Hi, I'm only bringing a big backpack for my Europe trip, but I want to bring as many clothes as I can... Has anyone had any experience with those travel storage bags? The ones that supposedly vaccum seal your stuff to save space? It looks like a fancy ziploc bag to me, but I wanted to know if anyone had any experience with them...

I don't have experience w/the fancy type, but I buy those huge zip locs. I put as much clothing as possible in each, then sit on it to get as much air out as possible. I zip it back up and it essentially creates a vacuum pac and the clothing is much more flat and takes up less space.

Actually, I just use the large Ziploc bags; pack 'em; practically sit on them and then zip them closed. Makes a space difference and gives you nice little packets for the security people to check without pawing through everything.

Why do you want a backpack - they're unsightly and not stylish and not particularly practical way of carrying one's wardrobe - I always travel with a 33" suitcase and a large handluggage - this is very practical and you don't need any vacuum bags. Furthermore, if these vacuum bags require a vacuum cleaner to create the vacuum, then how are you going to obtain one on holiday?

I agree with the Ziplock idea. My nephew used the travel storage bags when he visited. They seemed to be the same thing except they cost more. They still leaked after a few uses. Ziplocks are cheaper.

I loooove my ziplock bags for packing!!! No need for fancy vaccum seal bags. Just remember that your bag can get too heavy if you become very proficient with the darn things! They're great for bulky items such as fleeces.
my advice- pack much less than you think you'll need- I know you've read that over and over, but try, try, try!!!

wow, I didn't know that using a back pack was a fashion faux pas I am taking a backpack b/c we will be taking the train about 10 times while we are in Europe, over a 2 week period. It's much easier than lugging around a suitcase. Thanks for the input guys, I think I'll just save my money and use the big ziplocs. Now I need to find a travel iron!!

I agree with large ziplock bags, sit on them to squeeze the air out. BUT (and this is important) realize this means you can fit more in the backpack, therefore it WILL be much heavier although more compact!

Not that you asked... but I'd re-think the statement of bringing as many clothes as you can. A better and more popular backpacking philosophy is to pack "smart" with a few versatile clothes and do laundry if needed along the way.

Especially when I hear you are taking 10 train trips, a "big" backpack (especially if it weighs a ton) will be difficult to manage when you're on the move.

p.s. Don't mind m_kingdom2, obviously he/she doesn't travel in the simpler travel style many of us prefer.

Aduren, You might check these two websites and bulletin boards where the majority of the posters DO travel with backpacks. You may find more applicable information and tips at:

www.lonelyplanet.com (and go to The Thorn Tree BB)

www.ricksteves.com

I used both (the fancy travel storage bags and ziplocs) and the seal popped on the fancy ones. Ziplocs worked great. I packed clothes for the beach in one big bag and clothes for nights out in another. It was a good way to keep them out of the way until I was ready to use them. Love the ziplocs.
Remember to take a washcloth in a ziploc bag. You won't find them in hotel room in Europe.

I seem to be one of the few people who owns those vacuum bags. To be honest, I find them rather tedious to close, especially if you are in a hurry. They always seem to come unstuck at one end just as you're moving along to the other end of the seal. Now that I've read on this thread that other people use ziploc bags, I think I'll switch to those.

In other words, vacuum bags are tedious and, in my experience, not to be recommended. I used two of them to store off-season clothing over the winter, and when I opened the bags a month ago all the clothing inside smelt musty. Of course that won't be the case when you're travelling and presumably opening the bags regularly.

aduren, don't take a travel iron! It will just add weight. If your hotel rooms don't have irons, you can likely borrow one from housekeeping. But I find a great solution is to take a small spray bottle along and use it to mist your clothing, then smooth out wrinkles by hand. Great for touchups, especially on pants.

Another vote for don't take a travel iron. They weigh too much, even tiny ones, and are simply one more thing to overload that big backpack!

Ziploc bags are the best. One way to reduce wrinkles is to roll tops carefully--not too tightly--and they come out pretty good. I've never put pants in the bags, but do use them for underwear. Spraying water is usually effective on wrinkles, but I take Wrinkle Release in a small spray bottle and I think it works better than just water. It is not highly perfumed and seems to make the garment smell fresher, after being packed for a a week or so. The larger ziploc bags can be found at most grocery stores--now that it is getting in to canning season. I reuse the bags and have taken several trips with some!

Just as a note about the ziploc bags... Your grocery store probably only has the one gallon size. There is also a 2-1/2 gallon size but I usually get them at Walmart or Target. You want the 2-1/2 gallon size! The larger "travel" storage bags don't work nearly as well and they seem to be more expensive.

I agree with not bringing a travel iron. Just roll your clothes snugly, smoothing out the wrinkles as you go. Then when you're ready to wear them hang them in the bathroom while you shower. Most of the wrinkles will fall out. Downy Wrinkle Releaser will take out the stubborn ones.

Ziploks and vacuum bags can be useful for 1) dividing your wardrobe into 1 and 2 day groups, 2) segregating dirty clothes from clean ones, 3) condensing thicker winter garments like down jackets or fluffy sweaters.

They are NOT good for cramming as many clothes as possible into your backpack. This will only make your bag too heavy to carry.

Take far fewer clothes - just pick a color scheme and make sure everything is mix and match. 3 bottoms (skirts/pants), 6 tops and 2 outer garments (cardigans/jackets) would give you more than 36 distinct outfits - more than you would need for any trip

And leave the travel iron home. If you pack carefully (easier in a rolling suitcase than in a back pack) things won't wrinkle much or at all.

Have not been able to make those vacuum seal bags to work. Don't bring an iron. There is a spray can of Wrinkle Remover--or some such name. It REALLY works. Also rolling clothes rather than folding (as someone has already said) works very well. The big bags are available at supermarkets.

Please listen to all of us suggesting you try to carry as LIGHT a backpack as possible, NOT the most amount of clothes possible! Since you said you will be on the move every-other day... I guarantee you will thank us (bigtime) for this more than any other single tip we can offer.

I cant picture myself travelling to Europe in the summer, taking a lots of trains full to the maximum while carrying a 33" suitcase..

I probably will start a European revolution..