Customer Reviews

ITW Space Compressible Bag BRS-9212ZG Vacuum-Seal Travel Roll Bags, Set of 4

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

ITW Space Bag BRS-9212ZG Travel Roll Bags: 4 Pack - 2 Carry-On and 2 Suitcase Size Bags

I bought the Space Bag Travel Roll Bags four years ago when I moved to Texas from Florida. I have since moved four times and for each move these bags were invaluable. I felt compelled to write because someone complained they were impossible to get the air out of them. I follow the instructions on the bags and don't overfill them, and run the plastic tab over the opening until it's really sealed. Then I roll them and sit/kneel on them on a rug or similar surface to get resistance...and I'm no Amazonian woman, but I can get the air out of them. They're actually a lot of fun to own. I've used them while camping and air traveling too. I watched my suitcase from the plane get completely soaked, but I wasn't worried about my clothes b/c I knew they'd be dry, and they were (it was everything else in the bag that was soaked). So... in short, I recommend them.

I have traveled to Europe, Guatemala, and around the USA with these bags and they work! It sometimes takes a bit of knack to get them to release the air as you roll them up. You also have to not cram them totally full before you roll them up as this will block the exhaust valve.

Not only do the Space Bags save space, they help me to organize my clothes and keep clothes from wrinkling. I always pack a couple of extra Space Bags to cover any purchases I make while traveling.

The only downside to these bags is they are a bit thin and sometimes get a hole in them after a few trips. All in all, the Space Bags are great!I never pack a suitcase without them.

I purchased these since I travel a lot. I always prefer to travel all carry on. Sometimes my bag needs a little more space. These seem to help. They are basically like a very large ziplock bag with a special zipper. The zipper allows you to roll up your clothes to get our all of the air from the bag. By doing this, your bags become a lot thinner. They are very easy to use. Although in the process of using them, I made a few observations:

1. In a smaller suitcase (like a carry on) you may not get the full value from these. They work better in a larger suitcase.

2. Most airlines have a 50lb weight limit on suitcases. Compressing out the air out of your clothes doesn't remove weight. So you may want to verify how heavy your bags are before you get to the airport.

3. Since I was able to get so much more in my carry on bag, TSA had to hand check it. They claimed that the machine couldn't see through everything I had in there. Fortunately, they didn't want to open up and look in all of these space bags. During this hand check I realized that it is possible that the may want to and how big of a pain that would be.

None of these things are deal breakers for these. You just need to use them a few times and figure out the best way that they can work for you. I am anxious to see how they are going to work for an upcoming family Vacation for My wife and I are taking our three kids on.


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UPDATE: MAY 2010

I have noticed that these rip easily. I mean, it is a glorified ziplock bag. I went on a trip and the bag ripped, so now all the stuff that fit into my carry on bag had to be really shoved back in to get home. YMMV

I don't quite understand some of the other reviews; they indicate they were using these bags for long term storage. These specific bags are travel bags, used to help reduce the bulk of your clothes when travelling. They aren't intended for long term usage and because they are meant be rolled to squeeze the air out, they aren't tightly sealed.

All that being said, these bags are useful but have one particular quirk. If you truly roll these up from the zippered side, the clothes tend to bunch at the other end because they slide. We have found that rather than rolling, it is better to lay the bag on a firm surface and lay down on it slowly. However, that is not nearly as quick or convenient as rolling them and as such, makes them less likely to be used more than once or twice for the purpose of reducing bulk.

There are some positives regardless of the amount of air you squeeze out (or don't squeeze out as the case may be); these bags are heavier duty than regular ziplock bags and can be used to store items to keep out dust, mildew, etc. They are also useful when travelling when you are likely to have wet swimsuits, towels, or other items that you need to keep separate from your other clothes.

I rated these bags 3 stars due to the rolling issue I mentioned above; it really takes away from the ease of use and original intended purpose (to have your clothes take up half of the normal space). Sometimes this product (or other versions of it with different numbers of bags) is part of Amazon's 4-for-3 promo, so be on the lookout.

As a side note, I do use the regular non-travel space bags with on issues and find them to perform exactly as they are supposed to even after years of being in storage.

These bags work as described...I was able to pack 10 days worth of clothing in carry-on luggage only.

One of the things I like best about the Space Bags is that everything in my suitcase is contained. Not only are my clothes compressed to save space, but should my bag be opened for inspection, it is less likely that my stuff will be disturbed. I don't know about anyone else, but it just makes me feel weird to think of TSA agents tossing through my undies! If they can see what's in the plastic bag, they usually won't open it up.

The bags work multiple times, but eventually seem to lose their ability to seal up. I've had some pop because I smooshed on them too hard and fast while trying to push the air out and I've had the zip top stop sealing. But only after multiple satisfactory uses.

All in all, Space Bags are definitely handy, both for getting more stuff in less suitcase and for keeping it safe and contained.

These bags are great! We put 10 days worth of clothes into two carry-on size suitcases Rick Steves 21-inch Roll-Aboard for a trip to Europe. These bags were invaluable. They work great and we really packed them full. We were able to carry-on all of our stuff which made our trip much easier. Our small suitcases work better on the train and bus too. Highly recommended. I'm going to buy more!

This product is great! I can't get over how these bags can shrink and become so small with so many garments. I packed(stuffed) many well folded summer garments in the large bags and was amazed at how compact the bag became once it shrunk. Now I have so much more room in my closet and a bunch of empty storage containers. The other two I travel with-in my carry on!! I would definitely recommend these to anyone who needs to store bulky items, or additional storage space, and don't want to pay for checked bags.

Forever grateful.

Bought these to take on vacation just to put clothes in for the trip home, Took up much less space than a regular bag, and easy to handle.

This product really does maximize the space in your suitcase; especially if you are packing bulky items such as towels and sweaters. Just make sure to put your knee into it to get all the air out.