (infuriatingly) only zips just over half of the way around the cube. Because of this, you pack it more like an upright bag with the zip open at the top, which I think is far less compact than packing horizontal layers of clothes.
But if you just want something lightweight to organise your backpack and aren’t too fussed about bells and whistles, I think these are an excellent option.
The most technical packing cube on this list is the Patagonia Black Hole. As the epic name suggests, it fits more than you’d imagine. It’s a little like Doctor Who’s Tardis – humble looking on the outside with a wealth of space, compartments and tools on the inside.
Unzip the travel cube and you’ll see inside is split into two sections, each zipped up in a mesh compartment with a section each for clean and dirty laundry. I actually found it to be quite a good wash bag as well, and the handle on top can be carabiner clipped to the outside of a bag.
I do think £40 (RRP) is a little expensive for a singular packing cube, but the material is strong and structured and the design is well thought out. There’s no stretch because of the strong material outside, but the Black Hole is so big that I didn’t find that to be an issue.
These Monos Packing Cubes are a doddle to use, with a compression zip and stable walls. With the compression zip undone, the slightly thicker walls mean that they hold their structure when you pack them, so you don’t have to manipulate the material around your clothes.
Once you’ve filled the packing cubes, the compression zip – which is stronger than others I’ve tested – zips back up to squash the clothes and condense the insides. As with all compressible packing cubes, if you over-stuff it you’ll have some difficulty zipping it up, but it’s certainly one of the better systems I’ve tried.
The packing cubes come in a set of four (shown above), which is recommended for carry-on luggage, or a set of six which best suits checked suitcases. There’s a good range of sizes to suit t-shirts, underwear and swimwear. These packing cubes might not be the cheap option, but they’re high quality and I can’t see them snagging.
Founded in 1898, Rimowa is known for its prestigious aluminium luggage but fewer people might know that it also sells travel accessories, like packing cubes. As expected, the quality is pristine but there’s a price tag to go with it.
The packing cubes definitely mirror the design of the iconic Rimowa suitcases. They’re boxy looking, tough and surprisingly lightweight. The back walls are rigid which means the packing cubes hold themselves up as you pack. Although I do think you’re paying a premium for the brand, these packing cubes are great quality and roomy.
It should come as no surprise that Samsonite, one of the best known luggage brands, features on this list. The larger size in this packing cube set is the biggest I tried, and proved perfect for rolling up thicker jumpers and pairs of jeans.
I found it too big for my small carry-on, so it’s definitely better suited to larger suitcases and someone who is a regular on long-haul flights. Both the medium and smaller sizes are fine for fitting into smaller bags and suitcases, but if you’re paying £55 (RRP) for a set you probably want to know you’ll get your money’s worth from all three.
There’s no compression feature but the Samsonite packing cubes are sturdy and made from recycled plastic bottles. Although I’m always keen to use sustainable materials, I sometimes find they’re of lesser quality, so it was a relief that these packing cubes proved sturdy and strong.
Peak Design is a favourite among photographers for camera accessories and bags, and the brand has only recently entered into the world of travel. It’s fair to say, it’s made a successful entrance.
The Peak Design Packing Cube is the most versatile I tried because it bot compresses and expands, and has multiple compartments. A moving divider auto-adjusts the size of each compartment, which is great for dirty laundry. I used the Peak Design Packing Cube on a trip to Venice and adjusted the compartments as my dirty laundry built up.
Every detail about the Peak Design packing cubes have been meticulously thought out and it really shows. I love the adjustable compartments and the fact it’s made out of recycled materials. The only reason it’s not higher on this list is because the zips can be a little fiddly.
The Gomatic cubes are distinctive for their thick, strong seams, zippered compression system and overall rugged look. They definitely favour toughness and capacity over aesthetics, though.
Like other compression packing cubes I tried, the zip function only really worked when they weren’t packed too full. Otherwise, there was too much pressure for the zip to pull across.
The Gomatic packing cubes are perfect for anyone looking for a packing cube that doesn’t mind being thrown around a bit. They’re on the bulkier side because of the thicker seams, but the mesh is robust, the zips are strong and they fit a good few layers of clothes inside.
Eagle Creek was founded in California by travel enthusiasts on a mission to create lightweight luggage and accessories to make travelling easier. Eagle Creek sells the broadest range of packing cubes I’ve seen, and I chose to test their Pack It Reveal Expansion Cube.
It has a see-through mesh top and an expandable zip. The expansion feature allows it to double in size which is handy for holiday shoppers (guilty).
I found it hard to pack clothes quite as tightly into these packing cubes because of the rounded corners and the fact the sides could not support themselves. But I loved how lightweight they were and, again, all made from recycled fabric.
“Packing cubes are a practical investment for organised and efficient travel,” says travel writer, Alex Kallen. “They are especially beneficial for those who frequently move between accommodations, as they minimise the need to unpack and repack your entire bag.”
While not a necessity by any means, I’ve noticed I find the whole packing process to be much less stressful with packing cubes. They’re especially great if you’re the type to live out of your suitcase on short trips, rather than unpacking into wardrobes.
Antler was the best packing cube brand I found after weeks of testing. As a journalist on The Telegraph’s Recommended channel, I always know I’ve found my favourite in a category when I subconsciously reach for it more times than any other. I just love the quality, compression zips and choice of sizes of the Antler Chelsea Packing Cubes.
That being said, it’s definitely a personal choice. “I think the best brand is actually the one that suits your trip type and budget,” says Claire Robinson, founder of Weekend Candy.
“Rolling clothes always saves more space than folding,” Claire says. Rolling clothes almost acts like a vacuum pack, squeezing the air out of the gaps and compressing them into the smallest size possible. Rolling is also effective for reducing wrinkles in clothes, although if that’s a recurring issue for you, take a look at our guide to the best clothes steamers.
Generally speaking, a wipe down with a damp cloth should get rid of most dirt or stains on a packing cube, but some can be washed in a washing machine on a cold temperature, or in a sink filled with lukewarm water and a little soap. It very much depends on the material your packing cubes are made from, so it’s always worth checking the manufacturing instructions.
While packing cubes are primarily designed for organising suitcases, they also make excellent storage boxes for toiletries, compressing bulky jumpers and transporting gym clothes to and from the office. Packing cubes are just space savers at their heart, so can be used for a variety of things.
