Why I Love Using Packing Cubes for Family Travel
I used to think packing cubes were pointless. Extra bags, extra zippers, extra things to keep track of. Hard pass. Then I found myself packing for a two-month, around-the-world trip with a 6-month-old and a toddler, and suddenly I needed a more efficient system. Somewhere on the road, packing cubes finally clicked. And now I don’t travel without them.
After years of traveling as a family, hundreds of packed suitcases, and more packing cube sets than I care to admit, I’ve learned what actually works and what’s just hype. This post breaks down why packing cubes for family travel are especially useful for trips with multiple kids, how we use them as a family of five, and the simple systems that keep our luggage organized while lightening mental load. If packing feels chaotic, stressful, or like a game of suitcase roulette, this is for you.
Jump to: Why they work, How to use, Recommendations, FAQs
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Why packing cubes didn’t click for me at first
My first experience with packing cubes was…underwhelming. I bought a set, tried them out, and immediately felt like I’d made packing more complicated. I was adding more bags to my bag. What? How does this make sense? Opening and closing more zippers, and trying to remember what lived where. It felt like more steps, not fewer.
The biggest issue was visibility. The early sets I used were smaller packs and solid fabric with no mesh panels, so once everything was zipped up, I had no idea what was inside which cube. Even when I assigned colors to each person, I was still opening multiple cubes just to find socks, pajamas, or swimsuits. That constant rummaging completely defeated the purpose.
Because of that, I used them inconsistently. Sometimes I packed with cubes, sometimes I skipped them, and sometimes I abandoned them mid-trip. They never became part of a real system. Looking back, it wasn’t that packing cubes didn’t work. It was that I didn’t yet have a setup that made them work for our family’s travels.
The trip that finally changed everything
Everything shifted when we planned a two-month, around-the-world trip with a 6-month-old baby and a 2.5-year-old toddler. This wasn’t a vacation where we could overpack, unpack once, and settle in. We were moving constantly. Different countries, different climates, short stays, and very little downtime.
Packing mattered in a way it never had before. We needed to be able to find things fast, repack quickly, and keep everyone’s stuff contained without thinking too hard about it. There was no energy left for digging through suitcases.
That was the moment packing cubes stopped feeling optional and started feeling necessary. I needed a system that could survive shared suitcases, nonstop transitions, and exhaustion. Once I set them up intentionally and used them consistently, it clicked. Packing felt easier. Unpacking was faster. Moving from place to place stopped feeling so chaotic. And that’s when packing cubes became a permanent part of how we pack for a family trip.
Why packing cubes work so well for family travel
Organization is the obvious benefit, but it’s not the sole reason packing cubes matter when you’re traveling with kids. The real win is being able to share luggage without everything turning into a mess. Over time, this has become one of our most reliable packing hacks for families, especially on trips with frequent hotel changes.
When you’re traveling as a family, especially with young kids, it rarely makes sense for everyone to have their own suitcase. More bags mean more things to track, more lifting, and more chances for something to get left behind. We always travel with fewer suitcases than people, and packing cubes are what make that possible.
Instead of everyone’s clothes blending into one giant pile, packing cubes create clear boundaries inside a shared suitcase. Each person’s things stay contained. No one is digging through someone else’s clothes to find a shirt. When you need something quickly, you know exactly where to look. That matters even more on trips with frequent hotel changes or short stays, where fully unpacking doesn’t make sense.
Packing cubes also shine when you’re tired, jet-lagged, or rushing out the door. They remove decision-making from the process. You’re not reorganizing every time you move. You’re just transferring a system that already works. For a family vacation, that kind of simplicity is everything.
How we actually use packing cubes as a family of five
For almost every trip, regardless of length, we travel with two large suitcases for five people. We’ve found it’s much easier to manage fewer bags and keep more hands free than to manage a separate suitcase for every person. Packing cubes make this setup workable.
Each of my kids gets their own large packing cube. My oldest has one large cube with all of his clothes. My middle child has his own cube. My youngest has hers. All of their basic outfits and accessories live inside that one cube.
When we arrive somewhere, I take the cubes out of the suitcase, hand them to the kids, and that’s it. That cube is their dresser. Pajamas go back in there. Clean clothes come out of there. If there are drawers and the cube fits, it slides right in. If not, it sits on a chair or table and still works.
I break my own rule a bit when it comes to myself. I usually use two or three packing cubes instead of one. Adult clothing is bulkier, and between bras, accessories, and different outfits, it just doesn’t fit neatly into a single cube the way my kids’ clothes do. I also enjoy putting together outfits when we travel, and I’m not willing to give that up in the name of extreme minimalism. I promise I pack so much lighter than I used to! This system lets me stay organized without feeling restricted.
Because everyone’s clothes are already separated, shared suitcases don’t feel messy. No digging. No mixing. No exploding piles of clothing every time someone needs one thing. It’s simple, contained, and easy to maintain, even when we’re moving quickly. This setup is exactly how to use packing cubes for family trips without everyone needing their own suitcase or creating more work for one parent.
Color-coding is what makes this system work
Once we started sharing suitcases, color-coding became essential. Each person in our family has their own packing cube color, and that one detail removes a surprising amount of friction.
My packing cubes are purple, so if I see purple in a suitcase, I know it’s mine. My kids each have their own color, too. One quick glance tells me whose cube is whose without opening anything or thinking about it. When we’re packing, unpacking, or repacking in a hurry, that matters.
Color-coding also helps the kids take ownership of their stuff. They know which cube belongs to them, where to find their clothes, and where everything goes when it’s time to pack back up. It keeps things moving and cuts down on the constant questions of “where is my shirt” or “which bag is mine.”
It’s a small detail, but when you’re traveling with kids and sharing luggage, small details like this make a difference.
The one feature I won’t compromise on anymore
If there’s one reason packing cubes didn’t work for me at first, this is it. Visibility matters.
The earliest packing cubes I bought were solid fabric with no mesh panels. Once everything was zipped up, I couldn’t see what was inside. Even with color-coding, I still had to open and close multiple cubes just to find socks, underwear, or pajamas. That constant guessing was frustrating and time-consuming.
Now, I only use packing cubes with mesh or see-through panels for our main suitcases. Being able to see what’s inside at a glance makes a huge difference. When you’re trying to grab just one small thing, being able to see if it’s on the left or right side, in the large or small cube, makes life easier. It speeds everything up and lowers the mental load of packing and unpacking, especially when you’re tired or in a rush.
I still use solid cubes in other ways, but for packing clothes on trips, mesh panels are non-negotiable for me. It’s the feature that finally made packing cubes feel helpful instead of annoying.
Packing cubes made my kids responsible packers
One of the biggest unexpected benefits of packing cubes is how much responsibility they shifted off of me. Before this system, I was in charge of packing, unpacking, and repacking for everyone. Every move meant I was managing five people’s belongings, and it was exhausting.
Now, each kid is responsible for their own packing cube. They don’t pack the suitcase itself, but they do pack their cube when it’s time to leave a hotel. Pajamas go in. Clothes get folded or stuffed back in. Then they hand me their cube or place it in the suitcase. That’s their job.
This has made travel days so much smoother. I’m not chasing down missing socks or trying to remember which pile belongs to who. The kids know where their things live, and they’re part of the process instead of bystanders. It’s also been a great stepping stone toward independence. Over time, they’re learning how to manage their own belongings, which makes future travel even easier.
For family travel, anything that reduces mental load and teaches kids responsibility at the same time is a win. Packing cubes help do both.
What packing cubes don’t actually do for me
Packing cubes are not a magic space-saving trick for me. I know they’re often marketed as a way to fit more into your suitcase, but that’s never been their main benefit in my experience.
I’ve tried compression packing cubes, and while they can flatten clothing, they don’t truly let me pack more. I already pack efficiently, and if I push it further, the suitcase just ends up overweight. At that point, the problem isn’t organization, it’s volume.
That’s why I don’t use packing cubes to cram in extra outfits. I use them to keep things contained, easy to find, and simple to repack. They help me maintain a system, not cheat the laws of physics. Once I stopped expecting them to save space and started using them for organization, they felt genuinely useful.
How I use packing cubes beyond main suitcases
While packing cubes are essential for our checked luggage these days, I use them in smaller, more targeted ways too.
For long flights, I often use a small packing cube inside each kid’s carry-on backpack. One cube might hold pajamas and a clean outfit. Another might hold a few flight toys or comfort items. Everything stays contained, and I’m not digging through an entire backpack mid-flight trying to find one thing.
I also use packing cubes to prep for very specific moments during a trip. If we have a one-night stopover where we just need to sleep, shower, and reset, I’ll pack everything we need for that short stay into a single cube and place it at the top of the suitcase. Pajamas, basic toiletries, and next-day clothes all live together. We grab that cube, ignore the rest of the luggage, and move on.
The same idea works for arrival days. If we’re heading straight to a pool or beach before checking into accommodations, I’ll pack all swimwear in one cube so it’s immediately accessible. On some winter trips, I’ll use cubes by category instead of by person for specialty items like gloves and hats, swimwear for a hot tub, or bulky snow pants.
Once you start thinking of packing cubes as a way to organize moments, not just by person, they become even more useful.
What to look for when buying packing cubes for families
After years of trial and error, I’ve learned that not all packing cubes are the same. When you’re using them for a family and shared suitcases, a few features matter more than the rest.
First, look for mesh or see-through panels. This is non-negotiable for me. Being able to see what’s inside each cube without opening it saves time and reduces frustration, especially on travel days when everyone is tired and impatient.
Second, pay attention to fabric and seams. Lightweight is great, but flimsy isn’t. Most of the rips I’ve experienced happened when I overstuffed a cube that wasn’t designed to handle it. A little structure and reinforced seams go a long way, especially when kids are involved.
Multiple sizes are also key. Large cubes work best for clothing, while smaller ones are perfect for pajamas, accessories, or specialty items like swimwear or winter gear. Having a mix gives you flexibility depending on the trip.
Finally, don’t underestimate color options. Color-coding is what makes shared suitcases manageable for us. Being able to assign a color to each person or category turns packing cubes from a nice idea into a system you can actually maintain.
You don’t need the most expensive set on the market, but you do want cubes that are durable, visible, and easy to grab and repack. Those are the features that make packing cubes worth using again and again.
Packing cube brands I’ve used and recommend
I’ve tried a lot of packing cubes over the years. At this point, it’s easily ten different sets across multiple trips, phases of life, and packing styles. Some were bought because I needed different sizes. Some because I wanted new colors. Some because I was curious if “better” really meant better. Overall, they’ve held up impressively well. I’ve only had one or two individual cubes ever rip, and that was always from overstuffing. I’ve never had a zipper fail.
These are the brands I’ve personally used and feel comfortable recommending.
These are my every trip, most-loved workhorses. I’ve had some of these for about seven years, and they’re still in regular rotation. They’re lightweight, flexible, and easy to stuff without feeling fragile. The mesh panels are generous, which makes it easy to see what’s inside at a glance. If you’re new to packing cubes or want a solid, reliable option for family travel, these are a great place to start.
These are the highest-quality packing cubes I’ve used. They’re sturdier and more structured, and you can tell they’re built to last. The tradeoff is that they’re more expensive, and they’re less forgiving if you like to overstuff. That said, I’ve also had these for about seven years, and they still look nearly new. If durability matters more to you than flexibility, Eagle Creek is hard to beat.
Shacke, BAGAIL, and Amazon Essentials
These have all worked well for us, especially when I needed specific colors, sizes, or extra cubes for a particular trip. They’re solid options for filling gaps in your system or experimenting with what sizes and setups work best for your family.
I do feel these sets are slightly lower quality than the previous two. That being said, I’ve been using them for a few years, and they still work well for us.
At this point, I don’t think there’s one perfect packing cube for everyone. What matters most is choosing cubes with mesh panels, decent seams, and sizes that fit how your family packs. Once you have that, the brand becomes less important than the system you build around it.
If you want to see the exact sets we’ve used and still travel with, I’ve linked them below.
- Gonex Mesh Packing Cubes Organizers
- Shacke Lightweight Mesh Packing Cubes
- Eagle Creek Pack-It Reveal Cube Set
- Bagail Set of Luggage Packing Organizers
- Amazon Essentials Travel Accessories Packing Cube Set
FAQs about packing cubes for family travel
Are packing cubes worth it for family travel?
Yes, especially if you’re sharing suitcases. Packing cubes keep everyone’s belongings contained, make it easier to find things quickly, and reduce the mental load that comes with packing for multiple people.
How many packing cubes does a family of five need?
We typically use one large cube per child and two to three cubes for myself, plus a few smaller cubes for specialty items. The exact number depends on how long you’re traveling and whether you pack by person, by category, or both.
Are packing cubes helpful when traveling with babies?
Absolutely. Probably even more than with bigger kids, since there are so many smaller and specialty baby items. This is one of my most go-to packing tips for baby travel. Packing cubes make it easier to separate baby clothes, pajamas, gear and essentials so you’re not digging through a suitcase during a diaper change or late-night wake-up.
Do packing cubes actually save space?
In my experience, not really. They don’t let me pack more, but they do help me pack better. The benefit is organization and efficiency, not squeezing in extra items.
If you’re really looking to save space (and luggage weight isn’t a concern), I’ve successfully used vacuum travel space-saver bags to compress large, bulky items like puffy winter coats and snow pants.
Should each child have their own packing cube?
Yes. Giving each child their own cube creates clear boundaries, makes unpacking easier, and helps kids take responsibility for their belongings during a trip.
The bottom line
You don’t need packing cubes to travel with kids. But once you find a system that works, they quietly remove a lot of stress from the process. For our family, packing cubes turned shared suitcases into something manageable and easy to maintain, even on fast-moving trips.
That’s why I don’t travel without them anymore. Not because they’re trendy or clever, though there are so many cute ones out there now! But I use them because they truly make family travel feel easier. If you’re looking for realistic packing tips for family vacation that actually reduce stress, packing cubes for family travel is one of the easiest upgrades you can make.
