Your Minimalist Guide
Mose Hayward
Semi-Organized Constant Traveller
The absolute dirt-cheap packing cubes at the moment on Amazon are Bagail Packing Cubes. So we ordered a set to see if they’re worthwhile.
In short, the quality matches the low price; these are crinkly polyester with poor design and zippers that do not seem like they will hold up for long.
However, at the low price, if you’re just using them around the house to store seasonal clothing that you don’t pack and unpack often, or if you’re using them for infrequent travel, they could be fine.
In a Nutshell: Bagail Packing Cubes
The Bagail Packing Cubes are for organizing clothes, gadgets, and more while travelling.
Pros
- Cheap!
- No obvious quality defects in the set that I ordered
- There are hang loops so that you can hang the bags (from hooks, door knobs, a coat hanger, or a dedicated travel clip)
- The larger bags have a mesh front panel for breathability
Cons
- There are much better cheap options available (see next box below).
- The polyester material is unpleasant and arrived permanently creased. The quality does not appear to be high and I do not expect the zippers nor the water-resistant coating to last for very long.
- The bags are mostly designed in a way that they cannot be opened while hanging from their hang loops without stuff falling out.
- There are too many large bags and not enough small ones in the set for my taste as a minimalist traveler.
But again, very cheap. And often available at a discount at the link below if you check out the various bundles and sellers.
Alternative Cheap Packing Cubes
I have also reviewed and very much preferred the Gonex Packing Cubes like the one pictured at right. They’re also very inexpensive, but have smarter design features and are made of high quality rip-stop nylon, which is more pleasant and should help them last for longer.
For higher-end packing cubes that are practical and well-built, I’d go for any of the different options from Eagle Creek. They’re not necessarily better than Gonex, but you can buy them separately, so they can be worthwhile if you just need one or two.
As usual, Amazon has its own option: Amazon Basics Packing Cubes. The quality looks a bit better than Bagail but they’re still made of polyester, and for what you get in terms of quality and the number of bags in a set, the Gonex Packing Cubes are a better buy.
Bagail Packing Cubes: Full Overview of the Features and Quality, with Pictures
Let’s do a visual tour of the Bagail Packing Cubes. Note that they are much more crinkly than the product photos you will see on Amazon. The bags arrived with these creases which do not go away.
The material is smooth and supposedly water resistant, but if water is getting into your bag where you keep your packing cubes, you’ve got bigger problems. I would also not expect these zippers to actually hold out water. (For an excellent water-resistant bag, check out this recently reviewed Osprey Transporter Boarding Bag.
I would suggest using small toiletry bags with organizer pockets for organizing toiletries instead.
So while these are not the highest quality packing gear, the Bagail packing cubes do what they’re supposed to do; they divide and hold your stuff in an organized way. They are lightweight enough that they’re not going to add any significant weight to your pack or suitcase.
Are the Bagail Packing Cubes Right for You?
