Packing Cubes: How to Pack a Bag That Stays Packed
Packing cubes are the rare travel product that does exactly what it claims. They do not make your bag bigger — they stop you repacking it at every stop, and compression cubes genuinely recover space that folding alone cannot.
What each cube is for
| Cube size | Holds |
|---|---|
| Large | Trousers, dresses, a week of tops |
| Medium | Shirts, a weekend's clothes |
| Small | Underwear, socks, swimwear |
| Slim / flat | Documents, chargers, cables |
| Laundry pouch | Worn clothes, kept away from clean |
An 8 Piece Travel Compression Packing Cubes Set covers a family trip; a weekend away needs two or three cubes at most.
Compression: what it actually saves
A compression cube has a second zip that squeezes the air out after packing. On soft items — t-shirts, underwear, pyjamas — that recovers real space. On structured items like jeans and jackets it does very little, so do not bother. The trade-off is creasing: compress casual clothes, roll and lay formal ones flat on top.
Pack by category, not by day
- One cube per category, not per outfit. You dress by category at home; you will on the road too.
- Heaviest cube at the bottom, wheels end, so the bag stands up.
- Keep one cube empty for dirty laundry, or pack a dedicated pouch.
- Shoes in their own compartment — a duffle bag with separate shoe and wet clothes compartments saves the rest of the bag from what shoes carry.
Choosing the bag itself
For a weekend or a gym-and-office day, a multi-functional duffle is quicker to load than a suitcase. For anything longer, or for a matatu and airport combination, wheels win — a trolley travel bag with four universal wheels in waterproof Oxford fabric handles both rough pavement and a rainy loading bay.
Frequently asked questions
Do packing cubes save space?
Plain cubes organise rather than save. Compression cubes do save real space on soft clothes — less so on jeans and jackets.
How many packing cubes do I need?
Two or three for a weekend, six to eight for a family trip or two weeks away.
Do cubes cause creasing?
Compression does crease casual clothes. Roll them, and lay formal shirts flat on top of the cubes rather than inside them.
Duffel or trolley bag?
Duffel for a weekend and for gym or overnight use. Trolley for longer trips, airports and anything you have to walk any distance with.
See the range
Browse packing cubes and the new travel arrivals.