vacuum bags

[Dean]

New to this concept and I've seen it alluded to on this board. Anyone have any suggestions as to the practicality as well as leads to quality, price and availability?

 

[Miss Eeyore]

You can buy them at QVC.com

We love them, especially the smaller ones designed for suitcases. The BIG ones, designed to be used with a vacuum cleaner, saved our souls when we moved this summer. I am a quilter, and have MANY quilts. We loaded them into the big bags, removed the air and we had big "planks" of linens to put aboard the moving van.

 

[Born 2 Cruz]

Just bought some today at walmart .. The American Tourister travel "space bag" and these you don't need a vacuum for just roll them to get the air out . But like i said we just got them so not sure how good yet . I will let you know..

Dave

 

[MarkRG]

I recommend the no vac ones. They may not pull down as flat as the vacuum ones but they work very well in making space in the luggage, and no need to track down a vac to repack them.

 

[travel with kids]

I have the same The American Tourister travel "space bag" from Wal-mart. I has able to get a week's worth of clothes for 4 into one large LL Bean duffle bag. They were awesome. I even had some metal buttons on a skirt that rose concern with airpot security. We simply pulled out each space bag until the item was located. Then we simply repacked the bags and let security go through the bag with the one bag of question.

However, let me warn you-- The duffle bag was heavy. I packed while dh was at work. ds and I could not lift it into our van. I had to ask my neighbor to help!!

 

[hydster]

We have the vaccuum ones as well BUT we roll them when we go on vacation on the way home and they work just fine! We put pillows in them for sure and when we leave just a little bit of the zipper open and roll it gets ALMOST as good of a "squish" as the vaccuum gives. Also I dont know if you are traveling with kids but if you do you can always put their clothes in gallon size ziploc bags, roll them and save a ton of problems by putting each outfit in a different bag. No looking for socks or underwear! It saved us and the travel bags are wonderful!

JMHO
Heidi

 

[Dean]

Thanks, I'll look at Wal Mart. I assume they are in the luggage area.

 

[dianthus]

I've tried the "Spacebag" travel bags, but quite frankly, I like the 2 gallon Hefty Zipper bags better! They are cheaper- about $3.89 for 10. You can roll them, get the air out & zip shut. I've put T shirts in one, underwear in another, socks, etc... They are great!
I bring extra for dirty laundry & wet stuff on the way home.

If your luggage is searched, your personal stuff is not all over the place. They can just remove the bags.

~ Linda

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Originally posted by dianthus
I've tried the "Spacebag" travel bags, but quite frankly, I like the 2 gallon Hefty Zipper bags better! They are cheaper- about $3.89 for 10. You can roll them, get the air out & zip shut. I've put T shirts in one, underwear in another, socks, etc... They are great!
I bring extra for dirty laundry & wet stuff on the way home.

If your luggage is searched, your personal stuff is not all over the place. They can just remove the bags.

~ Linda

Ditto that- about the 2 gallon bags. They are much cheaper and in my opinion work just as well (I wouldn't want to mess with a vacuum anyway- so that's probably why I prefer these). They work great for complete outfits for the kids as well as myself- the only person they didn't work that great with was DH's clothes... being bigger/bulkier I can't get much of his clothes in each bag.

 

[Miss Eeyore]

We have a few of the "roll" type bags that we got from QVC. We use them when travelling all the time and love them. We use the vacuum type around home. They were not too expensive at QVC, less than the American Tourister ones I've seen at Wal Mart.

I'd be VERY interested in knowing where to find two-gallon zip locks. I've only seen them be one gallon. That size would be great for underwear, etc, and leave the ones a bit bigger for adult clothing.


Marilee....still shivering in the snow in Oregon....and preparing (I hear via the news) for the snow storm of a lifetime heading our way tomorrow. I'll believe it when I see it.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

I thought they only had them up to 1 gallon also. In fact that is why I thought the "vacuum bags" and whatnot were selling so well and being mentioned so much/etc. I figured they were because they were bigger. But I found 2 gallon bags with the other ziploc bags/etc. at Walmart supercenter!

 

[mmouse37]

I have used both types of storage bags and found the Hefty ones the best. I pack by clothing type...all my swim stuff like suits, coverup, sarong, sandals goes in one hefty. All underwear, bras, socks, etc. in another bag. Slacks I either roll or lay flat in the suitcase but the 2 gallon bags were great for a lot of my stuff.

I also pack my blouses on thin plastic coated wire hangars (Wal-Mart) so when I get to the cabin all I have to do is grab the stack of blouses out of the suitcase and hang them in the closet...very easy!!!

MJ

 

[tkd lisa]

The 2 gallon sizes are harder to come by, but Wal Mart and Target usually have them. You just have to look harder for them. The gallon sizes work great for our kids stuff! I do the outfit per bag thing and it's awesome.

The first time I did this was our May 2002 cruise, and I didn't know about rolling the bags. I stuck a straw in the open part of the zipper and sucked out all the air. Man did I look hysterical (not to mention breathless!)

I do have some space bags that I got "free" for being a good credit card customer. I have had problems with them bursting. Of course, I am not the most patient person, and have a hard time gently squeezing out the air! I'll take the 2 gallon zip locks for our little stuff, the 1 gallon zip locks for the kids, and the space bags that we have left for our bigger outfits (jeans, sweatshirts, etc for WDW after the cruise).

 

[BuzzBoyMom]

But what about wrinkles? Doesn't squishing all these clothes make them very wrinkled? That's the one big question I've never seen addressed. THANKS!

 

[ChattyKathy]

I too couldnt find the 2 gallon bags easily, However! I did find them in a Kmart closeby. Our local Walmart/Target did not have them. I thought, and correct me if I am wrong, that I had read someplace that there are 2-1/2 gal ones available too...?
I havent ever seen those ones though, But I'll bet they would sure be nice to pack with.
Last year we went to the beach and I packed the kids' clothes in Ziplocs in 'already put together' outfits for the day, it worked wonders for me! They just get out a bag that day and Voila! they matched! lol
I didnt take the air out of mine with a straw, just was careful when I closed the zipper on it. Stuck all the bags into one huge one and Ta-Da! It was simple and easy! You can easily mark the tops of the bags with markers too...

Good Luck~

Kathy


PS- Marilee...How much snow are you expecting? They told us snow is headed my way this week also, I love it!

 

[hydster]

I've only found the 2 gallon bags once but using them for each outfit for the kids is SO nice. We usually use the bags just for T-shirts, underwear, socks and things that usually easy to get wrinkles out of (like hanging them in the bathroom while I shower or using wrinkle releaser) but not like nice dresses or suits or linen.

So far we've only used Wrinkle Releaser once and that was just because we had it so we used it. It's very rare we worry about wrinkles on vacation unless it is a nice dress or slacks.

I cant wait to get out of the SNOW here as well. Yesterday's high temperature around here with the wind chill was about 8 degrees. TOOOOOO Cold!!! Expecting even more snow (actually it is snowing now) to pile up on our already 40 inches we shoveled since Christmas!

I think I like the drought better!

Heidi

 

[Disneyland_emily]

>>I think I like the drought better! <<

From another Utahn- I agree completely.. Im soo tired of the snow I have NEVER had to scrape out the INSIDE of my car windows...


Okay back on topic-- I love the 2 gal Ziplocs for packing and scrapbooking (holds 12x12 paper wonderfully)

-em

 

[hydster]

have NEVER had to scrape out the INSIDE of my car windows...

LOL! I've decided to start exercising to get me warm (and maybe 20 pounds lighter for the cruise)

Heidi

 

[Miss Eeyore]

Kathy-
you wanted a snow report?

It is cold and it is snowy.....and as newcomers to Oregon we were told that where we live there is never a build up. Well, we moved in, and the weather patterns changed, I guess. Our temps have not been above freezing since we got home the end of December, and the same dad-blasted snow is still there.

Last night I wasn't feeling great and had a difficult time sleeping. The snow storm that was supposed to hit late today/tonight started about 2 am. We don't have a huge amount accumulated, maybe 6 or so inches, but it is the frozen yuck under the snow that is causing headaches with driving. Many Oregon and Washington schools were announced closed last night....and our local schools were closed this morning......nothing like a 5 am wake-up call from the superintendant telling my DH to start the faculty phone tree. Nobody remembers snow days here. When we were in Washington we could count on 2-4 snow days per year. Metro Portland Oregon had never declared a snow day, and today they did. The temps are not so low, but the wind chill is wicked cold.....winds are gusting at 30 mph they say.

Our Siberian Huskie however, is in hog heaven. She has snowplowed all the snow into one big pile in the fenced back yard. On walks she stops at least once a block to do her snow angel routine. At least we have gotten a few amusing pictures out of this mess. I love the snow....but where it belongs: up on the mountains or at Castaway; Cay or WDW Mainstreet during the holidays.

And now I can't even drive the 40 miles to get to a WalMart to look for these 2-gallon treasures! (To keep it on topic, ya know


Marilee....still shivering in at sea level in Oregon

 

[mickeyboat]

Try looking for the big ziplock bags at BJ's. They were the Hefty One Zip kind, either 2 or 2 1/2 gallon, 28 bags for 4.99 - what a deal! Those should last me a long time.

Denae