Vacuum packing is a way to reduce bulk, prevent deterioration and reduce pilferage. Oftentimes when assembling a survival kit, which is what we are talking about here, one or more of these attributes are an advantage. In my experience, vacuum packing can reduce bulk of a kit by 20%-50%. In many instances that is critical. Vacuum packing keeps things dry and clean and can significantly extend the useful life of some items. Things that are vacuum packed tend to be there when you need them, there seems to be much less tendency to “borrow” items from kits when this is done, items that are too often not returned or replace.<br><br>Typical survival situation does not require moving once established, and in any case there is usually some reduction in bulk, where that was the concern, due to consuming contents or moving them from the original packaging to one’s person. I have never know this to be a problem.<br><br>For camping and similar pursuits where you are moving daily, vacuum packaging via “permanent” means (vs. Jeff’s reusable vacuum bags) is generally not nearly as useful except as you note.<br>