The best packing cubes

Save money on an effective packing cube set with the AmazonBasics 4-Piece Packing Cubes.

With more than 1,000 Amazon reviews and a 4.6 star rating, the AmazonBasics 4-Piece Packing Cube Set is one of the most popular on the market. It's great news if you want to save some cash, because the entire package is available for only $23. But as the rave reviews suggest, the low price doesn't mean you're missing out on quality.

If you don't travel very frequently you may not want to invest in more luxe packing cubes, in which case, these would be perfect.

As The Wirecutter writer Jack Chance points out, the AmazonBasics cubes are reminiscent of eBags in "size, shape, and design." The quality is not identical, of course, but you get comparable benefits and if you treat the AmazonBasics version well the cubes will likely still last you for a long time. Plus they aren't that expensive to replace.

The AmazonBasics set is also recommended by BestReviews.com, who liked the quality of the polyester material and the color selection but did note the zipper quality left something to be desired.

Pros: Four cubes for under-$20, durable, mesh panels on top, multiple color options

Cons: Experts say quality of materials is lesser than pricier options

Buy the AmazonBasics 4-Piece Packing Cube Set for $22.99

The Insider Packing Cubes from luggage brand Away help you store items efficiently in your suitcase without ruining the aesthetic.

Functional packing cubes are all well and good, but they usually leave something to be desired for the fashion-forward. Frankly, they aren't all that cute. Then there are the Away Insider Packing Cubes, those chicly minimalist black boxes that pair beautifully with your nice luggage and don't skimp on practicality.

If you went through the trouble to invest in an endlessly Instagrammable Away suitcase, you don't want to ruin the whole vibe with unattractive packing cubes. Luckily, Away's in-house cubes are really good.

You can opt for a set of four cubes or a set of six, which includes every available size the brand currently carries, or buy them individually. Made of waterproof black nylon, each cube is topped with a panel of mesh that helps you find what you're looking for quickly when on-the-go.

We've featured them here at Insider Picks, and they also come recommended by Men's Journal.

Pros: Stylish, come in three sizes and two widths, waterproof, mesh panel

Cons: Not cheap, smaller than some options

Buy the Away Insider Packing Cubes for $45 (set of four)

If normal packing cubes are too heavy for you, try the lightweight Eagle Creek Pack-It Specter Tech Cubes made of breathable, translucent fabric.

For travelers who need to keep their luggage lightweight, there's the Eagle Creek Pack-It Specter Tech Cube Set. The cubes are made of a slim, translucent and water resistant nylon material that weighs less than most of the competition.

You can still fit a lot of stuff inside the cubes, too. A 3-piece set includes extra small, small, and medium sized cubes. The featherweight fabric of the bags themselves makes this a great option for trips that involve a lot of lugging.

As our own David Slotnick puts it, "the bags are perfect for anything from backpacking to hoping that your checked bag isn't left outside during a storm."

These are also great for throwing in your hand-held luggage or duffle bag for a long weekend away, and we love the fact that you can see through them. The Specter Tech Cube Set also comes recommended by Travel + Leisure and The Wirecutter.

Pros: Lightweight, translucent fabric, water-resistant, stain-resistant

Cons: Only come in three sizes

Buy the Eagle Creek Pack-It Specter Tech Cube Set for $39.95

The Eagle Creek Pack-It Compression Cubes pack down to help you fit the most items possible in your luggage.

I probably first saw compression cubes in an infomercial when I was like 12, and I've always thought they were genius. What a way to save space! The Eagle Creek Pack-It Compression Cube Set comes with full-size and half-size cubes that compress down and help you fit the mostin your travel bag.

The compression happens courtesy of the two-way zipper, so you don't need any fancy gadgets to shrink the bags down. According to TripSavy, "[t]he cubes can save up to 80 percent packing volume." That's a lot of extra room that you can either fill with more stuff or leave empty for lighter weight luggage.

With 86 Amazon reviews and a 4.5 rating, this is a popular choice with consumers. One reviewer said the cubes helped them pack only carry-on luggage for a three-week trip abroad, and another said "I travel a lot and this is, by far, in the top ten of my best travel purchases."

TravelSavy pointed out that the compression aspect may cause wrinkles in clothing, but I personally think this would cut down on the wrinkling from my preferred method of tossing everything willy nilly into the bottom of your bag.

Pros: Compress down with a zipper to save room

Cons: Only come in two sizes, don't completely flatten, might wrinkle clothing

Buy the Eagle Creek Pack-It Compression Cubes for $36.95

The best carry-on luggage

Sometimes you just don't want to check your luggage, so you need a reliable carry-on bag that you can bring onboard the plane. Of all the carry-on bags we've researched and tested, the Briggs & Riley Baseline Commuter Expandable Upright is the best with its sturdy wheels, smart compression technology, and lifetime warranty. Here are our top picks for the best carry-on luggage bags:

• Best overall: Briggs & Riley Baseline Commuter Expandable Upright
• Best for those in a rush: Travelpro Platinum Magna Express Spinner Suiter
• Best for versatility: Timbuk2 Quest Rolling Duffel
• Best for traveling with a laptop: Incase EO Travel Hardshell Roller
• Best for charging your phone: Away Carry-On
• Best for organizer packers: Timbuk2 Co-Pilot Luggage Roller
• Best affordable bag: American Tourister IIite Max Softside Spinner 21
• Best stylish bag: Delsey Chalet Wheel Spinner Carry On

The best checked luggage

Traveling doesn't have to be a hassle. Having a great suitcase can be the difference between an amazing trip and a bad one.

Here are our picks for the best luggage you can buy:

• Best luggage overall: Travelpro Maxlite 4 Expandable Rollaboard 26-inch Luggage
• Best hard case luggage: Delsey Helium Aero 25-inch Hard Case Luggage
• Best high-end luggage: Briggs & Riley Baseline Large Expandable Spinner Luggage
• Best duffel with wheels: Eagle Creek Gear Warrior 110L/34" Wheeled Duffel
• Best versatile luggage: Timbuk2 Quest Rolling Duffel

The best travel backpacks

Backpacks are perfect for when you don't need a full suitcase, but you want more than a regular daypack or messenger bag. Based on our research and real-world testing, the best overall travel backpack is the eBags TLS Mother Lode Weekender Convertible. Here are our top picks:

• Best travel backpack overall: eBags TLS Mother Lode Weekender Convertible
• Best travel backpack for style: InCase EO Travel Backpack
• Best travel backpack for space: Tortuga Setout Backpack
• Best travel backpack for work trips: eBags Professional Weekender
• Best travel backpack for long treks: Deuter Transit 50

The best luggage tags

If you usually rely on the flimsy cardboard luggage tag the airline provides, it's time to get a tougher tag that also makes it easier to spot your bag in the endless sea of bags at the airport. The Tile x Away luggage tag is our top pick because it not only looks smart, but it can also tell you where your bag is, thanks to Bluetooth connectivity. Here are our picks:

• The best luggage tag overall: Tile x Away luggage tag
• The best leather luggage tag set: Travel Smart by Conair Leather Luggage Tags
• The best stainless steel luggage tag: Talonport Privacy Stainless Steel Luggage Tag
• The best fun luggage tag: Finex Character Luggage ID Tags
• The best clearly visible luggage tag: Shacke Initial Luggage Tag

The best travel pillow

Trying to fall asleep on a plane is incredibly difficult, but having the right travel pillow can help you get some shut-eye during your epic flight across oceans and continents. The Trtl pillow is our top pick — even though it's not a pillow per se — because it is comfortable, very portable, and affordable. Here are our top picks for travel pillows:

• Best travel pillow overall: Trtl pillow
• Best microbead pillow: Clöudz microbead U-shaped pillow
• Best memory foam travel pillow: Cabeau memory foam U-shaped pillow
• Best inflatable travel pillow: Lewis N. Clark inflatable U-shaped pillow
• Best body-sized travel pillow: Travelrest inflatable body pillow
• Best compressible travel pillow: Therm-a-Rest Compressible Travel Pillow
• Best travel pillow for head bobbers: Bcozzy Travel Pillow
• Best no-slip travel pillow: Travelrest Ultimate Pillow