I’ve Visited Over 50 Countries, and This Is the One Thing I Never Travel Without

As a frequent traveler who has visited more than 50 destinations (and counting!) around the world, it’s safe to say I have my fair share of tips and tricks for traveling with ease. My friends always ask what my biggest travel secret is, and whether I’m flying long-haul from Europe to Australia, jumping on a train and moving from East to West across Asia, or simply going on a weekend staycation with my girlfriends in Paris, it’s always the same: packing cubes. No matter the trip, I always organize my clothes, accessories, and underwear in neat little color-coded compartments. And my packing cubes of choice? The Cubo Packing Cubes by Cotopaxi.

Cotopaxi Cubos Del Dia Packing Cube Bundle

My mom was the one who told me to pack all my little bits and pieces into separate containers, pouches, and bags — that was two decades ago, and I’ve been doing it ever since. I categorize all of my items according to purpose and use: Thinner jackets stick together in large packing cubes with thermal and active gear, undergarments and bras are rolled neatly in medium packing cubes, and toiletries sit together with other cosmetics. 

Even the most experienced travelers among us can have a tendency to overpack, which can get messy and chaotic. You’re always bound to throw in an extra pair of pants, dress, or jacket in fear of hitting roadblocks and unpredictable weather on your trip. Maybe it will rain in Melbourne in the summer, or there will be snow in April in the Alps, or perhaps Paris will be unseasonably windy — oui, tres possible! That’s where packing cubes come in.

The Cubo packing cubes come in a range of sizes, and each individual cube is one of a kind, so the colors you get will be a surprise. But rest assured, that’s the only gamble you take when purchasing them. Like all of my favorite Cotopaxi products — from the 35L Allpa Travel pack to the highly resilient Uyuni 46L Duffel bag — the Cubo packing cubes stand up to pulling, stretching, and even over-stuffing. 

Cotopaxi Cubos Del Dia Packing Cube Bundle

The beauty of the surprise Cubo packing cubes by Cotopaxi is that they come in a range of sizes (10L, 3L, and 2L) and colors, which makes it easy to organize everything in your luggage. Trust me, when you’re traveling around Australia and jumping from Melbourne’s tallest hotel, the Ritz-Carlton, to going on balloon rides in the Yarra Valley and visiting new boutique hotels like Re’em Hotel and The Osborne House in one big trip, color-coding your travel items is important. Rather than rummaging through an entire suitcase of accessories, jackets, and travel gear each night, I would simply remember that my lightweight jackets were in the purple bag, dresses in the lime green cube, and bras in the sky-blue pouch — easy! Especially considering I packed more than a dozen outfits for my three-week trip.

The packing cubes each have a handle, so they’re easy to grab when you need them. My advice? Hang the cubes on the hooks in your hotel bathroom so you can easily access your accessories at all times (and save yourself bench space in tiny hotel rooms). They’re made from an incredibly lightweight nylon material that’s not only sustainable (it’s 100 percent repurposed!), but also easy to clean, too. A quick wipe-down with a damp towel will do the trick to remove any grime. The internal mesh lining also allows for ventilation to keep smells from dirty laundry at bay. (Although I have to admit — I love my Cotopaxi cubes so much that I have only really used them for clean and unworn clothing just in case.)

I’m not the only one who loves the Cubo packing cubes. One reviewer said  that they worked beautifully for an immense amount of field gear, “[I] purchased these to use with a Cotopaxi backpack and they are perfect. Fit a whole week’s worth of field gear. Will work just as well with any other luggage.”

Another shopper confirmed my feelings on just how useful and durable the cubes really are.“The cubes hold a lot more clothes or things than you’d expect just by looking at them. The fabric was durable so I didn’t worry about ripping anything while stuffing them.”

Cotopaxi Cubos Del Dia Travel Cube, Small 

You can easily buy one Cotopaxi packing cube individually, but the better deal is to go for all three in the surprise bundle, which comes in at just 50 dollars for the trio. As useful as they are, I also feel good about buying another set of them when I need to because Cotopaxi is eco-conscious, too. What more could you want in a travel brand?

More Packing Cubes to Shop Now:

Bagail Set of 8 Packing Cubes

Adwaita Set of 6 Packing Cubes

Pfeyrpk Lightweight Compression Packing Cubes Set of 7

Kingdalux Set of 8 Packing Cubes

Tripped Set of 6 National Park Compression Packing Cubes

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