Does anyone use Space Bags for packing?

[opus_00]

I just bought a few Space Bags (vacuum compression bags) to use for packing in hopes that it would save space in our suitcases. Since we know the temps can vary wildly this time of year, we're packing quite a lot of clothes for us and the kids. We bought the travel kind that do not require a vacuum. Any comments on how well these work? I'm having trouble rolling them tight enough to squeeze much air out of them, so I don't know how much space they'll really save. Also, what do you do with your dirty clothes? Do you put them back into the Space Bags at the end of your trip? Do you clean out the bags once you get home? I hate the thought of using the same bags for both clean and dirty clothes!

Paula

 

[taeja71]

Don't over stuff a space bag. I always wondered why my MIL's luggage was so heavy. She only brings one piece of luggage, but its very heavy. She has maybe one outfit for each bag (maybe two?). So, if you can imagine, she had a lot of space bags. I saw my MIL unpacking one night and was amazed at how many space bags she had! I don't know what you'd do about the dirty clothes. Your idea of rerolling the dirty clothes in the same bag doesn't sound like a bad idea. Just keep in mind you'll be ironing alot. My MIL says that's the only down part to the bags, is the ironing.

 

[opus_00]

Maybe I am overstuffing the bags, then. When you look at the pictures on the box, it looks like they put a whole lot more into those bags than I do, though!

Paula

 

[Mac and Us]

I love space bags! Some people will suggest ziplock bags......they don't work as well. They somehow fill back up with air and then your clothes can move around in the bags and get wrinkled.

We have been on 2 cruises and only take the minimum clothing. There are 3 of us me, DH, DD (3) and we only take 3 small suitcases (the kind you can bring on the airplane and store overhead).

I never have to iron. The trick is to lay the item out and smooth out all wrinkles. I fold shirts like they do in the stores folding each side over about 3-4 inches (vertical) and then one horizontal fold (that's hard to explain). I then carefully put the items in the spacebag, lay it on the floor and carefully squeeze ALL the air out. Works like a charm and allows you to fit more into a suitcase.

On the return trip I fold the clothes and put them back into the spacebags. I don't worry about wrinkles so it's easier packing for the return trip.

 

[opus_00]

Mac and Us,

That's how I fold my clothes at home, so as to minimize ironing! But does this really work when you use the Space Bags? It seems that the clothes get so wrinkled when you roll the bags to compress that I can't imagine not needing to iron them. Once I squeeze the air out, the bag and all of its contents is so distorted and wrinkled! Do you use another method to squeeze out the air rather than rolling to avoid the wrinkling?

I'm impressed that you could fit all of your stuff into one small suitcase per person. Do you bring one change of clothes per day? More? Less? For our 6-day Disney trip I have one medium suitcase containing both of our kids' clothes, and one huge suitcase containing my clothes and other stuff I need for the kids that didn't fit into their suitcase. DH hasn't packed his stuff yet, but he usually fits it all into a duffle bag. I'm bringing one change of clothes per day per person, but I'm bringing both long AND short sleeved shirts for each day for each of us since the weather varies so much this time of year. So that ended up being a lot of clothes. How much do you allow per person?

Paula

 

[Mac and Us]

On the first 7 day cruise we also had a garment bag full of clothes for the formal nights and the 3 small suitcases (used space bags).

This last cruise (Jan 05) we ditched the formal nights as we didn't think it was worth dragging all that extra clothing & shoes for the same quality food that you get the other nights in the dining room (Carnival Cruise). We just ate buffet on the formal nights. Our daughter ate dinner with the camp carnival kids.

Anyway, this past cruise we brought:
for the dining room - 2 pairs dockers, 4 short sleeved collared shirts, and casual shoes for DH. I had 1 pr black dress pants and 2 shirts, 1 twill skirt and 2 shirts and a pair of flat dress sandals (they fit in suitcase better than heels would). For DD(3) I brought a couple of sundresses for the dining room.

For everyday wear my DH & I each brought 4 prs of shorts (wore each twice), a fresh shirt/underwear for each day. For DD(3) I packed 1 to 2 changes of clothing. Mostly shirts as I figured she could wear her shorts twice if needed. We each had 1 pair of casual sandals.

We had 2 backpacks in which we carried bathroom stuff, cameras & misc. The other backpack had our DD's stuffed animals, coloring books and a few other things to keep her occupied. We also had a smaller bag with her DVD player and DVD's.

I still came home with a lot of unworn items for our daughter.

We camp a lot so it seems like I'm packing all the time. My husband can only carry so much and I get the remainder & our DD! I used to over pack but as I get older my back yells louder each time.

I buy colors that match everything else and can be worn with multiple things. I have trouble with my feet so I have 1 pair of Birkenstock sandals. I'm also not a shoe person so I don't need to match my shoes with my outfits. Basic black or brown for me.

The trick with the space bags is to lay it flat on the floor, put your knee on top of the clothing (middle of the bag), start rolling the end (the zipper end) towards the clothing but stop when you get to the clothing. Use your knee to move around and push the remaining air out of the bag (while holding firmly on the end you just rolled). The air will come out of the bottom and your clothes will be snug in the bag.

It takes a few times to practice. The first time I rolled the entire bag and found the bag to be distorted and the clothes clumped up. I found my method leaves the clothing flat and still gets the air out.

hope this helps.

 

[Mac and Us]

Opus 00 -- one more thing regarding your question as I what I allow.....

We live in the North East. We left our winter jackets & things in the car at the airport. We then put a sweatshirt on and windbreaker on top. We wore jeans and sneakers. We shed clothing as we got further south. We wore the same jeans on the return trip. I washed mine out during the cruise because I spilled coffee on them but other than that we didn't wear them during the cruise. We did use our sweatshirts and windbreakers a few days.

I would only pack 2 sweatshirts each. I like the zipped ones for our daughter because if she gets hot we can unzip it instead of taking it off. Her preference is to run around in the buff. We can usually convince her to leave her clothes/shoes on in public but it takes some work!

I'm a list person. I make lot's of them. When packing I also lay everything out on the bed putting the shorts down first then finding a couple of tops to match. I then move to the next outfit. If I have an item that doesn't seem to match anything else I leave it home. I don't care how attached I am to it. It's not worth dragging it with me if I'm not going to wear it.

I also have a small plastic clothes line with 8 or so plastic clothes pins attached to it. If I have to rinse something out I hang it on the clothes line in the shower. I also use it for wet bathing suits. I got it at the dollar store. It's oval and it's approx. 9" long so it packs nicely.

 

[cdrn1]

I did 10 days in Italy with one carry-on size suitcase using spacebags. I was amazed at how much I got in it. It did get kind of heavy but not unmanageable. Things did not wrinkle badly at all. An added bonus is that when my bag was searched the customs agents didn't have to touch my items and they could see what was in each bag.

 

[Mickey's Girl]

This may be a silly question, but... I carry my pillows with us, 2 in each space bag, and put them on the bottom of my suitcases. A friend told me today that airport security may make me take them out for them to check if our suitcase is one that is chosen to be inspected Anyone had any problems like that? I don't want to be trying to re-pack my pillows in the middle of an airport