How To Use Packing Cubes: The Best Way To Use Packing Cubes

Packing is a big part of any trip. Do you want to see everything tucked tidily in their respective corners? Even if you don’t, we are sure you will love how your packing process can be simplified and made quick with this one simple trick.

How to use packing cubes? These simple travel companions are small yet mighty. Thanks to these little buddies, you’d be surprised to learn how your life could become a million times easier.

There are so many advantages to getting one of these. Read more to learn how they can help you on your adventures and the best way to use them.

Why You Should Use Packing Cubes For Packing

 

There must be a better way to keep things in check within your suitcase. Photo by tatomm - stock.adobe.com

Before getting to how to pack using packing cubes, let’s take a quick look at what they are. Think of them as a small bag used to hold your items in the luggage, just like mini luggage within your luggage.

Some think alternatives such as plastic ziplock bags would be better. But in the long run, you will find out that they may not work as well as you think. Laundry or ziplock bags can easily tear, and thus your items will be damaged in the process.

They are cheap, but why do you subject yourself to so much hassle on the road? Paying a little extra, and you are set for a few years of headache-free packing and travelling.

Packing cubes’ magic doesn’t stop there. There is more to it than you think. Let’s find out why they are such fantastic travel accessories and a must for many.

Keep Your Stuff Organised

Keeping everything nice and neat is a necessity when it comes to travel. And packing cubes work wonders if that is what you are asking for. Packing a few weeks' worth of clothes will no longer be a chore. 

You don’t have to worry about your toothbrush ending up in a different spot from your toothpaste. Plus, your clothes will be wrinkle-free as the cubes prevent things from shifting around, 

What’s more, they help you frame what you want to bring or what you want to leave behind. When you pack with the travel cubes, it’s easy to visualise how your items would fit within the luggage’s space.

Instead of fitting and filling everything in one large compartment, not it’s one cube at a time. Just like a drawer for your suitcase. Easier to handle and manage, right?

Add An Extra Layer Of Protection

Your suitcase protects the objects from the elements. What about protecting themselves from each other? A few drops from your water bottle are all it takes to damage your beloved electronics.

A second layer of security is also a great help, especially in worst-case scenarios, such as when your backpack is torn. Some come with handles, so you can use them like a backup carry-on bag if your checked bag is overweight.

When you use packing cubes for travel, especially water-resistance ones, you can keep moisture at bay. What better way to keep your clean dresses from wet, ripping swimsuits or muddy shoes?

Tips: Want to get comfortable but have nothing to rest your head in sight? Stuff your regular travel cubes with soft items to have a travel pillow on the field.

Make Things Accessible

 

You don’t want to be that person who fumbles around to find that one thing when you need it the most. Photo by deagreez - stock.adobe.com

You are at the security gate. The inspector requests you to hand them certain items in your bag. But it takes you more than a few minutes to grab that one thing with a long line behind your back. Does this sound familiar to you?

Cubes don’t only help you with packing but also with repacking. When you take out anything from the bag, the whole structure of your packing may collapse and make everything harder to find.

This is especially true when you are rocking a backpack, which oftentimes requires the owners to dig around to grab what they need. Cubes let you take out one section of your suitcase instead of a single item in a whole set-up.

Don’t Take Much Space

Some worry about the added extra space. But packing cubes don’t typically weigh more than 10 ounces, so it’s not something you have to care about.

Their thin bodies and linings won’t make your backpack budge more than necessary. When you don’t use them, fold or tuck the packing cubes into a corner of your luggage. Simple as that.

Plus, your clothes are compressed when packed in one, freeing more space. If you want to take the space-saving game to the next level, that’s when compression bags come in handy.

Travel compression bags squeeze the air out to compress everything to the extreme. These are ideal for bulky items such as winter gear when you travel to different climates.

Overall, packing cubes are more fitting for shorter trips and carry-on. You use compression packing cubes for longer-day travel and check luggage. Even if they don’t save that much space, you will be spared from time-consuming digging around the pile of items.

Privacy & Reduce Waste

If you want to keep private belongings such as undergarments from your eyes, we have a simple solution: put them away in a separate pouch. And packing cubes can be those pouches.

After a trip, toss your packing cubes into a washing machine in gentle mode. If the brands you choose can’t be machine washed, clean them with water manually. 

Being reusable and durable, they are environmentally friendly. When you learn how to use packing cubes, you reduce plastic waste by lowering the number of discarded plastic bags. If you are a conscious traveller, switch to eco-friendly packing cubes instead of disposable bags.

How To Use Packing Cubes For Travel

They are a real game changer once you know how to use them correctly. Photo by Timur Weber on Pexels

To use a packing cube, unzip it, put in your desired items, zip it, and throw the cubes into your suitcase. It couldn’t be simpler! 

They are versatile. It’s easy to store almost anything in this travel accessory, provided the items are a reasonable size to fit in. This section will cover the best way to use packing cubes for your next trip.

Clothing

Since clothing is a big part of any trip, packing and storing them is a big deal. The best way to use packing cubes for such a purpose is to fold or roll your clothing to save much more space.

Plus, you can use them as a laundry bag. Some brands have a two-sided design to help you store clean and dirty clothes in separate compartments. If you don’t want your suitcase to smell, consider buying one with odour-neutralising technology.

Tips: Learn to build a capsule wardrobe. It will simplify your journey in unexpected ways.

Categorising helps. People often use packing cubes for travel to group items together. For instance, you can pack tops, bottoms and accessories into three separate cubes.

Here are three ways you can organise your clothes in each travel cell:

• Pack according to the clean/dirty clothes
• Arrange according to the day (one cube for 1st day, another for 2nd day, and so on)
• Pack according to the destinations and climates
• Assemble in colours coded for different family members
• Organise by clothing types.

Toiletries Item

 

Consider putting your cosmetics and similar items in the same place for ease of access and finding. Photo by Pixel-Shot - stock.adobe.com

On how to use packing cubes, it’s smart to put in more than clothes. Use them to store your essential toiletries instead of one-time-use plastic baggies. Try putting toiletry bags, medicines, makeup Items, and other essentials, such as the first aid kits, in the same cube.

Electronics And Camera Gear

There are many ways to use packing cubes for travel, and protecting precious and expensive gear is one of them.

You don’t want any liquid to be split near your expensive electronics, don't you? It’s best to set them in a separate cube, away from potential harm.

A camera or iPad can easily go well into a large-sized cell. Ideally, you want to keep the lens, cables and batteries in the same cells, as they tend to get lost in the abyss that is your suitcase.

Pack them layered with clothing or in the middle of the suitcase to further protect your gear from impact.

Shoes & Essentials

You can even re-purpose your packing squares into shoe bags. Keep the dirt away from your bags and wash the cubes once you return. Isn’t that simple?

Storing essential travel items such as travel documents within arms’ reach is helpful. Most packing cubes come with a handle, which helps you slide them in and out easily.

Regarding how to use packing cubes, they bring a sense of calm and control to your packing process. There’s nothing like opening your suitcase and seeing everything inside is in the right place and organised.

How To Choose The Perfect Packing Cubes

It’s always oh-so-satisfying when you zip your luggage to conclude your packing. Photo by Timur Weber on Pexels

Given how you already know how to pack using packing cubes, it’s time to pick one for yourself. There are many factors you need to consider. Here are the tips for buying the perfect sets for happy travels.

Budget

You can buy a separate piece or a bundle of travel cubes. Prices vary greatly. Some may go as low as £5, while others can shoot up to £40 per piece. Typically, the average cost seems to be about £20.

When you move up the price ladder, expect the quality to improve. Typically, a packing cell can last about 3-5 years. The prices are relative to the fabric used and the size.

You can opt to use compression packing cubes. The price range is a little bit higher due to the compressing ability. Some sets may cost between £13-£40 or more.

Material

Packing cubes don’t have to be nigh indestructible since they will be stored in your backpacks or suitcases. But they should also be able to take a little beating to protect your contents. Overall, Nylon is a better choice over low-denier polyester material.

Weight is another factor you should keep in mind. Depending on your material of choice, the cubes can be padded or take a little more space. We advise choosing lightweight cubes so you can pack more stuff into your suitcase.

Some brands like Eagle Creek have their products made in ripstop fabrics. Cubes with this technology may be more expensive, but they are more resistant to tearing and ripping.

Volume

Packing cubes come in different sizes. Most bundles would consist of three cells: large, medium and small. These are typically enough for most travellers’ needs.

Be creative, and you can do wonders with the best way to use packing cubes relative to their sizes. For instance, consider leaving small items such as jewellery or charging cords in small cubes.

Available in various sizes, separate packing cubes can be easily purchased to make a handful of combinations. It all depends on the main compartment in your backpack or suitcase.

Zippers

These don’t seem to amount to much, but they are at the forefront of keeping things from spilling. When you think about it, zippers are what secure and keep the content in place.

In general, look for a reputable brand, and you won’t have a subpar zipper. YKK is the best, one you can’t go wrong with. The Japanese manufacturer’s products won’t snap off or come off tracks after some use.

Classic Cabin Packing Cubes Set - Best Packing Cubes Set for Your Trip

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Simple as they are, these packing cubes are strong and sturdy enough to take a beating on an adventure. From YKK zippers to the Nylon 420d body, you don’t have to worry about your belongings’ safety on the road.

Everything is tuned with the traveller’s needs in mind. You can easily zip open all the way and fill everything to the brim. There’s even a mesh top panel to let you identify the content without zipping the cubes open.

CabinZero Classic Cabin Packing Cubes are made with water-repellent fabric and can prevent dampness when you compress clothing pieces. When you want a no-frill set that works, look no more. Our offering can be your companion for years to come. Buy one now to get everything organised!

FAQ

Do Packing Cubes Actually Help?

Yes, they do. They do more than save space. The cubes sectionalise your suitcase or backpack, making your bags more organised. They help you pack things more efficiently and thoughtfully.

Everything sounds simple, but it just works. Many first-timers are wowed by how their travelling experience is so improved just by throwing their stuff into these neatly organised compartments.

Here are a few of example why they can smooth things out for the whole trip right from the get-go:

• Organise items neatly
• Comes in many sizes
• Durable and long-lasting
• Save time
• Keep things compassed and organised
• Easy to clean and maintain
• Environmentally friendly
• Can be used to store almost everything.

What Is The Best Way To Use Travel Cubes?

The best way to use packing cubes is to go with what suits you best: the number of cubes and sizes.

First, get down the number of cubes you are going to use. Generally, a set of three works well for most occasions. Six can be accommodating if you are travelling for a longer period of time.

Now choose the suitable size. Use smaller cubes if you want to pack underwear or socks. Larger ones can pack pants, cold-weather gear, tank tops, etc. Use coloured cubes to differentiate your packing for different purposes/people.

How Do You Arrange Packing Cubes?

There are many combinations you can pull, depending on your luggage volume. Do you want to fit mostly clothes and other sizable items? Fitting one large and one medium cube can be ideal.

What if you want to focus more on the little things? Feel free to put in four small-sized (or even six extra small) cubes then. There are not one but several best ways to use packing cubes. The possibilities are endless! 

Does Tsa Allow Packing Cubes?

Yes, they are. However, what’s important is the content. Inspectors will likely pay more attention to what you pack than the container itself. Therefore, it’s important to learn what’s allowed and what’s not by the TSA.

How To Use Packing Cubes: Make Packing Less Of A Chore

Now you know how to use packing cubes and maximise your space. With packing cubes and a well-planned packing checklist, you can spend less time packing and more time kicking back and relaxing. 

Even though they don’t keep things as compassed as compression cubes, they save you time and effort. You no longer have to deal with the unorganised mess that is your personal belongings.

Please comment below if you have discovered the wonderful world of packing cubes. Given their benefits, you should also introduce this article to your family and friends to change their outlook on this awesome travel accessory.

Bao Tieu