Ekster Vacuum Packing Cube- Useful or Gimmick?

Remember my one bag travel video? After it blew up, my social feed got flooded with ads for vacuum seal compression bags — and I couldn't stop wondering if they'd actually earn a spot in my packing system. I'd tried vacuum bags years ago and wasn't impressed — leaky seals, and good luck finding a vacuum cleaner in a hotel room. But the new versions looked different: thick zip seals and a tiny palm-sized pump that solves the "how do I reseal this on the way home" problem. So I picked up the Ekster vacuum compression bags and put them to the test with my actual packing cubes, running shoes, and gear. In this video I break down: Why my old vacuum bags didn't work, and what's different now How the Ekster pump and zip seal actually perform Packing my full one bag travel kit — clothing, sports cube, shoes, wash kit — with and without compression Why extra space matters even when you're not adding extra weight Using the space for race-day extras (backup shoes, hydration belt, nutrition), content creator gear, or bringing souvenirs home without a duffel bag The real downsides: rigid packed blocks, digging through everything for a layover change of clothes, and the temptation to overpack just because you can Bottom line: for most trips, especially ones with a bit of unpredictability, these are earning a permanent spot in my backpack. For a simple two-day work trip? Probably not needed. Note: Ekster did not sponsor this video or provide the product — I bought it myself. 💬 Have you tried vacuum compression bags for travel? Useful or more trouble than they're worth? Let me know in the comments — and share any other travel hacks you swear by. If you enjoy honest gear reviews and real talk about staying active while traveling in midlife, like this video, subscribe to Full Later Life, and I'll see you in the next one. 00:00 - Welcome 00:12 - One bag revisited 00:28 - The algorithm wants to sell me someting 00:53 - The old versions sucked, are the new ones better? 02:10 - My system works already, but there's always something to improve on. 02:53 - Space could be useful 04:18 - Is the second bag needed? 05:03 - Choosing from so many options 06:11 - Packing for travel- in the before times. 07:33 - The new way with Ekster 08:53 - The pump and seal 10:29 - So much space 12:24 - Is it useful- the verdict 13:54 - Minor concerns 15:24 - Overall impression 15:57 - Throwing it back to the community