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As a frequent traveler, I’m always trying to optimize the way I pack. I want to carry as small a bag as possible. In this pursuit, I’ve tried lots of bags, organizers, and packing hacks. The latest item I tested is a set of compression packing cubes from Paper Signal. Follow along for my review.
A little while back, a blog reader named Wil reached out to me. He had been seeking a solution to minimize the size of his packed clothing, and standard packing cubes weren’t cutting it. So, he did what any enterprising entrepreneur would, and scratched his own itch. The result is the Swift Pack Set compression packing cubes. He offered to send these to me for testing and evaluation.
Test Case
To give these packing cubes a real test, I decided to try and pack all of my ski gear – jacket, fleece, pants, under layers, cap; and all of the remaining clothing for the trip. For this ambitious task, I used the Core XL packing cube. I’m happy to report that the cube easily held and compressed everything. I was able to put the cube into my backpack, with room to spare for toiletries, my computer, chargers, shoes, and other accessories.
I was honestly a bit shocked at the capacity and compression ability of the packing cube. Take a look at the pictures for yourself to see exactly how much space I saved. I also enjoyed the quizzical looks on my friends’ faces, when I showed up for a ski trip with only a 35L backpack!
Smashed down and zipped 
Compressed
Features
Let’s take a look at the features that make these packing cubes useful.
Ripstop Nylon
First off, they’re built from silicon-coated ripstop nylon for extreme durability. I’ve absolutely crammed these cubes full and cranked the compression straps down. They never showed any signs of ripping.
Clamshell
As will backpacks, the clamshell design allows ease of packing. This isn’t particularly different from most packing cubes on the market, but it’s definitely useful.
Handles
Each cube features two handles, one on either end, for ease of handling. I didn’t find this particularly necessary, but I did use the handles when my packing cube was completely full.
Two Sizes
The Swift Pack Set includes two packing cubes – The Core (10″x15″x4″) and the Core XL (20″x15″x4″). I found that the Core size fits very well in my 25L Hylete backpack, while the Core XL fit snuggly into my 35L Tortuga Outbreaker.
Lightweight
Weighing in at 122g for the Core and 172g for the Core XL, these cubes aren’t the lightest on the market, but they don’t add any noticeable weight to my packs.
Compression Straps
Ok – This is the real feature that differentiates these cubes from everything else on the market. Packing cubes compress their contents by default, so do compression straps actually make a difference? For me, the answer is YES. I was able to pull the straps and smash the cubes down quite a bit. Take a look at the pictures for yourself.
Final Thoughts
I was a bit skeptical at first, when Wil told me about his innovation. Packing cubes are one of my favorite items to organize my bag, but I wasn’t sure they could be improved. He proved me wrong. The Paper Signal compression packing cubes are a definite upgrade, over the usual kind. If you’re serious about packing efficiently, I’d encourage you to take a look at them.
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Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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