How to choose and use packing cubes

I opened my backpack, reached a hand into its dark depths and frowned. It was going to take forever to find the black shirt I was looking for. The clock next to the bed said I had to leave in five minutes.

My hand fished, searching for the black shirt. It kept coming up grasping other clothing: a blue shirt, a cardigan, a black skirt.

Let’s just say I’m not the most organized of packers, and my backpack with its open-access top wasn’t helping.

Three minutes until I had to leave. I sighed. Only one option was left. But it was one I really didn’t want to take. It was one that would leave me in a worse place than where I was now: just missing a black shirt and hunting for it.

Two minutes until I had to leave.

I dumped the backpack’s contents onto my bed. Immediately half of the bed was covered. Of course, the black shirt I was hunting unfolded on top of the pile and winked at me. Quickly I put it on and surveyed the mess. Later I’d clean it up.

There had to be a better option than totally unpacking my bag anytime I needed a specific item. The savior is called packing cubes.

What are packing cubes

They are small bags constructed of fabric or mesh and adorned with zippers. You pack each one like a little suitcase, with similar items, or outfits to divide your cavernous bag into organized utopia.

A packing cube compresses your clothing, so you can fit more into your bag. The idea is to max your packing space while keeping it organized.

Also, in hard-sided suitcases, they keep your clothes folded nicely and wrinkle-free until you’re ready to wear them.

Types of packing cubes

Like travel bags, many varieties of packing cubes exist. Each one is constructed for a different, specific purpose.

Here are the types of packing cubes you can get:

• Waterproof cubes to protect clothing from damage
• See-through mesh to easily identify the clothing and for breathability
• Cubes constructed of super light-weight fabric to shed weight from your bag
• Expandable cubes to grow with your travels
• Hardy, tough cubes to last many trips

REI’s expandable packing cube

How to choose your packing cubes

Enter packing cubes into Google and you’re likely to be overwhelmed with options. Fear not, selecting packing cubes is as simple as deciding your priorities.

1. Purpose: why are you buying this cube? Do you need to keep your wandering socks in one place? Or keep your shirts together? Your purpose will dictate the size and material of the cube you choose.
2. Size: A cube can hold socks, underwear or shirts. It depends entirely on its size. I prefer the smaller bags as the larger ones can defeat the purpose of segregating your clothing.
3. Budget: generally, the more lightweight the cube is, the more expensive it will be. If you need something that performs a bag’s main function (keeping certain items together), opt for cheaper. But if you’re looking to keep the weight out of your bag, be prepared to spend more.
4. Color: if you’re using a hiking-style backpack, I’d suggest cubes in bright colors — not the standard black — to help find them in the murky depths of your bag.
5. Examine your suitcase/backpack: how big is it? If it’s a messenger bag, pick smaller packing cubes to keep all the smaller items in one place (like socks or underwear) and skip cubes for larger items like shirts. If you have a large hiking-style backpack, consider packing cubes in a variety of sizes to max all your space.
6. Sturdy: check out the seams, zippers and fabric that make the cube. You’ll be using them daily, putting them through stress, and cramming clothes into them. Look for well-constructed bags that feel well-made.

How to use packing cubes

So how do you use these little bags to make your life easier?

Return to your purpose in buying packing cubes.

Do you want to solve the lonely mess living inside your bag? Do you want to keep your clothes folded nicely, wrinkle-free while you pull other items out of your bag? Or do you just want to find socks when you need them?

Here are a few tips on how to pack cubes:

• Always roll the clothing up to max the space
• Designate one cube for warm weather clothing, and another for cool weather clothing
• Group similar clothing together to easily find That Shirt
• Use one cube for your dirty laundry to segregate it
• Use one suitcase to hold several family members’ clothing by divvying up the space per person with cubes
• Pack all your electronics/cables in one cube

I don’t normally use packing cubes, but I will start using them to keep my bag organized. Plus, I’ll never have to root around in my bag for that last clean pair of socks again.

Laura Lopuch blogs at Waiting To Be Read where you can find your next great book to read.