The Zip Bag Trick: Remember It for Your Next Trip

There are almost as many ways to pack a suitcase as there are travelers. On one hand, we have those people who throw everything in without any order, those who fill their bags with a thousand 'just in cases' (unplanned situations that may arise), those who find their best inspiration in Marie Kondo, or those who have many years of experience and have discovered zip bags, an undervalued accessory to which we pay our particular tribute today.

If you're traveling soon, you should try the zip bag trick. It's essential if you're flying, but it will also save your life if you're using any other mode of transportation. And how many uses can this type of zippered plastic bag have? At first glance, we can think of a few, but we're sure you have something to contribute.

If you travel by plane regularly, you know that when going through airport security, you must take out all liquids and they must be placed in a transparent bag. There are countless zipped pouches sold in the market, but the most economical option is undoubtedly to buy a pack of zip bags at the supermarket.

The original purpose of these bags is to store and preserve food, and also while traveling, they come in handy for the airport food trick. This is essential if you don't want to exceed your vacation budget by paying exorbitant prices for food at the airport.

Zip bags come in various sizes. Some members of the VIAJAR editorial team confess that the large ones are perfect for storing dirty clothes and preventing unwanted odors if, for example, we need to pack some socks that have endured many kilometers of summer walking.

If you don't have a document holder and need to travel with some paperwork (although most of us carry everything necessary on our smartphones), zip bags are ideal for keeping everything organized and not having a messy backpack. Moreover, even the smallest zip bags are sufficient to store your passport, documents, tickets, or even the keys to your house or luggage lock.

Now, there are various types of zip bags, and to implement the zip bag trick, you need special ones. Stores like Shein, Amazon, or Temu sell transparent ones with a small hole and a device to vacuum them. This way, for very little money (they cost no more than $20), you can carry your luggage in half the space. This is very important if you don't want to check your luggage or pay for a carry-on bag and need to fit everything necessary for your vacation in a backpack that fits under the front seat on the airplane.