Over my past 2 years of non-stop travel, I've made so many travel checklists that I could practically use them as wallpaper at this point. The thing I tell people over and over is that the very first thing on any Travel Checklist should be quality packing cubes. Packing cubes can change your life, basically making any backpack hold twice as much by compressing your clothes into small manageable cubes. Tamara and I have been traveling for years using only carry on backpacks but it would be absolutely impossible for us to do this without using travel packing cubes. Here's the top three packing cubes we've tested over the years for any budget.
OUR TOP PICK: eBags Packing Cubes
Overall:
The Vitals:
- $29.99
- Buy Here
- 12 Colors to choose
- Comes in S,M,L
The Summary:
- Lifetime Guarantee
- Compresses best of any we tried
- Best Zippers
- Can be used as laundry bags
- Aesthetically pleasing
Functionality:
Ebags Packing Cubes encompass all the fundamentals of good design. They're seamless to use and instantly blend into the background acting as new compartments for your backpack. The zipper is sturdy and reliable giving them an overall feeling of great quality materials. It's clear they've put their research in on these bad boys. I love the nylon they chose for the material as well it's soft but clearly going to last for a lifetime without tear.
After only a few days with the Ebags I felt a calm wash over me. My bag was finally organized and on top of that I was saving so much room that I could finally take a nice suit along with me on my travels! No longer will I be forced to wear t-shirts to nice dinners! I like Ebags better than others I've tried for their superior build quality and their ability to compress a bit more than lesser quality packing cubes I've tried in the past. This is one brand worth splurging on a bit.
Durability:
My favorite aspect of the Ebags is their insane superiority when it comes to durability. The Ebags have lasted us two years and look almost identical to when we first got them! Made with Techlite Diamond Nylon and YKK zippers, they really went all out on making the best packing cubes you possibly can for the cost. I've tried other cubes at a similar price point and I can tell you that it's a really common issue to have slight tearing after a year or two of semi-regular use, but not with these.
Value for $$$:
Unquestionably the best packing cubes you can get for under $30. We've tried many over our years of travel but these are the ones we chose to stick with for the long term. Buy them once and never buy another packing cube again! Check this one off your travel packing list.
Overall:
THE VITALS:
- $18.99
- Buy Here
- 2 Colors
- Comes in S,M,L
THE SUMMARY:
- Lightweight
- Good for 'rolling' clothes
- Cheap
- Sturdy despite price
Functionality:
There are a few key factors that help this brand stand out from the masses of packing cubes available on Amazon. First off, it features a mesh component that we loved for helping us see inside the cube itself. Second, The zippers are top notch on this one! I couldn't believe how sturdy they felt, it really seems like they could hold up to any amount of use or abuse. Finally, they're incredibly light. Noticeably more light than other brands we've tried. The Aomidi Packing Cubes should be on the travel checklist for anyone using a carry on sized bag as their main backpack while traveling. They're meant for people searching for packing cubes that are lightweight yet durable, and most of all cheap!
Durability:
Seriously, the durability is a large part of why we love these so much. It's rare that packing cubes genuinely feel like they could last you your entire life the way these one's do. The zippers are high quality "YKK Zippers" so you know they didn't skimp on the small details here.
Value for $$$:
Insanely good value here. During our years on the road, our travel checklist usually included packing cubes in the $30-$40 price range. We can safely say that at $18, these packing cubes are just as good as cubes twice the price in terms of durability and functionality. The only downside we could see is the limited color selection as there are only two colors available at this time.
Overall:
The Vitals:
- $20.99
- Buy Here
- 8 colors
The Summary:
- Ideal for smaller accessories
- For the hyper organized
- Extremely lightweight
- Include a Handle
- Mesh top helps see whats inside
Functionality:
Slim packing cubes need to be at the top of your packing list. They serve a different purpose than traditional packing cubes in that they're meant for organizing more than compressing. These packing cubes are meant to turn your backpack into a well oiled machine, making it easy to sort through your clutter and find exactly what you're looking for with the mesh top. We used these slim cubes for keeping our underwear separate from our shirts, organizing our cables and toiletries, and adding extra protection for our camera gear.
This is one of those small purchases that gives you much more than what you pay for. Dot & Dot did an excellent job designing these with the user in mind. They added the much needed mesh tops for helping save time when unpacking and keeping things ventilated. However, the mesh top is also why we gave these a slightly lower review as you may have instances where shampoo might get through the mesh and into your backpack (so don't keep liquids in these). Otherwise, they built these cubes to be incredibly sturdy and effective for what they are. The dimensions are great and fit perfectly into the small corners of your bag.
Durability:
It's just an incredibly well designed product. A frequent issue for smaller packing cubes is fraying and minor rips. We didn't notice any at all even after a year of heavy use. Keep in mind that sharp objects may irritate the mesh padding so avoid putting your keys in these babies!
Value for $$$:
As we said before the Dot&Dot are the type of purchase that keeps giving and giving for years. Having all those small things in your pack organized and in one place is absolutely invaluable and will make packing / unpacking so much easier. We saved so much time no longer having to dig through our bag looking for those stray socks!
