Finding a suitcase big enough to hold all your gear is always a challenge for any traveller. Offering the ability to fit more of your gear in a single cabin case, this clever packing hack could see you squeeze more sandals and suncream in for your next getaway.
Packing cubes can help you organise and pack your items much more efficiently. Each of the different-sized cubes and containers can be used to separate your stuff by type (tops, undies, swimwear etc), by day or even by passenger, making it much easier to find what you need when you get there.
Designed to save you time and space, packing cubes also feature mesh material on the top for transparency and breathability, which allows you to quickly access and find the items you need without rummaging around and messing up your case. Readily available from Amazon, Antler, Dunelm and more, investing in a set of packing cubes could make packing easier than ever before.
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As a travel writer, I appreciate anything that helps to make packing less stressful. Here are five of my favourite travel accessory sets to make it easier for you too.
Dunelm 7-Piece Travel Storage Set
This £10 seven-piece travel storage set from Dunelm has proven to be a great value packing game-changer that you can pick up in-store. Made from water-repellant materials, each of the seven storage bags offers a surprisingly large capacity, making it super easy to stash my clothes and toiletries.
There is also a handy bag for keeping dirty items or wet swimmers separate from stuff that’s still clean and dry. Better still, two of the packing cubes also feature a mesh top meaning you can see what’s in there without opening them, making it easy to keep things wrinkle-free and quick to unpack.
The set contains:
- 1 large cube
- 1 medium cube
- 1 small cube
- 1 zippered bag
- 1 smaller zippered bag
- 1 hanging shoe bag
- 1 laundry bag
The Dunelm packing cube set comes in a neutral and on-trend grey colour. The zippers roll smoothly around the openings and as a whole, this set feels fairly durable.
Buyers love this cheap affordable travel essential calling it “a great find”. One buyer said “I was really impressed with this 7 piece travel storage bag. A good selection of bags to use in a suitcase and great quality too. I bought 2 of these because I knew my friend would like them. They are useful for storage at home too.”
A second added “I like the different sizes and shapes, very useful.”
One customer was not as impressed however, saying “Disappointingly small in size. Not enough cubes for packing clothes and too many unnecessary toiletry-style bags. Nice fabric and style though. Website photography deceiving as looks much larger.”
Buy now from Dunelm (£10)
Amazon Chelsea Packing Cubes
There are lots to choose from on Amazon, but this 10-piece set offers incredible value for money. These pretty packing cubes are a must-have for holidaymakers who like to travel light, and with a cool animal print pattern and a selection of sizes included, you can keep super organised on the go.
Made from high-quality, waterproof material with strong zippers, you can separate and sort your clothing, toiletries and personal items, to make better use of your packing space. With their fun animal print design, these handy little bags may not be the highest quality but they will help you to stay better organised on the go.
The set contains:
- 2 large cubes
- 2 medium cubes
- 2 smaller cubes
- 3 PVC wash bags
- 1 cosmetic bag
Despite their low price point, Amazon shoppers are happy with the packing cube set. One five-star review said “Strong and durable. Good variety of sizes. Perfect for packing for vacation and keeping garments neat and tidy” while another added “I have had better set in terms of quality, but for the price paid this is perfect and recommended. Great selection of sizes. Best on the market, I think. This is my second set. I organised all of my drawers with those cubes.”
One buyer felt the quality wasn’t that good, explaining “Unfortunately I only opened the packing cubes when sorting my clothes for holiday, 2 days after I could have returned them. The first ‘cube’ I pulled out had a hole in the seam. They seem very poor quality & if I could have, I would have returned them for a refund.”
Buy now from Amazon (£11.99)
Antler Chelsea Packing Cubes
The iconic British luggage brand Antler is on hand to help travellers pack more for less, thanks to their Chelsea Four-Piece Packing Cube set. Designed to help travellers utilise every available inch of space, these clever cubes have compression capabilities, meaning you can get more in your case than you could do without them.
Designed to perfectly fit the Antler Clifton Cabin Case, savvy travellers can also use the compression cubes with almost any other suitcase, backpack or cabin bag. The double compression zippers help to squish the bags down to make them lie flat and the mesh panel on the top lets travellers see what’s in each cube without having to unzip them.
The cubes come in a choice of woodland green or navy colourways and each set comprises one large cube measuring 24.5 x 33 x 10cm, one medium cube measuring 33 x 17.5 x 10cm and two small cubes measuring 17.5 x 16.5 x 10cm. Offering lots of useful storage space when you need it, they can also be folded flat when not in use.
These cubes may be as much as five times the price of their Amazon counterparts, but their high-quality construction and compression capabilities help to reduce the overall volume of your belongings to help meet the under-seat restrictions of budget airlines.
Undoubtedly some of the priciest packing cubes you can buy, discerning travellers are impressed with the high quality. One reviewer said “Terrific solution for packing as much as possible into a small case. Also ensures that the case stays organised for the whole of the trip.”
Another went as far as to call them an “essential packing aid” saying “Great quality packing cubes, I already want more. I’d love an even larger one for dresses/jumpers, so far I have only used them for underwear/socks for a two-week trip. The first time I tried them I packed too much in and couldn’t get the compressor zip to go around, so you do need to leave some space in the top to make the most of them.”
One buyer wasn’t happy with the colour, saying that the dusty pink looked “not that nice, like it had been washed with darker colours.”
Buy now from Antler (£50)
Geediar 9-Piece Packing Cubes
Travellers love these low-cost, highly convenient packing cubes that help create space by rolling, folding and stashing extra stuff in your suitcase. Costing just £12.99, this is another awesome set of Amazon packing cubes that will change the way you pack for your holidays.
The packing cube set is pretty basic and comes in a neutral grey colour, but it offers lots of useful ways to keep your belongings together on the go. The set contains:
- Three travel packing cubes with see-through mesh tops
- One private cube for bras and underwear,
- One travel shoe bag,
- One toiletry bag,
- One toothbrush cup,
- One laundry bag for dirty clothes and
- One flat bag for small items, like socks, electronic accessories or keys
Each packing cube comes with smooth rolling zippers that open fully for easier packing. The shoe holder is only big enough for one pair of shoes, but the wash bag, makeup bag and toiletry bag are brilliant little bonus items and a great idea for when you don’t want to take your full kit away with you.
With a whopping 3,659 reviews on Amazon, buyers are impressed. One five-star review said “I love these packing cubes and use them on even short trips. They keep everything organised and easy to find. I roll my clothes and pack them tightly and this keeps them getting too creased. Each cube has its own use and I wouldn’t be without them. “
A second buyer added “This is everything you need to organize your luggage for a trip. It contains many organizers of various sizes. There are zippers and buttons to keep your items in place. Some of the organizers also have mesh covers which allows ventilation and also allows you to see what’s inside the bath without having to open it. This is a must-have kit for organizing your luggage space!”
Of course, not everyone was such a big fan, with one buyer disappointed with their purchase saying “Initially I really liked these. I bought them to organise my maternity bag, and the sizes/variety were ideal. However, after one week in hospital, the seams started to split on some of the bags (which were not over-packed).”
So unfortunately they won’t get used again.
Buy now from Amazon (£12.99)
My Little Coco Beach Bum Case Chaos Travel Organisers
If you are travelling with little ones, keeping all their gear together makes everything so much easier on the go. The My Little Coco Beach Bum Case Chaos Travel Organisers from Boots are just right for even the youngest of adventurers.
Made from washable material, the bag set helps to save time and space. Practical, multipurpose, and super chic, this £24 set is perfect for family trips and travel.
According to the Boots website, the set contains:
- 1 x large organiser – for dresses, shirts, shorts and flip flops, toys, teddies or books
- 1 x medium organiser – for PJs, socks and undies, nappies, wipes and bibs
- 1 x sun cream bag – for all your ‘in-sun’ essentials
- 1 x swim bag – for armbands, goggles and fresh bathers
- 1 x snack bag – probably the most important of all.
Available in an attractive neutral colour scheme, this set is perfect for both boys and girls.
One buyer felt that that snapping up these packing cubes had helped to “revolutionise my travel packing” adding “I bought this because I was tired of my suitcase being so disorganised when I travel. This really did the job.
“You can really fit a lot into all of the bags, saving space and organising your things in a way that it is easy to locate your stuff later. Really pleased I purchased it. This is a lifesaver for travelling mums.”
At the time of writing, there were no other reviews to be taken into consideration.
Buy now from Boots (£24)