The Best Cable Organizer Bags & Cases

Buying Guide

Since you can easily end up with a large collection of cables for devices such as phones, tablets, cameras and gaming consoles, finding a way to organize them is crucial. Not only do you want to avoid having your cables get lost around the home, but you also want to prevent tangles and damage. Cable organizer bags and cases offer a good solution since they provide a safe place for storage and make it easier to find what you need.

Taking a look at your cable collection will give you an idea of how big a case you need. A large organizer offers the most flexibility for current and future cables, but takes up more space and is less portable. Therefore, you might opt for a bigger one for storing cables at home. Then, you can get something smaller and lighter to hold just a few essential cables when you travel. You can also compromise with a medium-sized bag or case.

Along with selecting the right size, consider how many and what kinds of compartments you get with a specific bag or case. You’ll want to make sure there are enough compartments for all the cables you want to store and that they’re big enough. Common compartment types include elastic loops, zippered mesh pockets, open pockets and special holders for items such as memory cards and tablet pencils.

Larger cable organizer bags tend to allow you to store a wide variety of items and might even have dividers you can move around as you see fit. You’ll usually have large pockets inside these kinds of bags, and they can handle phones and small tablets along with cables and chargers. In addition, you may still get plenty of elastic holders and mesh pockets to secure smaller items.

Compact cable organizer cases usually focus on compartments that fit small items such as cables and memory cards. These organizers often have a latch on the front or zipper and may open up flat. While you’ll find plenty of specialty pockets with such cases, you won’t get much open space like with larger bags. However, these cases may still offer a space big enough to fit a phone or computer mouse.

Consider how easy your cable organizer is to carry around. Traditional bags usually have a handle, but this isn’t always the case with small cable organizers, which can be easily stashed in a backpack. For your convenience, you may want to look for something that has a carrying strap.

• If you have long cables, you can find it hard to properly wrap them up for storage. That’s where plastic zip ties can come in handy, and some organizers might even give you a few. Single-use zip ties usually need cutting to release your cable, so these are better for cables you don’t use often. You can also find reusable zip ties for frequently-used cables.
• Be careful when placing your cables inside the organizer bag or case. You never want to force a cable into a small compartment, since this can damage it. In addition, take care when using zip ties: avoid tightening it so much that it causes stress on the cable.
• Keep your unused cables properly stored away for as long as possible to get the best results with your cable organizer bag or case.
• When taking a cable out of the organizer, inspect it before use. Check especially for fraying: using a frayed cable can harm your device or even cause a fire. If in doubt, don’t risk it — replace the cable.
• To reduce the chance of your cables getting damaged, consider putting special protectors around delicate items before storing them. These work well with headphones or phone charging cables that get used a lot.
• If you plan to carry your cable organizer bag or pouch outside, look for one that is either waterproof or water-resistant. For extra protection, put the organizer inside a backpack, briefcase or even a plastic bag when going out.
• Look for a bag with good padding, especially if you’ll be storing fragile items.
• Once you have your cable organizer, you’ll want to figure out the best use for each compartment. Some will have obvious special uses, and others can be used based on your personal preference. You’ll generally get small mesh pockets, large pockets and zippered pockets that are great for things that might slip out. Elastic bands work well for wrapped cables.