Has anyone used the vacuum storage bags in their baggage?

[daffidyll]

Okay, another question.....has anyone used those vacuum storage bags for their clothes in their baggage? If so, has it worked without leaking air? Even when I've tried them at home most of them usually start expanding, even if very slowly over time, so wondering how well they will actually work for flying.

 

[PrincessSitka]

Ok I have a question about this. After you get to your room and you open the bag. How do you get them back home in the bag?

 

[jennib5426]

I have used these bags for many trips. The ones I use I got at Target and you pack the clothes in them and roll them up to get all the air out. No vacuum needed. They are like a giant ziplock bag, but stronger.

They do save room but then you over pack your suit case and it is over weight.
I like them because I can have one for shorts, one for tee's, one for tanks.
My large suitcase can hold 4 or 5 of these bags.

It is no fun to repack the bags on you last night of vacation, it takes longer than regular packing.

Overall I like them, but I only use them when I am going on a long vacation or a cruise.

 

[cirquelovers]

I have traveled with those kind of bags and it worked for me. Just remember that you can fit more in so the weight increases. I had to adjust for that as my bag weighed over 50lbs one time

I have only used them when visiting my Mother, so I use her vacuum to seal them back up. Actually the first time they were her bags and clothes I was transporting to her! So I suppose if you stay somewhere that had hoses for their vacuums you'd be alright.

 

[BecBennett]

What about when you get the clothes out of the bag, aren't they all wrinkled??

 

[mindylovesmickey]

What about when you get the clothes out of the bag, aren't they all wrinkled??

Not if you lay everything in there flat. Also, the type of materials has something to do with how wrinkled or not things get. It's not so hard to run an iron over things if necessary, the majority of the hotels have irons in them now.

 

[Czardas]

We use these all the time, as we often end up skiing on our vactations and packing ski suits etc. takes up a heap of room in our suitcases, so they are very handy.
The first time I used them, they were the vacuum suction ones, which eventually leaked the air back into them and then you have the added problem of finding a vac. at the other end. Now we use the ones that you roll all the air out of. I highly recommend them.

 

[daffidyll]

Thanks! I have a couple of the no-vac ones. I tried it once but just couldn't seem to get the air out like the vacuum does. Maybe I was doing it wrong, will have to give it another go. I just wanted to make sure if we do end up using them if they do expand it won't end up making our luggage burst open. Of course, I also never thought about when we go through customs either. If they were to make us open the bags then we will be in trouble because we will still have on more domestic flight after our international. Didn't even think about the extra weight with having more space either....thanks for that!

 

[DevilDuckie]

Thanks! I have a couple of the no-vac ones. I tried it once but just couldn't seem to get the air out like the vacuum does. Maybe I was doing it wrong, will have to give it another go. I just wanted to make sure if we do end up using them if they do expand it won't end up making our luggage burst open. Of course, I also never thought about when we go through customs either. If they were to make us open the bags then we will be in trouble because we will still have on more domestic flight after our international. Didn't even think about the extra weight with having more space either....thanks for that!

Try sealing the zipper most of the way and then pressing down (I lie on the big ones) to sqeeze the remaining air out the opening before sealing.

 

[MommytoaSweetie]

We used some Space Bags (no vac) for our last WDW trip and ended up returning them because they were too much of a pain for us, but maybe we're just too lazy.

 

[Mrs. Bee]

I thought about using them before. But most airlines open and look through each checked bag. I always have a little sheet of paper in my bag saying it was inspected. And last time they really looked because my stuff was all rearranged. If they open a space saver bag, how will they repack your bag? Not worth the risk. I just pack less or bring two bags.

 

[tink2dw]

Ok! We just did this with the vacuum Space Bags. We have small suitcases on wheels.

We loaded the 1st layer of clothes, jeans, then fitted the bag into our suitcases, and add shirts with underwear placed in the folds in case the space bag was removed from the suitcase.

Once we had our clothes in and were ready to use the vacuum, we placed the cases on the floor
[This is the most important Step!!]

Then as you vacuum out the air, you stand on the bag and clothes to work out any lumps, and get everything compacted, then seal it. We used new space bags so they didn't leak. We knew we were only taking one suitcase each, so we could board the plane with them. No accidents happened.

When we got to the Hotel in San Diego, we opened the space bags and used clothes for 3 days, but everything was so compacted it stay that way. But when we had to leave, the hotel didn't have a hose vacuum. No big deal!! They were in the suitcase so we sat on the bags and worked the air out so we could zip the suitcases.

But we also had plastic laundry bags from the hotel to use for laundry and a car to get to DL.

At DL we did laundry so we started with fresh clean clothes. So at the end of our trip we packed the used clothes in the space bags. Then used maintenance depts Shop Vac, to seal the bags while walking on the lumps and compacting everything. Then I packed my clean clothes around the space bag.

I think I liked the Giant Zip-lock bags better for packing, they fit better in the suitcase. We use the sit and squish method, then finish zipping.

I also like the Travel Space Bags, but rolling only works till most of the air is out, then you must use the sit and squish method.

We all had 1 extra bag, Dh had a tummy pack, Dd and I had large bags that held our purses, music, Disney Docs and my planning Folder with all the flight info, hotels, google driving maps, passes, coupons and a sweat shirt.

Plus I had 1 more medium size bag with All my Diabetic supplys in it including Special K bars, and Star Crunchs both saved me 3 times from diabetic lows.

As we never Checked our bags they were only x-rayed at our local airport and at LAX. Then we boarded with them.

No one thumbed through our clothes or broke the zippers, and stole what they liked.[local tsa agents arrested and fired for stealing, cameras and medicines and the like from suitcases that were checked!!! BIG new story here!]

 

[tink2dw]

did any one ever read this?

 

[Boston Tea Party]

did any one ever read this?

I just did.

Couldn't find the ones that you don't need a vacuum for. Are you saying that sit and squish works for the vacuum ones,too?

 

[Judy from Boise]

sounds like a lot less trouble to travel light

 

[Mrs. Bee]

sounds like a lot less trouble to travel light

some of us have trouble with that though. haha. i'd be one of them. i usually bring two smallish/mediumish sized suit cases and a carryon. even if i'm only staying 6 or 7 days.

 

[tink2dw]

Our suitcases are so small as it is, it's hard to have 3 days packed in there. We were going 10 days all toll so we packed for 5 days and did laundry on day 5.

I wish I had brought at least 1 more shirt. As it was at the Disney Outlet Store I bought a Pixie shirt $9.99 reg. $38. and a matching Pixie Sweatshirt for $19.99 reg $42. It was so cold, windy and rainy 1/27/08 I was glad I had them under my winter coat!

 

[DevilDuckie]

I just did.

Couldn't find the ones that you don't need a vacuum for. Are you saying that sit and squish works for the vacuum ones,too?

The ones I have work well. They are called Pack Mates. They have a website.

 

[doombuggy]

Like devilduckie, I use packmates. i bought them from QVC and ended up buying 2 or 3 other sets. I use them to store off-season clothes (although since I moved to FL, I don't switch 'em as much...). The are great, you put your clothes in, seal the bag, and push the air out. I tend to "lean" on mine when i do this. Yes, you can get more into the bag, but I have never been over on the required weight.

If clothes are kept in there for a length of time (like weeks) they can get wrinkled. I don't usually have problems when going on vacation - in fact, i will probably pack for my trip on Saturday tonight.

I highly recommend this product.

 

[Leofoenget]

Okay, another question.....has anyone used those vacuum storage bags for their clothes in their baggage? If so, has it worked without leaking air? Even when I've tried them at home most of them usually start expanding, even if very slowly over time, so wondering how well they will actually work for flying.

I used them once when I went to Guatemala. They were the travel ones where you ROLL the air out. Yah they worked but I felt it was overkill. Way too much work. As for the wrinkles I brought a thing of wrinkle releaser spray. The next trip I got the "pack it" folders by Eagle Creek. Those are great. You fold the clothes a certian way and wrap it in these folder things and the clothes do not wrinkle. Here's a thought. Pack less and DO LAUNDRY.