Compression Packing Cubes
Compression packing cubes with a second zip that squashes contents down - the polite alternative to sitting on your suitcase.
What is a compression packing cube?
A compression cube is a packing cube with a second zip. Fill it, close the main zip, then pull the compression zip round and the contents flatten by roughly a third to a half. It needs no pump and no vacuum cleaner, and it opens and closes as often as you like, so it works on the journey home too.
About our compression cubes
Compression cubes for packing do two jobs at once. The first zip closes the cube like a normal organiser; the second zip pulls the whole thing tight, squeezing the air out of your clothes and shrinking the cube by around a third. Fill one with jumpers, close both zips, and suddenly the winter break fits in a cabin bag. Our compression packing cubes UK range uses strong double-stitched compression zips, ripstop-style fabric that shrugs off rough handling, and smooth pullers that won't snag mid-squeeze. They're the best answer we know to bulky knitwear, towels, ski layers and the eternal problem of coming home with more than you left with. Compressible cubes come as singles and matched sets, in carry-on and full-case sizes. If you've been comparing vacuum packing cubes or vacuum seal packing cubes, zip compression gives you most of the space saving with none of the pump faff. And if you've simply been searching for packing cubes that compress, this is that shelf - compressible packing cubes in every size, and our pick of the best compression packing cubes UK travellers can buy. Worth knowing before you fly: airlines are strict on cabin-bag size - easyJet, for example, limits its free under-seat cabin bag to 45 x 36 x 20 cm (easyJet cabin bag guidance), so every centimetre you save counts. That is exactly where packing cubes that compress earn their place, and pairing one with a matched packing cube set or a large compression cube is the simplest way to fit a week of clothes inside a strict allowance. Free UK delivery over £20 and a 100% money-back guarantee.
Compression cubes vs vacuum bags
If you have been weighing up vacuum packing cubes or vacuum seal bags, the short version is that zip compression gives you most of the space saving with none of the fuss. Vacuum bags need a pump or a hoover to draw the air out, they can split if over-filled, and there is rarely a vacuum cleaner at the hotel when you need to pack for home. It does the same job with a second zip you close by hand - squeeze the air out anywhere, any time, and repack on the return leg in seconds. You lose a little of the absolute maximum squash a full vacuum seal manages, and you gain a cube you can actually use twice.
Compression cubes for carry-on
Compression cubes earn their keep on cabin-only trips, where every centimetre counts against a fixed allowance. A single compressed cube of jumpers or towels can be the difference between a bag that closes and one that does not. For a strict cabin allowance, start with a carry-on-sized compression cube or a matched set, and always check the finished size against your airline's cabin-bag limit before you fly.
Compression Packing Cubes: key facts
- Products in this collection: 6
- Price range: £10.99 – £36.99
- Delivery: free on UK orders over £20, otherwise a flat £5.99
- Dispatch: within 48 hours, Monday to Friday
- Arrives: within 8 days of ordering, anywhere in the UK
- Returns: 30 days, full refund, we pay the return postage
- Payment: Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Maestro, Discover and PayPal via Stripe
- Sold by: The Packing Cube Co., a UK business
Compression Packing Cubes - FAQs
How much space do compression cubes actually save?
Typically around a third of the cube's packed height, more with bulky soft items like knitwear and towels. You'll notice it most when a case that never quite closed suddenly zips shut easily.
Compression zip or vacuum bags - which is better?
Compression zips give most of the space saving with none of the faff - no pump, no rolling the air out, and you can reopen and re-close them all trip. Vacuum bags save slightly more but are a chore to reseal.
Do compressed clothes come out creased?
Softs like t-shirts, knits and gym kit come out fine. Fold-and-compress works well; for smart shirts we'd suggest a standard cube instead and save the compression for the bulky stuff.
Can I reuse a compression cube on the way home?
Yes - unlike single-use vacuum packing cubes or vacuum seal bags, the compression zip opens and closes as many times as you like. Fill it on the way out, unzip at the hotel, then re-compress your worn and bulkier clothes for the flight home. That reusability is the main reason travellers pick a compression cube over disposable alternatives.
Do compression cubes need a pump or vacuum cleaner?
No. Unlike vacuum seal bags, a compression cube works by hand - the second zip forces the air out as you close it, so you can compress and repack anywhere, including the hotel room on the way home. There is nothing to plug in and nothing that can lose its seal.
Can I take a compression cube in carry-on luggage?
Yes. A compression cube is just a fabric organiser, so it is allowed in both cabin and checked bags. Compressing it actually helps with carry-on, since it shrinks bulky layers to fit a strict cabin allowance - just check the packed cube against your airline's size limit.
100% money-back guarantee
Love it, or it costs you nothing
Every order from The Packing Cube Co. is covered by our 100% money-back guarantee. If it's not right, tell us and we'll refund the lot.
Not happy? Full refund – we even pay the return postage.