Packing - space bags?

[mmouse50]

Has anyone ever used the space bags when packing for their trip? How do you squish it for the return trip home?

 

[reiella]

You roll them and push the air out yourself. Looks like one of them is designed as a push down, but pretty much you try to force the air out yourself. So on your return trip, you should anticipate that your spacebags will take up more space.

 

[dis_guy]

I use packing cubes for everything now. They're made of light weight nylon/mesh with zipper closures. Just take them out of your bag and pop it into the hotel's drawers. Done unpacking. As I use clothes they go back into one set aside for laundry. Packing up means putting the cubes back in the bag.

 

[Jestocost]

Has anyone ever used the space bags when packing for their trip? How do you squish it for the return trip home?

If you are driving, no problem. If you are flying, luggage packed using space bags will quickly and easily get over the baggage weight limit.

 

[mmouse50]

Yes I am flying and I hadn't thought of the weight limit . I was trying to figure out how to get the twin mattress there without taking 2 suitcases. It will roll up small so I guess I will just put it in the big shoulder bag that I put under my seat.

You don't think that TSA will have to screen it outside the big bag do you? The big bag will go through the X-ray machine.

 

[si-am]

I use space bags for international travel (ie, for when I'm going to be gone for over a week). They work great, and I've never exceeded the luggage weight limit.

 

[BearcatsFan]

I also use the travel space bags that you roll up to get the air out. I've never been over weight limit, either.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I tried. It worked fine when I packed at home but when I tried to use them again for the trip home, zippers broke and I couldn't get them squished well.

 

[fitgirl36]

I used 1 gallon bags for DD's outfits and 2-1/2 gallon bags for DH's and my outfits. They worked great! I will definitely use that method next time!

 

[Melodious]

I used space bags when I volunteered in West Africa. I was worried that it would push me over the weight limit too, but it didn't. If you can weigh it beforehand, do. Just be sure to get the type of bag that you roll up yourself and squish the air out of for the routine trip because there are two types, one that uses a vaccuum hose

 

[Mom2Luci]

I used to use them all the time for business travel and they worked out great, even for 2 week trips.

 

[Jestocost]

The thing to remember is that the space bags don't reduce weight; only volume. If something weights 20 lbs. it will weight 20 lbs. in a space bag. And if the space bag allows you to fit three 20 lbs. items in the same amount of space you would be at 60 lbs. and over the weight limit for a checked bag.

Space bags will not automatically make you go over the weight limit but they will make it easier to do so.

 

[jenjie]

How about an air mattress pump? They don't take up much space or weight.