Compression Packing Cubes: Do They Work?

Disclosure: This posts may contain affiliate links. I may make a small commission on purchases made after clicking the link. I do my best to try and keep information up-to-date but please check direct with businesses for current opening times and prices. For more information visit the Privacy & Disclosure Policy. Thank you for your support!

I keep it no secret that I have been using packing cubes for YEARS. Personally, I think they do work better in a suitcase or backpacks that are specifically designed for travel (they are often more rectangular in shape). They are great for organisation! But do compression packing cubes actually work?

Disclosure: I was gifted a set of Gonex compression packing cubes but opinions are my own.

Compression Packing Cubes vs Regular Packing Cubes

Regular Packing Cubes

Packing cubes do exactly what it says on the tin, it’s a cube and you use it for packing. They come in various sizes and basically turn packing into a game of Tetris. When I moved to and from the US, I wrote a whole post about how they really helped me organise 4 seasons worth of clothes (How To Pack A Suitcase For Moving Overseas).

Roll or Fold?

This is one of those debates that people will fight until the end. When it comes to whether or not you should roll or fold your clothes when packing, I think folding always works best in packing cubes.

I fold each individual item to the exact width and length of the cube so it covers the whole surface area. It also helps keep clothes a bit more wrinkle-free and helps to keep the cube in more of a flat brick shape.

Packing Cubes In Backpacks

Ironically I did buy a one-off compression packing cube that is the same brand as my Travel Hack Backpack. But I don’t actually ever use the compression zip. Even when closed, it is the exact dimensions to fill up half of my 30L Metz backpack. I just fill it up like a regular cube and it fits 2 weeks worth of clothes inside.

Because the packing cube is quite sturdy, unlike the very soft-sided Metz bag, it also helps keep the shape. Especially with it being a cabin bag that may have to fit in a sizer at an airport if required.

As mentioned above, when it comes to using packing cubes in a backpack, I do find that they only really work in backpacks that open like a suitcase. In top-loading backpacks it’s hard to fill space around the cubes.

Compression Packing Cubes

Because I had several sets of regular packing cubes in various sizes, I have always been reluctant to buy ANOTHER set of cubes just because they can compress. I also wasn’t sure if they would actually make THAT much difference.

The difference between the two, is that compression cubes have a second zip around the centre of the cube. They are filled up like a regular cube but when the second zip is done up it compresses out the extra air and squashes everything together.

Gonex Compression Packing Cubes

Gonex has a range of packing cubes in several different designs and sizes. I chose the ‘Gonex Boho Compression Packing Cubes‘ set (mainly because I liked the colour!). They are said to compress down by 30% of the original size, are lightweight, have breathable mesh tops, little carry handles and metal zips.

The set contains 5 different-sized cubes, plus a laundry bag.

• Large: 39x38x9cm (15.4x15x3.54in)
• Medium: 30x23x9cm (11.8×9.1×3.54in)
• Small: 25x19x9cm (9.8×7.5×3.54in)
• Smallest: 20x15x9cm (7.9×5.9×3.54in)
• Slim: 33x10x9cm (13×3.9×3.54in)
• Laundry bag: 46x33cm (18.1x13in)

Large

Personally, I think the ‘Large’ cube is too big for my travel habits. The height and width are almost the dimensions of my 30L backpack, so there would be no room for my wash bag etc. I find this happens a lot with packing cube sets, so this isn’t unusual.

If you are using a check-in-size suitcase it should be fine. It’s listed as being suitable for jackets, jumpers and trousers.

Medium

I recently used the ‘Medium‘ size for a 3-night trip in the UK. I could fit:

• a pair of jeans
• knee-length jean shorts
• a long sleeve zip top
• t-shirt
• pyjamas

I fit in my 20L Travel Hack backpack quite nicely, with some spare room around the outside of it.

I did fill the cube to its limit though. At first, I couldn’t compress it the full way. Coming home I found that as long as I had the waistband of the jeans and shorts at opposite ends, it did eventually close. It did pull on the seams a bit, but overall I was pretty impressed with it.

Gonex say this size is good for shirts and shorts. With these items, I can fit a week of clothes for a hot weather destination in this cube.

Small

I used the small size as a comparison to a regular cube of the same size. Within it, I packed exactly the same as what I took for an overnight weekend trip to Romania:

• medium-length jean shorts
• a tank top
• pyjamas
• 1 bikini

On the Gonex website, it lists the ‘Small’ as being good for underwear. I found it does work well for one change of clothes for an overnight trip. With the items listed above, I could fully compress it. When put in the 20L Ryanair-sized bag, I was surprised by just how much extra room I had.

I recorded a video of this comparison here:

The Other Sizes

The ‘Smallest’ is a lovely little size. I’m yet to use it, but I think it might be my go-to cube for my extra bits and pieces when I use my 30L backpack. At the moment I tend to use a slightly larger regular cube but fold over the extra material.

It is listed as being good for towels, although I think it would only fit my small microfibre towel (which has it’s own ‘bag’ anyway). I think it would be a squeeze for a normal towel.

The ‘Slim‘ cube is listed as useful for socks. I don’t tend to travel with many pairs of socks, but I do think it would be good for squishing flip flops or sandals together. I’m more likely to use it for this, as at the moment I tend to put my flip flops in a plastic bag.

Lastly is the ‘Laundry Bag‘. This is a drawstring bag without a zip, so it doesn’t compress. Gonex say it’s good for shoes and dirty clothes. I would be more inclined to use it for actual shoes.

Keep in mind that if you have the clean clothes in a compression cube, but then put the dirty in a non-compression, it’s then going to take up more space if you are packing to move on to another location. (Unless you planned to actually do laundry before moving on, or had enough room to count for the extra space that would be required).

Final Words

Practicality While On The Road

I am one of those travellers that doesn’t unpack, I do live out of my backpack and packing cubes. With the compression packing cubes, I did find that I couldn’t be bothered to keep compressing it.

I would just keep it fully expanded and then dip in and out of it, until it was time to go and then I’d compress it again. Being in private rooms, I obviously have the space to dump my cubes on whatever surface I want. For those that may be in a shared space, that may need to keep things in a backpack or suitcase, this may be something you need to keep in mind.

Do Compression Packing Cubes Work?

So do compression packing cubes work? I would say yes, they do to an extent.

The central depth does stay fairly similar to that of a regular packing cube. It mostly just compresses the edges, making it more into a diamond shape, rather than a cuboid brick shape. You can then use this additional space for extra items.

Don’t forget to always pack to airline weight limits. Sometimes when you compress things and get that extra space, there’s then the temptation to pack even more stuff.

For example, some of the Asian airlines have a hand luggage weight limit of 7kg. My backpack without compression cubes for a 2-week trip, often weighs around 6.5kg. If I then compress my clothes, yes I will have additional room, but it’s not suddenly going to give me extra weight, it’s still going to weigh 6.5kg.

What Packing Cubes Should You Buy?

If you are new to the packing cube world, I would definitely suggest purchasing compression packing cubes over regular ones. Why? Because then you have choices.

Compression packing cubes can work perfectly well as a regular packing cube, you just don’t zip up the central zip. But then you have the option to compress them too!

It’s also good to get a set of different sizes. I tend to only use one or two packing cubes when I travel, but I do like to have choices in sizes. Especially if I use different bags for different trips (like the way I switch between my 20 and 30L), then I will mix and match depending on what I plan on packing.

As mentioned above, when travelling I personally don’t like to use packing cubes that are particularly long or wide as they don’t work well in my backpack. Medium and small sizes are usually better for backpack travel!

I actually tend to use the larger cubes AT HOME from things like winter pyjamas! When it gets to summer, I put my winter pyjamas in a large packing cube to keep them all together and out of the way!

Found This Post Useful? Pin It For Later?