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Recently, I visited snowy Park City, Utah for a week-long wintry stay in a Deer Valley and not only took lightweight clothing but also brought some bulkier items, while still managing to pack carryon only! Learn my secret!!
How to Pack Bulky Winter Clothing
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While I’m more of a fair-weather traveler, I do like a snow adventure every so often and recently visited Park City, Utah for a week-long wintry stay in a Deer Valley cabin. Even though I wasn’t skiing, I wanted to bring cute cozy clothing to spend lazy days in the cabin, enjoying the view, and being surrounded by nature.
In addition to my usual lightweight but warm winter clothes, I brought clothing that was thick, plush, and more than I probably needed yet I still managed to pack carryon only! My secret? VACUUM STORAGE COMPRESSION BAGS!
Wearing my Columbia Carson Pass II Jacket in Park City, Utah which I packed in a compression bag!
While I DO NOT recommend compression or vacuum seal bags for fast-paced multi-stop trips, they’re perfect for a single destination when all you have to do is unpack and repack one time. I’ve also used them for my many international moves and to store my clothing in storage to protect them from humidity and mold.
(For multi-stop or fast-paced trips where I have to unpack and repack frequently, I always use my 4-piece set of Compass Rose Carryon Packing Cubes to easily organize my clothing.) If you aren’t familiar with how to use packing cubes for carryon travel, watch this tutorial video and read our tips!
For this trip, I used two vacuum seal compression bags plus one Compass Rose Carryon Size Packing Cube for ALL OF MY BULKY WINTER GEAR!
My H&M Faux Fur Jacket, Zara Jeans, UGG Boots (similar) were part of the 25 items!
Check out my 7-minute video to learn EXACTLY how I packed more than 25 clothing items into my carryon only despite having bulky winter clothes!
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If you want to read about all the clothing and shoes I brought for my cabin in the woods adventure in Utah, check out the full post here!
I was really impressed with everything I could take and that was due to the compression bags. I first discovered them when I had to do an international move from England to Playa del Carmen.
Packed up and ready to head to Playa del Carmen with my Wandf Foldable Duffle Bag
For the move from England to Mexico, I had to fit my entire life into five bags and learned that vacuum storage bags are excellent for a huge move! They’re perfect if you have a lot of clothing to pack and will only unpack your bags one time. For the move, I used four of these medium-size vacuum compression bags for all my clothing (mostly winter items).
Besides finding out about compression bags, read all the lessons I learned during my international move from England to Mexico!
Using vacuum storage bags to pack my life up!
When it came to my trip to Deer Valley, Utah, I wanted to travel light because I was traveling with five other people, some of which were skiing, and four of which checked bags. Even though we rented a large vehicle to drive from Salt Lake City airport to Deer Valley, a group of six people plus coats, luggage, and personal items quickly got cramped.
In certain packing situations, compression bags really come in handy and that happened to be the case for that trip!
Here are the top vacuum compression bags I use the most for slower travel or storage use when I’m at home:
GONSHI Vacuum Storage Compression Bags
GONGSHI Vacuum Storage Bags
These GONGSHI bags come in different sizes and can be used with either a typical standard vacuum cleaner or the provided pump.
The double-sealed zipper is specially designed for air to get out and they’re so easy to use! I put in my items, zip it up, and insert the pump to remove air. And the variety of sizes can fit everything from clothes to duvets.
Space Saver Premium Compression Bags
SpaceSaver Premium Vacuum Storage Bags
The SpaceSaver vacuum bags are super handy for maximizing travel space in your suitcase, or for organizing your closet at home. These have a double-zip seal and the triple-seal turbo valve which are designed to get every last bit of air out of during the suction process. Plus, these bags can be used for travel, as they have a travel pump included.
And, here are more useful compression bags for travel:
VMSTR Vacuum Seal Storage Bags
VMSTR Vacuum Bags With USB Pump
This set of VMSTR vacuum seal bags has a technological advantage—it comes with a USB-powered pump! Pack them and suck out the air before your trip using your traditional home vacuum cleaner, and still fit clothes in on your return journey by using the small included vacuum (which only weighs a mere four ounces!). And, you can choose different sets for your packing suitcase!
RoomierLife Store Space Saver Bags – 8 Pack
RoomierLife Store Travel Space Saver Bags
If you don’t want to bother with a pump, these RoomierLife travel compression bags are easy to use. Simply fold and put in your clothes and zip and roll. There are valves at the bottom of each bag that will release air out. These are said to save up to three times the space in your suitcase and are TSA compliant!
You can get a set of 8 or 16, and both sets have a mix of large and small sizes. Perfect to tackle the different amounts of clothes you may take or store!
For more vacuum seal bag recommendations, check out this blog post!
Product Comparison Chart
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What’s been your experience using compression bags? Tell us your thoughts below!
For more packing tips, please read:
- How to Pack and Safely Transport Souvenirs
- How to Pack Necklaces and Avoid Tangled Jewelry
- How to Pack Dirty Laundry While Traveling
- How to Downsize Toiletries: Save Space in Your Carry-On
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So many great tips. I really want to travel carry-on only, and winter wear seemed the most difficult. Your ideas will help a lot. Thanks.
These tips will definitely come in handy! I’m taking a cruise from Baltimore that goes to Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Greenland! I only have to unpack once thank goodness and will have laundry available so with your tips I should be able to pack light!
I cannot wait to need this list again. I am 100% over being hot!
I like compression bags and use them to use for summer clothes
Will definitely be referencing this blog post again as we get closer to our Antarctica cruise! Trying to figure out what to pack for three months in South America, a transatlantic cruise, and then one month in Europe!