Hi there, I'm Oscar from Clever Journey - a site, where we test and review travel
gear in real-life conditions. In this quick review we'll check out the AmazonBasics
four-piece packing cube set. If you're new here, make sure to click the
subscribe button, so you never have to purchase bad quality gear ever again. And
if you do decide to get these cubes after watching this video, make sure to
check out our full review on cleverjourney.com, where I go much more
in-depth, and post our affiliate links. But for now, let's get right into the
review. I purchased this packing cube set about one year ago. And so far I've used
them on several occasions for packing my suitcase while traveling. And after a
year of use, they still look in good condition. So far, I haven't noticed any
major issues and nothing has broken. I know that a lot of people don't see the
point in using packing cubes, but personally, I always use them. They don't
really save that much space, but everything inside is much more organized
in them. For instance, you can pack your socks and underwear in one cube, t-shirts
in another one, and your sweaters jackets and pants in a larger cube. When you get
to a hotel, you just take out your cubes and put them in the closet, and you're
good. No need to reorganize your whole suitcase just to get something from the
bottom. This four-piece packing cube set comes with four differently sized
packing cubes. If you're packing a checked suitcase, then the four packing cubes
will be perfect for you. But for those of you that are using only a carry-on, the
three smaller cubes will do just fine. We'll show you exactly how much stuff
fits inside each cube later in this video.
In total, they weigh around 350 grams or 12 ounces, which really isn't that much.
Especially, when you compare the weight to similar alternatives from other brands.
For instance, the Shacke Pak packing cube set weighs around 500 grams or 19
ounces, which is almost twice as much. The AmazonBasics packing cubes are made from
nylon, which is great because nylon is more durable than polyester, which is
more commonly found in cheaper travel gear. The fabric doesn't wrinkle from
extended use and is quite flexible. The top part is covered with a fabric mesh
panel, which is good for quickly seeing what's inside each cube. From the looks
of it, the stitching seems to be well done. After a year of use,
nothing has started to come loose, which is good to see on an affordable packing
cube. I chose the red four-piece set but they're also available in black, blue,
green, gray, and light blue options. I got the red option, only because I own
packing cubes from other brands in different colors. Having them in multiple
colors is great when I'm traveling with my girlfriend, so we can easily
distinguish between our packing cubes. For instance, I can take the red ones, and
she uses the green ones. The AmazonBasics packing cubes are equipped with generic,
no-brand zippers. Similar options from eBags or Shacke Pak use YKK zippers,
which supposedly should be much more durable. But so far, I haven't noticed any
issues with the zippers. They unzip quite easily and the fabric doesn't seem to
get stuck in the zipper when the cube is overpacked. All four pieces also have
these fabric handles stitched to one of the sides. I guess it's not an
essential feature to have but they might be useful on some occasions. Now I'll
show you exactly how much stuff fits inside each packing cube. I won't be
over-stuffing the cubes because overstuffing means more wrinkles. You could fit a bit
more inside each cube if you'd want to. The largest packing cube is great for
packing all the larger items, such as jackets, sweaters, shirts, or jeans. I was
able to fit three pairs of jeans and four sweaters inside. The second largest
cube can be used for packing two pairs of shoes or any folded shirts, jeans, or
shorts. I was able to fit 2 pairs of shorts and three folded long-sleeve
shirts inside. The medium cube is perfect for packing rolled up t-shirts inside.
I managed to squeeze in 7 rolled t-shirts in there. And the smallest
packing cube is best used for packing your underwear and socks. Alternatively,
you could also store a pair of shoes in there. I was able to fit 7 pairs of men's
boxers in there and 7 pairs of socks. In total, I'd say that the AmazonBasics
4-piece set offers enough room for three to four week vacations for
minimalist packers, or two-week vacations for overpackers. I also packed up the
same amount of clothes in a carry-on with and without packing cubes, so you could
see if they save any space. Here's how everything looked without using packing
cubes... And here's how the carry-on looked when everything was packed inside
packing cubes... I didn't see any significant space savings, but everything
is much more organized when using packing cubes. And it's much
easier to pack and unpack everything when you arrive at a hotel. Now let's
talk about the warranty. All AmazonBasics products come with a one-year warranty
against manufacturing defects and materials. This means that only the most
essential defects will be covered, such as loose stitching or a faulty zipper. Any
defects from accidents or misuse won't be covered. Obviously, the warranty
situation isn't the best one out there. For instance, the Eagle Creek compression
cubes come with a lifetime warranty. But because packing cubes isn't really
something that you'd use that much, and because they are so cheap, that's not a
huge deal-breaker. When you compare the price of the AmazonBasics four-piece
packing cube set to similar alternatives from other brands, they're definitely on
the cheaper end. But they aren't the cheapest cubes out there. You can get a
similarly durable five piece or a six piece set from a Chinese manufacturer,
such as the Shacke Pak 5-piece packing cube set. But having said that, I still
think that the AmazonBasics packing cubes are a really solid option. At least,
they're backed up by Amazon, not some unknown manufacturer, which is better if
you'll be needing to contact their support for warranty or returns. From my
own experience, the AmazonBasics packing cubes have performed really well, and I'd
definitely recommend them for anyone else who is looking for a cheap packing
cube set for organizing their suitcase while traveling. If you do decide to get
them, make sure to click the link to our full article on cleverjourney.com in
the video description, which is more in-depth, and it contains our affiliate
links. Also if you're new to this channel, make sure to subscribe for more in-depth
travel gear reviews just like this one. Thanks for
watching, and I'll see you in the next video!