The Best Travel Accessory - Peak Design Packing Cubes Review
There are many travel accessories that can make life easier or save time; however, if I had to pinpoint one that had the most impact on how I pack, it would be the Peak Design Packing Cubes.
A packing cube is nothing more than a zipped container that holds your clothes, and while I tried many different brands, I found the PD ones to be the best. In this blog, I will review these great cubes after 3 years of using them while travelling full time.
Size & Capacity
You get two sizes - medium and small. The medium is twice the size of the small but can hold more items compared to two small cubes together. However, the medium is one large flat square, while two small cubes can be vertically stacked for more versatility.
I generally find that one small cube is enough for a weekend away in a warm climate and can easily fit a couple of shirts, spare shorts, and some underwear. For longer trips, the medium can easily cover unlimited travel so long as you can get some washing done every few days.
If you plan to travel in cold environments, then one medium and one small will have you covered. A medium can typically hold a few shirts, a pair of trousers, a pair of shorts, a jumper, and some underwear.
The overall size of these cubes means they are very easy to fit into most bags.
Materials, Wear & Tear
The recycled ripstop feels nice and lightweight. The zips are high quality, and the overall fit and finish feels premium. Although I own a few of these, I ended up using only one of them for nearly all of my travels for the last 3 years, and it shows. There are some rips developing around stitches, zips, and the handle. Nothing that will cause the cube to fall apart but something to note. With that said, I always overpack these to the point where I need to almost sit on the cube to close it, and I am not surprised this happened.
Compression & Access
This is the best bit of the PD cube. Once you’ve packed it and closed the lid, you have one more zip that compresses the cube into a smaller space. How much space you save depends on how much you have inside; however, for me, it was the difference between it fitting and not fitting into my bag.
To open the cube, simply pull the two tabs apart. You can also leave it uncompressed if you need to carry even more clothes than what I have mentioned earlier in the blog.
Dirty Clothes Pocket
On one side, you will find a zipped compartment that can be used to store dirty clothes. The compartment does have some space, meaning it won’t eat into the main compartment, but it’s limited. With the cube fully packed, you can fit a couple of pairs of underwear and socks without much hassle and keep them separate from clean clothes.
Value For Money
These are not cheap, and you can find much cheaper alternatives. Depending on where and when you buy these, it’s not unreasonable to pay between £30 and £40, depending on the model. Is this good value? I think so. I paid £70 for one small and one medium cube, and both lasted 3 years of travelling full time. I’d much rather pay a large price once than keep buying cheap options. Last but not least, they come with a lifetime guarantee, which says a lot.
Do I Recommend Them?
1000% yes.
Instead of telling you how these will change your life, I would rather be practical and answer the most common questions that people tend to have when buying presets.
What are presets?
They are editing settings that are saved in a file and can be applied to any image.
Why do people buy presets?
Sometimes because they like the work of the photographer and want that style for their own photos. Mostly because they would like to see how other people edit and learn by reverse engineering the presets. Other times it’s just to support their favourite photographers, thank you!
What’s the overall style of these presets?
- Filmic
- Warm
- Soft
- Bright
What are these presets suitable for?
Street & Travel Photography
Some Nature (with further editing)
Some Portraits (with extensive editing)
Do I actually use these?
Yes. This is the same pack I use right now for all my editing. This isn’t a pack made just to sell.
Do these presets get updated?
Yes, as my style changes, these presets will also be updated. Any time a new update is available, you will get a free update via email. Of course you also keep all the old presets in case you prefer the older looks. Only presets purchased from 2025 onwards will receive the updates.
What file types are these presets for?
- All RAW files
- JPEGs & TIFFs (not recommended)
What camera brands are these presets for?
These were designed around Fujifilm, Sony, and Leica sensors. With that said, they will work with all camera brands. While there might be differences due to individual camera colour science, the overall feel of the preset will carry over.
Will these work with JPEG files?
Yes, but you will need to reduce the intensity and make further edits. I strongly recommend editing RAW files.
Are these one click edits?
95% No. You would need to do some basic adjustments as each image is different. These adjustments can include exposure, colour balance etc. In 5% of cases you can just apply and leave it alone.
Do I need to know how to edit?
You need to have a basic understanding of adjusting exposure, highlights, shadows, etc. A more comprehensive editing skillset will let you get the most out of them.
How many presets are included?
10 in the main pack and 24 in the extras pack
Why two packs?
The main pack is what I use for 99% of my edits and is kept small to reduce wasted time scrolling through presets. The extras pack is everything I don’t use often.
What software do I need?
These presets will work with any of the following:
- Photoshop (adobe camera raw)
- Lightroom Classic
- Lightroom Desktop
- Lightroom Mobile
Will these presets work with free versions of the above software?
You need to research and double check before buying. These presets were designed for the full paid versions.
Will these presets work with very old versions of the above software?
You need to research and double check before buying. These presets were designed on and for the latest software.
What file type do I get?
XMP
What else do I get?
- Comprehensive PDF guide
Can I modify these and turn them into my own?
Yes! In fact I encourage you to modify them and play around. Use these to help you get your own style.
I have more questions…. What do I do?
Make a cup of tea and drop me an email on hello@snapsbyfox.com
Please note that due to the nature of digital products, refunds are generally not accepted. However, if you experience any issues, feel free to contact me and I’ll review your situation individually. You are welcome to use this product for personal or commercial projects, but you may not copy, distribute, or resell the files in their original or modified form.
Finally I want to say a massive thank you for supporting me. Buying these presets is the most direct way you can support my work.
Thank you!