Editors Test the 6 Best Packing Cubes That Make Travel So Much Easier

"I've owned these cubes for a year and a half, and the Amazon reviewers did not lie: These nylon bags are surprisingly durable, surviving eight flights and multiple road trips without a snag or tear—even when packed to the brim," says executive editor Candace Davison. "I like that each one is a different color, so I can assign a hue to each family member and see at a glance who's stuff is whose, even if I'm cramming it all into one giant suitcase."
Davison says only thing to note is that if you're really filling them to the brim, be careful to keep the zipper away from the nylon as you zip up the compression part, as it's easy to get caught.

• Material: nylon
• Colors: 14 colors and patterns

"As a Gemini, I crave chaos—so my packing routine typically involves wildly throwing things into my suitcase at 4 a.m. the night (morning?) before my early flight until it can be stuffed no more, at which point I pray to the TSA gods that it actually zips closed," says commerce editor Stephanie Maida. "But I have been trying to become more orderly, so packing cubes have been a game-changer. These Dagne Dover ones have mesh that is lightweight and super flexible, so I can stuff in one extra item without worrying about it getting all bent out of shape. On that note, they actually fit a lot; the large pictured here held two voluminous dresses, two tops and a denim skirt on my last trip, while the medium, also pictured, fit four tops, two bras, a dress and a pair of silky shorts. Plus, they both sit perfectly in my carry-on, as you can see. Using them has made such a difference—especially when I arrive to my destination and am greeted with a beautiful, organized suitcase that finally isn’t overflowing."

• Material: recycled performance Air Mesh, Repreve® recycled poly
• Colors: four colors

This set of packing cubes comes with an indispensible extra—a drawstring backpack, which I find comes in handy for beach or pool runs as well as village strolls in my destination. The polyester material of the cubes is sturdy and washes up well, and since this is a compression set, the zippers are strong enough to really smush my clothes without bucking. Additionally, these cubes have reinforced handles that come in handy when I'm unpacking.

• Material: polyester
• Colors: four

"Honestly, after using these on a cross-country trip, packing for myself and two kids in one suitcase, I can't believe this set of six only costs $60," raves executive editor Dara Katz. "I've used flimsy packing aids before, but these are high-quality, and make all that cramming and organizing less daunting. I really appreciate the different sizes included in one set and the option to expand the depth on each." Katz says that, along with her little green Nanit camera travel case, these packing cubes are as close to one-and-done packing as she's ever going to get when traveling with her family.

• Materials: water-repellent recycled polyester
• Colors: five

"I'm a pretty efficient packer, so I never thought I needed packing cubes...until I tried them. These from Away are my go-to and have made packing for long family vacations a cinch. Most recently, I traveled to Italy for a family wedding and I was able to fit my own items, plus all my 4-year old's gear into one suitcase thanks to these compact cubes," says Angela Pares, PureWow VP of branded content. "They're durable, zip up easily and come in four different sizes suitable for bulky sweaters to undergarments. But the best part is unpacking / re-packing: the cubes keep everything contained so all I ever need to do is throw it back in suitcase and we're ready to go again. No more unwieldily items floating around!"

• Material: nylon
• Colors: nine colors

"I bought these because I was going on a big climbing trip out west and needed some way to organize my enormous North Face Base Camp duffel bag," says senior editor Abby Hepworth. "I love Cotopaxi's bright colors and use of deadstock material, and have to say these cubes have definitely lived up to the hype! The trio of different sizes is super helpful for fitting all manner of items—the smallest one for underwear and bras, the middle one for smaller clothing items like T-shirts, socks or workout shorts, and the largest cube for larger items like jeans, sweaters or dresses. The mesh sides allow plenty of airflow so I feel confident these cubes won't eventually develop any unwanted odors, and the nylon fabric is incredibly durable, so I can even use these for stowing toiletries or harder items in a pinch. I will say, unless you pack them close to full, they're super flexible."

• Material: deadstock nylon,  polyester
• Colors: patchwork multi-color