I tried searching for this term "space bag" and got 3 result pages of threads.... Went to page #2 and it said there were 209 pages of thread results. None looked promising, nor did the search function.

What is everyone's view of using space bags for traveling? What if you check your luggage and your bag is randomly looked at by TSA? Sure the bag is clear, but not anything you may have wrapped up inside your clothes/articles. My bags have been searched twice, both times with letters inside saying it had been done. Would TSA re-vacuum your bag(s)? If not, I doubt the bag would zip close again.

Nice profit idea - have vacuum machines throughout the airport, just like the kind at car washes. One dollar for... 30 sec of air? So if your carry on had to be opened (because xray didn't work).. you could still get your bag back down to size.

The generic term for these is "compression bags." No vacuum is needed and everybody sells them. They work on the ziploc method - you roll the bag after you've sealed it and the air wheezes out through a one-way valve on the bottom. I've used them for years and have never had anyone open them in transit. They are great for saving on space, but one has to be careful to not overstuff a bag with them or risk having the bag go over the airlines' weight limits.

The generic term for these is "compression bags." No vacuum is needed and everybody sells them. They work on the ziploc method - you roll the bag after you've sealed it and the air wheezes out through a one-way valve on the bottom. I've used them for years and have never had anyone open them in transit. They are great for saving on space, but one has to be careful to not overstuff a bag with them or risk having the bag go over the airlines' weight limits.
There are actually two types - one does use a vaccuum to get the air out. I don't use those for travel, but at home for bedding, esp for the winter stuff over the summer.

The roll-ups are good for travel but I keep the final product pretty thin, so hopefully no one would want to open it because the contents are pretty obvious. They are rigid once packed so some (stupid) but curious TSO might chose to open it, and no they aren't going to re-pack it carefully at all. Could be if it doesn't fit, they just don't put it back in :td: Hope for the best and pack with care not to put anything in with the packs that might trigger an alert. G'Luck.

Sorry, I should have been clearer that it's the travel compression bags that don't require the use of a vacuum cleaner.

I use the rollup Space Bags (https://www.spacebag.com/travelbag/901717/) with fairly good results. IME a number of them develop a leak after, perhaps, a half dozen uses. Also, I generally throw away the plastic zipper which, if cocked, can easily rip the bag. The bag easily closes just as a zip lock does.

Make a visit to Target and buy the 3 gallon ziplock bags, much cheaper and work exactly the same

I also prefer the Zip-Loc bags to Space Bags. The Space Bags get stiff and icky after a few uses. Not good value for money.

Actually when we fly to cruises we use the ones for the vacum cleaner for our formal clothes in our checked bags. However we use the roll up travel bags for things like under wear. Do remember though that these bags don't reduce the weight just the space in the bags. If on the weight system you will have to keep a sharp eye on the weight.

As to the TSA resealing them - don't count on it you have to be lucky if the replace the right stuff in the right piece of luggage.

I'm curious. What would happen if the TSA checks the contents of the space bag that requires the vacuum cleaner to suck air out, and if they no longer fit into the bag? Do they provide an extra 'container' of some sort to make sure that everything will reach you, or would they just dump what would not fit?

I've been using these bags for quite some time. They're really handy. Personally, I've never had issues with TSA looking into them.

In my own experience the TSA folks squash everything back into the bag whatever way it fits. As I had had underwear stolen from checked baggage, I carry on my underwear in my own little carry on bag.