Packing with Space Bags

[TPCShauna]

We'll be at the World Dec. 7-15 so the weather will be somewhat unpredictable. Last year was shorts and t-shirt weather. Year before was jeans and sweatshirts. With the new airline restrictions and fees on extra bags, I'd like to limit our luggage. I've been checking out the Space Bags at my local store and they look like they would be a great option to pack a lot in less space.

My questions:
- Has anyone used these?
- How did it work out?
- What did you use to get the air out for the return trip?

TIA!

 

[disneyag]

They sell travel space bags that don't require a vacuum--you just roll them to get the air out.

They work well. However, with luggage weight limits being tightly enforced these days, be careful that you aren't so "efficient" in your packing that you have 70 pound suitcases!!!

 

[TPCShauna]

Ooooo, TRAVEL space bags! I haven't seen those!

Thanks for the weight tip. It's not really a weight but rather a bulk issue for us. Being Pooh sized means my clothes take up more space. We will also be attending a wedding before we hit WDW so we'll need nice clothes for that as well.

Our airline allows one free checked bag per person and we can easily get all of our stuff in those and be under the weight limit if we use the space bags. I just couldn't figure out the vacuum thing. Thanks!

 

[shoes99]

Instead of space bags, I use the Hefty 2.5 gallon zip bags. I've had bad luck with ripping the space bags so I like the Hefty bags better. They work well. I pack everything except dress clothes in the bags. Any dress clothes I put in the bags you get from dry cleaning. Just got back from a 7 night Magic cruise and I fit everything in one piece of luggage (47 lbs weight)...
I found my bags in Target or Shoprite.

 

[MommytoaSweetie]

Great question, I was thinking of this, too! Not only will we need sweatshirts and "layering" clothing, but I also want to bring my own pillow which certainly doesn't weigh a lot, but will add space to my suitcase! I'm not sure it'll fit in a bag, though...

 

[Deb & Bill]

...Our airline allows one free checked bag per person and we can easily get all of our stuff in those and be under the weight limit if we use the space bags. I just couldn't figure out the vacuum thing. Thanks!

Even with the "one free checked bag" there may be a weight limitation on your one free checked bag.

 

[MinnieLee]

I just finished packing with the travel space bags (no vacuum needed). You roll is out from the zipper end to a "valve" at the end of the bag. I didn't think is was going to work but sure enough it rolled out perfectly compressed and flat. Problem - it does give you more space in your luggage and when you see the extra room you have a tendency to pack more. SW has a 50 pound limit on each bag on be careful.

 

[Kim1964]

I used the giant no name brand ziploc type bags for this trip. I bought them at Dollar Tree and they worked great. I just packed our stuff, zipped the bag almost all the way, then pressed the air out and finished zipping. They were sturdy and held up well.....I could get at least one more trip out of them.

 

[hearts8701]

with a family of 5 i LOVE them i can fit 5 full outfits and a sweatshirt in a small bag lots of room for shoes in my suitcase!!!!!!!!

 

[Pumba's Dad]

It must be me, but when I've used the space bags, the clothes appears to weigh heavier...

They are great, especially for the trip back home. You can put stinky and wet clothes in them until you can wash them.

 

[holly7347]

They sell travel space bags that don't require a vacuum--you just roll them to get the air out.

They work well. However, with luggage weight limits being tightly enforced these days, be careful that you aren't so "efficient" in your packing that you have 70 pound suitcases!!!

I have used that type before and they were great. It was for our honeymoon cruise 7 years ago. I just didn't want to deal with a ton of bags and we only had 2 suitcases anyway so instead of trying to borrow suitcases we used space bags to pack. Some of the items did come out a bit wrinkled but most hotels have irons available in the rooms so that wasn't a problem. I was just happy to only have a couple bags to deal with.

 

[TPCShauna]

Even with the "one free checked bag" there may be a weight limitation on your one free checked bag.

Our weight limit is 50 pounds per piece. We packed two bags each on our last trip and were under the 50 pound mark for both together so I think we'll be OK.

Thank you for mentioning this though. It made me go look up the weight just to be sure!

 

[TPCShauna]

I used the giant no name brand ziploc type bags for this trip. I bought them at Dollar Tree and they worked great. I just packed our stuff, zipped the bag almost all the way, then pressed the air out and finished zipping. They were sturdy and held up well.....I could get at least one more trip out of them.

Can you get these as flat as the space bags?

 

[Kim1964]

Can you get these as flat as the space bags?

Well, I've only ever seen the Space Bags on informercials...but no, they don't get as flat as what I've seen on TV.

 

[welovespacemoutain]

we use the large ziploc bags. This year, due to baggage restrictions/costs, we will be cramming a bunch of clothes into our carry-on bags and need them to take up as little room as possible.

 

[hsmamato2]

tried the BIG ziploc types, those don't hold air sufficiently to stay flat- they aren't an airtight seal- I have some roll flat airbags,will try those this year-I use them for blankets in summer,and traveling in winter-

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

The zipper thing to close the space bags broke on every one of my travel ones when I tried to put our stuff back in them on the way home. It was a pain - I ended up picking up garbage bags at the grocery store so our clothes wouldn't be all over the trunk.

Luckily we'd driven and just wanted to keep the number of suitcases down so I didn't have to worry about airlines.

I'll never use them again.

 

[Bev J]

You can find the roll out space bags at Walmart. I have been using my original ones for about 10 years now, many trips and they have held up great.
We have used them for cruises and we have not had much wrinkle problems at all. Since the clothes are compacted down we use smaller suitcases to help avoid over loading them. I pack them, roll out the air, wait till my Dh gets home then have him roll them again- they do get pretty flat.
Always use them on the return trip for the dirty clothes to keep them seperated from the clean ones, just toss the bag into the laundry room when we get home.
We will be going the first part of Dec too and I am going to keep an eye on the 10 day forecast to figure out what clothes we will need, I am keeping my fingers crossed for shorts weather!


Bev

 

[RhonnahMi]

We were at Dollar Tree today and I found smallish space bags for $1. they look good for packing toddlers/young kids clothes in but not big enough for an adult. I haven't tried the one I bought yet, so I can't say how they work. Thought it was worth a shot, even if I only use it for underwear.
Rhonda
Nov 5-9, 2008 for a surprise trip with my sister for my birthday--I have no idea of any details other than the dates of the trip.

 

[Halbleib1]

I bought the travel space bags that you roll for our disney trip last year. I used them again this year as well and they worked great. Made lots of extra room in our suitcase. I would not have had enough room if I did not use these. I found that you can roll the smaller ones but the larger ones I just pressed down on with my arms and than I sat on them and finished pressing the air out. The vacume ones you would have no way to get the air out of for the return trip unless you had a vacume of some sort or perhaps an air mattress pump that reverses to take the air out. The air mattress pump may work if it has the reverse option on it so long as it would fit right over the bag opening. You can buy the travel Space Bags in the luggage isle at Walmart they are around $13.00 but well worth the price. Much better than paying to check another suitcase and much easier than lugging around another as well. I recommend that you stick with the actual Space Bag brand over some of the others as there is a difference in quality. I have never had a problem with my bags ripping or not getting the air out so long as you do not overfill them. Good luck with whatever you decide.