How I Pack Our Winter Coats Without Checking a Bag.
Everyone says to just wear your winter coat on the plane. Absolutely not. I'm not sitting on a plane for hours, sweating in my coat, thick pants and boots.
For the last 4 years, my family and I have flown out to Colorado every winter to catch the snow. As a mom, I pack for everyone: me, my husband and our two boys. And I'm not leaving those jackets behind.
Then I found a carry-on backpack called the 1Bag. Here's what I tried first, and why this is the one that stuck.
Packing for a winter trip? Read this before you pay another checked bag fee.
What I Tried First
None of it worked for winter coats.
Organizers, Zip Compression Bags and Plastic Vacuum Bags
I tried everything. The organizers. The zip compression bags. The plastic vacuum bags from Amazon.
The zip ones did compress a little, but only by about 20%. With winter coats, that's nothing.
And the plastic vacuum bags were never airtight. They ripped after 2 or 3 uses.
So I Started Paying Checked Bag Fees
With a family our size, those fees added up to hundreds of dollars every single trip.
That's when I saw a carry-on backpack called the 1Bag going viral on Facebook.
6 Reasons Our Winter Coats Fit in a Carry-On Now
What I found out on our trip to Colorado.
1. There's a Vacuum Bag Built Right Inside the Backpack
The 1Bag has a vacuum bag built right inside the backpack, and it comes with its own little vacuum.
So unlike the plastic ones from Amazon, you don't need to be next to a vacuum cleaner for it to work.
👉 See the exact bag I use2. It Doesn't Rip, and It Doesn't Leak
The vacuum bag is made of military-grade nylon with a YKK airtight zipper.
So it doesn't rip like the plastic bags did, and it doesn't leak.
3. All of Our Bulky Jackets Fit, Plus a Week of Clothes
Our yearly trip was the next week, so we put it to the test. I put all of our bulky jackets in this bag, and they just... disappeared.
Then I fit the rest of my clothes for the whole week in there too, plus my laptop and our toiletries.
No more rolling my clothes. No more wrinkles when I take them out.
👉 See what fits inside
- Free portable vacuum pump with every bag
- Free toiletry bag with every bundle bag
- Free shipping on 2+ bags
TRY IT RISK-FREE →
4. A TSA-Compliant Lock and Hidden Pockets
It even has a TSA-compliant lock on the side, and hidden pockets for your valuables.
5. It's Carry-On Size, So It Never Leaves My Side
It's carry-on size, so you're not worrying about baggage handlers trashing or losing your stuff.
It stays with you everywhere you go.
6. My Husband and Both Boys Got Their Own
My husband loved it so much that by the end of the trip, we ordered one for him and the boys.
They're running a Travel Together Bundle right now, where every extra bag you add is $10 less than the last, so it was easy.
👉 Check the current bundle dealThis bag is literally a game changer.
I know around this time last year, they sold out and didn't restock until March. So if you're sick of jamming bulky winter coats into a stuffed suitcase like I was, get yours before they sell out again.
Individual results may vary.
Prices and offers shown were current when this page was published.