Are tiny pouches the new packing trend? I tried several sizes to see how they travel

Bellroy’s new Lite Pocket Trio features three small pouches, two of which are the size of a coin purse. Initially, I thought they’d be too tiny to be useful. But after going hands-on with them, I’ve come around to the idea that a few packable mini pouches might be good for organizing cables, power adapters, and other small electronics.

How small can a packing pouch be?

The Lite Pocket Trio comes with three pouches for $39. They’re made from the company’s Dura Lite Nylon material. They feel durable in the hand but are ultra-lightweight. They’re easy to squeeze down flat. They come with a small carabiner that can be switched around to be used on any of them.

The largest of the bunch is rectangular and measures 3.5 by 6.7 by 1.8 inches. It’s big enough to hold sunglasses, pens, and all kinds of cables and power adapters. I could probably make my iPhone 17 Pro inside, without a case, but it would be tight.

The other two smaller ones are nearly the same size, but slightly different. The smaller of the two is curved and measures 2.8 by 4.1 by 1.4 inches. Despite fitting in the palm of my hand, the smallest square one can still hold credit cards, AirPods, adapters, and an AirTag. It’s like a fat, flexible wallet.

Versatility is the key to packing small

While the small, curved pouch might be the least functional, I don’t think it’s useless. An Insta360 Go camera fits inside. It’s still capable of holding an Anker Nano Charger and USB-C cable, too. Having that clipped inside or outside a backpack might be all you need.

I do think the other two pouches will be the most used, at least in my packing. Particularly, I like the largest rectangle one. It’s an ideal size to put all those fiddly things I use on an airplane. I could put a charger, cable, small MagSafe battery, Moft stand, Bose Earbuds, and even a few extras like Chapstick.

Versatility is the key to making the most of these pouches though. Once you get to your destination, that rectangle pouch can then be your carrying case for sunglasses, a hotel key, cash, a small tube of sunscreen, or things like that. Then it can be hooked to a backpack. All of these are small enough that they can easily be emptied and switched around for different uses.

The other small Bellroy pouches

If the Lite Pocket Trio interests you but are too small, then I would check out the company’s new Cinch Pouch. I’ve tried this travel accessory too, and I love its shape and size.

It’s more of a cylinder and measures 5.9 by 3.9 by 3.9 inches—0.8 liters. It seems downright spacious compared to the Trio, without being big or bulky. This pouch would also make a great airplane companion with cables, a power adapter, earbuds, and all kinds of extras. It has a dedicated AirTag slot inside to track it down if it gets lost.

The Cinch Pouch gets its name from the drawstring closure. No zippers, just yank it closed. This one is versatile as well. You could fold the sides down and use it as a catchall on your hotel nightstand to collect coins, receipts, and other trinkets that always get strewn about.

For people who want to keep their accessory bags small but still want just a little bit more room, there’s the Laneway Daily Pouch. It can be used for travel or just daily use. It can be a toiletry bag or one for electronics. Its simple internal organization allows it to be anything, to anyone.

The variety of incremental sizes is great for people who know exactly what they want to pack. It can make choosing one over another a little challenging. For my needs of carrying a few tech accessories, the Cinch Pouch is among my favorites. It can be stretched out when need be, but it doesn’t allow me to overpack and bring more gear than I should.