Small gear is what goes missing in a 4WD: charging cables, straps, the head torch, the bits that end up loose in a drawer and covered in dust. The Sea to Summit Hydraulic Packing Cubes are built for that job. They look like packing cubes, but they’re made like dry bags, with welded seams and a dust-proof rating. We paid $80 for the set of three.
What’s in the box
A set of three zipped cubes in three sizes and three colours: an extra small in green, a small in red and a medium in black. Each has a see-through front panel and a grab handle, and the two smaller ones fit inside the medium.
What we like
- Dust-proof: IP6X rated
- See-through panel
- Three sizes that nest together
- A different colour for each size
- Grab handles for hanging or lashing
- Light: 124.7 g for the set
What we don’t
- Pricey at $80 for three small cubes
- Water resistant, not waterproof
- Biggest cube holds only 3.5 litres
Quick Specs
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Sea to Summit |
| Material | TPU-laminated 70D ripstop nylon |
| Weight | 124.7 gfor the set |
| XS (green) | 0.75 L14.5 × 9.5 × 6 cm |
| S (red) | 1.5 L21 × 11 × 7 cm |
| M (black) | 3.5 L26.5 × 14 × 10 cm |
| Rating | IP6X dust-proofWater resistant |
Dust and water protection
This is what sets them apart from ordinary packing cubes. The fabric is 70D ripstop nylon laminated with TPU, the seams are welded instead of stitched, and the zips are PU coated. Together that earns an IP6X rating, the highest there is for dust.
In a 4WD that matters more than it sounds. Fine dust gets into drawers and tubs on any dirt road, and into anything packed in a fabric bag. These keep it out.
For water, they’re described as water resistant. Rain, spray and a wet bench are fine. They aren’t rated for going under water, so for a kayak or a creek crossing, a roll-top dry bag is still the right tool.
Sizes and what fits
The three sizes cover the small stuff. From our own car:
- Medium (3.5 L): charging cables, leads and a head torch.
- Small (1.5 L): bungee cords and straps.
- Extra small (0.75 L): a brush and small attachments.
Even the medium is not big. These are cubes for cables, tools, toiletries or a first aid kit, not for a week of clothes. Sea to Summit sells larger L and XL cubes separately.
The set comes in sizes XS, S and M. You don’t have to buy the set, though: Amazon also sells the Hydraulic Packing Cubes one at a time. On that page you can swap between three colours, Picante (red), Jet Black and Laurel Wreath (green), and between the sizes, which include an L that isn’t in the set. That’s handy if you want one more of a size you use a lot, a bigger cube, or all your cubes in one colour. When we looked, the set of three cost less than buying three single cubes.
Finding your gear
The front of each cube is a translucent panel, so you can see roughly what’s inside without unzipping it. With a different colour for each size, it doesn’t take long to learn which one holds what: the red one is the straps, the black one is the cables.
They sit neatly together in the boot, and when they’re empty the two small ones nest inside the medium.
Handles and hanging
Each cube has a flat grab handle welded to one end, with the size letter moulded into it. The handle is stiff enough to pull the cube out of a tight drawer, and it has a slot you can put a carabiner or a strap through.
That makes them easy to hang up: from the grab handle above the car door, a hook in the rooftop tent or a branch at camp. The carabiner isn’t included.
Conclusion: Sea to Summit Hydraulic Packing CubesConclusion
The Sea to Summit Hydraulic Packing Cubes are small, tough organisers that keep dust out. The set gives you three sizes in three colours, each with a see-through panel, welded seams and a grab handle, and all three together weigh 124.7 g. They’re pricey for three small cubes, they’re water resistant and not submersible, and the biggest holds only 3.5 litres. I paid $80 for the set. For keeping cables, straps and other small gear organised and clean in a 4WD, they’re a very good buy.
A set of three dust-proof, water-resistant packing cubes (0.75, 1.5 and 3.5 L) with a see-through panel, welded seams and grab handles, at 124.7 g for the set.
They’re pricey at $80 and the biggest is only 3.5 L. They suit small gear in a dusty 4WD.
- 4WD tourers
- Car campers
- Travellers
Yes, if dust is your problem. $80 is a lot for three small cubes, but they’re made like dry bags, not like ordinary fabric packing cubes. For clothes in a suitcase, cheaper cubes will do.
