Before I started traveling the one thing that kept coming up was ‘packing cubes’. And to be honest it was just something I was adamant I wasn’t going to buy because I remember thinking how big of a difference can it really make
I can sit here and tell you all day long about how packing cubes ARE LIFE. But I’m going to show you the difference they make. I recently went on a trip to Turkey for one week and it was the first time i didn’t take them, i just packed my clothes into my backpack. To be honest the ones I took on my 9 month backpacking trip across Central America all ripped and broke and I hadn’t got around to buying new ones yet. I thought to myself ‘it’s just a week, it’ll be fine’
IT WASN’T FINE, MY LIFE WAS A MESS. Well that’s how it felt. Everything I owned was all over the place, I had a chair in the hotel room we stayed in dedicated to my clothes and belongings because there was no organisation going on for me. Now it may seem dramatic and you might be thinking just keep your things clean and tidy, but being on the move and traveling sometimes you just have to be out the door and can’t find what it is you’re looking for and end up rummaging through your backpack/suitcase wasting time and raising blood levels.
Now there’s no right or wrong way when it comes to packing cubes, there’s just preference and what suits you. So I’m going to give you my reviews and what I’ve learned about them since using them for 5+ years.
I’m pretty sure at this point we’re all slightly the same just different versions, and raise your hand if you’ve seen these in everyones suitcase, backpack, instagram story and youtube video? ( myself included!)
Cheap and cheerful packing cubes
Yes, me too. I either get light pink or hot pink depending on how fabulous I’m feeling at the time of shopping. And while these packing cubes do the job, don’t expect them to last forever, the quality just isn’t there. I started getting them because they were cheap and cheerful and done the job. Perfect for your backpacking trip, especially as a young backpacker in south east asia.
Packing cubes worth investing in
If you’re someone who likes better quality so you can use them more than the one trip, then I would invest in packing cubes that use a better quality of material. Companies like Osprey, Eagle Creek and Wandrd all use lightweight materials such as nylon and polyester ripstop. The quality of zips used is second to none and the stitching is 10 times more durable than your amazon packing cubes that are drop shipped from Asia.
The quality is there and they have a price to match it. But also consider the fact companies like Eagle Creek have a lifetime warranty, so if you plan on traveling a couple of times, it would actually work out cheaper to buy once from Eagle creek and have a lifetime warranty.
Some things to definitely think about when it comes to choosing the right packing cubes for you. Ultimately it’s no bother which type you get, personally i think as long as you have some, it will make your trip so much easier regardless.
Packing tip!
A tip when it comes to packing is to roll up your clothes and then pack them into packing cubes. I’ve tried and tested this several time and i can assure you it does massively save space when packing.
But in a nutshell, if you came here with the question ‘do I really need packing cubes?’ I would suggest yes you do. There is nothing worse than feeling stressed every few days when you can’t find something you’re looking for when you live on the road full time. For the sake of £20 save yourself the stress and get some packing cubes. Have all of your belongings neat and organised so you can just open your bag and grab that one bag you need for whatever it is you’re looking for.
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