The best packing cubes for travel

Pros: Hanging strap, made from recycled plastic bottles, machines washable, available on Amazon, comes with a strap so you can use as a day bag

Cons: Not compressive

You’ll know Trtl for its innovative wraparound neck pillow that’s been changing the game for long haul flyers in recent years and these packing pods are equally innovative. These aren’t cubes, they are definitely pods, and this smart design is what makes them so special. When you’re working with somewhat rigid shapes, as is the case with some other standard packing cubes, you’re beholden to how many of these you can Tetris into your bag – particularly if you’re using a hard or soft shell wheely cabin suitcase. The fabric chosen to construct these pods is really pretty squishy, made from seven recycled plastic bottles, and the unconventional curved design makes them much easier to stuff into every nook and cranny of your case, even if the remaining area available is a non-descript shape. We love that these have a D ring so you can hang them up, which is handy for camping and they can double up as a chic sling bag too, with a removeable shoulder strap that you can clip on. This leaves you even more room for packing as you won’t need to bring an extra handbag.

Best compression packing cubes

Pros: Top carrying handle, large sizes, strong compression zippers

Cons: They sell out quickly, only available in black, cubes sold separately

Deputy digital editor Sarah James managed to pack everything she needed for 12-day winter holiday in Canada into a cabin bag – that’s no easy feat, and something she feels she couldn’t have achieved without the compression power of the Gomatic packing cubes.

"I also packed for week in the Greek islands using the fantastic Gomatic compression packing cubes. Not only are they reasonably priced, but from one purchase they've saved me money on checked luggage in the long run, as well as saved time checking in or waiting for a bag on the carousel at either end of my flight, and the overwhelm of discovering you’ve simply packed too much luggage," Sarah James, deputy digital editor.

Pros: 6 colours, mesh windows, expandable zips to allow for more or less volume, good quality

Cons: No handles

Commerce editor, Lauren Burvill, regularly travels all over the world, and she always does her best to stick to carry on luggage only, even when travelling with her young son. The antler packing cubes not only help her keep all their clothes compact, but they help her stay organised in-flight too.

“From big trips to the Maldives and Australia to city breaks in Paris where I've had carry on luggage only, I’ve used these on so many trips. Whenever I fly with my son I fill the smallest bag with toys and snacks for him, so it's easy to grab quickly. Antler is one of the best luggage brands in the UK, so the quality is great and the mesh lids make it so easy to spot what's stored inside," Lauren Burvill, commerce editor.

Pros: Very pretty, made from 100% recycled plastic water bottles

Cons: Sell out quickly, only available in sets of four

At £77 for a pack of four, Steamline’s patterned Art Geo packing cubes are on the pricey side, but this is to be expected for a brand of this calibre. Known for their vintage style luggage offerings, these packing cubes go well beyond the average functional look many others have, making them the most aesthetically pleasing ones we’ve seen. If you’re already a fan of Steamline luggage, you’ll be pleased to read that all four packing cubes in the set have been made to fit perfectly into the brand’s spinner and stowaway cases. Looking at them all neatly slotted in is extremely satisfying.

Editor review: "I love the Art Deco print on these packing cubes – they make me feel like I'm preparing for an incredibly chic night on the Orient Express (rather than the Ryanair flight I've usually booked). The transparent panel in the corner makes it easy to see what's in each of the four without detracting from the design, which is also really handy." Sarah James, deputy digital editor

Pros: Thick and sturdy material, mesh window, compressible, attractive, choice of sizes, anti-microbial inner

Cons: Sometimes not possible to compress cubes the whole way if they're completely stuffed full

Choose between a pack of four or six of these anti-microbial, tear-resistant nylon packing cubes by one of Traveller’s favourite luggage brands, Monos, which come in four elegant, neutral colours. A few thoughtful features set these apart from other packing cubes, including the mesh panel top which allows you to see what’s inside without unpacking, anti-catch zips to keep your clothes snag-free and the additional compression zippers which reduce the height by up to 60 per cent.

Editor review: I love these packing cubes. The yellow colour greets me so cheerfully when I open my case, and the material is super sturdy, so the cubes hold their shape well. I know they won’t break after a few uses. The zips feel quality and held fast despite my over-packing ways, helping me compress each cube as flat as possible. That means no more sitting on your suitcase to get it closed when it’s full. Charley Ward, commerce writer

Pros: Made from 100% recycled PET plastic, mesh tops

Cons: Only available in set of four, not compressible

Designed to fit like puzzle pieces into the brand’s carry-on cases, these Carl Friedrik packing cubes are every bit as sleek, sophisticated and premium as you’d expect from this top-tier luggage company. Sold in a set of four, this single purchase will kit you out with everything you need to keep your tight edit cabin bag picks neat, organised and well-compressed during transit. Each cube is sized differently, made for trousers, tops, underwear and even shoes. Carl’s options win bonus points for their sustainability credentials – they’re made from 100 per cent recycled PET plastic.

Best value packing cubes

Pros: budget-friendly price, 6 colours, can be stored very flat when not in use

Cons: Can't see what's inside, not compression

Just like their brightly coloured range of hard shell suitcases, weekender bags and tote bags, these sets of three packing cubes from Australian luggage brand Nere are, quite frankly, a bargain. Not only are they lovely to look at (there are 13 pastel shades to choose from), and decent quality, but they’re very affordable , priced at just £19.99. You’ll get a small, medium and large size in the pack, which makes squeezing in all your clothes much easier. But these aren’t compression cubes, so you won’t get that added flattening.

Best value packing cubes

Pros: budget-friendly price, 6 colours, can be stored very flat when not in use

Cons: Can't see what's inside, no handles

Australian luggage brand Nere recently launched in the UK, bringing their affordable and brightly coloured range of hard shell suitcases, weekender bags and tote bags. Their zip up packing cubes come in packs of three and are available in a multitude of bright colours, from hyper pink to light aqua and classic black.

Best luxury packing cubes

Pros: Can be personalised, recycled fabric, 6 colour options, sheer strip window

Cons: Expensive, no handles

Currently on sale with some big savings to be had, the Paravel packing cubes, available in six smart colour options, stick to the same elevated, smart design as all the products from this brand. You have the option to personalise them too, with a monogram in a contrasting shade.

As easily one of the most stylish luggage brands around, we weren’t surprised to find that these packing cubes are chic and sturdy, with thoughtful design features to make your travels straightforward. Doing away with the usual mesh top, these cubes feature a sheer strip on the lid, so you can still see what's inside, and the material is made from 16 recycled plastic bottles, so you’re doing your bit for the planet by choosing these.

Best waterproof packing cubes

Pros: Mesh panels, 4 colour options, recycled fabric, a dedicated cube for storing wet items

Cons: Expensive, no handles

Made from sustainable, vegan materials and priding themselves in carbon neutral shipping and eco packaging, Horizn brings premium goods to the market that are planet friendly. For their packing cubes, they’ve applied their recycled fabrics and clever design to create an exemplary set, with each cube made with different items in mind. A medium size is ideal for tshirts and shorts, while the large cube is exactly what you need for wrinkle-free trousers and sweaters. As well as being a generally great all-rounder packing cube set, this pack of four ranks as one of the best out there partly due to the medium cube with waterproof lining, which is very handy for storing any wet items – an ideal solution to that tricky last day of a beach holiday.

Best packing cube set

Pros: Cubes can be labelled, mesh windows, top handles

Cons: Expensive, only available in black

When Beis was founded by actress Shay Mitchell back in 2018, she launched with a mission to develop extremely stylish yet highly functional luggage and travel accessories, inspired by her own experience travelling the world. The suitcases are clearly designed by someone who really gets what seasoned travellers need, and the packing cubes are no different. This six piece set is the ultimate in organisation, including three regular cubes, two shoe bags, and a zip pouch. In terms of ease of use, not only do the packing cubes have mesh windows, but they also have a dedicated holder to display a label, so you can keep you items ultra organised, and easily locate what you need when unpacking.

Best packing cubes for backpacking trips

Pros: Very lightweight, so good for backpacking and carry-on only travel, grab handles

Cons: Expensive for a set of three cubes, could be larger

Size is only one thing to consider when sticking to luggage restrictions. Weight is another. While, admittedly, none of the packing cubes on our list could be described as heavy, sometimes our packing needs are such that every gram counts. If you’re concerned about luggage weight allowance, you’ll want to choose this Osprey set, which are the lightest cubes we’ve tried. But that doesn’t mean they’re flimsy. The ripstop nylon is very tough and won’t show wear in a hurry and the zips stood up to the test of overpacking too. One note – they’re on the smaller side in comparison to some of the other cubes in this round-up, so better suited to shorter breaks away.

Best slimline packing cubes

Pros: Mesh window, top handle

Cons: Expensive

There’s no way around it, this packing cube set from Tumi is very expensive. But the quality is second to none. While other packing cubes are usually unstructured and lightweight, these have firm sides, collapsible dividers, mesh tops and a centre panel. While Tumi's range of packing cubes are quite simple, they are of course of the highest quality and designed to fit perfectly within their luggage range. We thought it was smart crafting that these cubes have been made to be large but with a shorter height than average, meaning they can be stacked as well as laid side by side, for even more packing optimisation.

Best luxury packing cubes

Pros: Water-repellent, made with recycled durable materials, store flat

Cons: Expensive, sold separately

First of all, can we just acknowledge the stunning Granada Pink shade these packing cubes are available in? Right away this sets them a cut above the rest, they look beautiful and they match the Granada Pink cabin bag perfectly too. They do also come in black, if that’s more your thing. But the flawless design doesn’t stop at colour. Rimowa’s packing cubes feel a cut above – they’re made from a thicker material than any of the others we’ve tried. This means they hold their shape beautifully when full, giving them an aesthetic edge befitting the iconic luxury luggage brand. As you might expect, the price tag is high so you may have to invest in the three different sizes separately, but they’re well worth it.

Pros: Handles, strong lightweight material, compressible, 100% recycled nylon

Cons: Sold separately

As you can probably tell if you’ve got this far in our guide, we’ve tested a lot of packing cubes at Conde Nast Traveller. But amazingly this set from Away is the first set of cubes designed specifically for weekender bags and backpacks. Commerce writer Charley Ward thinks this specific design is even more of a game changer when used with a bag than a suitcase.

“Forget rummaging around at the bottom of your rucksack – these cubes put paid to all of that, especially given the handle which makes it easy to grab each cube out with minimum fuss. They really do help to improve your bag’s functionality. While you could use these with any rucksack, they are specifically designed to fit with the brand’s F.A.R rucksack, which coincidentally has made the list as one of our best travel backpacks. The compression zip works really well – I’ve never seen a more well-organised and accessible rucksack after using these. Definitely one to invest in for festival season. Each packing cube is sold separately, but if you invest in one of each, you’ll be set for a two-week trip easily.” Charley Ward, commerce writer

Pros: Compressive, double-sided, available as sets or individually, available on Amazon
Cons: Can’t see inside

Perhaps the idea of adding to your luggage by bringing packing cubes into the mix as well as your clothes doesn’t work for you, but this ultra lightweight compression packing cubes might change your mind. Designed for use in Peak Design’s backpacks, but equally at home in a suitcase, these cubes are double-sized and super compressing, so they really will help make a lot more room in your bag. They’re one of the only brands to offer a choice of sets and individual cubes, so you can build the exact set for your needs at a good price. Our favourite feature is the fact they’re double-sized, meaning you can keep dirty clothes in one side and clean in the other, keeping your suitcase neat and tidy.