The Packmate High-Capacity Jumbo Vacuum Storage Tote Review
DISCLOSURE -THIS ITEM WAS GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW. ALL THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS ARE THE REVIEWER’S OWN.
Reviewed by Deborah Banasko
I am a self-confessed hoarder when it comes to clothes, as you just never know when you may squeeze back into that size 8 top or when that jumper may come back into fashion… so I have a lot of “stuff”. However with three kids and a wardrobe rotation imminent as the (fingers crossed) warmer weather approaches, I have reached the point where the winter jumpers won’t cram into the wardrobe any longer.
I have never tried vacuum storage before, but jumpers tumbling out of drawers and cupboards is becoming less appealing so this review arrived at the perfect time. I was actually really excited how much I was going to be able to store away, how easy the process would be and how much space I would be saving ready for my Spring clean.
I tried two different tote sizes, the jumbo tote which measures 65 x 50 x 27cm and a second slightly smaller one which was referred to as large, measuring 65 x 50 x 16cm. They are stackable, should you want to store them in a garage or attic, and come in several sizes suited to what you are planning to store; duvets, cushions clothing etc.
In the packs you receive the zipped white canvas tote plus the clear vacuum bag inside. The clear bag is filled with your items then vacuumed down using a normal household vacuum cleaner nozzle, which attaches to a valve on the bag. Once you have vacuum packed your items, the clear bag fits within the canvas tote ready to zip up, stack and store. The benefit of having the tote as well as the vacuum bag is protection from dirt, damp and bugs.
I found that the bag compressed relatively easily and my vacuum attached to the valve on the bag without issue. I cannot tell you how much my kids loved watching this. The website quotes that you can create 4 times more space using this storge system and that sounds pretty accurate as they hold far more than I expected, I was really impressed.
I did have to move and adjust the clothing as I vacuumed in order to pack it all down, but this wasn’t particularly difficult. You will find that it is easier to vacuum and transfer the clear bag into the tote with a full bag rather than a half empty one, as there will be less of the plastic bag in excess, “flapping around”, that needs to be moved to fit into place inside the tote.
The clear bag has a sliding seal with a plastic clip at the end. If you slide the seal too forcefully the clip slides off, but is very easy to reattach.
The tote has a zip as well as clip straps for double security, which was a nice feature, and two sturdy side handles for carrying. Both bags are lightweight, and whilst the materials feel very thin, they also do not feel that they would rip at all which sounds a little conflicting. The £16.99 price tag for each tote feels more than reasonable. Packmate claim that their multi-layered nylon blend prevents rips and tears and lasts for years, covered by their no quibble lifetime guarantee. I suppose time will tell on that one…
The bags are white and pretty plain which is just what you want for storage. I loved the clear plastic window feature, letting you peak in when trying to locate an item. I did wonder if a label slot would have been a good idea, listing what you have packed inside.
The only lingering question was would my jumpers just pop back to normal afterwards? They were fine after an hour of being vacuum packed so I see no reason why there would be an issue afterwards.
You do have to remember that, even if the tote looks easy to carry when full, it will be heavy because there is a lot in there. I was a bit worried about storing it on top of a wardrobe in case this became an issue when retrieving it, so under the bed worked well for me.
I am starting to think about the many things that I can store away ready for Spring; this is a really useful product to use all year round, and a fantastic space saving storage solution. I would award these totes 4.5 stars out of 5.
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
RRP: £16.99 for each size of bag
You can purchase this product here: https://packmate.co.uk/products/packmate-storeasy-high-capacity-jumbo-stackable-vacuum-storage-tote