Space bags
 

Has anyone used space bags? Do they save space in your luggage and when you unpack are the clothes more or less wrinkled?
Thanks

Hi Vanne ~

We have had great luck with PackMates. You will most likely receive some varied responses. I can only give praise.

In my experience, everything wrinkles less and it has provided more room. Just remember to weigh your suitcase before you leave home to make sure it does not go over your airline weight limits.

I absolutely love ours, but I am a freak when it comes to packing, they just keep everything so neat and orderly, lol. We got them at Brookstone, but when I went there for more they didn't have them, and no one could really tell me if they were just 'out' or if they didn't carry them any longer. You can also find them at their website, which I believe is packmates.com

Happy packing, Tiff

One problem: if they are the vacuum seal kind, you will never be able to re-pack, especially when you add your souvenirs and other purchases. You should be looking to get extra space once the vacation is over. . . not on your way.

Depending on what's in them they may or may not reduce wrinkling. Some of them work better than others (there are, or were, at least two different designs on the market).

You can accomplish the same thing with the largest zip-lock bags (3-gallon size).

And remember, your things will take up less space, but they will not weigh any less! You may find all of your clothes fit in the suitcase, but you can't lift it!

You can get ones that you roll up to get rid of the air, but frankly unless you are doing a suitcase to hotel trip they are a waste of time & effort & Sods Law will have them breaking just when you are running late

Space bags work well if you have bulky sweaters, sweats etc. We use them mainly for winter travel, ski wear etc. They definitely allow you to pack more adding to the weight of your luggage. I used them for a winter trip to Michigan and had to pay extra for excess baggage. I had no idea I could get a 26 inch suitcase to weigh so much ;;) Deborah

I love my plastic space bags! I travel constantly and use them all the time. They are great for keeping items together (as in all underwear, all jackets). Not so much lately but for a while my suitcase got checked every darn time I went through LGA and I really like the fact that the inspectors could lift up a plastic bag, look around, put it back. It gives me a sense of security that if an inspector goes through the bag when I'm not there, that everything will be more or less orderly and there when I retrieve it at from checked luggage.

The above can be achieved with cheaper extra-large baggies (2-gal and 1-gal sizes). The point is neatness, organization, and easy viewing by security. You can somewhat roll out the air manually; it is a good point to note that the vacuum bags are useless when you try to pack to come home. There are some brands that aren't vacuum - you squish out the air. But again, you can do that with baggies.

I've used the travel space bags for several trips and I love them! They're great for bulky sweaters and coats, and I use them during the trip for separating the dirty clothes from clean, until I have time to wash. You have to manually roll/squish out the air, and like mentioned above, they don't save on weight, but they're great for organization. I've had mine for several years, but the large ziplock bags would serve the same purpose, I guess.

We too use space bags and love them! They can save so much space. We always pack one or two extra for dirty laundry. They keep everything need and organized. And like DeborahAnn mentioned, they are especially great for traveling off-season when you may be packing bulkier items like sweaters. We have used ours numerous times and have never had one rip or break.

Tracy

We use these Pack-It Folders by Eagle Creek. http://www.eaglecreek.com/40154.html, and actually find our clothes are less wrinkled as they have a folding board which helps you fold the clothes neatly and keeps them neat during travel. In addition, I find when I pack with these I just tend to keep things neater as I stay in the hotel.