Pack Smart, Not Hard: A Review of Away’s Packing Cubes

As a travel blogger, one of the things I am asked about most often is my Away Carry-On suitcase, which is why I’ve reviewed it not once, but twice (most recently here) and also shared an in-depth look at my packing strategy. I’m always tinkering with and trying to streamline my packing processes, and after traveling with packing cubes that weren’t a solid fit for my luggage, decided to go all-in on a set that is tailor-made for my suitcase.

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As you know, I really like to put a product to the test before bringing you a review, and I’m finally ready to say that I’m here with a comprehensive review of Away’s Insider Packing Cubes today.

But first—what the heck is a packing cube?

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ABOUT PACKING CUBES

Packing cubes are generally small, sealable pouches or bags intended to help you organize and sort your belongings within your suitcase. They typically come in a nylon-style fabric with a zipper for durability, but occasionally you’ll encounter a fun shape for a hyper-specific purpose.

My general philosophy on packing cubes is that they are not necessarily essential travel items. Your clothing and other items can be folded and placed into your suitcase just fine without them, and packing cubes are yet another thing to be stored away once you return home.

That being said, they can definitely make your life easier while you’re on the road, particularly when you are staying at a hotel or Airbnb with few places to store and sort your clothes, or when you are staying in multiple accommodations over a few short days.

Most importantly, I find that they help condense and corral my garments better than packing my clothes directly into my suitcase. I also like having an extra layer of protection between my clothes and the outside world—free from prying eyes (like that skeevy TSA agent who insisted on digging through my underwear).

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MY EXPERIENCE WITH AWAY PACKING CUBES

The Insider Packing Cubes can be purchased in a set of four (intended for the Carry-On and the Bigger Carry-On) or six (ideal for the Medium and Large suitcases) in a range of colorways. I chose the set of four in black to match and fit my black suitcase.

They arrived just a few days later, and I was surprised by how light they felt—at first touch, they certainly felt a little flimsier than my Eagle Creek cubes, but more substantial than my IKEA ones. In fact, I was a bit nervous about their potential durability, and how they would hold up to being stuffed in my bag and toted around the world.

Thankfully upon closer examination, I found tightly woven nylon and sturdy, smooth-rolling zippers. After mulling it over, I believe the packing cubes’ lightness is a good thing, considering that airlines are more strictly enforcing hand luggage weight limits.

Each of the four packing cubes is a slightly different size and shape; Away titles them “Small Wide,” “Medium Slim,” “Medium Wide,” and “Large Slim.” It took a little practice to decide what would best work in each cube (and even then, I adjust the categories of garments that go in each cube based on what I’m bringing for that trip).

As for where they go in the carry-on, the two medium cubes and single small cube fit together on one side of the case, and the single large cube travels on its own on the other side of the case, leaving about a quarter of the suitcase empty—perfect for shoes and coats.

On their own, the packing cubes are pretty shapeless; it can be a little challenging to get the first few garments to stand up KonMari style in the cubes. But once the cubes are mostly full the corners square off nicely, which makes them fit together perfectly.

As I mentioned, I do slightly adjust how I pack each cube based on my destination, however, the adjustments are relatively minor. My underwear, bras, socks, and tights generally go in the Small Wide cube. The Medium Slim cube usually gets my dresses and pajamas, and sometimes my workout clothes. The Medium Wide case always holds my tees and tops, generally stacked horizontally, though I tend to place bulky sweaters and tops flat along the bottom of the cube. That leaves the Large Slim cube, which holds my jeans, pants, and skirts, and sometimes light outerwear.

The packing cubes also make it easier to share suitcase space when traveling with just one bag on budget airlines (though not my preferred way to travel, low-cost airlines like Spirit and Frontier are often the only ways to find a last-minute deal). Divvying up space becomes much easier when there are smaller bags to corral things in for each person sharing the suitcase.

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SO, SHOULD YOU BUY AWAY’S PACKING CUBES?

I find it’s easiest to weigh these decisions with a handy list of pros and cons:

Pros:

The cubes fit perfectly in the Carry-On. The corners are squared off nicely, which makes them perfect for this specific suitcase. Other packing cubes I own fit awkwardly in Away’s bag.

The packing cubes have two zippers. I love this feature for longer trips when I need to fit more in each cube. Having two zippers means that one side of the packing cube can be slightly fuller than the other, and the bag will still zip. As a precaution, I always slip my finger behind the zipper when I’m closing the cube to ensure it doesn’t get caught on any of my clothing.

The bags are waterproof. I haven’t needed these yet for warm, wet, summer travel, but it will be nice to have a waterproof way to store things. I also haven’t needed to wash my cubes yet, but when I do I’ll be sure to do so on a gentle cycle and air dry.

Cons:

The bags have floppy sides. Having non-sturdy sides is a positive thing when it comes to storing, but when it comes to packing it makes things a little tougher. I wish the side fabric were a little more substantial so my clothing could stand up a little more easily during the packing process.

The packing cubes don’t have handles. This complaint only comes because I’ve had packing cubes with handles before and I liked how easy it was to pick up the bags and move them around once they were out of my suitcase. A minor complaint for sure, but this is a feature I miss in Away’s packing cubes.

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MY FINAL VERDICT

These bags are a wonderful addition to an Away Carry-On suitcase, however, I think there are better options out there if you own a different suitcase or if you plan on carrying a larger, checked suitcase. Still, I can’t imagine returning to life with my Carry-On without The Insider Packing Cubes in tow, and will be using them each time I pack my bag for the foreseeable future.

Think one of Away’s suitcases or their accompanying accessories might be for you? Take $20 off your first purchase of $125+ at Away by signing up through this link

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Questions for you

Do you use packing cubes or any other methods to organize your items within your suitcase? Do share!

Have you ever had a weird run-in with airport security?

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