Everyone’s got a packing strategy: roll it, fold it, throw it all in at the last minute. Many travelers swear by packing cubes to keep like things with like things, dirty and dusty clothing away from clean clothing, and to make it far easier to compress your clothing (in some cases) and pack more in your bag. Lightweight cubes compress your clothes without adding much weight to your suitcase, allowing you to fit your vacation necessities into a carry-on bag. Water-repellent fabric is helpful in case you’re multitasking while packing, or a liquid container breaks in transit. The ultralight silnylon ripstop is great for lightening the load, but often gets caught in the packing cube’s zipper. Patagonia Black Hole Cube 6L Burly polyester ripstop with a weatherproof TPU laminate and durable water-repellent finish fabric may add 7 ounces to your bag, but the hard-core bag can also be lashed on the outside of your pack or duffel without getting mangled. REI Co-op Expandable Packing Cube Set Vitals: REI Co-op Expandable Packing Cube Set, $29.50 from www.rei.com