You bought packing cubes. Now they're sitting in your closet because you're not sure if you're supposed to roll, fold, or just stuff everything in.
Been there. Done that.
After reading through 1,200+ Reddit comments from r/onebag, r/HerOneBag, and r/TravelHacks, here's what actually works—and what's a waste of time.
The Basic Concept
Packing cubes turn your bag into a filing cabinet. Instead of digging through a pile of clothes, you pull out the cube you need.
Here's the thing—they don't magically create more space. What they do is keep your bag organized from day 1 to day 14. No more "pack explosion" when you open your bag looking for one sock.
Rolling vs Folding: The Real Answer
The internet loves to argue about this. Here's what Reddit travelers actually do:
Roll these:
- T-shirts
- Underwear
- Socks (don't fold them—just toss them in loose)
- Casual pants
- Pajamas
Fold these:
- Dress shirts
- Blazers (there's a specific folding technique that works)
- Dress pants
- Anything that wrinkles easily
The hybrid approach: Most experienced travelers roll 80% of their clothes and fold the formal stuff. One r/onebag user put it perfectly: "Rolling everything and packing so you can see each item when you open the cube."
How to Actually Pack a Cube
Step by step:
- Roll or fold your items — Keep them roughly the same size
- Stack vertically, not horizontally — You want to see everything when you open the cube
- Fill gaps with small items — Underwear and socks are perfect gap-fillers
- Don't overstuff — If you can't close the zipper easily, take something out
For compression cubes specifically: unzip the compression zippers first, pack your stuff, close the main zipper, then compress. Sounds obvious, but a lot of people do it backwards.
The Clean/Dirty Cube System
This is the move that changed how I pack.
Bring two cubes of the same size. One for clean clothes, one for dirty. Everything starts in the clean cube. As you wear stuff, it migrates to the dirty cube.
By the end of your trip, all your dirty clothes are contained in one cube. No mixing with clean stuff. No weird smells spreading through your bag.
Some travelers use a different approach—one cube per activity. Town clothes in one, hiking gear in another. Works great for trips with mixed activities.
Compression Cubes: Worth It?
Here's the honest take from Reddit:
The good: They compress clothes by about 30%. Great for bulky items like sweaters.
The catch: Once compressed, the cube becomes a rigid brick. One r/onebag user nailed it: "The compression cube just becomes like a solid, oddly shaped brick that has weird curves to it, making it hard to fill all the gaps in your bag."
Regular packing cubes are more flexible. You can squish and shift them to fit your bag's shape. For most travelers, that flexibility beats the extra compression.
Organization Strategies That Work
By item type (most common):
- Cube 1: Tops
- Cube 2: Bottoms
- Cube 3: Underwear and socks
By activity:
- Cube 1: Town/city clothes
- Cube 2: Hiking/outdoor gear
- Cube 3: Sleep and lounge
By day (for work trips):
- Each cube = one day's outfit
- Great when you need specific outfits for specific events
Pick whatever makes sense for your trip. There's no wrong answer here.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Buying too many cubes. You don't need a 10-piece set. Most one-bag travelers use 2-4 cubes total.
Getting the wrong sizes. Large cubes are rarely useful—they're too big to organize effectively. Stick with medium and small.
Cheap zippers. The zipper is the first thing to fail. Look for strong zippers and fabric, not cheap papery material.
Overpacking the cube. If it looks like a stuffed sausage, you've gone too far. The cube should close without a fight.
The Hotel Drawer Trick
This is why packing cubes are actually worth it:
When you arrive at your hotel, pull out your cubes and drop them in the drawers. Boom—unpacked in 30 seconds.
When you leave, grab the cubes and drop them back in your bag. Boom—packed in 30 seconds.
No more living out of a suitcase. No more forgetting stuff in hotel drawers.
What Size Cubes to Get
Skip the large size. Seriously.
Packing Cube Size Guide (Based on Reddit Consensus)
| Size | Dimensions | Best For | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small | ~10" x 7" | Underwear, socks, accessories | 1 week's worth |
| Medium | ~14" x 10" | T-shirts, shorts, casual pants | 4-6 rolled items |
| Large | ~18" x 13" | Bulky items (rarely needed) | 8-10 items |
| Slim | ~14" x 5" | Socks, underwear, ties | Specialized items |
Medium cubes: The workhorse. Fits 4-6 rolled t-shirts or 2-3 pairs of pants.
Small cubes: Perfect for underwear, socks, and small items. A week's worth fits easily.
Slim/tubular cubes: Great for socks and underwear if you want them separate.
A typical setup for a 2-week trip: 1 medium compression cube, 1 small garment folder, 1 slim cube, and a dry bag for dirty clothes.
Pairing Cubes with Your Bag
Packing cubes work with any bag style:
Top-loader backpacks: Cubes slide in and out like drawers. Honestly, this alone makes them worth it for top-loaders.
Clamshell bags: Lay cubes flat. Easy access to everything.
Roll-top bags: Stack cubes vertically. Pull from the top.
If you're looking for a bag that works well with packing cubes, check out our best waterproof travel backpacks or underseat backpacks for personal item.
The Bottom Line
Packing cubes aren't magic. They won't let you pack more stuff.
What they will do:
- Keep your bag organized for the entire trip
- Make packing and unpacking take seconds instead of minutes
- Stop the "pack explosion" when you dig for one item
- Separate clean from dirty clothes
Start with 2-3 cubes. See how you like them. Add more only if you need them.
Looking for cubes with label slots so you can mark what's inside? Check out our guide to personalized packing cubes.