Packing cubes are a game-changer for organized travel, especially when you’re using a thoughtfully designed backpack like the Peak Design 30L Travel Backpack. Peak Design has created a whole ecosystem of modular accessories, including their own packing cubes and camera cubes, designed to perfectly fit their bags. However, the cost of these branded accessories can quickly add up. If you’re looking for ways to save money without sacrificing organization and efficiency, especially when considering how to pack your camera gear, exploring alternatives is a smart move. In this review, we’ll dive into Gonex packing cubes as a fantastic, budget-friendly alternative to Peak Design’s offerings, showing you how they can work just as effectively with your Peak Design Travel Backpack, potentially freeing up funds for a dedicated camera cube or other travel essentials.
Peak Design’s packing solutions are undeniably sleek and well-made. Their system is built around units of space within their Travel Backpack, with accessories designed to take up one, two, or three units. The Peak Design packing cubes come in medium (2 units) and small (1 unit) sizes, and you can even swap a small packing cube for a small camera cube depending on your trip’s needs.
Peak Design Medium and Small Packing Cubes
The beauty of the Peak Design system is its seamless integration. You can neatly fit two medium packing cubes, or a combination of medium and small cubes, inside the 30L Travel Backpack. With these cubes packed, there’s still just enough room at the top for one of their smaller accessories like the Tech Pouch.
Peak Design Packing Cubes
The quality of Peak Design cubes is excellent. The materials are durable yet lightweight, and the zippers are smooth and reliable. They are perfectly sized for the Travel Backpack, maximizing space and organization. However, this premium quality comes at a premium price. A single medium Peak Design packing cube can cost around $40, and a small one about $30. Investing in a full set of Peak Design packing accessories can quickly become expensive, which might be a concern for budget-conscious travelers, especially if they are also considering purchasing a camera cube for photography trips.
This is where more affordable alternatives like Gonex packing cubes come into play. Gonex offers a range of packing cube sets at significantly lower prices, without compromising too much on functionality. We tested two different Gonex sets to see how well they work as a Peak Design Travel Backpack alternative.
Gonex Packing Cube Set
The first Gonex set we tried is a regular packing cube set, available for around $13.99 on Amazon. This set includes a large cube (17.3” x 13” x 3.5”), a medium cube (13.8” x 9.8” x 3.54”), two slim cubes (13.8” x 5.1” x 3.54”), and a shoe pouch. The dimensions are thoughtfully chosen to fit well within common travel backpack sizes.
Large Gonex Packing Cube
When packing the Peak Design Travel Backpack with these Gonex cubes, the large cube fits perfectly at the bottom, ideal for bulkier items like pants and shirts. The medium cube stacks neatly on top and is great for t-shirts and lighter clothing. Slim cubes are perfect for socks and underwear, fitting alongside or on top of the larger cubes.
PD Backpack packed with Gonex Cubes and Tech Pouch
This configuration mimics the space usage of the Peak Design cubes, leaving a similar amount of room at the top of the backpack for accessories. While you might not fit every single accessory alongside these cubes, just like with the Peak Design set, you have options.
Remove One Slim Cube For Extra Space
By removing one slim cube, you can easily create enough space to pack both a Tech Pouch and a Wash Pouch, or even a slim pair of shoes in a shoe bag, within the main compartment. Expanding the top section of the Peak Design Travel Backpack also provides additional space if needed, although it might slightly exceed carry-on dimensions.
Peak Design Accessories Now Fit
The second Gonex set we tested is the expandable compression cube set, costing around $18.99 for a set of three medium-sized cubes (11.8” x 9.1” x 3.5” each). These cubes are slightly smaller than the Peak Design medium cubes but offer the added benefit of compression.
Gonex Compression Cubes
Two of these Gonex compression cubes fit side-by-side in the Peak Design Travel Backpack, occupying approximately half of the main compartment. The compression feature helps to further reduce the volume of your clothes, maximizing space.
Two Gonex Expansion Cubes Take up Half the Main Compartment
This leaves ample space for other gear. If you are traveling with camera equipment, a small camera cube, or even a larger one depending on your needs, can fit neatly alongside these compression cubes. There’s still enough room for a Tech Pouch or other accessories.
Compression Cubes with Camera cube and tech pouch
Alternatively, if you don’t need a camera cube for a particular trip, you can utilize the third Gonex compression cube for even more clothing organization. Three compression cubes fit comfortably in the top half of the main compartment, leaving plenty of space below for shoes or other items.
All Three Expansion Cubes
With this setup using three compression cubes, you can still easily fit both a Wash Pouch and a Tech Pouch in the remaining space, creating a highly organized and efficient packing system within your Peak Design Travel Backpack.
Expansion cubes with Tech and Wash Pouch
Regarding quality, it’s important to acknowledge that Gonex cubes, priced significantly lower than Peak Design, might not have the exact same level of premium materials and construction. However, for the price, Gonex cubes offer excellent value. They are made from ripstop nylon and use Gonex brand zippers. User reviews on Amazon are overwhelmingly positive, praising their durability and functionality for the cost.
Decent Quality for the Price
In conclusion, while Peak Design packing cubes are undoubtedly top-tier in terms of design and materials, Gonex packing cubes present a compelling and much more affordable alternative. They are dimensioned to work effectively with backpacks like the Peak Design 30L Travel Backpack, providing excellent organization and space optimization at a fraction of the cost. Choosing Gonex packing cubes allows you to achieve a similar level of packing efficiency without breaking the bank, potentially freeing up budget for other travel essentials, or indeed, a dedicated camera cube to protect your photography gear during your travels. For travelers seeking a practical and budget-conscious solution, Gonex packing cubes are a smart choice to consider as your Camera Cube For Peak Design 30l Travel Alternative.
