The 13 Best Packing Cubes for Every Kind of Trip

These cubes, made by Swedish car rack stalwart Thule (pronounced TOO-lee, in case you were wondering), were a very, very close second to Eagle Creek's. (Eagle Creek won for being more versatile with their variety of sizes and functions and clean/dirty sides.) The Thule cubes' rigid construction and small sizes meant they couldn't be used for longer trips or too many bulky items like sweaters, but they still provided a shocking amount of compression.

I wasn't sure the medium size would even fit one pair of pants, but it not only fit my bulkiest pair of sweats with ease, but compressed them down to a tidy little package. The Bluesign-approved 100-denier ripstop nylon, which is translucent enough to identify the cubes' contents but not see them in their entirety, was also a welcome touch, as was the fabric's water repellence.

These were the fanciest-looking and -feeling packing cubes I tested. The outside is thick and satiny nylon twill, with an antimicrobial interior, TPU-reinforced mesh window, and gold-toned hardware. I love how they can be stored flat but pop up to be a generous 4.5 inches tall, and the compression is excellent. I couldn't fit as much in them as I could with the Thule or Eagle Creek cubes above, but I was still able to save a significant amount of space in a carry-on.

They're specially designed to fit perfectly in Monos luggage: The four-piece set fits in the carry-on, and the six-piece set fits the checked bags. You can also get a toiletry case ($95) in the same color to match, which is also beautiful and well made, though it did frustrate me on a recent trip with its lack of carrying handle.

When I first saw these shallow, all-mesh packing cubes with their stiff wire edging and little label windows, I wasn't initially impressed, given that they cost upwards of $30 per cube. But then I tested them. Not only do they hold more than they initially seem like they will, but I ended up loving how they kept their shape, allowing me to fit more in my bag and for my clothes to arrive at their destination perfectly wrinkle-free. The mesh is also breathable yet sturdy, private, and slightly padded, so I felt safe adding even hard items like jewelry.

To be sure, these aren't space savers, but if you want to ensure your items don't move around or get overly squished or wrinkled, these are a great option, and they come in four stylish colors.

If you're worried about packing cubes adding weight to your luggage or backpack contents, these Peak Design packing cubes are the ones for you. The smallest of the mesh cubes weighs only 1 ounce, and its Powernet nylon stretch mesh material means it can be folded or squished down to fit in a pocket when not in use. You can also attach a strap (not included) to carry any of the cubes like a crossbody bag. They're Bluesign-approved, Fair Trade certified, 100 percent breathable, and have a lifetime warranty. You can buy them individually, and they're handy for more than just travel—my husband uses one for keys and wallet at the gym. Be forewarned that they look small, but even the medium size fit my bulkiest pair of sweats with additional room for socks and underwear.

If you don't want full mesh, there's also an opaque version ($15 for 1L) made of 50D recycled ripstop-like fabric, as well as a shoe bag.

The ultralight backpacking company Gossamer Gear recently launched its plane travel line, and I'm a big fan. This set is shockingly light and capacious, given the wide breadth of features it offers. The half- and full-size cubes have compression, mesh, and sturdy pull zippers. The dual-chamber dirty/clean cube has a shocking 15-liter capacity and the dirty side seals. If you're going to buy this bundle a la carte, I particularly like the clear cube ($20). It zips and has multiple mesh pockets. It works both as a clear bag for liquids when you're going through airport security, or a tech pouch for chargers, makeup, or lip balm and other sundries when you're camping. I never dreamed that such a thing existed!

For the past month, this has been my favorite set of packing cubes for everything from camping to work trips, just because it's so versatile. There is no situation in which this packing cube set doesn't work. The large dirty/clean cube fits a weekend's worth of clothes for a camping trip; the half-size compression cube fits underwear and my running clothes for a work trip. And the entire set weighs well under a pound. I should note that it does not have a warranty, which Gossamer Gear is careful to note is because ultralight fabrics tend to be a bit more fragile. Still, I took them camping in the desert for five days and they were fine, so I can vouch for their durability. —Adrienne So

Unlike most packing cubes, Cram's colorful collection is fully machine washable and can be tumble-dried. I was a little dubious that they'd hold up given that the mesh top felt a bit flimsy, but they came out no worse for wear in my top-loading washer and high-heat dryer. I didn't particularly love how they looked in my suitcase (the mesh-heavy design, floppy structure, and colors were giving inside-out ’70s swim-trunk vibes), but that's more of a personal problem. These are the best packing cubes I've found for camping, or trips where you know your clothes or the contents of your bag will get dirty.

Labels on packing cubes isn't a new concept (Dagne Dover and Calpak cubes recommended here both have them, for instance), but Beis takes it a step further and includes a whole collection of inserts for the label windows on its sturdy, mesh-window-sporting packing cube set. There's a sheet of cards denoting days of the week, as well as labels both practical (bras, pajamas) and not ("proceed with caution,” “so fresh & so clean”). Of course the labels center perfectly in the little windows, making for the ultimate accessory for GRWM content or just your own state of mind.

The cube sets are designed to go with Beis luggage, but they fit just fine in both my non-Beis carry-on and checked bags. I tested the noncompression set, which comes with a zip bag and two shoe bags, but there's also a compression set that includes the cubes only.

This is the first set of packing cubes I ever owned, and it’s what kicked off my obsession with travel organization to begin with. There's just something generally satisfying about the size and layout of these lightweight-polyester cubes with a mostly mesh front for visibility and breathability. There’s a little window where you can put a label for the contents (which is far more useful than you might think, especially when packing cubes are around the same size), and I love that they come in 18 different colors and prints.

Business trip with wrinkle-prone clothes that need to remain unwrinkled? No problem. This ingenious envelope-style packing cube helps you fold your clothes with an included folding board, and keeps them folded with four flaps with adjustable Velcro closures. I kept two button-up shirts and cotton pants in them for two weeks, and while they did develop some lines from being folded, they're still better than wrinkles. Note that the medium size is meant for a carry-on bag. The large will fit, but it will take up a sizable portion of space (as shown in the second photo).

This expandable soft-sided spinner from luggage stalwart Travelpro (maker of our favorite budget carry-on) comes with two approximately 9" x 2" packing cubes on a divider that clips in or out. Thick straps in the main compartment can be cinched down to provide compression, and there’s also an included laundry bag and two shoe bags. I was actually quite impressed with how much I could fit into this carry-on, especially when using other compression packing cubes. Which is kind of necessary, as the included packing cubes hold little more than a few T-shirts and some underwear.

Also be aware that when the bag is expanded, it's still slightly front-heavy, even though it's designed to be tip-resistant. A test of rolling it upright while running through the airport to catch the car rental shuttle found it does still have a tendency to tip over front-first.

This bag is bound to be a godsend for anyone who's ever ended a trip with half their suitcase contents on the floor from days' worth of rummaging. It looks like a normal suitcase, but open it to reveal two fold-down shelves that are the perfect size for packing cubes. Royce & Rocket's Castle comes in carry-on size, mid-size, or full-size with a matching set of packing cubes ($75 for four). Or buy the suitcase alone and use your own packing cubes. (Though I have done this, and noted that only medium and small sizes will be able to fit.)

Do note, however, that this shelf feature adds a considerable amount of weight to the bag. I tested the mid-size version, and when I went to weigh it at Alaska Airlines' bag drop, I was shocked to find it was just a hair under the 50-pound weight limit, despite my only packing lightweight clothes and travel-sized toiletries. Also note that the shelves set up floppy and saggy when the bag is expanded, so if you arrived with your bag that way, you'll have to remember to remove items and zip the expander back up before reopening.