Are packing cubes worth it? This is the answer that every traveler wants to know! I kept seeing packing cubes all over travel bloggers’ sites and influencer’s pages and I simply did not understand the hype. Well after using them for a while, I can say that yes, you need packing cubes!
Why would I want to stick these bulky cubes in my bag? Don’t they take up more room then just rolling all of my items? The cubes seemed like a silly thing that people only get because they don’t know how to pack. Well I was very very wrong.
I have used these cubes on every trip I go on and now that I live in a van, I even use them to store my whole closet! That shows that I truly think they are valuable. Packing cubes are miraculous and here are the reasons you need them.
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8 Reasons You Need Packing Cubes
1. Staying Organized
One of the very best things about packing cubes is how everything stays well organized. Whenever I used to pack my bags things would fall around and I would spend ages looking for a specific shirt or item. When I use the cubes I am able to put specific items in certain cubes so that I always know where to find them.
Most packing cubes come with three or four cubes, so you can easily organize your things. You can choose which cube is right for what type of clothing. I usually designate one cube for pants, one for shorts, one for nice shirts, and one for T-shirts. It’s great for long trips where things can usually get tossed around.
#2 Quick Packing
After you’ve come up with a system for your cubes, then it takes no time to pack things back up. You can easily put them in their designated cube and then throw the cubes in your bag. This is especially nice for trips where you will be making lots of stops and packing/unpacking a fair amount.
For travelers like me, that hate unpacking then these are great for you! I never usually unpack on trips, because I stress about packing things back up. However, now that I have packing cubes, I just take them out and put them into drawers. You can easily find what item you need with this system!
#3 Fitting Things Easily
Like I said previously I am a serious overpacker. As I pack, I get stressed about all of the possible things that I may need. Do I need that one dress that would be good for a club? What about that comfortable pair of shorts? I slowly add more and more items until my bag overflows. When I use the cubes, I find that I actually have room to spare.
The cubes compact the items that you add into a small manageable space. I was so surprised the first time I used them and overcome with glee when I could add a few more items to the bag. The cubes hold everything in so tight, it reminds me of those vacuum bags people used to use. Any over-packer seriously needs to invest in a set of them!
#4 Maintaining Weight
I might be wrong, but I feel like every time I go somewhere my bag becomes heavier despite not adding anything new. Maybe it’s the way that I pack? The cubes are great at making sure that your items are taking up the same amount of weight and space.
Don’t get me wrong, if you end up purchasing a ton of souvenirs it’s going to add more weight to your bag. But if you use the cubes well then you should be underweight and feel confident going on any flight.
#5 Keeping Clothes Wrinkle Free
Most people usually fall into two camps of packing people: folders or rollers. For many years I have been a rolling fan. I have noticed that my clothes get less wrinkled and I can fit more when I roll. However, no matter what you do with your clothes, the cubes will keep your items wrinkle free.
The reason you usually get wrinkles when traveling is from the shifting of the bag, but the cubes keep the clothes secure in one space and items don’t shift. So now you can pull out that nice blouse you brought and go straight to dinner, without ironing it first.
#6 Protecting Your Items
We’ve all been there before, you pull out your clothes and notice that there is shampoo everywhere! Now you have to clean up a huge mess and figure out what you can wear that wasn’t messed up. Luckily packing cubes can save the day!
Many of the cubes are completely covered so that shampoo may get on the cube, but it won’t soak through to the clothing. Mine have mesh covers, but things are still so secure in the bag that the shampoo wouldn’t be able to spread everywhere. Now you never have to stress when opening your bag up.
#7 Flexible for Bags
Whether you pack your items in a stiff suitcase, a soft duffel bag, a small carry on, or a large backpack, packing cubes will fit in. Packing cubes have soft exteriors and can be manipulated to fit in many different spaces.
Before I purchased the cubes, I saw pictures from reviewers fitting the cubes in all types of bags. I personally have tried them in my carry on, a tiny duffel, and a larger one. These cubes really made things fit better in all of these bags, so pick up a set!
#8 Holding Laundry
On most trips my packing system gets completely messed up when I have to add my laundry in. I usually store my laundry in a plastic bag or multiple plastic bags to try and keep the odors from spreading. The bags end up taking up a lot of space and sitting bulkily in my bag.
The packing cubes are great because they usually come with a laundry bag for this very reason. My bag definitely holds in the stench of dirty clothes and there’s a string fastener so that you can put in a lot of clothes and make them compact. I never have to worry about my traveling laundry again.
Final Thoughts
Packing cubes have saved me a few times over the last year. So yes, packing cubes are definitely worth it! I highly recommend them if you love to travel and want to stay organized. They’re a game changer.
Do you think packing cubes are worth it now? Let me know in the comments!
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I could not agree more with this!! Packing cubes = lifesavers. I recently flew Basic Economy and used a packing cube to fit 5 days worth of clothes + cosmetics + electronics in a standard backpack.