Ziploc Big Bags
 

A number of people have mentioned that the Ziploc big bags are great for packing. I have looked for them in our local Costco and Home Depot but have not been able to find them. Where are they available? Thanks for your help.

Just bought a couple of boxes for my upcoming trip. Got them at Wal-mart. They come 4 to a box. Hefty made some jumbo bags a couple of years ago. I had good success with those but of course, they discontinued them after only a short run. Hope the big ziplocs stay around.

saw them at Target this week. Intriguing idea, but some actually too big (the XXL or XL holds a sleeping bag). I bought the Jumbo 2.5 gallon size -

Ziploc makes 2 sizes of the large bags: 2 gallon and an XXL which can hold blankets and comforters.

I use the 2 gallon size since it is easier to organize the clothes. Hefty makes a 2.5 gal bag which is quite nice.
Found all sizes at the local Target and Wal-marts.

I find they take up alot of room as I travel light. I use the dry cleaning bags our clothes are brought home in from our local cleaner. They are much lighter and I fold them in between clothes and the folds. Works for me. otherwise I roll when possible. I do use small ziplocs for cosmetics, perfume, toiletries. It saves the customs from digging into my old toiletrie kit, they can just look in.
I save the sweater bags that come with them and use those for stockings and undies.

If you are looking for bags to decrease the amount of space things take up, there are the ones that you squeeze the air out of. I tried the ones advertised on TV (Space Bags) one time and found that the one I had immediately developed a hole making it worthless. The ones that have worked the best and have lasted through numerous trips are the ones on Rick Steves' website. I use the large one for my pillow (yes, I have to take it with me!)and the medium one for my coat if I need to take one for cooler weather, but don't want to wear it. They would also work well for sweaters or other bulky items. It's amazing how much air is in things :-)!

I second the suggestion to use bags that you can push the air out. Flattens your clothes right out! My wife and I used them for our honeymoon (3 weeks) because we each wanted to travel with only one piece of luggage. I used the Eagle Creek bags but I think that any brand will do. Any travel store or luggage section in dept stores such as Macy's should carry them.

Thanks so much for all your replies. Yes, I am trying to save on space. We like to travel with a carry-on bag. We spent a month in Italy 2 years ago with just our 22" carry-ons. We had bought some samsonite space bags where you can squeeze out the air. I think these may be what jcasale tried also. These worked great but on subsequent trips we had so much trouble with the slider on the ziploc. Then I read about using regular ziploc big bags. I'll take a look at the Rick Steve's site and think about trying a different brand but also will swing by my local target to buy some ziplocs. Thanks!

What's stopped me from using space-saver bags is that I've always worried that once you suck the air out of your stuff to be able to squeeze more in that your bag ends up weighing a ton.

No?

No. Once you squeeze all the air out, you can finally fit in the stuff you need to take! We take one bag and one backpack per person. One thing, do remember to put half of your clothes in your spouses' bag and vice versa--just in case one bag is lost or misplaced. We also "foodsaver" things like the booze flask and any othe liquid. Lynclarke

ZipLock (or some equivalent brand) also makes a 3-gallon size bag.

Actually there is a risk of overweight. I have known folks who happily packed using space bags and got to the airport only to discover the suitcase was now over 50 lbs!

I can believe that. The reason for my suspicion is that my mother included a garbage compactor in the redesign of her kitchen, and she stopped using it because it became backbreaking to carry the garbage out!

In recent trips, more and more of the airlines I take weigh my carry on bag instead of just looking at it. I had to give up carrying a hard-sided favorite of mine because it constantly exceeded the weight limit for carryon.

I discovered the trick of using different size ziplock bags and wouldn't do it any other way now.
(We like to use carry-on only whenever possible.) I squeeze the air out of the bags by smoothing them with one hand while zipping with the other. I keep all my undies in one bag, bras in another, tshirts, shorts, etc. For one thing, if security has to open my suitcase they are not pawing through my delicates. For another, I can easily find one pair of underwear without going through and disturbing all the other clothing. Lastly, the items stay fresher because they are not exposed to dust, etc. We reuse the bags from one trip to the next, unless we have stored shoes in them. Just my two cents.

I like the freezer bags (with pleated bottom) for packing toiletries, electrical accessories, pharmaceuticals. And the larger ones are fabulous for stockings/underwear, with an empty for items worn.

A larger one is also quite useful for carrying a sweater in a tote bag, or printed material, should it rain while you're out and about.

Intersting thread. Once you've opened the Space bags, how do you repack? Do you need to borrow a vacuum cleaner from the hotel?

With any zip-lock type bag of any size you can place your articles in it, zip it ALMOST closed, leave a bit in the corner to allow the air out, then roll it up and close it quickly after the air has gone out. Flatten it out again and you'll be totally surprised how small it is! With several large 2 1/2 gallon bags you can take one carry on and still have plenty of room. I use smaller zip-locks for panties, hose, socks ect and the 2+ gallon ones for jeans/shirts ect.

We have used the large two and a half gallon zip-lock style of bags for packing both coming and going. Sweater, jacket, dress shirt, socks, just about everything. Fold the clothes, slip them into the bags, partially close them, sit on to expel as much air as possible, then zip closed all the way. You can pack a LOT into a small space this way AND surprisingly we have had no wrinkling problems at all. You would think there would be but it hasn't happened. We use them throughout the trip - when it's time to repack just use them again if you've opened them, or expel air from those that have leaked. We find the bags at Target - regular grovery stores don't seem to have the larger size bags..

No one has mentioned one of the most important reasons for packing in the bags-keeping clothes DRY!
We had the misfortune of arriving at our destination to find that our soft sided bags had sat on the tarmac in pouring rain and most of our clothing was wet or damp.
From that trip onward we have used the bags some that you squeeze the air out of and some other plastic bags just to make sure that our stuff arrives dry!
Carol, South Carolina, USA

I'm another fan of Ziploc big bags. I pack everything except slacks, skirts, and outerwear in them. If I stay in a hotel for just one or two nights, I don't even take the clothes out of the bags...just pop them in a drawer. My son uses the compression bags from Target. They come 3 to a box and are different sizes. Those are made of thicker plastic than Ziploc.

Another vote for zip lock (whatever brand is on sale) when packing. I tried a couple brands of the advertised vacuum bags and they offered no additional benefit that I could see. There is a risk of packing more into a bag with resultant increased weight, a concern now that airlines are getting stricter about bag weight and charging sometimes significant fees (on some intra European carriers, for instance.) Still, it's helpful to have things compacted and the water protection is a bonus, too. Just check the weight of your bag before you get to the airport.

I think you have to use a little restraint with the Ziploc bags or you can end up with too much weight. I like them because it keeps my suitcase more organized, making it easier for me to find things. I can also pack like items together like underwear and also pack complete outfits together. Just be sure you're only taking what you would have anyway so you keep the weight manageable.

We have used the bags you squeeze the air out of, but only for our return. Always have more stuff that can't squeeze into the bags, and dirty clothes are perfect for those kind of bags.

I average 15-16 trips a year & never go without using my ziplock bags -all sizes for everything.

Yes! they can be reused several times too. I keep them in a spare drawer in my closet laundry area.

I've packed a ski parka & enough warm clothes for a winter in Switzerland for 2 weeks in a small suitcase. The weight was not exceeded either.

Everything is folded after being pressed, then laid into the bag, zipped & the air pressed out. The articles inside the bags look like they are freeze dried. I travel with a small empty spray bottle. After hanging 'freeze dried' clothing, mist with water & gently shake, the wrinkles disappear - no ironing at destination!

This is a great way if you are travelling with children. Place each days outfit inside baggie- when used, return to bag for return trip home.

Maybe I missed a comment on this, but don't your clothing get quite wrinkled when packing so compactly in these compressed bags??

I use the rolling method within the Rick Steves compression bags to try to prevent wrinkles. Smoothly roll each item, then line the rolls up in the bag, then squeeze the air out. This works pretty well with everything but very easy to wrinkle fabrtics.

If you just throw everything in without rolling and then compress, you can get deep wrinkles, especially when you are on a long journey and everything stays compressed for many hours.

I actually "test pack" and weigh everything, then de-compress the bags until right before we leave for the airport, just to lessen the time the clothes are compressed. For things like underwear, socks, etc. that don't wrinkle, these bags are wonderful.

I have had sets of the Rick Steves bags for three years and many trips. They still work perfectly. You do need to watch the weight.

BTW- I just found the XL Ziplocks at K-Mart yesterday.

raz1024 - I mentioned above but it may be easy to miss - we pack all kinds of items in the zip-loc bags, sit on them to expel the air then zip closed while still sitting, In addition to knit things like under wear and turtle necks we put in dress shirt, sweaters, light jackets, you name it - and wrinkles don't happen - we were very surprised the first time that things came out so nice - and continue to be pleased..

I notice no one has mentioned the Eagle Creek "envelopes" that I have used for years and like very much. You can get enough pants and shirts in one medium size envelope for a 2-4 week trip. You simply put the envelope in a drawer when you arrive, pick out what you want to wear, and leave the rest in the envelope. Other brands make these as well. I am intrigued by the ziplocks though and will try them as well.

My suggestion for packing shoes...use the plastic bags in which the newspaper is delivered, or supermarket veggie bags which work just as well - both go to recycling when I return.

Yes, using ziplocks to fit more in makes the same size suitcase much heavier. Beware.

Regarding getting the air out, using normal type ziplocks, just put the stuff in, sit on them, and zip.