REI Co-op Expandable Packing Cube Set - Small/Medium/Large
Organization can be an oddly satisfying part of travel prep. This REI Co-op Small/Medium/Large Expandable Packing Cube Set makes it easy to pack—and find—exactly what you need in your luggage.
- Set includes 3 packing cubes—small, medium and large—that can expand for greater volume or compress by 3 in. for more compact storage
- Expansion zipper lets you adjust packing cube size from 3.5 liters up to 6 liters (small); 8.5 liters up to 13 liters (medium); and from 14 liters up to 21 liters (large)
- Each cube is made of light, strong ripstop nylon with a nonfluorinated durable water repellent (DWR) to help moisture bead up on the surface
- Mesh on top lets you see what's inside and lets your stuff breathe
- Handle on side for carrying and ease of packing and unpacking
- REI Co-op brand is certified to The Climate Label; we actively fund efforts to reduce carbon emissions across our business and support climate projects around the world
Imported.
View all REI Co-op Packing Cubes| Best Use | Travel |
|---|---|
| Gear Capacity (L) | 6 liters 13 liters 21 liters |
| Gear Capacity (cu. in.) | 366 cubic inches 793 cubic inches 1,281 cubic inches |
| Number of Exterior Pockets | None |
| Material(s) | Shell: Ripstop nylon; mesh panel: polyester |
| Dimensions | Small: 8 x 6 x 3-6 inches; medium: 12 x 8 x 3-6 inches; large: 14.5 x 10.5 x 3-6 inches |
| Weight | Small: 2 ounces; medium: 2.8 ounces; large: 3.5 ounces |
| Sustainability | From a Climate Label Certified brand |
Better gear is built together
From feedback to field testing, all of our gear is dialed-in by REI Co-op members. Their adventures informed every stitch and detail—making for better, longer-lasting gear.
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Awesome cubes to use "differently"!!
Wow, these expandable packing cubes are incredible! More often than not, I use packing cubes "differently". I love weekend trips and getaways and I don't use my suitcase unless I'm flying. I typically pack a cube with my clothes and use it as is or throw it in a duffle bag or my backpack depending on the trip. When it's time to shower or change it's easy to just grab the cube and have everything I need. While these cubes definitely fit nicely into my smaller carry-on, they are perfect for the way I typically use them. What I LOVE: --They hold A LOT! --High-quality zippers --The expandability is a-MAZing and the zipper to expand goes all the way around --There is a top handle for carrying --Two small loops on each one for hanging or securing the cube with a carabiner or other methods --There is a mesh panel on the front for air to escape adding to packability as well as letting my clothes breathe and see what's inside at a glance --Lightweight --The Tree Lights Sea Olive set is a very nice design --They are made by REI Now for the other important deets--my experiences when using them! For a weekend trip, I used the large and small but did not need the medium. SMALL: At just 2 ounces this baby holds so much "stuff"! The product description says these packing cubes expand to 6" inches in depth but I found this expanded to an incredible 7 inches with very little effort and no visible strain on the ripstop nylon or zippers. At the expanded size I packed 2 sweatbands/head wraps, 2 sports bras, 2 pairs of underwear, 3 pairs of Darn Tough socks, 1 pair of fuzzy socks, slippers LARGE: Who imagined an ultralight packing cube could hold a winter weekend's worth of clothes! At the expanded size I packed sweatpants, leggings, hiking pants, heavy fleece, insulated ski pants, a heavy sweatshirt, a toiletry bag For an overnight stay at a friends' cabin, I used the medium cube and the small cube and did not need the large cube, however, in retrospect I could have fit it all into the large cube and could have only taken one. Next time! MEDIUM (expanded) for my day clothes: insulated ski pants, heavy fleece, jogging pants, leggings, 1 sports bra, 2 underwear, 2 pairs of Darn Tough socks, toiletry bag Small cube (expanded) for my PJs/relaxing clothes: jogging pants, leggings, heavy sweatshirt, slippers I also discovered the small cube will hold my camp shoes for hanging out at a hostel or cabin (I wear a women's 7) Final thoughts: these are the perfect set of cubes for me! I love the handles that allow me to carry them like a suitcase, and the loops to hang them on the outside of my pack--for traveling purposes, not hiking purposes! But I may use them for backpacking to help organize my clothes in my pack depending on how my weight stacks up at the time; the cubes are ultralight so I can't see an issue if I choose to go that route. I would definitely recommend these cubes!
Best for families or suitcase travel
My husband and I used these for an overnight trip to Seattle. We fit two pair of jeans, two shirts, two pair of Smartwool socks, two pair of underwear, and a pair of athletic shorts into the small and medium cubes (unexpanded). These two fit perfectly in my small plane-under-seat sized suitcase (13x17x7") and the large one also would fit stacked on top. Because of the shape, I wouldn't use these in a backpack (unless for keeping a small set of clothes separate from the rest of the contents for easy grab and go), but they could be useful in a duffel bag or suitcase for easy organization, particularly for traveling with kids where each kid has their own color. The handles are nice for this purpose. Only after filming my review video did I realize that each packing cube also has an expandable zipper on the bottom. They each DOUBLE in volume. I expected maybe half an inch extra depth, but it takes each cube from 3 to 6 inches depth. This took the cubes from 4 to 5 stars for me for their versatility! I had cubes like this (a different brand) many years ago and eventually they tore where the fabric meets the mesh. I can't tell whether these would be susceptible to the same issue over time. The fabric seems pretty sturdy. You can't really stuff these the same way you would stuff a bag; they won't zip if you don't fold/roll/arrange your clothes into roughly the correct rectangle. As someone who is used to packing tightly, if you underpack these cubes, they work fine but are just floppy and less satisfying to pack (and I imagine maybe wear out more quickly from the flopping). For more size reference (before expansion), the small one holds 4 running shorts or lightweight synthetic shirts; the medium one holds 4 long-sleeved base layers, pants, or leggings; the large one holds 4 adult pairs of jeans.
Perfect for traveling smartly!
These packing cubes are great and highly functional. They are made from durable material, have a mesh panel on top allowing you to see the contents, and there is a loop sewn into one side to hang them after a wash. My favorite features are the double ("theft-proof") zippers and the zipper that allows you to double the container space or decrease it according to current need. Each bag is a slightly different lovely shade of blue. These are much nicer and more versatile than the basic packing cubes that I will now be passing on to my child. The only thing that would make them better might be a hidden pocket inside. Fully recommend!
Don't buy these cubes or prepare for heartbreak
Other than REI's disgusting union-busting, this long-time co-op member has loved REI products. While even Wirecutter sang these cubes' praises, this product is flimsy. They're intended to put a bunch of clothes in and squash down which means you're supposed to stuff them, right? Right! Well, the zipper on the smallest cube broke the second time I used them. I exchanged those (time and inconvenience but no questions asked per usual) and started using a new set. Unfortunately, 2+ months into 8-month trip overseas and a zipper on the mid-sized one broke. I swear I didn't really overstuff as I had been practicing for months. I think the zippers are cheap...just like the REI BoD is being with co-op workers.
Instantly broke
These cubes are cheap quality. The first time I used them the threading came undone.
Makes packing super easy
These packing cubes are very versatile, well constructed, and have a breathable flap so you can pack all kinds of things in them. My favorite feature is that these are expandable so it is really like you are getting six packing cubes. I used these on a recent trip and they made packing very easy. The large size fit several folded long-sleeve shirts, The medium size when expanded fit a pair of shoes (size 11). The smallest one held all of my toiletries.
Make packing a breeze
I've used these on several occasions since I got them a few weeks ago. The expandable zipper is great, particularly since I use the larger one for dirty laundry while traveling. I traveled for a week and was able to fit everything but my largest layers (including workout wear) in the three cubes. The zippers are durable and the slightly larger than previous REI packing cube versions- this is great if one of the zipper ties comes undone. I've thrown these in the laundry (air dry) and they come out looking, and smelling, like new. The loops on the outside make hanging them to dry super easy. The only negative about these is the mesh section. It's great for being able to view what's in the cube, but not great if you throw something like a damp towel or shoes in one of them. I've used them for air travel and for camping and think they work great for both environments. Overall, I would highly recommend these to anyone who travels/ camps often. If you're on the fence about buying these this is your sign.
DO NOT BUY!!! Absolute Garbage
Sadly, REI has followed the rest of corporate America by pushing out low quality garbage like these cubes instead of maintaining their reputation of selling quality items. I have two sets of the older, mesh-free cubes that have served me exceptionally well for the last 20(?) years. I lent my cubes to my son and got these to replace them. What a mistake! The material is flimsy, the sewing looks like it was done by a cross-eyed whale, and the zipper to extend the medium cube tore free the one time I tried to use it. Paraphrasing the old SNL skit- these are not Scottish!
Great for organizing
Mainly purchased for work, I use the small for toiletries, medium for paperwork, books and such. And the large for an extra change of clothes. Perfect for camping as well helps keep stuff organized and can fit enough for a 3 day trip.
great way to travel
These cubes are amazing to pack a 'whole lotta' clothing into a small space - roll them up and pack them in! Recently experienced a trip that required the use of a duffle instead of luggage and it was a great way to sort items to easily find them in a large duffle bag - tops, bottoms, etc. The mesh allows visibility and air circulation to keep things more fresh, the zippers and seams are very strong and held up though completely stuffed. It does take some moving around to get them to fit in a travel item (suitcase, duffle, backpack) when they are stuffed full, but less full cubes are flexible to mash them together and fill all spaces. Highly recommend