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Ziploc Flexible Totes vs BugZip luggage encasement?
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Cassandra
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Posted 2 years ago
Sat Aug 28 2010 21:34:32
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Hi,
Does anyone have any input on Ziploc Flexible Totes vs BugZip to use as luggage encasements? The Ziploc totes are cheaper but I don't know if they are BB-proof.
Thanks
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mangycur
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Posted 2 years ago
Sat Aug 28 2010 21:42:03
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i bought some of each. the ziploc flexible totes have airvents, and hence, are totally NOT bed bug proof. They are great for storing stuff if you don't live in bed bug land. airflow is usually a good thing. however, I wasn't crazy about the luggege encasements. I am an extremely picky consumer, I know others on this forum have thought the luggage encasements seemed like good buys. But in my opinion, they are expensive and hard to use, and in the end i'm still feeling hinky about the zipper openings. They're hard to use becuase the sides don't maintain their form so they're hard to zip.
in the end I got so mad at my luggage encasements I threw them out. again, this is just my opinion.
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Cassandra
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Posted 2 years ago
Sat Aug 28 2010 21:51:46
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mangycur - 7 minutes ago »
i bought some of each. the ziploc flexible totes have airvents, and hence, are totally NOT bed bug proof.Yikes! Thanks for cluing me in. Do you think one could make them BB-proof or BB-resistant by taping over the air vents?
however, I wasn't crazy about the luggege encasements...But in my opinion, they are expensive and hard to use, and in the end i'm still feeling hinky about the zipper openings. They're hard to use becuase the sides don't maintain their form so they're hard to zip.
Hmm...that's discouraging. What do you do with your luggage when you travel?thanks for your input, mangycur
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Richard56
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Posted 2 years ago
Sat Aug 28 2010 22:09:03
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Not familiar with the Ziploc Flexible Totes, but I did order half dozen or so BugZip drawer liners and basically was disappointed. The zipper requires really too much attention to open and close and is prone to ripping, which happened once. Maybe if you're going to use them once, OK, but definitely not if you plan to live out of them for awhile. While not as neat a package, my preference is for the Ziploc "Big Bags" be it L, XL or XXL. They seem quite airtight, heavy duty, withstand multiple PackTite treatments, and there is no zipper to break.
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delorac
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Posted 2 years ago
Sun Aug 29 2010 2:52:01
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Yikes! Thanks for cluing me in. Do you think one could make them BB-proof or BB-resistant by taping over the air vents?
If you take a look at this picture, you can see the mesh strip at the top of the Ziploc totes. It goes all the way around the tote. I don't see any way to safely and securely cover that up.
http://www.amazon.com/Ziploc-727131-Flexible-Totes-XL/dp/B001PAEUE6
What we do is to take several good-quality large black trash bags along on our trips. (Not contractors bags. Those are too stiff and take up too much room in our suitcases.) We put our suitcases into the black bags before we enter the hotel room and take them directly to the bathtub. The suitcases "live" in the bathroom, sealed up, for our entire stay. Because we pack clothes, cosmetics, books, etc., in separate various-sized Ziploc bags, it's easy enough to grab a smaller bag , get what we need, seal up the "baglet," and return it to the suitcase. In the big black bag. In the tub. Last trip I did keep one bag out and clipped it to the skirt hanger that most hotel rooms have. We dropped our cameras, phones, wallets, fanny packs, etc., in that bag and felt pretty safe. When we're ready to leave the hotel for good, we take the bagged suitcases outside the room, unbag them and toss the used bags into the trash.
I should add that we also travel with clean Ziploc bags of various sizes and put any clothes, slippers, etc., that we've worn inside the hotel room into them before putting them into our suitcases. When we get home, we packtite the entire suitcases with contents (all bags unzipped, of course), in case we picked up any bed bugs in the cargo area of the plane or in the taxi on the way home. If driving our own car home from the airport, we keep some of the large garbage bags in the trunk and bag our suitcases before putting them in the car.
This may sound like overkill, but having dealt with the bed bug nightmare once, we never want to go through it again.
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BugZipAdam
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Posted 2 years ago
Sun Aug 29 2010 9:31:21
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Just a few comments on the BugZip vs Ziploc comparison from BugZip...
The opening on even the largest XXL Ziploc big bag is not big enough to get anything larger than maybe a backpack inside. So for suitcases it's not even an option. Let's say you use Ziploc or even garbage bags, when you take your stuff out of the bags to change clothes, etc... where can you place your stuff that couldn't further expose you to bed bugs? There's not a real good answer. These are some of the main reasons we invented BugZip and designed it with the large zipper.
As for BugZip complaints about the zipper...we are aware that yo uneed to go slowly for the zipper to function smooth. We could have used a fabric zipper-tape to make the zipper less stiff and function just like a suitcase, however, that type of material is very attractive to bedbugs and if we were going to make this product we wanted it to be completely vinyl, which is slippery and means we have no stiching or seams where they can easily lay eggs and hide. The zipper and bag does soften up nicely after only a couple hours so the stiffness you see right out of the bag goes away quickly. However, we do recommend you take about 10 seconds to zipper the bag carefully (always using two hands) to avoid kinks or tears versus the 2 second rush that most people want. The extra 8 seconds is a minor inconvenience compared to the extra peace of mind that using BugZip provides.
My wife and kids just spent a week in Times Square. Had a great time, didn't see any bed bugs or signs of them. Still, I would have been in panic mode when they returned if it were not for the BugZip. Personally, from now on we'll also be taking the new BB Alert Passive Monitors to place on each bed at the hotels to use with our BugZips. If the monitor is clear (without any black spots) each morning and especially before we check out, then I can enjoy the day so much better and not have to worry so much when returning home.
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Richard56
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Posted 2 years ago
Sun Aug 29 2010 12:04:59
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Let's say you use Ziploc or even garbage bags, when you take your stuff out of the bags to change clothes, etc... where can you place your stuff that couldn't further expose you to bed bugs? There's not a real good answer.
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Not sure what you mean. Any system, including BugZips is potentially compromised once it's opened up. That said, I generally put my smaller zip lok bags into a larger zip lok or in the case of a suitcase, a garbage bag.I think you're on the right track with your product, just think it could use some improvement, especially if it is to be used more than once. I was very careful with the zipper (took longer than 10 seconds, two hands, etc. ) but it still ripped.
Another alternate solution is this product here: http://www.bedbug.com/Product-Bed-Bug-Luggage-Liner_14.aspx Not personally familiar with it but perhaps others can comment.
As for the half dozen or so bug Zips I bought, I ended up using them for long term storage of papers. Not a very cost effective solution but I didn't trust them with anything I would have to get in and out of on a regular basis.
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BugZipAdam
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Posted 2 years ago
Sun Aug 29 2010 13:50:00
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Richard,
Thanks again for your feedback. We are actively working on making them a little more user friendly.
It's hard to describe in words, but when you keep your luggage in a garbage bag, you have to take the luggage completely out of the garbage bag to get to your clothes each day. So you can place your suitcase on top of the garbage bag, on the luggage rack or on the floor/bed which are all exposed areas. With BugZip, you keep your clothes inside the BugZip and never have to take your suitcase out until checking out. You can just live right out the suitcase which is inside the BugZip because the BugZip three-sided zipper gives you easy access. Perhaps you have unpacked all your clothes into Ziploc bags to avoid this issue. Still, I think living out of the suitcase may be a more convenient option for many people.
The other luggage encasements at bedbug.com are kind of confusing to me. I believe they are meant to go inside the luggage, not around it, when you come home. Thus I don't think they do anything to protect the suitcase itself. And as far as protecting clothes...if place it back into your suitcase at the end of your trip, there could easily be bugs on the outside you are bringing home. It would need to be washed first which isn't possible on most trips. Plus, the fabric material is again ideal material for bed bugs to come hide in and lay eggs on which is why we use slick vinyl with heat-sealed seams instead.
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Cassandra
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Posted 2 years ago
Sun Aug 29 2010 14:22:37
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Hi everyone. Thanks for your input. I have definitely ruled out the Ziploc Flexible Tote. Perhaps I will get one BugZip to try, but I have another idea about how to protect our luggage while traveling -- Could I mount my luggage on ClimbUps? Wouldn't that greatly reduce the possibility that bed bugs could get in my luggage?
thanks
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Cassandra
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Posted 2 years ago
Sun Aug 29 2010 14:34:34
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delorac - 11 hours ago »
What we do is to take several good-quality large black trash bags along on our trips. (Not contractors bags.delorac, which brand of trash bags do you use? thanks
I checked out some reviews of trash bags and walked away confused:
consumersearch.com/trash-bags -
delorac
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Posted 2 years ago
Sun Aug 29 2010 19:57:21
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delorac, which brand of trash bags do you use? thanks
I checked out some reviews of trash bags and walked away confused:
consumersearch.com/trash-bagsHi, Cassandra,
Any name brand black trash bag will do. It's the strength/thickness that matters. You want a bag at least .9 mil thick. Hefty and Glad both make bags of that thickness, as do some store brands. I wouldn't go much above 1.2 or 1.3 mil thickness, as the bag will be stiffer and harder to seal up securely. Also, don't carry the suitcase using the bag when you take it to the tub as that could cause it to tear. Grab for the handle of the suitcase through the black bag and carry it that way. And be sure the bag you select is big enough to fully cover your suitcase with room at the top to knot or twist-tie it shut.
Brand name trash bags are more expensive, but I only buy them for travel. At home I use dollar store bags or store brands, most of which are thinner and more flimsy.
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