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Everyone has their own packing style when it comes to preparing for a trip. Some like to roll their clothes, while others prefer them neatly-folded and stacked. Some swear by sliding hardcover books or magazines between their garments, to keep them wrinkle-free. And then there are those who just toss everything into a bag and hope it all fits.
But what if there was one simple hack that could eliminate all your packing dilemmas? Frequent flyers and organizational experts alike will tell you that there is nothing more satisfying then using a luggage organizer.
The best luggage organizers (also called “packing cubes”) help to divide up your bag into sections, even if the actual bag doesn’t come with dividers. As their name suggests, these packing cubes look like mini cases or pouches, that can hold everything from your sweaters to toiletries with ease.
Rather than shoving everything directly into your bag, the trick is to put items into the packing cubes first. Use a large organizer for your sweaters and jeans; use a smaller cube for socks and underwear; then use a zip-up pouch to store all your accessories and grooming products. By dividing everything into separate cubes, you not only keep things neatly organized and easy to find, you also keep things from getting wet or dirty. There’s nothing worse than having your cologne or shampoo spill all over your bag, but by keeping those items in a separate pouch, you’ll contain the mess if it happens. Same with shoes — by putting your shoes in their own luggage organizer, you’ll keep your dirty soles off your clean clothes.
Aside from helping you organize your stuff, luggage organizers can help reduce bulk. Some of the brands on our list say their packing cubes can effectively reduce the bulk of your luggage by up to 30%. Zip the cubes up and push out the air, for a vacuum seal-type effect. Unlike a box, these packing cubes are made with soft-sided materials like nylon and polyester, making them flexible enough to fit your stuff, and light enough to not weigh down your luggage.
The best packing cubes can also be used to separate dirty clothes from clean clothes, and they can help prevent your shirts from getting wrinkled while traveling (which often happens when different items — like jeans and T-shirts — rub up against each other in the bag).
Even if you’re not traveling right now, we like using these organizers in our closet, say, to store winter clothes during the summer months, or to protect garments from dust and moisture. Whether you’re constantly on the move or just like to keep things in their place at home, we’ve found three sets of storage cubes that will keep your clothing and accessories secure, separated, well-packed and neatly organized.
