Have you ever seen a video online of people packing for a month-long trip using vacuum-sealed bags and small suitcases or backpacks?
If you’ve ever used vacuum sealed bags, you know how great they are for compressing soft items and saving a lot of space. Many people have been using vacuum storage bags for years to store seasonal clothing and bedding. I used it for my ski wear because I rarely use it, but vacuum bags allow you to squeeze bulky items into smaller bags that you can slip under your bed.
Vacuum sealed storage bags compress the bag by up to 75% by removing air from the bag%.
Vacuum sealed bags are not only great for storing soft items at home, but they’re also great for traveling.
Here’s our guide to using vacuum sealed bags for travel, as well as our recommendations for the best vacuum bags for holidays.
I used two vacuum bags in a small luggage bag (travel hack tote) to hold all of these items!
Can you use a vacuum sealed bag for travelling?
Yes, I can! Vacuum sealed bags are great for traveling as they save a lot of space in your luggage.
Also, vacuum bags can be used without a vacuum cleaner to suck out the air, so you don’t have to worry about finding a vacuum cleaner while on vacation. All the vacuum bags mentioned in this article don’t require a vacuum cleaner!
Even if you have access to a vacuum cleaner, we do not recommend purchasing vacuum bags that rely on a vacuum cleaner to remove air. If you need to open a vacuum-sealed bag at the airport, you will need a way to suck the air out of the bag and back into the bag, so we recommend using one of the three methods described below. Recommended.
I like to use these for:
- Family trips where the whole family shares one large suitcase – vacuum bags keep everyone’s clothes separate and save space
- If you travel with just carry-on luggage and need to save space
- When you have a lot of bulky luggage, such as during winter vacation or ski trips
- On the way home, when you have more things to bring home than when you left!
My 3 favourite vacuum sealed bags for travelling
Are there any disadvantages to using a vacuum sealed bag for packing your suitcase?
The main drawback of having a vacuum-sealed bag in your suitcase is that it will wrinkle your clothes. I’ve tried rolling and folding my clothes in various ways, but I can’t solve the problem. Using a vacuum bag will cause your clothes to wrinkle even more.
Travel Hack Tip: Rolling your clothes instead of folding them can help, but it won’t completely prevent wrinkles.
Depending on your clothing, wrinkles may not be a problem, and some can be easily removed with an iron. However, some clothing may need to be washed again if it becomes severely wrinkled.
Can I use a vacuum sealed bag even if I don’t want my clothes to be creased?
I use vacuum packing a lot, but the only time I actually use the vacuum compression part is when I’m stuffing dirty clothes into a suitcase and heading home.
When you leave, use the vacuum bag just like regular packing cubes and don’t compress it at all. But when I get home (my clothes are dirty and wrinkled and need to go straight into the washing machine anyway), I use the compression part.
I find this works very well since I often come home with more stuff in my suitcase. I buy souvenirs and presents while traveling, so having a little space is very convenient.
without using vacuum packs
Vacuum bags allow your clothes to take up half the space
Should I travel with an iron if I’m using vacuum sealed bags?
If your vacation accommodation doesn’t have an iron, we recommend bringing a travel iron or steamer.
Personally, I always travel by steamship. I have a cheap travel steamer on Amazon and it’s great. The one I use is out of stock, but this steamer is basically the same. I still use it at home, but I rarely take out the large iron. When traveling, using a steamer is very convenient since you don’t need an ironing board and it’s lightweight.
You need to consider how much space a steamer takes up in your luggage and how much space you can save by using a vacuum-sealed bag.
It is also worth noting that many hotels do not have irons in the rooms, but they are available upon request.
I REALLY don’t want super creased clothes!
If you really don’t want your clothes to wrinkle, we recommend using compression bags instead of vacuum bags.
Compression bags compress your clothes and save a lot of space, but they don’t completely remove the air, so your clothes won’t collapse.
I like to use the Travel Hack Compression Packing Cubes with my Travel Hack Backpack. These items are designed together so that the cube fits snugly inside the case.
Will my suitcase be too heavy if I use a vacuum sealed bag for my luggage?
Another thing to note is that if you are using vacuum bags, your luggage can quickly become overweight!
The more you can pack, the more it will obviously weigh, so be very careful to weigh your luggage.
When you’re at home, you weigh your suitcase on a regular scale, but if you travel, it might be worth buying a travel scale for your luggage.
A travel scale costs around £10-15, but I think it’s worth it to give you peace of mind and avoid the exorbitant fees you pay for carrying overweight luggage.
What happens if there isn’t a weight limit for my hand luggage?
In reality, there is often no weight limit for carry-on baggage. Many airlines simply require that you be able to lift your baggage into an overhead locker without assistance, so if you have enough stamina, you can make your baggage as heavy as you like.
If this is true, do it!
You may need to carry your luggage long distances or up and down stairs, so be careful not to make it so heavy that you can barely carry it. Also, if your suitcase is very heavy, it is best to have a casual attitude towards airline staff. Try not to attract attention and act like it’s not too heavy.
Which are the best vacuum sealed bags for travelling?
There are many vacuum sealed bags that are perfect for travel luggage. Keeping it simple, he shares three of my favorites.
To be honest, all vacuum bags are pretty similar so there is no need to search the internet for different designs as there is not much difference.
When looking for a vacuum bag for travel, one thing to look for is that it can be used without a vacuum cleaner. Many of us don’t always have access to a vacuum cleaner when we travel, so we can’t vacuum and close our doors on the way home. You may also be asked to open it at the airport and may need to let the air out and reseal it while you’re at the airport.
#1. The electric pump – Vago Electric Portable Luggage Compressor
My favorite is the Vago Portable Luggage Compressor, which has an electric pump to remove air. These bags were my first introduction to vacuum sealed bags for travel
I wrote a review of this Vago baggage compressor back in 2018, and I still love it.
The main advantage of the Vago vacuum bag is that its pump is electric, so it does all the heavy lifting for you.
Of course, this can also be a drawback, since the pump may break or the plug may not be at hand. That’s something to consider.
The pump is small and comes with a medium sized vacuum bag. Larger vacuum bags are also available for purchase separately.
Advantages of Vago luggage compressor
- good quality
- Lasted for years even with a lot of use
- Electric pumps are easy
- Different bag sizes available for pumps
Disadvantages of Vago luggage compressor
- most expensive
- Electric pumps can break if they get close to the plug
The hand pump – Spacesaver Vacuum Storage Bags with Hand-Pump for Travel
These space saver vacuum storage bags are best sellers on Amazon with tens of thousands of positive reviews. It comes in a variety of sizes and comes with a small hand pump suitable for travel. You can also use a vacuum cleaner to remove air.
It’s obviously easier to use a vacuum cleaner, but a hand pump is also very easy and just as effective, and doesn’t require any special force.
Advantages of Space Saver Vacuum Storage Bags
- great price
- Can also be used with vacuum cleaners and hand pumps
Disadvantages of Space Saver Vacuum Storage Bags
- The hand pump is very small, but you should keep it in mind. Or you should have a vacuum cleaner handy.
No pump – Roll Up Compression Bags
These roll-up compression bags don’t come with a pump at all and are deflated by rolling them up and squeezing out the air before sealing.
While not as effective as a vacuum bag with a pump, it’s still great for travel, and perhaps even better for travel. Although it doesn’t remove as much air, this means your clothes won’t wrinkle as much, so for many people this will be a better option.
The fact that there is no pump means there are no technical issues that could cause problems, and there is nothing extra to pack (and maybe forget to pack!)
These are still great at removing air, so they are a great simple and cost-effective option.
Advantages of roll-up compression bags
- No pumps that can be forgotten, lost or broken
- Clothes aren’t that wrinkled
- cheapest option
Disadvantages of roll-up compression bags
- Does not remove as much air as a vacuum bag with pump
- It can be a little tricky as you have to push the air out while not letting too much air back in. It can be a little tricky if you have mobility issues (I found it easiest sitting or kneeling)
There it is. Three of my favorite vacuum bags that are perfect for traveling.
If I had to choose one favorite, I think it would be the Space Saver Vacuum bag.
Very effective in removing air, the portable handheld pump is very easy to use. Vago is better, but it’s expensive and relies on a pump that you have to plug in (which can be a hassle if you have to open and reseal it through airport security!)
The roll up bag was also great and I couldn’t believe it worked so well without a pump. Therefore, this is a good option for those who do not want to rely on budget vacuum bags and pumps.