The price feels a bit high when you consider that the bags are all the same size, which doesn’t provide much variety. Pros: Small, lightweight, removable USB cable allows you to use a shorter or longer cable as desired.

Vacuum sealing the bags with a wet/dry vac allowed us to fit all five sheet sets in the bag while the hand pump only allowed for three sheet sets. We found the sealing process for both options to be quite simple and straightforward, with both the vacuum nozzle and the hand pump fitting easily into the bag’s valve. Sealing with the wet/dry vacuum took only 18 seconds, while the hand pump seal took a full minute—something to note if you’re in a time crunch. Both sealed bags fit nicely in the 12-inch storage space under a queen bed and on a shelf meant for cube storage. Vig adds, “Unless there is a clear reason items need to be stored in the bags for a long period of time (like a large home renovation), there is a chance that what gets stored in the bags might never be used again.” With bag options that included a hand pump, we sealed one bag using the hand pump and the second using a vacuum. Interestingly, we found that the hand pump worked better with some options than others—though not in all cases. Both bags remained sealed after 24 hours with no significant signs of air leakage, plus they kept the towels dry under water. The vacuum sealed bag increased in size by about 3.7% while the hand pumped one actually shrunk another 2% after 24 hours. Neither showed wear and tear after our 24-hour test, although the towels needed to be fluffed up to remove indentations afterward. Our tests show that these are designed to work well with the hand pump that’s included, which makes the bag a must-have for travelers looking to save precious luggage space. This change of mind return policy is in addition to, and does not affect your rights under the Australian Consumer Law including any rights you may have in respect of faulty items. To return faulty items see our Returning Faulty Items policy.This change of mind return policy is in addition to, and does not affect your rights under the Australian Consumer Law including any rights you may have in respect of faulty items. minutes - A jumbo sized bag with 1 flat pillow, one extra large king size puffy pillow, 2 king size sheets, and a medium sized blanky. Vig says you may not always need a vacuum to seal vacuum storage bags. She notes, “Many vacuum storage bags now are able to be sealed by rolling the air out of the bag, which makes them excellent for using with air travel.” According to Moore, “For best results, a vacuum is recommended and will remove more air than other methods, such as pressing on the bag to force out the air manually.” Other bags may come with a pump, though they still allow the option of using a vacuum for sealing.

We didn’t feel that using the bag was very easy, though. We struggled to lay the coats flat within the bag because of the zipper’s placement on the long edge of the bag. We also had to search for sealing instructions online, and found it difficult to properly align the vacuum with the bag’s valve. The bag’s design meant the coats were pressed up against the valve, interfering with airflow, which then led to a longer compression time—about 2.5 minutes. Frequent travelers will find these to be the best vacuum storage bags, in part because the set of 10 bags comes with a hand pump for easy use while you’re on the go. We tested out the small bags, and the set contains eight more in four additional sizes, including a travel-friendly roll-up style, a feature Vig recommends. We were able to fit two towels in the small bag, although it was a bit of a struggle and our testers resorted to stuffing the towels in versus folding them neatly. In terms of the type of items you’re storing, you’ll want to consider how the material might interact with the bags. Vig explains, “Some types of materials store better in containers/bags that can breathe—like natural fabrics (think cashmere). I would prefer to use linen boxes to store those types of items than plastic airtight bags or bins.” Moore agrees, adding, “Different fabrics may react differently to being stored without air circulation and ventilation. Damage could occur to certain fabrics if they were not intended to be stored in this manner.” If you’re after generously sized storage options, then these are the best vacuum storage bags. They come in a set of six, and we found that one bag held two pillows plus three sets of sheets without even meeting the maximum fill line. In part, that’s thanks to their cube-shaped bottom design, which means the bags stand upright, allowing for an easier loading process. The included hang pump took much longer to create a seal and didn’t allow the bag to hold as many items as when vacuum-sealed.You may not want to use these for storing zippered or embellished clothing since the thin plastic could tear. Cons: Very slow at removing air, compared to the large pump, non-removable USB cable (can't use a shorter cable, but can make it longer using a USB extension cable). These perform slightly better with the hand pump, so you may want to skip sealing with a wet/dry vacuum.

Using a wet/dry vacuum, we found it simple enough to remove the valve cover, attach the hose, and replace the cover. It took about 15 seconds to compress the bag, but we felt the end of the bag could have benefited from more compression, so we gave it another 10 seconds of sealing time but didn’t see a significant change in size. This was tied at the 2nd fastest pump, but significantly smaller and slower at removing air than the large pump.

Log in/register

After testing, we found that the Gongshi Vacuum Storage Bags are the best vacuum storage bags. They earned top marks in each of our categories, plus they’re easy to use, durable, stored five sheet sets, and kept air and water out. On the flip side, large bags might be more challenging to store and can hold too many things, making it a struggle to easily find a specific item. To ensure you have the right size, look for guidance from the manufacturer. Moore notes that most manufacturers tend to list which contents they recommend storing in their bags, plus they may include a line on the bag itself to serve as a capacity guide. Pump - One of the premier selling points of this vacuum pump is the fact that it is electric. That means you aren't going to become restless or extremely tired trying to seal storage bags as you might with a manual pump. Additionally, it is more powerful than a manual pump, meaning you can remove all excess air, and the bags will be as small/tight as possible when you're ready to store items in your closet or place the storage bags in your suitcase when traveling.