As a Travel Expert, I Thought I Knew How to Pack Efficiently. This Gem Proved Me Wrong

I travel about once a month, alone and with my children. They are good travelers, but struggle to keep their suitcases organized, especially when we change hotels often. While I like to think I’m an expert packer, especially when I travel solo, I know there’s always room for improvement. So when I started seeing ads for packing cubes, I was intrigued but skeptical. 

I wasn’t sure I wanted to add more weight and bulk to my suitcase, but I was drawn in by promises to keep everything in its place. No more digging through my bag to find where my swimsuit had gotten to, or watching my son toss a week’s worth of clothes on the hotel floor to find a clean pair of socks. Even better, compression cubes promised to let me fit even more into my suitcase. It sounded too good to be true, but I thought I’d give it a whirl, and bought a set of Quince’s Eco Compression Packing Cubes because I am already a fan of the brand’s clothing. 

The Quince Eco Compression Packing Cubes are made of 100% premium water-repellent recycled polyester, and each cube “can be compressed by up to 60%,” according to the website. The packing cubes come in six colors: Black, Dark Green, Beige, Blue, Navy, and Grey. I chose the Navy because blue is my favorite color, and I thought a dark color would hide any dirt and grime I encountered while traveling. The set is sold as a six-pack, with different cubes sized from extra large to small, so I would always have one that works, from jeans to jewelry, and cost $59.90. 

When I first unboxed my packing cube set, I was impressed with the quality. They felt very sturdy, which was important to me since I plan on using them so often.  I also like the packing cubes have a breathable mesh top so I can see what’s inside and it lets any odors escape. That’s especially important for longer trips where clothing may start to stink between washings, and very important for my preteen son. Here are the other features I love after trying out the packing cubes.

I was surprised at how much they held. I rolled my T-shirts and placed them into a medium-size packing cube, and put a few pairs of shorts in another. I could tell right away that using packing cubes would change my approach to packing and help make life away from home a little bit easier. I would have been happy with my purchase based on that alone.

I was astonished by how simple it was to compress my clothing and free up more space in my suitcase. Each Quince packing cube has two anti-snag zippers: one to close the cube and another to compress its contents. The ability to compress my clothing is a nice extra feature, especially for longer trips where every bit of extra space in my suitcase helps as I pick up souvenirs and gifts for myself and for others. 

I’ve now used my Quince compression packing cubes for several trips. I love the varied sizes and that the entire set fits perfectly in my suitcase like a jigsaw puzzle, so I can minimize dead space. Although I was initially skeptical that the smallest cube wouldn’t fit much, it’s the perfect size for a few pairs of underwear and socks. The largest cube is great for jeans and sweaters. 

In addition to the mesh top, the cubes’ light gray interior makes it easy to see what’s inside. And once, when I accidentally spilled water on a full packing cube, I was relieved to discover it was truly water-resistant and kept the clothes inside dry. 

My Quince packing cubes worked so well for me that I got a set for each of my children. We each have a different color, so we don’t accidentally mix up our packing cubes. What’s more, I was so impressed with Quince’s packing cubes that I also got one of their expandable suitcases. 

The suitcase has great features, including compression panels with pockets, that help me stay even more organized. Traveling is stressful enough. Anything I can do to make it easier is a win in my book. My only regret is not trying these packing cubes sooner.  

Buy: Quince Eco Compression Packing Cubes, $59.90