Amazon Basics Vacuum Compression Space Saving Storage Bags with Hand Pump for Travel, Multiple Sizes for Clothes and Blankets, Clear, 20 Pack (5 Small, 5 Medium, 5 Large & 5 Jumbo)

I bought the Vacuum Compression Space Saving Zipper Storage Bags with Hand Pump before a big trip, and now I can’t imagine packing without them! The set of 12 comes in a great variety of sizes — perfect for everything from bulky winter coats (jumbo) to socks and underwear (small).The hand pump works surprisingly well — I thought it might be a hassle, but it only takes a minute or two to fully compress a bag. If you’re using it at home, it also works great with a vacuum cleaner. Once sealed, the bags stay airtight and don’t reinflate.These saved me so much space in my suitcase, and I love that I can use them for off-season clothes in my closet too. They’re durable, easy to use, and completely reusable.Highly recommend for travelers, apartment living, or just anyone needing to tame closet chaos!

These vacuum bags work great for storing and protecting wool sweaters against moths and for reducing the size of winter clothes, comforters and blankets for summer storage. My first picture shows the sweaters, which I also place in a Sterelite container with moth balls for storing them and providing triple protection. (And this way the mothballs don't stink up the sweaters.) After vacuuming, I can fit about 2 containers worth of sweaters in one container. The second one shows how my blankets turn into soft bricks that I can store on edge in my small closet. For me, this probably let me store 3 times as many blankets as could otherwise be practically stored there. You can see I have a down comforter, some poly blankets, and a quilt up there.Two years ago, I bought the Hefty version of these bags. They worked great but some lost their ability to seal on the 2nd year. I couldn't find them in the sizes I liked so decided to try these Amazon bags. They work great. Unlike Hefty, the vacuum valve depends on a cap. Like Hefty, I don't expect them to last many seasons but the cost per is very low. Having lost several hundreds worth of cashmere sweaters stored without protection, this is a great deal.

This review offers a balanced, somewhat lukewarm perspective on the Amazon Basics Vacuum Compression Space Saving Storage Bags, a 20-pack assortment (5 Small, 5 Medium, 5 Large & 5 Jumbo) that includes a hand pump, designed for travel and storage of clothes and blankets.The appeal of these vacuum compression bags is immediately apparent: the promise of vastly more space in your luggage or closet. When they work as intended, they do deliver on this promise, significantly reducing the volume of bulky items like sweaters, jackets, or bedding. The inclusion of multiple sizes is genuinely helpful, allowing for versatile use from small travel items to larger blankets, and the hand pump, while requiring some manual effort, does manage to extract air, making them usable even without a vacuum cleaner. For occasional use, or for items that won't be subject to frequent compression and decompression, they can be a decent, cost-effective solution for creating temporary space.However, the enthusiasm for these bags often wanes with consistent use or for longer-term storage. A common frustration is their tendency to re-inflate over time. Despite diligent sealing and careful adherence to instructions, many users find that the vacuum seal doesn't hold indefinitely, leading to a gradual expansion of the contents. This means items slowly regain their original bulk, frustrating the very purpose of space-saving and necessitating re-compression. The durability of the bags themselves can also be inconsistent; while some might hold up well, others may develop small punctures or issues with the seal closure after a few uses, especially if overstuffed or handled roughly. The plastic material, while clear for visibility, can feel somewhat flimsy, and the valves, though designed for the pump, sometimes prove less robust than desired. For travel, while they can save space going out, the need to re-compress for the return journey can be inconvenient if a vacuum cleaner isn't readily available, making the included hand pump essential but also time-consuming. In essence, these Amazon Basics vacuum bags can be useful for light, short-term space-saving needs, but they often fall short of being a truly reliable, long-term, or consistently leak-proof storage solution.

The media could not be loaded. These bags saved me when I had to pack for an over-2-week-long overseas trip that included both winter hiking gear AND Indian + western wedding attire. I will attach videos but I managed to fit TWO giant Indian dresses, a full length bridesmaid dress, rehearsal dinner dress, one other outfit and undergarments all in my tiny work tote thanks to these compressor bags. One of the Indian dresses has a full hoop underneath. I wouldn’t believe it if I hadn’t made it work myself. I’ll attach the “unpacking” video and you can see how small the compressed bags are when compared to the large pile of clothes once outside the bags. (Turns out Amazon only lets you attach one video; I had originally taken 3 to show.)But these bags worked wonders and only one of the 6 I used seemed to get a tiny hole in it. I changed lodgings 8 times though, so for packing and unpacking most of these bags EIGHT TIMES, they held up REALLY well. The hand held pump fit into my luggage (it’s very lightweight).Anyway, I can’t emphasize enough how pleased I am with this purchase.