4 Simple Steps on How to Use Packing Cubes (The Right Way)

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I admit, I jumped on the packing cube trend late.

I was opposed to the idea of using these seemingly useless cubes because, well, I didn’t get the point. What was the point in spending extra time and effort putting your belongings in them?

Then I tried them… and, not to be all dramatic or anything, but that’s when it all changed.

After using them just once, I knew I could never travel without them again. I love that they keep my clothes organized and compressed, which is PERFECT since I only travel with a carry-on 99% of the time.

If you’re wondering why you should use packing cubes or are already hooked and just need to learn HOW to use them, you’re in the right place. In this post, I’m going to share how to use packing cubes — the RIGHT way!

Ready, friend? Let’s pack!

THIS POST IS ALL ABOUT HOW TO USE PACKING CUBES.

WHAT ARE PACKING CUBES & WHY USE THEM?

Packing cubes are small to moderately-sized cubes where you pack your clothes into for travel. They’re perfect for minimalist travelers who like to keep their clothes organized, in-tact.

If you’re not convinced just yet, I understand. I mean… I was there at one point, too. Allow me to share the top three reasons to use packing cubes:

• Compression packing cubes save space in your luggage, which is perfect for carry-on only travelers.
• Packing cubes keep your items insanely organized, which can save you time and stress from rummaging around your suitcase for a specific t-shirt or pair of pants.
• Packing cubes keep your items from rolling around while traveling. This is particularly helpful because it’s annoying opening your suitcase and all of your clothes are scrambled inside.

You also may have heard of compression packing cubes, which are basically upgraded versions of the traditional ones. I prefer them because they, you know, compress my clothes, allowing me to fit more in them.

HOW TO USE PACKING CUBES

STEP #1: BUY SOME GOOD QUALITY COMPRESSION PACKING CUBES

Look, you’ll be using these things for a while (or at least, ideally you will), so you’ll need to shop around and find some that will last a while. The good ones are a bit more expensive, but I promise they’re worth the investment.

I have these from Amazon and genuinely don’t think they could be any better. I’ve already used them on several trips, and I absolutely love everything about them.

The only minor critique is that they’re beige, and I’m afraid they’ll inevitably stain over time. So the next time I buy some (which hopefully won’t be any time soon, I’ll opt for a darker color, like grey or black. Other than that, though, they’re amazing.

STEP #2: ORGANIZE ALL OF YOUR CLOTHES

Before you start placing items into the packing cubes, you’ll want to organize your clothing. There are actually two ways to do this. I’ll break down each so you can see which works better for you.

OPTION A: ORGANIZE BY TYPE (MY PREFERRED METHOD)

With this method, you’ll organize your clothes by type. I like to organize my clothing into the following categories when packing for a trip:

• Tops
• Bottoms
• Underwear
• Tank Tops
• Socks

With the packing cubes I got from Amazon, there are several sizes that perfectly fit all of these items. I usually use the bigger ones for my t-shirts, shorts, and pants. Then, I’ll use the smaller ones for my underwear and socks.

OPTION B: ORGANIZE BY OUTFIT

As the Type-A person I am, I WOULD prefer this method, but it doesn’t make as much sense when packing a travel capsule wardrobe. That said, I still think it’s a great option if you want to be ultra-organized — especially if you have specific outfits you plan on wearing during your trip.

With this method, you’ll simply pack one or several outfits in each packing cube. You can even label each packing cube or take photos so you’ll remember the days you plan to wear each outfit. Pack by day, outfit, activity, or even city if you’re visiting multiple cities.

STEP #3: STRATEGICALLY PACK YOUR CLOTHES IN THE PACKING CUBES

Now, you’ll want to strategically pack your clothes in the packing cubes.

Even though I’m using packing cubes, I still like to fold + roll my clothes. I’ll typically fold + roll my tops and bottoms. For my socks, I just roll those tightly and neatly.

When placing your clothes in your packing cubes, you’ll want to keep everything fairly tight and close to each other. If not, your items will unfold and unroll during travel.

STEP #4: PACK A FEW EXTRA PACKING CUBES

I didn’t even think about this until I was doing research for this post. Turns out, it’s a smart idea! I think this is especially useful if you’re traveling between multiple destinations and would rather NOT combine clean and dirty clothes.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT USING PACKING CUBES

• What about bigger items, like sweatshirts and coats? Do those go in packing cubes? No, these bigger items do NOT belong in packing cubes. They’d take too much room and essentially defeat the purpose of using packing cubes in the first place. Instead, I suggest wearing those bulkier items on the way to your destination or packing them directly into your suitcase. Determine whether you need to fold, roll, or do both to maximize space and prevent wrinkles.
• What about short trips? Does it still make sense to use packing cubes? Sorry to be annoying, but this question is a bit tricky to answer because it all comes down to your travel style. If you seriously like everything to be organized, then yes, you can use packing cubes for a shorter trip. Just know that you likely won’t need as many of them. For example, as I write this just four days before my first Seattle trip, I only used packing cubes and that felt like the perfect amount. I did combine socks and underwear because I didn’t feel it was necessary to separate them. If organization isn’t crucial for you, however, then you’ll probably be better off just packing everything directly into your suitcase. I do the latter and have no issues whatsoever. I still try to keep things somewhat organized by placing similar items near each other. For instance, I’ll pack all of my t-shirts in one area, and socks in another.
• What’s the secret to using packing cubes? Pack a travel capsule wardrobe! This, if you didn’t know, is essentially a small, reusable & mixable collection of clothes that you wear when traveling. Many minimalist packers (including myself) love travel capsule wardrobes because it saves space in our luggage, greatly reduces decision fatigue, and teaches us to pack only the necessities. Click here to check out the travel capsule wardrobe I pack for every trip. It slightly changes depending on where I’m going and what the climate is like, but it always contains the same general articles of clothing.

FINAL THOUGHTS: HOW TO USE PACKING CUBES

In this post, I showed you how to use packing cubes. I went a while without trying them because I thought they were useless, but once I tried them, I knew I couldn’t travel without them again.

Now it’s your turn. I’m opening the floor for you to start a conversation in the comments. Here are some discussion topics:

• What’s your stance on packing cubes? Do you think they’re useful?
• What packing cubes do you use for your solo trips?
• Do you prefer traditional or compression packing cubes?

I’d love to hear your thoughts! If you feel more comfortable chatting with me directly, shoot me a DM on Instagram or email me at demarcus@thesolosolstice.com.

ABOUT DEMARCUS

DeMarcus is a Midwest-based travel content creator and the founder of the solo travel blog, The Solo Solstice. He began his solo travel journey in December 2025 and since has been creating practical, in-depth travel guides for a like-minded community of first-time solo adventurers.

Visit the About Page to learn more about DeMarcus, and visit the Ethical & Responsible Tourism Page to learn more about his efforts to promote responsible tourism.