Are Space Bags worth it?

[Laurajean1014]

Please tell me if you think Space Bags are useful and economical for traveling.

Is it better than rolling? I can get a lot in a suitcase by rolling. Also, do you need a special feature on a vacuum (we are staying in OKW).

 

[Jaci]

I love my normal space bags at home. Just a hose attachment is needed for them. However, there are "travel" space bags that have a special valve and don't require a vacuum. I think they work by rolling the bag to squeeze the air out. I hadn't thought about getting them for our trip. We will be there four nights and I was hoping to just carry on our bags (planning for three carry ons and we have four tickets).

HTH
Jaci

 

[Tim Smith]

I would not recommend the space bags. We used them once and within a 3 week period they would no longer hold a seal. They are a bit to fragile to hold up for the long run or any sort of travel abuse. Just my 2 cents.

tim

 

[ibleedblue]

I second Tim's opinon! We've got three and none of them hold a seal longer than a couple of weeks. We thought they were great when we first used them and we got an entire bed in a bag down to about 5" high. Then a week later it had fully expanded. We had the same success with all three bags.

 

[DisKim]

I also had trouble with space bags. They don't stay sealed and they rip easily. They are definitely not worth the money.

 

[mapmakerj]

I agree about the space bags (mine ripped in months), but I absolutely love the pack-mate bags that you just roll the air out of. I ordered mine from QVC several years ago and they are still in perfect shape. I have used the medium and small ones on at least 25 different trips (clean, dirty and wet clothes inside) and have used the large ones at home for sleeping bags. Not a tear on them and they still work perfectly. I now saw 2 tv ads for the same type of bags made by Coleman (suppose to be in the camping dept. of stores) and Samsonite (by the luggage and in their retail stores)

 

[TonyS20]

Originally posted by mapmakerj
I absolutely love the pack-mate bags that you just roll the air out of. I ordered mine from QVC several years ago and they are still in perfect shape

I own these same bags. I have used them on several trips and they still hold the seal. My DH and I plan to use them again for our October trip. I use them at least once a month when we go to visit our parents, and they are still in great condition!

 

[ceecee]

Mine did not hold a seal either, I got them from QVC. The large one was so heavy we couldn't even lift it, so we put it under the bed! The clothes were major wrinkled when we took them out.

 

[plummer925]

I have some that I absolutely LOVE!!!

I got them at LL Bean ($15 for 2 different sizes). They are the "roll" type. The small sized fits perfect in a small suitcase, and the larger fits great in a larger suitcase (one you would "check" verses carryon).

The best thing about LL Bean is that it's got their satisfaction guarantee - if it breaks, return it for a refund or exchange!! I've used mine several times and have not had any problem with them!!!

 

[Bildmouse]

I just buy 2 gallon storage bags. They have worked really well for us. I roll our clothes, put them in the bags and squeeze the air out.

 

[Laurajean1014]

Thank you for the great feedback!

 

[swilshire]

We bought nine of these at the Samsonite outlet store when we went to London with the hs band. Because of the instruments, we were only allowed one bag each. The bags are the only thing that saved us. They also had them at the Coleman outlet, but not in the size we preferred.

Of the 9, one did not seal well, but just for this one trip, they were well worth what we paid. The dirty clothes were isolated and the sweaters and sweats reduced a lot in size.

I just noticed the ones in the LL Bean catalog yesterday. I think I'll order some of them next time.

Sheila

 

[disneysteve]

Originally posted by Jaci
there are "travel" space bags that have a special valve and don't require a vacuum. I think they work by rolling the bag to squeeze the air out.

These are the kind I have. They work fine. Stuff does tend to get wrinkled so I use them for things that don't really wrinkle like socks, underwear, t-shirts, etc. I don't use them for pants or nice shirts.

By the way, if you are talking about home use, you don't need to spend money on fancy bags. All you need is a heavy duty trash bag and a rubber band. Use your vacuum to suck out the air, twist the end of the bag right away and wrap a rubber band tightly around the end. We keep our comforters and extra pillow stored that way with no problems.

 

[cpawson]

I use the big 3 gal. bags --- put my clothes in them -- smooth then out --- take them outside put a towel over them and roll
my car over them --- oh I forgot to say that I zip lock them ALMOST completely then I run them over. Works great !

I put one bag under each of the 4 wheels.

The first time I did it was because my husband wasn't home to squeeze all the air out --- but I soon found out that the car works
better then he does.

 

[Mic]

I bought the Coleman brand space bags at Walmart in the camping section(the medium size), and used one for my trip to WDW a few weeks ago. I liked the bag: I was able to get 4 pairs of blue jean shorts and 5 Disney t-shirts in the bag, and just "rolled" all the air out of it. I needed to make room in my suitcase for Easter items from the Easter Bunny, and the bag really made a difference. I would like to know where someone found the 2-gallon size storage bags. I used to pack my kids' clothes in the 1-gallon size bags for WDW trips, so each morning they just reached into a drawer and pulled out a baggie that had the whole outfit inside: shorts, t-shirt, socks, and hairbow. It made getting dressed so easy because everyone matched without asking me what shirt went with what shorts.

 

[wdwstar]

what are the prices ? i seen i think samsonite in the travel and you got 2 small and i think 2 med. for $13 ?

 

[powellrj]

we have started using the 2 gallon size ziploc bags when we travel. They really do save space and are much cheaper.

 

[pampam]

I used the garbage bag and elastic band on a vacuum for a trip to Disney, and it worked perfectly. I had packed some food, and some clothing that I did not take back home, so there was lots of space in my suitcase when I returned home.

 

[Tigger1]

I tried space bags with no luck. I then tried the garbage bag thing. I got all the air out with the vacumn but it did not last long. I could imagine going to disney with all these space bags, arriving at check in, as the cm pulls my suitcase out, Burst the bags are filled with air and the luggage opens up. Or before I arrive, all the bags expand in the van.

If you could get the garbage bags to work it would be great for raked leaves. You could really stuff the bag.

Tigger

 

[disneysteve]

Originally posted by Tigger1
If you could get the garbage bags to work it would be great for raked leaves. You could really stuff the bag.

That's an interesting idea! But you'd have to find a way to keep the vacuum from sucking up the leaves - you can't suck up a pillow. Maybe you could put some type of screen over the nozzle. I might have to try that next fall.