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Remember this works best for temporary storage. I stored my winter coats like this in those vacuum storage bags over the summer and basically ruined them. They came out wrinkled as all get out! Have you ever tried to iron a wool coat?

Doesn't this require you to also have access to a vacuum at the destination so you can get the same amount home?! That is very prohibitive for most traveling situations I would suspect.

I have been using these vacuum bags for years now and am extremely satisfied. Never had much problems with wrinkles, but then again I never packed away a wool coat.

If you are using a vacuum bag for travelling, just remember to weigh your bag before heading out to the airport. I have had the problem that I am able to pack so much stuff into my suitcase that it then exceeds the weight limit.

actually you don't even need to use a vacuum, just put your clothes in a bag and push out all of the air (sit or stand on the bag if necessary) then close it tight and add tape to keep it shut.

This works well for camp too. And you don't really need a vacuum, just sit on the bag to compress out the air, or you can roll it from the sealed end forward to press out the air. Then you don't need a vacuum for the return trip ;)

Just make sure there's a clothes iron at your destination!

...just don't pack EVERYTHING you own for a trip this way-
i remember i did this once, and wouldn't you know, they lost my luggage. i was scraping the bottom of my wardrobe for a month! hot pink pants, layered summer clothing in january... not fun, kids :)

Can you really get through a TSA search with vacuum-packed bags in a suitcase? I did this once. It was just my undies in a baggie. I sure as heck wanted to KNOW if someone had been pawing through my underwear, because that's just creepy. Sure enough, the baggie hadn't just been opened, it had clearly been rifled through.

I don't know if my search person was just a pervo, or if it had anything to do with my flight heading into NYC the week after the blackout.

I would just worry that somebody would decide to search that bag, and then they wouldn't be able to get it all back in your suitcase. What happens then?

We use some of the plastic travel ones and they work like a charm! Especially with two kids... we can pack in one or two cases and all of our clothes are still seperated! PLUS... we have the bags ready to put the dirty clothes in while we are travelling. I highly recommend them for frequent fliers!!!

Sure you can pack more - but it doesn't reduce the weight which is also restricted by airlines these days.

The travel kind doesn't require a vacuum. You just roll the filled bag from end to end, and air exits through a one-way valve. I've used this kind for return trips, so my bag will have room for souvenirs. And it's true, everything ends up wrinkled, no matter what the advertising says.

Wool can be steamed to remove stubborn wrinkles. It's a very malleable fiber. Most home irons don't produce enough steam to do the job but a dry cleaner would have the right equipment.

Best packing rule to live by:
Put out all of what you plan on packing on your bed. Take away half. Pack the rest. If it still doesn't fit, pack less.

This is much easier than vacuum packing to fit your entire closet into your suitcase. Plus, even when I use this method, I usually only wear half of what I brought. People pack way too much...

I use Space Bags for storage, and I LOVE THEM. I can shrink a duvet down to the size of a piece of Matzo. Amazing.

Instead of this, I highly recommend eagle creek packing systems. I can easily fit a weeks worth of clothes in carry on, to the extent that I bring a 22x14x9 bag and a laptop bag and feel like I overpacked.

To wit:

Garment sleeve fits two suit jackets. One folder holds suit pants and four shirts easily.
www.eaglecreek.com/accessories/packing_folders

Everything else gets neatly rolled and stored in a cube
www.eaglecreek.com/accessories/packing_cubes

I don't work for eagle creek, I've just traveled across four continents in the past year and these things are nothing short of magic.

Also, if customs sees that you've rolled all your socks and put them in their own quarter cube, they stop searching your bag and wave you through. This has happened twice.

Finally, if you are a physician these things make organizing your doctor bag / trauma kit so easy and present a very professional and reassuring appearance if you ever have to practice tailgate medicine.

when backpacking, I just buy the jumbo ziplocs, fit an outfit into every one and then sit on it before closing it. Works great and doesn't require a vacuum. I really do save myself some space this way and when you're backpacking, space is everything.

I use these for winter comforters. It saves an amazing amount of space.

I use this method for off-season clothes, guest room supplies (comforters, blankets, pillows), I pack them all in my travel luggage and stack everything neatly on the garage shelving. If I need a piece of luggage, for a trip, I just put the airtight garbage bag on the shelf until I return.

I've tried this for travel as well, but it didn't work that well for me (harder to get clothes steamed at every destination), now I prefer to take some packing labels & tape - get a box when I'm there - and ship home what I don't need to carry back with me. For some reason it's always more important to me that I hand carry my new purchases back with me than my old clothes!

I have an Eagle Creek travel backpack. I bought it back in 2000 for my first trip. By 2007, the interior weather proofing for the small pack was coming off. I contacted them about repairing it since there is a life-time warranty. Sure enough, they were ready to send me out a new one! I wanted them to repair it instead since the pack was mostly good. They fixed it and shipped it back for free. I guess what I'm trying to say is that they honor their warranties and are great to deal with. I don't work for them either, just a very happy customer.

More clothes=heavier luggage. Pack light... You'll thank me.

I don't know about travel, but this seems like a perfect idea for a long-distance move via Uhaul, moving company, or container shipper. Airtight bags keep all the road dust/fumes out of your clothes and other fabrics, and you maximize the precious feet or even inches of space.

absolutmarie makes a good point. Airlines, in their desperate effort to shake every last penny from your pocket continue to lower and lower the allowable weight limit on baggage that is not subject to an overweight penalty. Chances are, if you fully pack your suitcase without the bags you will trigger the penalty, which I believe starts at $50 per bag and then goes up depending on the weight.

Frankly I'd rather save the $200 in roundtrip overweight fees and just buy clothes and other necessities at my destination.

PS - One great way to get around the fees if you are vacationing domestic and shopping a lot is to ship home your dense, heavy items (like shoes) USPS Priority Flat rate. It's only $15 and is delivered straight to your door.