Cheap alternative: large ziplocs. Just close them nearly all the way, squeeze out the air, and finish closing them. Plus, they’re good for preventing leaks and for housing wet clothes.

By the way, compression bags can create more space but can’t lighten the weight load of your pack. If you stuff more into the pack, it’ll weigh more, and you’ll probably regret packing it so tightly. Try to pack your bag loosely enough that you can do it in a hurry, over and over again, and still have some room for a few souvenirs.

I guess what I’m trying to say is, get the compression bags if you really want… but if you really need them, you’re probably packing too much.

I tried some in my sailing bag last winter and found most of my clothes were hardly reduced in space by those things. T-shirts and trousers and underwear etc aren’t so ‘squishy’ that a space bag gives you any advantage. It worked for my fleece, but then you can pack a fleece up pretty tight anyway. So for me it didn’t work.

I didn’t like them either, waste of money.