The Ultimate Vacuum Space Saver Bags Travel Hack

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Most of you know that we are a carry-on travel family. We didn’t used to be, but a few years ago, we got into a great carry-on routine and haven’t looked back! We each use a roller bag and a personal item. However, we flew Spirit to SW Florida and the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point last month. They charge more for carry-on luggage, so we checked one large bag and used Space Saver bags.

When I posted an Instagram reel of us vacuum-packing our clothes, I received a lot of questions! People wanted to know how we planned to get everything back and just how wrinkled our clothes got.

So, today, I am sharing everything you’ll need (or want) to know about using Space Saver bags when traveling!

Space Saver Bags

First of all, this technique isn’t new. However, modern technology has made these vacuum-sealed bags of higher quality and pumps smaller and easier to use.

Beyond travel, these Space Saver bags are great for storing coats, off-season wardrobes, blankets, and quilts. But today, I am focusing 100% on the travel benefits of using vacuum-sealing bags.

My Favorite Space Saver Bags

I have the Space Saver Variety 20 Pack of bags and handpump. I like this set because it has 5 small bags, 5 medium bags, 5 large bags, and 5 jumbo bags. We use the various sizes for different purposes.

SHOP: Click here to browse all Space Saver bags!

How To Vacuum Seal Pack Your Clothes

These Space Saver bags are surprisingly easy and satisfying to use. The set I have includes the bags (with screwcaps), the hand pump, and little clips to help you seal the zip-up area tightly.

Here are some photos I took to show you how these bags work.

In the first photo, you can see just how much room Jake’s 5 outfits would have taken up initially. In the next picture, you can see how they looked after vacuum sealing. These are pretty dense pieces of clothing, yet it still saved a good amount of space!

In the next set of photos, the items are bulkier including pajama pants, socks, etc. In the first photo, we have the cap off and are pulling out all of the air. The next two images show the bag from the front and side.

Isn’t it crazy how flat it became?

Lastly, I want to show you what that entire side of the suitcase looked like after vacuum-sealing 4 bags of clothing. This half had Matt, Jake, and Abby’s entire wardrobe for this trip.

Mine is on the other side. Because we were already at the max weight limit and didn’t need any more space, we opted to just use my regular compression packing cubes for my clothes.

We kept shoes, toiletries, and heavy items out of this bag in hopes of not exceeding Spirit Airlines’ weight limit of 40 lbs. Most full-service airlines have 50-lb weight limits, so we really could have fit even more into this suitcase. Always check your airline’s policy!

Space Saver Bags Travel FAQ

Now, I want to take a minute to answer the questions that I know you all have. Trust me, I had the same ones before we did this the first time!

How do you get your clothes home?

The same way you got them there! We pack our handpump and literally vacuum-seal our dirty clothes for the trip home. I also pack an extra bag or two in case one happens to rip.

Won’t my clothes be wrinkled?

Yes, they will. But they aren’t really that much more wrinkled than they usually get rolled into packing cubes. The photo below shows the four bags unpacked as we got settled in at the hotel. As you can see, Abby’s bag at the bottom wasn’t sealed nearly as tight because we realized we didn’t need quite that much space.

We always travel with my favorite portable garment steamer. This steamer removes wrinkles quickly and easily, so it’s not much of an issue.

Will I go over the weight limit?

You might! It depends on what you are packing. The total weight of the items is the same. However, you could be tempted to overpack when you realize how much you can fit in your suitcase once your clothes are vacuum sealed.

If most of your items are “airy,” such as jackets and sweaters, then they will save the most space. On the other hand, if you have dense items such as denim and even swimwear, they will get small and heavy.

I recommend that you have an inexpensive handheld luggage scale on hand to check the weight of your luggage before heading to the airport.

What if my Space Saver bags rip?

These bags are durable, but that is always a possibility. This is why I pack 1-2 extra bags just to be safe. I highly recommend that you do the same.

The more you use them, the more you risk that happening. I would just make sure you are using caution when opening them and storing them between uses.

When is the best time to use Space Saver Bags?

These bags come in particularly handy in the winter when clothes are bulky. Think about packing for a ski trip and all of the winter layers you need to have with you. These are very helpful in that situation.

Also, there are times when I do not pack in these on the way to our destination but instead use them on the way home. It’s easy for me to seal up the dirty clothes and make some extra room for souvenirs!

Another use is when you need to pack your own bedding, beach towels, etc, for trips, especially when you don’t have to fly to your destination. Space Saver bags really help to create more trunk space on road trips when you aren’t worried about weight limits like on airplanes.

The handheld pump is the size of your hand, so easy to transport!