9 Best Packing Cubes, Tested by Travel Pros

For an impressive price of $25 (currently on sale for just $17!), these BAGAIL packing cubes are designed to help keep both your carry-on and your personal item organized. The smaller accessories bag is perfect to hold necessities you need in-flight like an eye mask or ear plugs.

The set includes three packing cubes, a cosmetic case, a drawstring bag for laundry, a shoe bag, an underwear bag, and an accessories bag. The larger packing cubes included compression straps inside to help keep your clothes in place during transit. I especially liked this feature and only saw it on this set. They’re made with a sleek polyester material that’s lightweight, but didn’t hold its shape as well as higher-end bags; this made it more challenging to use the packing cubes as organizers in a hotel drawer. It’s sold in 19 different colors and patterns, including stripes and florals.

Compression packing cubes have two sets of zippers, so you can pack the bag normally then compress the whole cube with the second zipper. This set from Quince uses a sturdy recycled polyester material with a mesh top to securely hold your clothes. This set is available in six trendy shades.

I found it easy to pack these cubes and appreciated the range of sizes included. I like that you can use these bags with or without the compression feature. When I used the compression feature, the bags noticeably shrunk in size, taking up less space in your luggage. It was challenging to compress the bags if I overpacked them though.

These Gonex packing cubes compress your clothes, so you can fit as much as possible in your suitcase, and they are a more affordable alternative at just $30 for a six-piece set, which comes in nine shades. The brand recommends rolling your clothes before placing them in the cube to maximize space.

When I tested these cubes in the Lab, I found them easy to use and especially liked the lightweight material with mesh that you can clearly see through. The compression capabilities were simple to use and I liked the top handle for hanging. The bags did not maintain their shape, so they won’t work well as drawer organizers once you arrive at your destination. One consumer tester who has used these cubes on multiple vacations said: "I loved the compression aspect and how you can fit so much more because of it. They are also very large cubes. I am very happy with them and will continue to use [them]."

With tens of thousands of reviews on Amazon, these packing cubes are popular for their easy-to-use design that's perfect when traveling with the whole family. The cubes are available in 15 colors, so each family member can have their own set in their own color, making it simple to determine whose is whose. This set includes a laundry bag, which is a game-changer to keep dirty clothes separate.

When I saw all the rave reviews online, I knew I had to try these packing cubes myself. I liked the sizes of these cubes with a good range that allow me to fit what I need for a vacation perfectly—the included laundry bag was especially helpful. The “X” design with stylish mesh details for breathability is unique compared to other packing cubes. The material is quite thin (making it very lightweight), but not as substantial as other tested sets.

Designed specifically for the mega-popular Away Carry-On, these cubes are the perfect dimensions for most carry-on suitcases. In my Lab analysis, these cubes were a favorite for being simple and easy to use, and of course, fitting nicely into a carry-on. I also like the mesh material that lets you easily see inside each cube and allows air to flow through, helping keep your clothes fresher.

One consumer tester who used this set on a trip to the Hamptons said, "The mesh made it easy to compact clothes into the packing cubes as the mesh let out any trapped in air. I also liked the configuration of the packing cubes. They fit together really well inside my suitcase." Both the 4-piece and 6-piece sets include smaller cubes, but some testers wished they were larger. The price per cube is higher than most sets we tested.

RELATED: Away Luggage Review

Many testers preferred packing cube sets that included shoe bags or laundry bags, like this set from Beis. With three different-size cubes, a toiletry pouch and two shoe bags, this set, which features mesh details and a top handle, is ready for any vacation. Uniquely, they come with pre-printed labels for common items like jeans, swimsuits, and underwear as well as the days of the week to keep your cubes organized.

One consumer tester said, "The larger zip bags really helped me separate nice clothes for going out from my beach clothes/comfy clothes, which made getting ready much easier since I could find everything without unpacking my entire suitcase." While testers liked the shoe bags, some wished they were bigger to fit larger sizes and bulkier shoes like booties.

Most packing cubes are only available in solid colors, but these trendy ones from Baggu come in fun patterns like stripes, florals, and fruit prints. This set includes two packing cubes made from durable recycled nylon. I was impressed by just how lightweight these cubes are without sacrificing performance—every ounce counts when you’re traveling! When evaluating these cubes in our Lab, I noticed they were a bit noisy (and a few testers noted the same thing).

Loving the stylish colors and patterns, one consumer tester said, "Not only are they super cute but they are lightweight and durable. The amount you can fit in these packing cubes is amazing!" Another tester said, "I will definitely continue to use these cubes as I like them better than a set I bought off of Amazon years ago—Baggu strikes again!"

Mesh is a popular material for packing cubes, but often times the mesh is tough to see through or only a small amount is used. These cubes from Thule use an entire mesh panel for the front which is easy to see through and didn’t snag easily in my experience using it. This set of two bags features convenient top handles to hang the bags. Thule also offers top-notch compression packing cubes too.

In packing tests, I liked that these bags maintain their shape even when not filled to the brim. The zippers were much sturdier than other bags I tested. Plus, each cube was lightweight to not add too much extra heft to your luggage. They have a higher price point and take up more space than other cubes, so they’re best suited for an adventurous traveler who needs more durable travel products.