‘These packing cubes save me so much suitcase space on holiday and are so hardwearing'
For savvy travellers, packing cubes are a must – they're a neat and condensed way of organising your clothes, can be lifted out of the suitcase and popped straight into your hotel room wardrobe, and can save you precious case space (and even money too, on excess baggage fees).
As a travel editor, I've used packing cubes in the past – this popular £10 Amazon set – but, although a great price, I found these ones to be very flimsy, and the zips quickly broke on a number of them. However, ahead of a recently long weekend to Spain, I upgraded to these travel editor-approved Briggs & Riley ones – and they made such a big difference.
I'd already heard great things about the Briggs & Riley Packing Cube Sets following on from another trip I took recently with other travel editors; every one of them were either wheeling Briggs & Riley suitcases or had the packing cubes inside, and everyone praised how good they were.
When mine arrived, I could immediately tell they were far superior quality to the ones I'd previously used. Available in three colours, the zips are sturdy, the cubes all fit neatly into the largest one, and the expansion and compression design feature is genius; open it up wide, fill it up with your clothes, then zip it up smaller and tighter to maximise suitcase space.
They're also made from antibacterial treated fabric for odour prevention, and have a useful handle on the size for quick and easy lifting out of cases; they almost look like mini suitcases themselves.
On this particular trip I used the Check-In Packing Cube Set, £99, as I was checking in a medium-sized suitcase, and they fit really well; they'd fit even better in a 'full-size' case. My partner, who was taking a cabin bag, used the Carry-On Packing Cube Set, £79, which were also very spacious; these would still be an excellent option if you wanted to spend a little less.
Because the downside of these is that they're certainly not the cheapest packing cubes on the market. However if you're a regular traveller, I honestly think they'll last you a lifetime, and seriously improve your holiday packing. I won't be without them now.
If you're after a slightly cheaper option but something that's more robust that the bargain Amazon options, I've also heard great things about the Antler Set of 4 Packing Cubes, £50, available in eight stylish colours, while Next's £16 Set of 3 Luggage Packing Cubes are a cute and colourful option.
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It's made from a durable EVA material that doesn't absorb water, making it fully water-resistant and easy to clean, according to the brand. 'I love that the bag stands up by itself and has a wide opening, and while there are holes on the sides, the bottom is solid, so sand doesn't get inside when I put it down on the beach,' she says. You can also personalize your Bogg Bag with attachments, like pouches and water bottle holders, along with charms that snap right into the holes, according to the brand. 'Plus, since it's water-resistant, I can put a wet towel or wet bathing suits in it and not worry,' says Malin. Best budget beach bag Although a waterproof bag is ideal for the beach, this sturdy bag from Muji is my personal go-to while vacationing. It's made from jute, which is a coarse, plant-based fabric, and has a thick, cotton handle that makes carrying it along the sand both easy and comfortable. 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'I also love that you can easily recline to either sit up and chat with friends or lay down and soak in the sun -- plus it has an attached pillow.' Cold drinks are the ultimate oceanside refresher, and this hard cooler is large enough to hold your drinks without being too heavy or bulky. It's compactly sized with a no-sweat exterior, making it great for long stretches of time in the sun. Despite its smaller design, it can hold up to 24 cans and chill them for up to ten days, according to the brand. The stainless steel handle locks in an upright position and has non-slip feet to keep it stable on the sand. Staying hydrated is a major key during summertime, so a reusable water bottle is a no-brainer for the beach. It has dual-wall insulation that keeps drinks cold for up to 24 hours at a time, and is made from a cooling stainless steel, according to the brand. It's also an NBC Select staff favorite — NBC Select commerce editor Lindsay Schneider is a big fan of the bottle's dual sipping system, which she says she 'really likes' because 'you can sip through the straw or throw your head back and sip like you would out of a glass, so it's really versatile,' she says. Stasher bags are a great kitchen companion, but their easy portability also makes them ideal for bringing food to the beach. This set of bowls includes reusable, round-bottomed containers that come in one-cup, two-cup and four-cup sizes — perfect for beach day snacks like fruits, chips and more. Each bowl is made from food-grade silicone, and has a leak-free seal that prevents spills on the sand, while the rounded, bowl shape helps the bags to stand up on their own on your beach blanket. They're dishwasher-safe, and you can also label them with dry-erase markers, according to the brand. Best beach apparel Best beach flip flops Personally, I think flip flops are the ultimate beach sandals, and Havaianas is known for making some of the very best. When I was in Brazil, you couldn't walk down a single street without seeing them all around. This is the brand's classic women's pair — they have a durable rubber sole and a slip-resistant grip, making them great for any wet surfaces, according to the brand. They also have a cushioned and textured footbed for maximum comfort while walking, and are designed to prevent overheating and odor. The flip flops are available in sizes from 6-12, and have a high 4.5-star average rating from 11,829 reviews on Amazon. Polarized sunglasses are a step up from normal UV eye protection, according to optometrists we spoke to — they're ideal for protecting your eyes from glare, especially around water. This pair from Prive Reveaux is an effortless blend of style and safety. They have impact-resistant and scratch-proof lenses, which block 99% of reflected light and 100% of UV light, according to the brand. They're made from a durable cellulose frame, and the cat eye design is bold enough to make a statement, but still work well with any beach look. After receiving a pair from the brand a few years ago, I've worn mine on every trip and during every summer since. Head coverage is a must for any sunny day out, and clothing with UPF protection blocks out the sun, keeping your skin safe from ultraviolet rays. This cap has a UPF rating of 50+, which experts have told us is an 'excellent' level of protection, and is designed to be lightweight and breathable, making it ideal for hotter days out. The cap also has a cooling design, which absorbs water and sweat to cool the hat down to 30 degrees below average body temperature in under a minute, according to the brand. Best beach entertainment Best beach e-reader I've never been much of an e-reader — I much prefer the feel of a physical book in my hands. However, after a few uses, this option from Onyx changed my perspective. It operates a lot like a smartphone, so you can download apps for books, audiobooks, music and more from the Google Play store. Since the slower, ink-paper display makes it somewhat incompatible with most social media apps, it's a great way to disconnect while catching up on your favorite books and podcasts at the beach. It's lightweight, has a great battery life (I used it for over a week without having to charge it), and can hold up to 128 GB of storage, according to the brand. For more on the Boox Palma 2, check out NBC Select editor Jordan Bowman 's review here. Sudoku and crossword puzzles are beachside entertainment classics, but now, true crime fans can take it to the next level with the Murdle puzzle book. It has 100 original murder mystery puzzles of increasing difficulty that include maps, codes, drawings and more, all of which assist you in your quest to root out the murderer. Best beach speaker The JBL Clip 5 is a favorite of our NBC Select staff — Rodriguez loves the loud sound and strong bass it provides, which is ideal for blasting music while at the beach. It has a built-in carabiner that lets the speaker attach to just about anything, and it can also be synced with compatible JBL speakers to play audio simultaneously using JBL's Auracast feature, according to the brand. How to pack for the beach I'll be honest — I'm a certified, tried and true overpacker, which makes packing for the beach a bit tricky. Nobody wants to be lugging a huge, bulging bag around, especially when sometimes, you don't even end up needing everything you brought. However, after years of trial and error, I've developed a few beach packing hacks that have helped me cut down on the clutter and keep my bag light and airy for the oceanside. If you're heading to the beach withfriends or family, take some time to organize with your group beforehand. Discuss who'll bring what so you can avoid bringing along unnecessary gear. For example, only one person needs to bring things like a tent, a speaker, a cooler etc. When I go to the beach with my friends, we also coordinate on supplies like snacks and even communal skin care like body sunscreen and tanning oil, so nobody has to lug along any extra weight. While some beaches are emptier and more remote, others are shopping hubs filled with vendors selling snacks, water shoes, sunglasses and more. Before packing your bag (and if you have the budget), think about what you might want to buy at the beach instead, whether it be a hat, a new pair of sunglasses or even a new beach bag. Buying things at the beach, especially meals, snacks and drinks, can not only make your bag lighter, but also make your packing easier. Lastly, be sure to always leave extra room in your bag. I love the triumphant feeling of getting a stuffed bag to close just as much as the next person, but when it comes to the beach, it's definitely best to let that go. I like to give the items in my bag some extra breathing room, especially in case of additions to the bag throughout the day. What if I want to grab some vacation souvenirs, or stuff in my shorts and cover up while I'm in the water? Leaving space makes room for these possibilities, and is also helpful in accounting for the space taken up by a neatly folded, dry towel in the morning versus a balled up, wet towel at the end of the day. Why trust NBC Select? I am an associate SEO reporter with a lifetime of beach experience who's been covering travel and wellness for two years. For this story, I rounded up the best in beach gear from NBC Select staff, including top-rated picks from previous coverage.
