Are Packing Cubes Worth It? A Traveler’s Honest Take   Recently updated !

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If you’ve ever packed for a trip and found yourself digging through your suitcase to find a pair of socks, you’ve probably thought: There has to be a better way. That’s where packing cubes come in. They’ve become one of the most talked-about travel accessories in recent years, but are they worth it—or just another travel trend?

What Are Packing Cubes?

Packing cubes are small, zippered fabric containers (usually made of nylon or mesh) that help organize clothing and accessories inside your suitcase. They come in different sizes—small cubes for socks and underwear, medium cubes for t-shirts, and large cubes for sweaters or jeans. Think of them as “drawers” inside your suitcase.

They can also be called a waste of material or useless.

The Benefits of Packing Cubes 

Organization Made Easy

Instead of tossing everything into your bag, you can separate items by type: one cube for tops, one for bottoms, one for sleepwear, and so on—no more hunting through piles of clothes to find what you need.

Space Saving (Sort Of)

Packing cubes can help compress your clothing, letting you fit more into your luggage. While they won’t shrink clothes like a vacuum-seal bag, they cut down on wasted space.

 Stay Tidy on the Road

Here’s the real magic: you don’t have to unpack everything once you arrive at your destination. Just slide your cubes into drawers or keep them in your bag. Your suitcase stays neat, even after multiple outfit changes. 

Easy to Repack

For multi-stop trips, packing cubes make life a lot easier. Instead of repacking a messy suitcase every time you move, you can just zip up the cubes and go. 

The Downsides of Packing Cubes

  • They Add Weight: While minimal, cubes aren’t weightless. Every ounce counts if you’re flying budget airlines with strict baggage limits.
    • Had an issue trying to fly back from Seattle, and the suitcase was about 3/4 full and was overweight. Due to using the packing cubes
  • They Cost Extra: A good set can cost between $20 and $50. This is not outrageous, but it’s an extra expense.
    • Then you try several different brands.
  • Not Always Necessary: Cubes might seem like overkill if you’re a light packer or only going on short trips.

What kinds do I have

Well, that is a darn good question. I have several types that I use. Here they are:

Photos of the cubes

Are They Worth It?

It all depends on what you are like.

  • Are you a messy packer who throws stuff in a suitcase and hopes for the best?
    • Then probably not, these will frustrate you.
  • Are you trying to be a better packer and be organized while packing?
    • Then these are for you.

They’re convenient for longer trips, family travel, or anyone sharing luggage space.

If you’re a minimalist packer or mostly take short weekend trips, you might not need them. A couple of well-folded outfits can fit in a backpack just fine.

I like to pack a separate one for clothes for the next day.

Say I am flying into New York City and going on a cruise the next day. I pack a separate packing cube with the clothes I would like to wear. Then, all I have to do is take that one out and put my dirty clothes in that one.

Now that is just me, but it comes in handy.

Final Thoughts

Packing cubes aren’t a must-have for every traveler, but they’re one of those accessories that can make traveling smoother. Think of them as the difference between shoving everything into a junk drawer versus having a tidy, organized space.

So, are they worth it?

Absolutely. They keep me sane while traveling—anything that reduces stress on the road is worth the space in my bag.

For my wife, nope. She doesn’t like these things.

YouTube

You know I did one. You can view it below.

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