An improved random packing is the subject of the present invention. The packing element comprises a generally spherically shaped member which can be a perfect sphere, an ellipse, or some variation on either of the foregoing. The sphere is a hollow body having inner and outer surfaces with a plurality of openings passing through the body. A hypothetical axis passing through the sphere defines circular openings at both ends and the openings in between these two ends are generally elongated. The solid walls which form the sphere are of sufficient thickness so as to accommodate a plurality of indentations, some of which are formed in the solid walls and other indentations being formed coincidentally with the elongated openings between the solid wall sections. The indentations are characterized by curvilinear surfaces so that the total surface area presented by the inner surface (S.sub.1) and all of the remaining surfaces (S.sub.2) are at least twice the area of solid sphere of the same diameter with no indentations.