Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I bought these plus 3 other brands to see which ones worked best for storing a literal mountain of bedding. I tried Amazon Basics, Vacwell, Accenter, and the actual Space Saver bags. Here's how it went: AMAZON BASICS: bags are good size, but that's where the pros stop. First it's really annoying that they fold the bags with the size indicator on the innermost surface. Since they're all folded into small squares, this means you have to completely unfold the bags to see their size. The slides to close the zipper don't grip well, leave air gaps in the zipper, and constantly fall off because the stop at each end is too flat and doesn't work. Caps are hard to put back on, threading crooked on most attempts, especially if the valve ring sinks in when the bag seals; when they do go on wrong they push on the foam gasket and let air back in. WORST CON: out of 12 bags, used correctly, sealed completely, and not overfilled, all but 2 puffed back up at least partially overnight, and several reinflated entirely within an hour. I could not find any holes, cuts, or damage; they just don't stay airtight. BOTTOM LINE: good size, thick plastic, but doesn't matter if it can't hold a seal. GENERAL COMPARISON: All 4 brands had some static, like most plastic or vinyl bags. The sliding clips need improvement on all 4 brands, and I got a better result just closing the zippers with my fingers like a big Ziploc bag. The sizes were good on all 4 brands, and I have king size down comforters sealed in jumbo bags from all but the Amazon brand, because it kept reinflating. I had to take that one out and put it in a Vacwell I had left over. I used my vacuum, so did not try out the pumps from any of the brands. They all look like basic, cheap plastic pumps that would do for travel. With the Amazon bags you'll need it, because you'll be constantly pulling air back out of your bags. SPACE SAVER: Of the 4 brands I tried, the Space Savers were the only ones that had zero air leaks two days later. GUARANTEE: Space Saver also claims to offer a lifetime guarantee, stating that if any bag reinflates or doesn't keep its seal, they replace it for free on their website. I don't know if they really honor that, but they are the only ones to even offer it that I saw. If it's legit, that alone is probably worth what I paid for the brand. The caps on the Space Savers go on very easily; you can literally drop it onto the threads, give it a spin, and it basically closes itself. This is because the caps are small and only cover the center part of the sealing ring; two of the other brands have caps that have to go over the entire sealing ring so they have to line up just right, which can be tricky once the bag is wrinkly from being vacuum sealed (see pics). The Space Saver clips work okay and stay on a little better, but still go past the stops way too easy and fall off. Again, I found ordinary fingers to be more effective, and I can actually feel if there are any open places. BOTTOM LINE: If you aren't looking for long term storage or lots of re-uses, the Vacwell and Accenter brands (also on Amazon) were average performers and a little cheaper, so they'll probably work for travel or temporary jobs. If you're looking to store linens or clothing for whole seasons or years, or use them for sheets and will be opening and resealing them often, my money is (literally) on Space Saver because of their tight seal, easy-close caps, and reinflation guarantee. I wish I'd done this sooner and can't express how awesome vacuum bags are to overhaul crowded closets, maximize tight spaces, and bring order to chaos. Sadly I can't recommend the Amazon Basics at all since they just can't seem to keep the air out. Pictured is 19 (you read that right, go ahead and count them!) complete queen size sheet sets with their pillowcases (bag size SMALL), 9 king size duvet cover sets with their shams (also fit in the SMALL) and 6 sets of extra pillowcases (all in one small). These were crammed into any available spot in 3 bedrooms and my laundry room, and now fit in one tiny hall closet with enough wiggle room to make it easy getting them in and out. I used the medium and large bags for winter blankets, and the jumbo for my massive comforters. These things are truly game changing, especially if you're short on storage space. *I bought these items with my own money, no discounts, and my review is honest and unsolicited.