Other Packaging Cubes We Try
Goruck Packaging Cube is $25 (1, 10l flat bottom): I love the 15 x 10 x 3 inch size I’ve tested and tested this sturdy 200-denier nylon cube with a mesh frontline. It fits pretty much anything I need for any occasion, with a handy carry handle and signature Goruck American Flag patch on the front. However, they are expensive and unless you need them to match your Goruck gear, they don’t stand out on a cube that’s worthy.
Amazon Basics are $16 (4 sets): This four-pack cube with sturdy mesh windows and Ripstop-like fabrics is four times the quality of the brand. However, Bagsmart’s cubes are the same price and are even stronger, so they just phased it out as the highest budget slot.
For $45 (a set of 4), away from the inner packaging cube: I love these with 10 stylish colors, many of which match the luggage of the luggage. But after testing over 20 different brands and types at various prices, these cubes didn’t stand out. The material is very thin, no difference from some cheap Amazon branded materials, and the zipper is small.
Shacke pak packed cubes for $25 (6 sets): For Amazon brands, these are very good quality. There is a sturdy handle, and at this price point, the material is slightly thicker than other packaging blocks. I like the breathability and opaque fabric of the mesh mixture for privacy. They come in nine colors, but the colors are bright, and the four-panel mesh design reminds me of the Chock belt. Shacke says it uses YKK zippers on all its packaging cubes, but I peeled the rope that covered the zipper and couldn’t find the YKK badge anywhere.
Gorilla Grip Packing Cubes for $22 (Set 8): These are the cheapest packaging cubes I’ve ever tested, unfortunately. The material is thin and the zipper is clumsy. I do like that they come with shoes and laundry bags, but when not in use, they fold in small ways. They come in a variety of colors with beautiful mesh windows without being completely transparent. Handwash only.
Other travel accessories we like
Courtesy of Karl Parker
Calpak Luka Zippered Passport Wallet for $35: Whether you are traveling internationally or just ignoring the renewal of your driver’s license (incriminal) before the actual ID deadline in the United States, a passport wallet is a must. This stylish, puffy number from Calpak not only holds your passport, but also has cash, cards, and even in the previous pocket. The only side is that it’s big, about the size of a modern paperback, and has no handles or loops, so if you don’t have a wallet big enough to accommodate it, it’s awkward to carry it.
Gorilla Grabs, priced at $15 (4 sets): If you tend to travel with a hard side check bag when expanding, you may notice the shocking lack of structure. Both hard sides contain their own binding loads, which open when connected only by thin fabric zippers. I rely on these belts to send out the erraft or throw it on the tarmac when I place my unstable suitcase on the scale. As a bonus, bright colors (the company has nine options) make your luggage easy to spot on your luggage claims.
Kusshi Travel Jewelry Organizer, priced at $49 (Medium): I don’t know that I’ve lived for a long time and just willing to throw jewelry into the toilet bag, but I don’t recommend this unless you want to hang out on your first night on vacation. For the ultimate in space-saving organization, you can’t get a folded hanging model above perfect flatness. The medium size three layers include earrings, bracelets, watches and any other soft PVC frame zippered pockets you might need, and a nice necklace stand with loops and snapshots. Large sizes are the same size, but have double the size of multiple parts. Once closed, it folds the size of the iPad.
Photo: Kat Merck
How do I test it
For the past seven months, I have been testing toilet bags and adjacent accessories, using them every day in my bathroom and traveling every few months. For the initial test circle of wrapping cubes, I checked the functionality and materials of each cube or set of cubes. I tested how smooth the zippers open and close zippers are, and how easy it is to use any compression function. I packed various cubes with bulky sweatshirts and sweatpants to see how many pieces I could fit in the largest cube. Then, at the end of the test period, I packed a cube with three suitcases and took a week off-road trip, assessing them in the ease of packing or unpacking, or if anything makes me or my family bother me or my family in the stress and unpredictability of travel.
Why not just use zipper bags?
Here is a problem I see from travelers who suspect that they use the packaging cube. Zippered bags are cheap and you can see everything inside. Why would a person spend $25 or even $100 on a set of packaging centers when a box of 2.5 gallon bags cost $5? This was a valid question and I set out to investigate, taking a week-long trip by packing a few sliding lock bags along with my packing blocks. I discovered a few things.
• The packaging cube is breathable. This is especially useful on the way home when most or all of your laundry is dirty. If your clothes smell like anything – there is something at all – your face will be hit by that scent after you sit in a sealed plastic bag.
• Packaging cubes are durable. Unlike plastic bags, packaging cubes do not tear, break or create unexpected holes.
• (Some) Packaging cubes are compressible. Can you install pants and shirts for five days in plastic bags? Probably not. However, you can definitely do it in a compressible wrapping cube like some of the options above.
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