Which vacuum sealer recommendations?
Contributors to this thread:Equipment
From: Chris S
03-Oct-24
In light of the great response about vacuum sealers vs paper, I’m curious what models you would recommend. Mine is about 10 years old was and was an upper end model from Foodsealer at Costco at the time. Now it’s not vacuuming nearly as strong and not sealing well. I’ve defiantly got my moneys worth out of it. Youtube videos point to gasket issues that I’m going to attempt to fix but might end up buying a new one in the end and just don’t want to spend too much. There are a ton on amazon but hard to tell what is good for a family kitchen versus 3 or 4 deer a year and miscellaneous fish. Thanks and stay safe!
From: No Mercy
03-Oct-24
No Mercy's Link
LEM just came out with a $500 chamber sealer. These work for sealing wet or dry items. This will be my next purchase. I have the Max 500and it works great on semi dry items but the chamber sealers work on wet items like soup and fish filets.
From: tradi-doerr
03-Oct-24
We've been using the FoodSaver FM2106 the last 10yrs without any issues. We also vacuum seal veggies and other food to store.
From: wv_bowhunter
03-Oct-24
We have a Cabela’s pro series vacuum sealer that has done well.
From: Murph
03-Oct-24
MEAT your maker chamber vac
From: GotBowAz
03-Oct-24
I also use a Cabela's pro series vaccum sealer for a number of years. its still going strong.
From: midwest
03-Oct-24
Chamber vac will be my next one.
From: Bowfreak
03-Oct-24
Chamber vac is definitely the Cadillac unit. I used one Foodsaver unit for probably 15 years before it crapped out. I was too cheap to pull the trigger on the chamber vac and ended up replacing my unit with a Foodsaver Wingman Plus. As far as the traditional vacuum sealers, this is a great one for the money.
From: trakman
03-Oct-24
I want to fly a small one to Alaska any ideas ??
From: midwest
03-Oct-24
You'll make up the price of a chamber vac pretty quick just with the cost of the bags. My gf's brother has a Vevor at ~$330 he's been very happy with. He processes a lot of deer, sausage, etc.
From: Kurt
03-Oct-24
Trakman, our cheap Foodsaver from Costco has worked well and isn’t too large to fly. Make up your bags at home ahead of time.
I take the Foodsaver on long distance driving hunts along with a chest freezer (and generator, cutting board, knives and electric knife sharpener). Not flying of course.
From: RJ Hunt
03-Oct-24
My cheap food saver died after a couple years use so I went to a cabelas pro series and has been going strong for 5 or 6 years now.
From: butcherboy
03-Oct-24
You guys can always get one of these if you really want to up your game.
Never mind. Can’t get a picture to post for some reason
From: butcherboy
03-Oct-24
From: Beendare
03-Oct-24
I have the cheapie Food saver I got a decade ago- probably $150 back then.
I would recommend getting a good one with more Vaccuum....mine sometimes leaves air gaps unless I assist in eliminating voids.
I have the LEM Grinder and they make good stuff...hoping many guys chime in here, I might have to upgrade.
From: Insheart
03-Oct-24
I'm on my 4th one - this time I went with a Weston from Costco couple years ago - they had them on sale - can't remember for sure but I think it was about $180.00?
From: Al Dente Laptop
04-Oct-24
A chamber vac offers better sealing, and do wet items and liquids. They are more expensive. One draw back is that, it is a chamber, and you are limited to the size of that chamber. Where as a normal vacuum sealer such as Food Saver, Weston, etc... You can seal an item that is long, such as whole fish, if you wanted. Also, Food Saver has large bag sizes, even ones that can fit a whole turkey. To me, it is more versatile than a chamber vac.
From: Kevin Speicher
04-Oct-24
I have an Ary Vacmaster VP215 and love it. I've had it about 10 years now and have no complaints, seals much better and tighter than any of the non chamber styles I've had in the past. The only draw back is that the items have to fit in the chamber which may limit some folks. I mostly use it for fish, deer and bear. Also divide and pack bulk meats from store/butcher. No complaints.
From: Kevin Speicher
04-Oct-24
I have an Ary Vacmaster VP215 and love it. I've had it about 10 years now and have no complaints, seals much better and tighter than any of the non chamber styles I've had in the past. The only draw back is that the items have to fit in the chamber which may limit some folks. I mostly use it for fish, deer and bear. Also divide and pack bulk meats from store/butcher. No complaints.
From: jdbbowhunter
04-Oct-24
Bought a vacuum sealer from The Sausage Maker in Buffalo NY. Been good so far.
From: milnrick
04-Oct-24
Don't think you can go wrong with anything by LEM. We've got their vac-sealer and a Big Bite grinder. Both work great.
From: gil_wy
04-Oct-24
I have the Weston 2100… works good. I can do two 8” bags at a time.
From: carcus
05-Oct-24
I wrap all my meat in quality butcher paper, I've eaten burger that was 4 years old and it was great, not freezer burn at all, I haven't used my food saver in a decade
