Packing for a backpacking trip through Europe can sometimes be a little bit stressful. When it comes to actually packing though, I think it’s a great idea to invest in packing cubes so you can keep all your items organised!
Packing cubes are the single greatest product to help backpackers (or any travellers for that matter) keep their things small, contained, clean, and organised. They have been incredibly beneficial for us and we can’t imagine packing and unpacking without them!
Want a quick answer? My choice for the best packing cubes is the Thule Compression Packing Cube Set – available in white & green.
Table of Contents
Packing Cubes Comparison
| Packing Cube | Description | Prices |
|---|---|---|
| Thule Compression Cubes >  |
BEST COMPRESSION CUBES No of Cubes: 2 Weight: 210g Capacity: 18.5L Compression: Yes Water Resistant: Yes |
Check White Cubes Check Green Cubes |
| Eagle Creek Pack It Compression Cubes [amazon fields=”B087J24L7J” value=”thumb” tracking_id=”bestpackingcubesforbackpacking-20″] |
ALTERNATIVE COMPRESSION CUBES No of Cubes: 2 Weight: 136g Capacity: 19.5L Compression: Yes Water Resistant: Yes |
Check on Amazon Check on Eagle Creek |
Thule Clean/Dirty Cube |
BEST PACKING CUBES WITH DIVIDER No of Cubes: 1 Weight: 180g Capacity: 12L Compression: No Water Resistant: Yes |
Check White Cubes Check Green Cubes Check Pond Gray Cubes |
| Eagle Creek Pack-It Clean/Dirty Cube [amazon fields=”B010B2GH4O” value=”thumb” tracking_id=”bestpackingcubesforbackpacking-20″] |
ALTERNATIVE PACKING CUBES WITH DIVIDER No of Cubes: 1 Weight: 59g Capacity: 14L Compression: No Water Resistant: Yes |
Check on Amazon Check on Eagle Creek |
| Osprey Pack UL Cubes [amazon fields=”B0BKQFQN16″ value=”thumb” tracking_id=”bestpackingcubesforbackpacking-20″] |
BEST ULTRALIGHT PACKING CUBE SET No of Cubes: 3 Weight: 72g Capacity: 15L Compression: No Water Resistant: No |
Check on Amazon |
| Bagail 6 Set Packing Cubes [amazon fields=”B07D4F1T2L” value=”thumb” tracking_id=”bestpackingcubesforbackpacking-20″] |
LARGEST SET OF PACKING CUBES No of Cubes: 6 Weight: 295g Capacity: 58L Compression: No Water Resistant: No |
Check on Amazon |
Are Packing Cubes Worth It?
There are numerous benefits of packing cubes, especially for backpackers who are keen to maximize their space and organisation.
When you’re travelling with a backpack, there is usually only one main pocket for you to pack your things. This is true of most packs, and especially with our travel backpack of choice — the Osprey Farpoint 55.
This can make keeping your things organised and secure a bit difficult sometimes. However, this hasn’t ever really come as a drawback for us as we use packing cubes. They are incredibly convenient when it comes to organising your clothing and keeping it clean.
Another benefit of packing cubes is that they can be great space savers. When you’re backpacking through Europe, you don’t want to be travelling with a large bag so it’s in your best interest to find something that will help you maximise your limited space. If you pack smartly, you can cram a lot of stuff into a small packing cube and it will only take up a fraction of space in your bag.
Aside from the fact that they can help you save space and keep your backpack organised, packing cubes can also keep your things clean and wrinkle-free. While many people use plastic bags for this purpose, packing cubes are a lot more durable and certainly less wasteful.
Also, if you’re planning on staying in hostel dorms, they will help you keep some friends while you rummage through your backpack while others are sleeping because they don’t make that horrific crinkling noise that plastic bags make!
What to Look For
At first thought, you might assume that there isn’t much difference between the variations of zippered cloth bags, however, there are definitely some packing cubes that are far superior to others.
The first and most important thing that you should look for is durability. Are the zippers sturdy? Is the stitching solid? Is the fabric strong?
If these answers are “yes,” then you likely have found a good set of packing cubes because, of course, there is nothing more infuriating than a broken zipper or torn stitching on something that you invested your hard-earned travel money on, especially if you’re on the road.
Another good feature to look for in packing cubes would be that they’re waterproof. This is especially helpful if your luggage itself isn’t waterproof and you are caught in a rainstorm.
It can be incredibly inconvenient if all of your clothes end up soaking wet because you got caught out in the rain while walking to your accommodation. If you don’t have a rain cover for your backpack or luggage, a great failsafe is to make sure that your clothes are packed into waterproof cubes.
I would also recommend looking at the price point. Though it might seem tempting to purchase the cheapest packing cubes available, I would suggest that you splurge a bit on better-made packing cubes.
These are likely to last you for many trips and many years to come without the zippers breaking or their fabric ripping. The same probably cannot be said for the cheap cubes.
Best Packing Cubes for Backpacking
Thule Compression Packing Cube Set
Sturdy and practical, I think the Thule Compression Packing Cubes (available in white and green) are some of the best on the market – especially if you want to maximise the space in your limited luggage allowance!
These packing cubes come in two sizes – a small cube that measures in at 26 x 18 x 11 cm and a large cube at 34 x 23 x 15 cm.
The different sizes make them incredibly versatile for all your packing needs – you can put smaller items like socks and underwear in the smaller one and tops and pants in the larger one!
The best thing about these organisers, however, would have to be the compression function. The durable, water-repellent nylon material has a zipped opening, however, there is also a separate zipper where you can compress the cube, eliminating excess air between your items.
The cubes are also equipped with grab handles making for easy access.
Eagle Creek Pack-It Compression Cubes
The Eagle Creek Pack-It Cubes (also available direct from Eagle Creek here) are incredibly lightweight and durable, but they also zip down and compress to half of their size so you can really maximise space in your backpack. I think they a great alternative to the Thule compression cubes if you’re on a budget.
They come in two sizes: the full-sized cube is 36cm x 25cm (14in x 10in) and has a 13.5-litre capacity when expanded and a 7-litre capacity when compressed. The half-cube is 25cm x 18cm (10in x 7in) and has a 6-litre capacity when expanded and a 3-litre capacity when compressed.
I use one full-sized cube (for jeans and jumpers) and two half-cubes (one for socks/undies and another for tops) and I can always fit everything I need into them. Using compression cubes really allows you to bring far more than you would think you could while still sticking to a small backpack.
If you pack the cubes really full, it can be difficult to compress them but with a little adjusting, you should be able to zip them down without a problem.
With one full-sized cube and the two half-cubes fully packed and compressed, I still have ample room left for my toiletry bag and other miscellaneous items.
Thule Clean/Dirty Packing Cube
Another great packing cube option is the Thule Clean/Dirty Packing Cube, which has all of the durable features of the compression cube minus the compression functionality. However, it does have two sides separated by a TPU divider.
Known as a “clean/dirty” cube, you can use one side for clean items and another side for dirty. But what makes this cube great is that the divider is odour resistant, wipeable and prevents moisture from transferring from one side to the other, so it’s functional enough to put a damp swimsuit in one side without having to worry about it getting your clean items on the other side wet!
To me, this is a much better functionality than simply having a compartment for dirty (dry clothes). It also has durable YKK zippers and a wide opening on both sides, there is also a top grab handle for easy access.
The cubes come in at 34x24x20cm and are offered in three colours – pond, green and white.
Eagle Creek Pack-It Clean/Dirty Cube
This clean/dirty cube (also available direct from Eagle Creek here) can be an appealing option for packing cubes as there are two separate zipped compartments on either side, one for clean clothes and one for dirty clothes.
It is made of the same material as the Eagle Creek compression cubes listed above, but it doesn’t have the compression zipper function. They also only come in a large size (36cm x 25cm) and are a bit bulkier than the compression cubes & the Thule clean/dirty cube.
Osprey Packs UL Cubes
The Osprey Pack UL Cubes made by one of our favourite backpack brands, Osprey, are one of the best ultralight packing cube sets available.
The set of three comes with one small cube, one medium cube, and one large cube holding 2, 4, and 9 litres respectively.
They are incredibly light meaning they won’t add any extra weight to your luggage and, despite their small volume, they have the ability to hold a lot of contents. They are durably made with strong fabric and good zippers and also come equipped with Osprey’s lifetime warranty.
They also have a convenient grab handle on top so you can easily grasp the cube you want even when it’s in the bottom of your backpack. They also come in a couple of colours to suit any personality.
Bagail 6 Set Cubes
Another great budget packing cube option is the Bagail 6 Set Packing Cubes.
As the name suggests, these packing cubes come in a set of six with three different sizes, meaning that there are ample cubes available for all of your different sorts of items.
The packing cubes are made from a sturdy nylon material and are equipped with mesh panels, meaning that you can easily see what is inside them without having to open every cube up to find your coveted pair of jeans.
They also have a convenient double zipper, making it easy to close and open, and a handle on the top so you can grab them out of your bag easily.
They come in a range of colours so you can find a style that suits any personality or that matches your luggage!
I think there are many benefits of packing cubes and they will certainly help you stay organised and save space in your backpack!
Do you use packing cubes? Have any questions? Let us know in the comments!
