Goodness! Ms. Tilke.

I have of course used the US type. I lived in the US for many years and used them in my freezer, not for my socks!

That still doesn't explain why you wrote off the responses of those who tried to sincerely answer your question as "the usual slag." It wasn't.

I have not written off anyones suggestions. In fact I welcome them.

The usual slag - is that - yours are better than ours - So what!

What I have said all along is that we - europeans - don't tend to use them much. Hence my original question. Having seen the responses, interesting as they are, they would not make me use the bags more. Hence, I see a cultural difference as I outlined where people from the US seem to be more organised packers than their European counterparts.

Give me a break please BTilke. It seems that everything I say is taken very personally. It is sincerely not meant to be so.

I apologise to all I have offended by my non use and misunderstanding of the Ziploc bag.

Well, I just have to wonder why you like to start threads with questions in such a way that there's a "dig" in it, for example:
"Apparently many North Americans have quite bad diets. I'm just wondering what do you make for your dinner in the evenings?"
"How did you *micro-manage* your travel before the Internet?"

And when someone poses a fashion question, for example, where to buy Longchamp bags, you tell them that their choice is "mank" and tacky. And that making fun of other people is one of your favorite reasons for being here:
"People denigrate others here all the time. It's par for the course. That's why I like it."

I guess I just don't understand that attitude.

Can you please give it a rest now BTilke. I've done my apologising.

I got mine from Rymans.
They call them zipper bags.
I agree that the Lakeland ones are a bit flimsy.
I use them to protect my jumpers from moths.
I can't imagine using them as freezer bags.
I usually use the kind that clip together at the top.
I use a little zipper bag on holiday for my toothbrush and paste, but my sponge bag has separate compartments for everything else.

In terms of cultural differences, I have noticed that most of the French still prefer to wrap their sandwiches in aluminum foil. I always used cling wrap for such things until one day I thought maybe I should try the foil to see if there was a difference.

I found that there was an enormous difference -- sandwiches wrapped in foil seem to stay much fresher and particularly when it is a baguette sandwich, the bread does not go mushy.

Sealable plastic bags are used like a filing or storage system. Older luggage often had wood or metal dividers and organizers. Plastic bags are lighter. Use a large heavy duty one to contain camera gear. Include the camera manual. Check it on packing to see if the charger and adapter are loaded. Use another one to store camera discs/cards. Print out labels to insert in the bag to identify contents.
Cooking...great for flouring or breading!
Small ones...carry local coins.
Security, double bag!
Load all travel documents into a single bag.
Plastic bags slide about, packed clothing does not bunch up and wrinkle.
Save store plastic bags to use as padding material within a zip lock bag.
Store loose paper sheets in bag.
Emergency..first aid..cover hands with bags. Use them on feet for warmth!
Fold a set of various sizes and carry them in pocket!
Dry cleaners use large bags to protect cleaned and pressed items.

I'm also a European who buys ziplock bags in the US; much more sturdy, more variety in sizes. I use them all the time, for packing, around the house. Why can't some European supermarket stock the American ones?

Tulips, you can buy the US style ones in Ireland (though not in the huge sizes mentioned here). Also I have seen them in UK food shops in Belgium so perhaps if you have something similar in NL you could find them there.

Although those bear the Ziploc name and are probably made under license to Ziploc, they're not the same. We've been suckered into buying them a few times twice--in France, Belgium and the UK, but they're just not as good.

The ones I am referring to are Glad - Glad Zipper Bags

Here is another interesting use of Ziploc bags which I found whilst surfing for pictures of ziploc bags.

http://www.theimpulsivebuy.com/wordpress/?p=340

I think Ziplock makes more than one type of bag.

The "Freezer" type are stronger than the "storage" type, I think.

We always get the freezer bags, since we use them to freeze garden veggies.

And, of course, we use them for packing, too.

Byrd

The perceived difference in quality may be due to EU environmental rules regarding biodegradable plastics. Plastic bags are supposed to fall apart within something like 3 years now in Europe rather than the standard 10,000 years.

Maybe we should quit using Ziploc bags and return to smoking in restaurants, offices, trains, buses...

Has anyone mentioned packing undies and/or other small clothing items in ziplocks so that they don't end up all over the place when the luggage inspectors go through your bag? After my undies ended up on the airport floor during an inspection, I always pack them in a ziplock bag.

As others have mentioned, I use them to pack swim suits and anything else that is damp, I put my toiletries in them for carryon or checked luggage to reduce the risk of spillage, and I use them for dirty clothes, specifically socks! I don't know about anybody else, but I like my dirty socks to be in an airtight bag when they are travelling around in a suitcase with my other clothes - LOL.

>>
The "Freezer" type are stronger than the "storage" type, I think.
<<

Yes, this is true, but they cost more. I only buy the freezer ones but since I wash and reuse my bags many, many times, I get more use than I would the others. And in the end this is less costly and better for the environment. Of course when they are no good anymore, they get recycled, not garbaged.

I use Ziploc bags for travel and my daughter who lives in London always asks me to bring her some. I am happy to know that foil keeps sandwiches fresh though kerouak. I really had no idea. I'll try it.

Just got back from Longs drug store and what did I see? Ten and 20 gal. sizes of Ziplock bags for storage of clothing. Who would of known. thereyet

I accidentally stumble on this post and find that so many people like me are crazy about Ziploc bags. I always tell my husband that Ziploc bags are my best friend. My children even bought the Ziploc Big Bags(10 Gallon size) for my Christmas gift when they were new on the market.I agree all the ideas for Ziploc bags but Barb's mini washing machine is really a good one. I'll try it next time. Thanks!