The best packing cubes for travel in 2025, tried and tested

If you’re a frequent traveller but a bad packer (it’s surprising how often these two things go hand in hand), you might find yourself searching for the best packing cubes. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, a packing cube is essentially a fabric pouch designed to organise your clothes in a suitcase or carry-on luggage, and they typically compress soft items to help maximise space.

However tempting it may be to jump on Amazon and order the first ones that can be delivered in time for your holiday, the best packing cubes for travel actually vary a fair amount. Some are more technical, others compress, expand or have pockets for dirty laundry.

I’ve tried packing cubes from the biggest brands, including Osprey and Antler. You can find my full reviews below, followed by advice from experts on whether to roll or fold and which brands are worth buying.

The best packing cubes: At a glance

“Think about what sorts of trips you go on,” says Claire Robinson, founder of Weekend Candy, a travel site covering the best weekend breaks in the UK. “If you do a mixture of long-haul and short breaks, then choosing a set of cubes that vary in size to give you flexibility makes sense. Waterproof cubes are a good option if you’re doing a more outdoorsy trip.”

Robinson advises looking for packing cubes that can compress in size to save space – but first check how wide they open up, so you can fill them to capacity. “Handles are a good extra feature too, since you may run out of space and need to carry them.

How I test packing cubes