Zip Bags & Resealable Packaging Bags: Uses, Types & Benefits
May 24, 2023 Der Knospenzwirbler
Weed Wissen
Weed Wissen
Druckverschlussbeutel sind echte Allrounder: von Organisation über Lebensmittellagerung bis Outdoor- und Wassereinsatz. Wir zeigen dir Varianten wie Alu-Zipbags, Vakuum- und Bügelbeutel – und wofür sie sich wirklich eignen.
Press-seal bags, zip bags, resealable bags, or whatever you prefer to call them stand out for how practical and versatile they are. Small items of every kind, screws, jewellery, paper clips, seeds, tea or herbs, fit just as neatly into a press-seal bag of the right size as larger objects do, food in particular. They also work for documents, even banknotes. Press-seal bags are a remarkably variable product, both in how they are used and in how they look. They come in sizes from 3x4 cm all the way up to bags a metre across, printed, transparent, semi-transparent, in different tear strengths, some even with a slider or a double zip seal. No accidental spin-off of space research, perhaps, but zip bags are a surprisingly ingenious product of low complexity, much like hook-and-loop fasteners or sticky notes.
It isn't only collectors of coins, stamps and the like who value press-seal bags for keeping things organised. Collecting the zip bags themselves is increasingly in vogue, thanks to the huge variety of sizes, thicknesses and designs, and the urge to own as complete a collection as possible is spreading across ever wider circles. The enormous choice of motifs on baggies is of course largely down to the fact that press-seal bags make a great advertising medium: the little bags (if sturdy enough) stay on a person for a long time, so the message keeps working. On top of that, they are even cheaper to produce and design than other popular promotional giveaways such as lighters or keyrings.
These are sturdier than most press-seal bags of standard thickness and, on top of that, extra aroma-tight. Of course this version comes with various prints too, so it works nicely as a collector's item as well.
Press-seal bags are not the right choice, however, when the goal is to protect the contents from air and, where relevant, from light. In exactly those cases the easy resealability of a zip is rather unwelcome and can even spoil the contents for good. Here, aluminium vacuum bags are usually the tool of choice, since they can simply be sealed airtight with the help of an iron and thus protect the contents from going off.
That doesn't mean a vacuum bag is necessarily a throwaway item. It can be reused, at the cost of a slightly smaller bag, by cutting open the sealed edge and ironing the new edge shut again. Cutting it into several smaller bags is no problem either, with a little practice.
This last point is also the main reason heat-seal bags are often considerably larger than common press-seal bags.
On a trek, for example, the great advantages of press-seal bags come into their own when packing clothing water-tight. Unlike ordinary plastic bags they last far longer and are much more convenient to handle. Thanks to the range of sizes zip bags come in, you can stuff your backpack in every direction and make the best possible use of the space inside.
A canoe or dinghy trip is another good use case. If you paddle often or even professionally, you'll surely already own watertight buoyancy barrels or dry bags, but what if you've simply been invited on a weekend canoe trip, or want to join a dinghy outing?
For that it's hardly worth investing in such specialised equipment. Instead you can pack your wallet, your mobile phone and other moisture-sensitive things, such as documents, torches or watches, into a zip bag. Even if the folding kayak capsizes or the dinghy is swamped, the valuables are safely packed. And the clothes will dry out again. And if they shouldn't get wet either, there are zip bags in the right size for that too.
When surfing, incidentally, press-seal bags work just as well: they fit neatly into the tight pockets of a wetsuit and keep money and documents dry.
You should make sure, though, not to buy the very cheapest zip bags. They are splash-proof and, to a degree, watertight, but you shouldn't rely on them one hundred per cent. Better to reach for the slightly pricier zip bags that are explicitly rated as waterproof.
It isn't only collectors of coins, stamps and the like who value press-seal bags for keeping things organised. Collecting the zip bags themselves is increasingly in vogue, thanks to the huge variety of sizes, thicknesses and designs, and the urge to own as complete a collection as possible is spreading across ever wider circles. The enormous choice of motifs on baggies is of course largely down to the fact that press-seal bags make a great advertising medium: the little bags (if sturdy enough) stay on a person for a long time, so the message keeps working. On top of that, they are even cheaper to produce and design than other popular promotional giveaways such as lighters or keyrings.
Aluminium zip bags
A special case that has grown ever more popular of late is the aluminium zip bag.These are sturdier than most press-seal bags of standard thickness and, on top of that, extra aroma-tight. Of course this version comes with various prints too, so it works nicely as a collector's item as well.
Vacuum bags and heat-seal bags
Standard zip bags are extremely handy in everyday use. Slipped into a pocket, they are quickly to hand, quickly opened and just as swiftly closed again and stowed away.Press-seal bags are not the right choice, however, when the goal is to protect the contents from air and, where relevant, from light. In exactly those cases the easy resealability of a zip is rather unwelcome and can even spoil the contents for good. Here, aluminium vacuum bags are usually the tool of choice, since they can simply be sealed airtight with the help of an iron and thus protect the contents from going off.
That doesn't mean a vacuum bag is necessarily a throwaway item. It can be reused, at the cost of a slightly smaller bag, by cutting open the sealed edge and ironing the new edge shut again. Cutting it into several smaller bags is no problem either, with a little practice.
This last point is also the main reason heat-seal bags are often considerably larger than common press-seal bags.
For outdoor use
Zip bags are waterproof, and in both directions. So you can not only transport liquids in them, although you shouldn't put too much weight on the zip seal, but also protect things from moisture.On a trek, for example, the great advantages of press-seal bags come into their own when packing clothing water-tight. Unlike ordinary plastic bags they last far longer and are much more convenient to handle. Thanks to the range of sizes zip bags come in, you can stuff your backpack in every direction and make the best possible use of the space inside.
A canoe or dinghy trip is another good use case. If you paddle often or even professionally, you'll surely already own watertight buoyancy barrels or dry bags, but what if you've simply been invited on a weekend canoe trip, or want to join a dinghy outing?
For that it's hardly worth investing in such specialised equipment. Instead you can pack your wallet, your mobile phone and other moisture-sensitive things, such as documents, torches or watches, into a zip bag. Even if the folding kayak capsizes or the dinghy is swamped, the valuables are safely packed. And the clothes will dry out again. And if they shouldn't get wet either, there are zip bags in the right size for that too.
When surfing, incidentally, press-seal bags work just as well: they fit neatly into the tight pockets of a wetsuit and keep money and documents dry.
You should make sure, though, not to buy the very cheapest zip bags. They are splash-proof and, to a degree, watertight, but you shouldn't rely on them one hundred per cent. Better to reach for the slightly pricier zip bags that are explicitly rated as waterproof.
Vakuum Beutel - Bügelbeutel
Übliche Zipbeutel sind im alltäglichen Gebrauch äußerst praktisch. Einfach in die Tasche gesteckt, sind sie bei Bedarf schnell verfügbar, rasch geöffnet und ebenso flugs wieder verschlossen und verstaut.Nicht geeignet sind Druckverschlussbeutel jedoch dann, wenn es darum geht, das entsprechende Material vor Luft und gegebenenfalls auch vor Lichteinfall zu schützen. Gerade in solchen Fällen ist die leichte Wiederverschließbarkeit von Zips eher unerwünscht und kann sogar den Inhalt nachhaltig verderben. In solchen sind dann meist Vakuumbeutel aus Alu das Gerät der Wahl, da diese einfach mit Hilfe eines Bügeleisen luftdicht verschlossen werden können und somit den Inhalt vor dem Verderben schützt.
Das heißt aber nicht, daß ein Vakuumbeutel zwangsläufig ein Wegwerfartikel ist. Die Wiederverwendbarkeit kann unter leichten Einbußen der Beutelgröße einfach bewerkstelligt werden, indem man die Bügelkante einfach aufschneidet und die neu entstandene Kante wieder zubügelt. Auch der Zuschnitt in mehrere kleinere Beutel ist mit etwas Übung kein Problem.
Letzteres ist auch der Hauptgrund warum Bügelbeutel oftmals wesentlich größer ausfallen als gängige Druckverschlussbeutel.
Im Outdoor Einsatz
Zip Beutel sind wasserdicht, und das nach beiden Seiten hin. Man kann also nicht nur Flüssigkeiten damit transportieren - wobei man allerdings den Zip Verschluss nicht mit zu viel Gewicht belasten sollte - sondern auch Dinge vor Feuchtigkeit schützen.Beim Trekking zum Beispiel zeigen sich die großen Vorteile von Druckverschlußbeuteln, beim wassergeschützten Verpacken von Kleidung. Im Gegensatz zu normalen Plastiktüten haben sie eine wesentlich höhere Lebensdauer und sind viel bequemer in der Handhabung. Dank der variablen Größen, in denen die Zip Beutel erhältlich sind, kann man seinen Rucksack in alle Richtungen ausstopfen und so das Innenvolumen bestmöglich ausnutzen.
Eine gute Anwendungsmöglichkeit ist auch die Kanu- oder Schlauchbootfahrt. Wenn man häufiger oder gar professionell Kanu fährt, besitzt man mit Sicherheit schon wasserdichte Schwimmtonnen oder Seesäcke - aber wenn man einfach nur auf eine Wochenend-Kanufahrt eingeladen ist, oder eine Schlauchbootfahrt mitmachen will?
Dafür lohnt es sich eher nicht, Geld in so spezielles Equipment zu investieren. Stattdessen kann man seinen Geldbeutel, sein Mobiltelefon und andere wasserempfindliche Dinge, wie beispielsweise Dokumente, Taschenlampen, Armbanduhren in einen Zip-Beutel einpacken. Selbst wenn das Faltboot kentert oder das Schlauchboot geentert wird, die wertvollen Dinge sind sicher verpackt. Und die Kleidung trocknet wieder. Und wenn auch die nicht nass werden soll, gibt es auch dafür Zip Beutel in der passenden Größe.
Beim Surfen und Wellenreiten kann man Druckverschlußbeutel übrigens genauso gut einsetzen: Sie passen gerade in die knapp bemessenen Taschen der Neopren-Anzüge und halten Geld und Dokumente trocken.
Man sollte allerdings darauf achten, nicht unbedingt die allergünstigsten Zip Beutel zu kaufen - diese sind zwar spritzwassergeschützt und bedingt auch wasserdicht, aber zu hundert Prozent sollte man sich nicht darauf verlassen. Dann lieber zu den etwas teureren Zip Beuteln greifen, die als wasserdicht ausgewiesen sind.
Author: Der Knospenzwirbler
Seit über 20 Jahren ist Der Knospenzwirbler Teil unserer Firma und hat mehrere Generationen der Cannabiskultur miterlebt: von den frühen Tagen bis zu den heutigen Entwicklungen. Seine langjährige Praxis und sein tiefes Verständnis für Produkte, Materialien und Trends machen seine Beiträge besonders wertvoll. Der Knospenzwirbler ist dabei ein Pseudonym, hinter dem Namen steht jedoch eine reale Person mit echter Erfahrung. Seine Texte sind einordnend, verständlich und immer mit Substanz statt leerem Hype.