Space Bags??

[2mickeys1minnie]

Has anyone used the space bags for packing? Are they really worth it? How do they work exactly?

 

[1stluvispooh]

I have used them for several years now. I like them because I can pack everything that I want (ok childhood scare here about sharing a suitcase) and still only have 1 suitcase.

How they work: You fold your clothes put them in the bag and then zip it closed, roll the air out. The only down side is the your close can get wrinkled but I usually pack things that the wrinkles hang out of or fall out of fairly easily.

I found them great for when we take 2 days to drive. I put a change of clothes for everyone in the space bag and then I only have to bring that in and the toiletries instead of poor DH having to drag all 4 suitcases out of the car into the hotel and back out in the morning. Yes he's one of those He's a guy that's his job!

Hope this helps

 

[2mickeys1minnie]

So how much can I expect to fit in a space bag? We are a family of 5..will I need to purchase more than one?

 

[hthrbells]

Try Ziplocks new Jumbo bags, leave it a little bit open and push the air out.
Much cheaper and they work just as well as the ones we wasted our money on from LL Bean.

 

[TxRabbit]

I second using zip lock bags. I packed all DSs clothes in gallon sized, separating out complete outfits for each day, underwear and all. For DH and myself, I got the 2.5 gallon bags and did the same thing. If you roll your clothes, instead of just folding them, and then use a straw and suck the extra air out of the bags, these are just as good and better than the luggage travel space bags. Then also, you can designate bags for extras, one bag for extra socks, extra underwear, etc. It makes packing and unpacking a lot easier. It also makes mixing up the luggage easier, meaning, you want to make sure that everyone has a least one outfit in each piece of luggage incase anything happens to any one bag of luggage. That way everyone has clothes if only one bag makes it to your destination in a timely fashion.

The luggage sized travel space bags are relatively small, and don't hold much. The bigger space bags require a vaccuum to get the extra air out.

Happy traveling!

 

[1stluvispooh]

I have used the giant zipplock bags as well. If I recall the space bags for luggage comes in a pack with 2 big bags and a small one. I usually use 2 big bags for myself. But as I said before I have a thing about having everything with me

 

[HGD24]

We use a large Pack Mate bag for my pillow and it works great! We don't use them for our clothes when we travel, but I could see the advantage as we do use them to store our seasonal clothing at home. We bought our years ago on qvc.com and they still sell them at a pretty reasonable price (various sizes: 6 for $18 or 12 for $28 w/shipping). I like that unlike space bags, you don't have to bother with a vacuum to use Pack Mates.

 

[ZoZo]

I found that tightly rolling my clothing worked just as well as space bags. I did a "test pack" both ways on my last trip and didn't end up using the space bags after all.

I have also read posts on this board about people who have had their luggage searched at the airport by security - they made them open up the space bags (to see what was in them) and had a hard time getting everything packed again.

 

[Yensid Srevol]

I love the travel space bags. That way, I can get more stuff in my suitcase when I buy out Downtown Disney! It doesn't matter how many times I've been, I still find things to buy for us and everyone else! So travel space bags help with the "shopping addiction"!

 

[mbatemantx]

I have found that the space bags as seen on TV tend to leak after only a few uses. I picked some up at REI that are a much heavier duty plastic and more expensive but have never had them leak (air going back in) and they stand up to a lot of use.

 

[jkrislc]

The only problem I've had with Space Bags is that you can pack a lot more into the suitcase. As a result, you may have issues with weight depending on how heavy your suitcase already is empty.

 

[karla63]

A little OT, but my dh just spent 12 days on a coast to coast motorcycle ride. All of his clothes was on the bike. Instead of using the spacebags(which I do have, my dd16 used them on a 20 trip to Australia), I took each days clothes and rolled them up and took 2 heavy-duty rubberbands and put one on each end. It sure helped in those tight spaces and since he is a bit color blind, he didn't have to match his clothes: I also like the ziplock bag too. much cheaper than the spacebags.

 

[MeLaNie9]

I love the travel space bags. I got them in the variety pack of Space Bags of different sizes. For both of our recent WDW trips I have used them for my clothes and for DS's clothes (DH is an overpacker and a lost cause for space saving) such that we ended up having to only take 2 suitcases which included our breakfast foods. I usually can get all of DS's clothes for a week into 2 travel Space Bags and the majority of my clothes for a week into 2 as well - not jeans or pants. It is true that you have to be mindful of bag weight when using Space Bags so we weigh our bags before heading to the airport. Then, by the end of the trip, our breakfast foods and snacks are gone so we have space for souveniers.