Vacuum packed - What's New? - Space Bags, Space-Savers introduce collapsible packaging

USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education), July, 2003

* When you pack a suitcase or put things away for storage, do you realize how much space is taken up by air? No? Neither did we until the folks at New West Products, Inc., San Diego, Calif., filled us in. Of course, this did not just come up in idle conversation. They were letting us know how much more we could cram into a limited amount of space if we used their products to get rid of that pesky air. It turns out that they're right.

Utilizing the Space Bags and SpaceSavers can create more room in closets, chests of drawers, suitcases, or wherever else you are packing things away. Space Bags, which come in jumbo (36" x 48") and large (21 1/2" x 33 1/2") sizes, are meant for putting away blankets, cushions, winter coats, sweaters, or whatever else you wish to store until they are needed next. Simply slip the contents into the heavy-duty polyethylene and nylon bag and seal it with the patented Sure-Zip system that ensures an airtight closure. Then, with a vacuum cleaner, suck all the air out of the bag through the one-way valve that prevents it from returning. The resulting flattened package produces up to 300% more storage space, New West maintains. We diligently followed the directions and, lo and behold, an amazing shrinking package replaced the bulging one we had started out with, though we didn't quite reach the 300% stage. Bags full of clothing shrank down much more successfully than pillows, which seemed to have a natural buoyancy, but every bit of space saved was vastly appreciated. Moreover, sucking out air also serves to remove moisture (deterring mildew), allergens, and odors, so everything comes out fresh when it's time to reverse the storage process.

Space-Savers, on the other hand, come in suitcase (18" x 23") and carry-on (14" x 20") sizes and are more low-tech in that, once the Sure-Zip closure seals it, you simply start rolling the bag down to the bottom. As you do, the air is forced out through the one-way valve, flattening the items within, and thus allowing you to pack far more into the bag than you otherwise could. An added benefit in these security-conscious times is that the clear plastic allows baggage inspectors to examine the contents without pawing through them and making a mess of your careful packing.

These magic shrinking bags are available for $4.99-14.99, depending on size, at mass merchandisers, drug and specialty stores, and luggage shops. (In the latter, they are sold under the Samsonite and American Tourister brand names.)

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