The Best Packing Cubes for Travel, Starting at $20
If you haven’t already fallen in love with packing cubes, oh man, are you in for a life-changing surprise. These handy-dandy travel tools don’t just help keep all your clothing, jewelry, toiletries and shoes neatly organized in your suitcase but also make it easier to fit everything—no more deciding which pair of sneakers you have to leave at home. Here are ten superb options for all your packing needs, starting at a humble price point of $20.
1. Best for Shoes: Paravel Shoe Cube Duo
If the idea of resting the soles of your shoes right up on your nice clean clothes majorly skeeves you out, these shoe-specific cubes just might become your new favorite travel item. The smaller cube can fit two pairs of flats or one pair of heels, while the larger size is best for sneakers or boots. Bonus: Paravel’s products are all made from eco-friendly, recycled materials.
2. Best for Jewelry: Mark & Graham Small Travel Jewelry Case
Mark & Graham offers a few different jewelry travel case sizes, but unless you’re packing a gazillion pieces (or a bunch of oversize statement earrings), the small one should suffice. Rings and studs fit snuggly in the slots down the middle, while four side compartments ensure your most delicate necklaces won’t get tangled up. You also have the option to monogram your case with up to nine characters.
3. Best for Oddly Shaped Luggage: Trtl Packing Pods
These packing pods have a teardrop shape that makes them easier to arrange and stuff into luggage of any shape or size (although they do fit very well in a regular hard-case carry-on too). You can also hang them or link them together once you reach your destination for easy access. They’re made from recycled plastic water bottles, as an eco-friendly bonus.
4. Best Waterproof Option: Eagle Creek Pack-It Specter Tech Cube Set
Whether you’re hiking Machu Picchu or taking the kids to the water park, these Eagle Creek cubes will have you covered—and dry. In fact, they were originally created for backpacking adventures and combating unexpected weather. Reviewers also like the fact that the fabric is just sheer enough to see what’s in each cube without unzipping. No more forgetting about wet bathing suits!
5. Best for Folding Clothes: Tumi Medium Flat Folding Pack
So, you want your trousers to keep their creases without the hassle of ironing and steaming at your hotel? This Tumi folding pack keeps all your neatly folded and pressed pieces looking fresh, no matter how long your flight is. It even comes with a handy folding guide.
6. Best Budget Option: AmazonBasics 4-Piece Packing Travel Organizer Cubes
This mesh set has a whopping 4,461 reviews and a 4.7-star rating. Here’s just one of those reviews: “After having these for 2.5 years, they’re holding up really well. I’ve used them on five international trips and several domestic trips, and I’ve experienced zero tears, and the zippers still work like new. My wife wants a set now.” One thing to note, however: Some reviewers found that the red and blue sets transferred color to their clothing when wet, so you might want to stick with the black or gray options, which so far have no complaints in that department.
7. Best Luxury Option: Ametti Salvia Luxury Boxes
Made from soft, lightweight Italian saffiano leather and decked out in colorful mosaic-inspired prints, these packing cubes are nothing short of glamorous. When you’re not jet-setting to exotic locales (or, OK, just spending a weekend at your in-laws’ house), you can nest the boxes neatly inside one another until your next big adventure.
8. Best Variety Pack: Béis The Packing Cubes
This six-piece set gives you lots of bang for your buck with three different sizes of packing cubes, a large zip pouch and two shoe bags. Mesh panels mean you can peek at what’s inside. They also let your clothes breathe (no musty smells here, thank you). As for the shoe bags, they have clear PVC panels so you can make a quick ID in no time.
9. Best for Beauty: Dagne Dover Small Hunter Toiletry Bag
There are three sizes to choose from, but we find the small to be just the right size for weekend trips and short getaways. Constructed from neoprene, they’re durable, light, water-resistant and easy to hand wash (just in case of any unexpected spills or leaks). The toiletry bag also comes with a removable mesh pouch and has little elastic loops to keep your essentials in place.
10. Best for Sunglasses (or Other KNICKKNACKS): Stoney Clover Lane Travel Case
Yes, this colorful case is designed for a rather specific function, but it can be multipurpose if you don’t travel with three pairs of sunnies. An elastic pouch on the lid is excellent for stowing statement earrings or necklaces, while the other compartments comfortably sort charging cords from hair barrettes from your precious sunglasses. Need more space? Resize or remove the dividers into a configuration that works for you.
RELATED: The Ultimate International Travel Packing List for a Stress-Free Trip
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