I used these packing cubes for 3+ years. Here’s how they’ve held up.

I got my first 4-piece white set of Well Traveled Compression Packing Cubes 3+ years ago, and I’ve taken them on pretty much every trip since. In fact, they’ve low-key seen the world at this point; Thailand, Colombia, Italy, even the remote Canadian wilderness, to name a few.

I use them for organization, but also to save money on checked baggage fees.

So, after 3+ years and countless trips, how have these packing cubes held up? In this article, I share the pros and cons of these cubes, their features, and if I think they’re good value for money.

How My Well Traveled Compression Packing Cubes Have Held Up After 3+ Years

Overall, I’m really impressed with my Well Traveled Compression Packing Cubes. 

I originally got a 4-piece white set, but have since acquired 8-piece sets of both the white and colored “vista” cubes. All my photos in this post are from my original 4-piece set so you can really see how they’ve held up.

However, that’s not to say my white cubes are not without critique points. Here’s a quick pro & con summary of how my cubes have held up:

Pros of Well Traveled Compression Packing Cubes

• Zippers are in perfect condition and have never snagged
• Washing the cubes hasn’t reduced their quality
• Minimal flyaway threads
• They’ve handled a lot of compression strain without ripping

Cons of Well Traveled Compression Packing Cubes

• The white color does look a bit dirty over time (even with washing)
• They’re only water-resistant, not water-proof

Features of Well Traveled Packing Cubes

Next, I’ll cover some of the particulars of how my Well Traveled Packing Cubes have stood the test of time and use:

Structure & Quality

After three years, the structure and quality of these cubes are almost as good as new. 

The zippers have never snagged or bunched up on the fabric. The fabric has not torn (despite me using the “compression” feature to the absolute max), and there are only a few flyaway threads (to be expected after a few years of use).

I’m very impressed with the quality, overall.

Compression Functionality

One of my favorite features of these cubes is their compression. Compression can be a controversial element for some people (they think it turns their clothes into a rigid brick), but I honestly love it.

These cubes compress down a lot, which truly saves you space in your bag and can even allow you to go carry-on only in some instances.

Water Resistance

One thing to know about these packing cubes is that they’re water resistant, not water proof. They’re made with extra-strong satin twill. I looked it up, and this means that they can resist a small amount of water, but not heavy torrential rain showers or something like that.

I found this out the hard way. On the last night of my recent trip to Venice, I had to catch a 4 am water taxi in absolute pouring rain. Unfortunately, my luggage wasn’t entirely waterproof, and I found out in real time that these cubes aren’t either. All of my stuff was damp (which is better than fully water-logged, but still). 

Color & Overall “Look”

To be honest, given that these cubes are stark white, I think they look very good for having been used for so long. Yes, there’s some dirt & yellowing in certain high-impact areas, but overall they look 80% as good as new.

Of course, these cubes also come in grey, green, blue, black, and multi-colored. So if you’re worried about the white set yellowing over time, you have options.

Well Traveled Compression Packing Cubes are best for:

• People who love to stay organized while traveling
• Folks who don’t mind spending a little extra money on a well-made product
• Compression fanatics

Well Traveled Compression Packing Cubes might not be a fit for:

• Serious budget travelers
• Outdoor backpackers who need 100% waterproof equipment

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Overall, I’m a big fan of my Well Traveled Packing Cubes. But, to be honest, I think most people use packing cubes wrong. Make sure you use them to their fullest potential and check out that article next!

Happy packing!