Disorganized and over-loaded travelers, unite! I’m a little bit of both; I depend on finding the best packing cubes to keep me sorted. But tbh, I’m still usually racing to the car to the airport with just about one inch too much stuff, so my carry-on seams are straining and my carry-on bag zippers are stressed. When another editor said she depended on travel vacuum bags—those plastic pouches that you stuff with clothes, then suck all the air out of using a mini-pump or a vacuum machine, thereby squishing the whole thing smaller, I was intrigued. Since then, I’ve tested the best travel vacuum bags over thousands of stress-reduced miles.  intro here

The One Thing I Pack That Always Gets a “Wait, That’s So Smart”

During a recent cross-country trip, every-other-night stops necessitated frequent unpacking, without hauling multiple bags up to the room. So I tested each style of compression bag to keep my belongings compact and organized. When the VP of Editorial Content Candace Davison tested her bags on frequent family trips in which she was wrangling extra toys and gifts bestowed on the kids on holiday, only to find herself tasked with shrinking them down to size for the return trip.

First off, you don’t always need to worry about locating a vacuum cleaner when it’s time to pack up for your return trip home. Some bags, such as the HiBag set I purchased, come with a small rechargeable vacuum pump. Or you can order one on Amazon for as little as $10. I found that the mini vacuums work on smaller compression bags, while I needed to use a full-size household vacuum cleaner to create a tight enough seal and strong enough suction to create an airless pouch. A final word about travel vacuum bags—they may be reducing your bag volume significantly, but they aren't decreasing weight. So be mindful that you are able to lift your carryon, packed so tightly with shrink-packed clothes, before you head to the airport.