A Practical Checklist for Buying the Right Travel Organiser

A good travel organiser (packing cubes, pouches, tech kits, toiletry bags) does one job: it makes your bag predictable.

The best travel writers and gear testers keep coming back to the same themes—reduce rummaging, keep categories together, and make unpacking frictionless.

Rick Steves’ packing approach is explicitly about keeping items grouped and easy to locate, so you’re not digging through a chaotic suitcase. 

One-bag travelers make the same point from a different angle: “bags inside bags” keeps your kit organized even if your luggage gets searched or dumped out.

Below is a checklist you can use to buy the right organiser for your travel style—without overbuying.

Step 1: Pick the organiser “system” (not the product)

Before features, decide what problem you’re solving:

• Suitcase traveler (check-in / rolling luggage): prioritize organization + fast access

• Backpack / duffel traveler: prioritize structure + grab-and-go pouches

• Carry-on only: prioritize compression + modularity (every cubic inch matters)

REI’s packing guidance is simple: combine rolling with packing cubes for tighter packing and better organization. If you travel carry-on often, compression-style cubes are frequently recommended because they reduce bulk after you pack. 

The Buying Checklist

1) Does it match how you pack?

Two proven strategies show up repeatedly:

• Pack by category: tops in one cube, bottoms in another, underwear in a small cube, etc. (common “expert default”)

• Pack by outfit/day: one cube per day/activity so you don’t “explode” your suitcase each morning 

If you hate decisions while traveling, “pack by outfit” wins. If you hate mess, “pack by category” wins.

2) Choose the right type: regular vs compression

• Regular packing cubes: best when you want tidy compartments and quick access.

• Compression cubes: add a second zipper to cinch down contents, useful for bulky clothing and carry-on packing. 

Important nuance from testing-oriented travel sites: compression is great, but you still need a sane packing strategy—otherwise you just create dense chaos. 

3) Mesh vs opaque: visibility beats aesthetics

Mesh tops or panels help you see what’s inside instantly, which reduces rummaging and “unpacking the cube to find one item.” This is a common design choice in well-known cube sets. 

If you want privacy (shared rooms, hostels), choose partial mesh rather than fully clear.

4) Zippers and stitching: the failure point is predictable

Most organisers don’t fail on fabric—they fail on:

• zipper teeth separating

• zipper pulls snapping

• seams tearing at stress points

Look for:

• reinforced seams (especially corners)

• easy-grab zipper pulls

• a zipper that runs smoothly when overstuffed (you will overstuff) 

5) Handle and access design: can you grab it blind?

This matters more than people think, especially with backpacks/duffels.

Checklist:

• Top handle (or side handle) so you can pull it out fast

• Wide opening so you can see contents, not just poke around

• Structured sides if you don’t want floppy cubes collapsing in your bag

6) Size set: buy fewer, smarter

A “good enough” universal set for most travelers:

• 1 large (jackets, jeans, bulky items)

• 1–2 medium (shirts, dresses, mixed clothing)

• 1 small (innerwear, socks, accessories)

• 1 slim pouch (laundry / cables / medicines)

Why this works: testers and experienced packers consistently use a few cubes to create a repeatable packing layout, rather than endless tiny pouches. 

7) Dirty/clean separation: plan it from day one

TravelPro’s packing advice includes a simple but effective habit: bring an empty cube for dirty laundry accumulation or separate items by use-case.
Many frequent travelers also like organisers with a clean/dirty split for exactly this reason (especially on longer trips). 

If you only buy one “extra” feature, make it dirty separation.

8) Security and bag searches: organisers should reduce chaos

OneBag makes a practical point: organisers increase the chance your belongings stay tidy if your bag is searched.
Practical implication: prefer fewer, larger organizers for clothes, and one dedicated pouch for small “loose” items (chargers, adapters, meds).

9) Don’t forget the “unpacking behavior”

Ask one question: Can I move from suitcase to drawer in 60 seconds?

If yes, you’ve chosen well. This is why packing cubes remain popular with pragmatic travelers: you can lift a cube out and drop it into a drawer without reorganizing everything.

A simple “buy once” recommendation (based on expert patterns)

If you’re building a starter system:

• Get a 3–4 piece cube set (mesh, durable zips)

• Add one toiletry bag

• Add one tech pouch

• Add one laundry bag/cube

This covers nearly all trips without turning packing into a hobby. Guides like Pack Hacker emphasize that “best” depends on your use case—but the use case itself is what you should standardize first. 

Summary: the fastest way to choose correctly

The right travel organiser is the one that lets you do these three things reliably:

1. Find anything in 10 seconds (mesh + category system) 

2. Keep clean and dirty separated (split cube or dedicated laundry cube)

3. Keep your bag stable even when it’s handled roughly (structure, good zippers, fewer loose items)

If you buy with that checklist, you’ll stop chasing “more organisers” and start traveling with a repeatable system that feels calm every time you pack.