6 Best Packing Cubes You Need for Your Next Vacation

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Packing cubes are one of the best-ever inventions for organizing and maximizing space in your luggage. Haven’t tried them yet or are frustrated with the ones you bought on a whim?

The Best Packing Cubes

We’ve rounded up six of the best packing cubes out there, with options—including tear-resistance, waterproofing, and space-saving functions—to suit every kind of traveler.

Eagle Creek Travel Gear Pack-It Specter Compression Cube Set

If you tend to fill your suitcase to almost-bursting, you need packing cubes that will help you save a little space—like the Eagle Creek Travel Gear Pack-It Specter Compression Cube Set. These space-savers have a dual-zipper system that helps condense your stuff to take up a little less space. Just roll your clothing and put them in these cubes.

TRANVERS Waterproof PVC Travel Packing Cubes

Camping, boating, or heading to the beach? Keep your clothes protected from sand and water with the TRANVERS Waterproof PVC Packing Cubes. The clear PVC keeps your belongings safe inside, or works the opposite way if you want to fill them with wet towels or swimsuits and keep everything else in your bag dry.

Shacke Pak

The Shacke Paks are one of the highest-rated packing cubes on Amazon. They earn high marks from reviewers for their durability and roomy size. Their unique X design helps the bags to maintain their  shape.

Uncharted Ultra-Lite Packing Cubes

Packing cubes can be a double-edged sword—you can fit way more in your suitcase, but then your bag becomes overweight thanks to everything you stuffed inside. Don’t add on any more weight than you have to. Instead, get the Uncharted Ultra-Lite Packing Cubes, which are made from an incredibly lightweight nylon. Each bag weighs just four ounces.

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Away’s Insider Packing Cubes

You might already know Away from its high-tech line of carry-on bags, but did you know its also has a super-compact four-packing-cube set? Made from water-resistant nylon to protect your clothes no matter what your luggage goes through, these babies are the real deal when it comes to proper packing.

Cozy Essential Compression Bags

The Cozy Essential Compression Bags are perfect for winter travel (when you’re bringing heavier, bulky clothing), or for anyone who wants to fit a lot into a small suitcase. These bags are a travel-friendly version of the vacuum space savers we’ve all seen on television—they get all of the excess air out and tamp down your clothes. Unlike the ones on TV though, these don’t need a vacuum to work (they have a one-way air valve instead).

Caroline Morse relies on packing cubes in her quest to never check a bag. Follow her travels on Instagram @travelwithcaroline and on Twitter @CarolineMorse1.

All of the products featured in this story were hand-selected by our travel editors. Some of the links featured in this story are affiliate links, and SmarterTravel may collect a commission (at no cost to you) if you shop through them.

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2015. It has been updated to reflect the most current information.

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