It's one of the most common questions in the travel community: should you use packing cubes or compression bags? The answer isn't as simple as picking a winner — it depends on your travel style, bag type, and how much you prioritize organization vs. space savings.
What Are Packing Cubes?
Packing cubes are fabric zippered pouches that fit inside your bag to compartmentalize clothing and gear. They come in sets of different sizes and help you group items (shirts in one, pants in another) so your bag stays organized and repacking is fast.
Pros: Easy to use, great for organization, no pump needed, durable and reusable
Cons: Don't compress clothing, items can still shift inside
What Are Compression Bags?
Compression bags (also called vacuum bags) use an airtight seal and a valve to remove air from clothing, dramatically reducing volume. Some work with a household vacuum; travel-grade versions use a portable pump or roll-out air expulsion.
Pros: Significant space savings, great for bulky items
Cons: Clothing wrinkles more, requires a pump for best results
The Best of Both: Compression Cubes
The innovation that changed everything is the compression packing cube — a cube that organizes like a traditional packing cube but also has a compression valve to remove air. You get the organizational benefit of cubes with the space savings of compression bags.
The Vanta PackCube AutoSeal™ 17L and 25L are designed precisely for this: organize your clothes, zip them in, press out the air through the AutoSeal™ valve, and watch your cube shrink to half its size. Pair with the Vanta AirCore Pump for maximum compression anywhere in the world.
Which Should You Choose?
- Choose packing cubes if organization is your priority and you pack lightly
- Choose compression bags if you're packing bulky items and space is tight
- Choose compression cubes if you want both — the best option for most travelers
For carry-on-only travel or longer trips, compression cubes aren't just better — they're essential.