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 Best Travel Vacuum Bags, Tested by Editors
No more straining to zip up your carry-on
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Published Aug 22, 2025
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Original photo: Dana Dickey
How I Tested the Best Travel Vacuum Bags
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.
What to Know about Travel Vacuum Bags
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.
Best Travel Vacuum Bags At A Glance
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Best for Checked Luggage
Brightroom Large 3-Piece Compression Bags
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2
Best for Carry-On Luggage
HiBag Travel Compression Bag
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3
Best for Optional Home Storage
Hefty Shrink-Pak Starter Kit
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4
Best Last-Minute Option
Dollar Tree Essentials Vacuum Storage Bag
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Original photo: Dana Dickey
- Materials: BPA-free plastic construction
- Sizes: 34 x 22 inches
This brand gets major points for sturdiness—the material is sturdy but still flexible. And the shape of it is great, with a large wide mouth that fits tons of clothes without having to origami fold them into tiny shapes, so they’re less likely to get wrinkly after being packed. The nozzle of the bags needs a bit of finessing to open, since you have to spin the nozzle and hold it up while you’re vacuuming it out. However, it gets high marks for not having a separate top—that’s a real plus, because it would get lost easily if it wasn’t all attached. My only wish is that the Brightroom brand would create some smaller bags, to compress smaller clothes hauls. Between trips, I like to use my large-size bags (the smallest vacuum compression size that Brightroom makes) to store out-of-season blankets.
Original photo: Dana Dickey
- Materials: polyethylene, includes a hand pump
- Sizes: 12 bags—(6) 15.7 x 19.7 inches, (6) 17.7 x 23.6 inches
I appreciate these bags for their compact size—I can suck up my jammies and undies in one bag, pants in another, T-shirts in a third. So I’m not only making more space in my bag, I’m able to keep separate items organized. Additionally, these are sturdy enough so that I can re-use them lots of times, and the little rechargeable pump is sturdy, too. I especially like these bags for squishing my down jackets and nubby sweaters really flat in my carry-on roller bag, so they’re not putting stress on my suitcase zipper as I try to force them in. The separate cap on the vacuum valve tightens well, and I appreciate the convenience of the included pump.
- Materials: plastic, includes a hand pump
- Sizes: 4 bags—(2) 34 x 22 inches, (1) 40 x 28 inches, (1) 48 x 35 inches
Executive editor Candace Davison uses her Hefty's Shrink-Pak bags at home and on the road. “Particularly in the XL size, are a must-have for college students or anyone moving,” she says. “They hold a TON, and they're so durable. I can really cram them full, connect a vac to shrink them down, and they don't pop easily, like other bags I've tried. They're water resistant, too, and the Jumbo bags are amazing for compressing an entire comforter or bedding set.” For fall, she’s planning to use them to store spring/summer clothes to make her closet a bit easier to navigate.
Dollar Store
- Materials: plastic
- Sizes: 36 bags—17.5 x 27.5 inches
“I've turned to the Dollar Tree’s vacuum storage bags more times than I can count, when I'm packing and realize my parents' generosity toward my kids during our visit has resulted in my suitcase being unable to close,” says Davison. “At $1.25 apiece, they're the most affordable buy out there, and you can even get them via Instacart for the ultimate convenience. They're not the most durable, but they get the job done in a fast, budget-friendly way.” Her best use so far? “I have fit a backpack's worth of stuffed animals and, with the help of a vacuum, suctioned them down to half their size. It looks creepy, yes, but it saves me from checking another bag.”
