Based on my testing, PackFresh USA Mylar Bags are the best Mylar bags thanks to their exceptional durability and superior barrier protection. PackFresh also offers bundles with several different mylar bag sizes and everything else you need included.
I’ve been working on my prepper pantry for a long time, and that means using a lot of mylar bags. While I’ve tried a few different brands over the years, I’ve really come back to the same few that I like the best.
If you’re building long-term food storage from scratch, our full survival foods guide covers the best foods to store and how to build a prepper pantry.
Let’s take a look at what these mylar bag brands are and why I recommend them. I’ll also go over a few of the more complicated points of purchasing mylar bags, like what thickness to get.
A Brief Look At My Favorite Mylar Bags
Multiple Options
Combo Kits
Affordable
Cost: 38 cents per bag
Save 8% at Pack Fresh USA with code “survivalstoic”
Multiple Sizes
Heavy Duty
Combo Kits
Cost: $1.5 cents per bag
Save $5 off at Wallaby with code “survivalstoic”
Best Mylar Bags: PackFresh USA
Save 8% at Pack Fresh USA with code “Survivalstoic”
- Avg price per bag: 38 cents
- Thickness options: 3.5, 5, and 7 mil
PackFresh USA is my go-to for mylar bags. They have the exact specs I’m looking for at the cheapest price point. I’ve tried other, more expensive mylar bags, but they don’t really perform any better than these.
I love that PackFresh offers a huge range of sizes and thicknesses. I can get just about any size and thickness of Mylar bags that I want. They also have great bundles, which provide several different-sized bags. Typically, I buy these bundles and then use the different sizes as I need to.
Plus, my favorite bundle here includes everything you need, including oxygen absorbers and a heat sealer, so you can get started right away.
I’ve had a couple of experiences with their customer service, and I’ve always come away satisfied. They quickly replace defective bags, for instance, without giving me the runaround.
That said, PackFresh’s standard bags are missing some features I would have enjoyed, like stand-up gussets. This would make them easier to fill. Otherwise, I have to support them with a box to fill them up. (They do offer bags with gussets, but they are more expensive.)
Runner-Up: Wallaby
Save $5 off at Wallaby with code “Survivalstoic”
- Avg Price per bag: $1.50
- Thickness options: 5, 5.5, and 7.5 mil
Wallaby Mylar bags are a very close runner-up to PackFresh. I’ve used them several times with good results.
They have an added internal layer of aluminum foil. This helps make them extra-durable and prevents punctures. Added durability is always nice, though I’ve never had a huge problem with any of my mylar bags puncturing (except for the very cheap ones).
You can purchase Wallaby bags with zipper closures. When you open up the bag, you don’t have to use everything at once. You can just zip it back up. These zipper closures do not mean that the ingredients inside will stay fresh for very long after opening, but it does prevent spills.
Wallaby offers a few bundles, too. These come with oxygen absorbers and labels. However, you have to purchase a heat sealer separately. There is no bundle with one in it.
These mylar bags are priced higher than PackFresh, and the fact that you have to purchase a separate heat gun only adds to that price.
How We Tested Mylar Bags
For testing, we primarily relied on hands-on testing. For instance, we used each mylar bag to store common foods for long term storage, like rice and beans.
Here are more details about our testing:
- Durability: We checked each bag’s durability by attempting to puncture them with a blunt knife. This would be similar to a rat trying to chew through the bag or the bag knocking up against something sharp during storage.
- Seals: After sealing each bag, we checked for leaks by submerging it in water. You’d be surprised by the number of mylar bag brands that had small holes in their bags, especially around the sides and bottom.
- Effectiveness: We stored real food in several mylar bags from each brand we tested. Then, we reopened the bags after several months to determine if the bag was actually effective. For this test, we used foods that generally go bad faster in mylar bags instead of shelf-stable foods that can last long by themselves, anyway.
- Cost analysis: I calculated the price per bag to determine which brand was the most cost-effective. For this, I used the gallon-sized bags from each brand.
- Ease of Use: We used each bag and observed how easy they were to open, fill, and seal.
These tests helped me see which bags were the best from an objective point of view. While there are tons of mylar bags available today, most didn’t pass our basic testing. Only PackFresh and Wallaby really performed adequately out of the companies I tested.
What Thickness Should Your Mylar Bag Be?
Mylar bags come in several thicknesses. For long-term storage, you should get mylar bags that are at least 3.5 mil.
While they do make thinner bags that are very cheap, these only work for very short-term situations. For instance, they’re often used to store freeze-dried candy during shipment.
Thickness is important because it provides better insulation from the outside elements, which can help your food last longer. It also prevents punctures, but this really isn’t the main reason you buy thicker Mylar bags.
Thicker bags are harder to use, though, in my opinion. They’re more rigid, which makes them harder to fill. But they are more effective and safer from the outside elements, so I still use them.
7-mil, heavy-duty mylar bags are a good choice for heavier items, like granola or beef jerky. 7.5-ml bags work fine too; they’re just a tiny bit thicker.
Most of my mylar bags are between 3.5 to 7 mil. I like to buy a variety pack so that I have several options available for different types of food. This also helps keep costs down, since thicker bags often cost more.
How Long Does Food Last in a Mylar Bag?
It depends on the food? I have a long-term food storage guide that outlines how long different foods last when stored in Mylar bags or other containers. Use it to determine how long different foods last and what they should be stored in.
Typically, dried foods with little fat and moisture content often last the longest, like flour and beans. When you’re storing foods in mylar bags, it’s these that you want to prioritize.
Moist foods do not last very long. If you can, freeze dry them before storing them. See our Stay Fresh Freeze Dryer Review for a great, easy-to-use machine. If drying them isn’t an option, consider finding an alternative product to store instead.
For instance, fat-free powdered milk lasts much longer than full-fat powdered milk – by about two decades!
Best Foods to Store in a Mylar Bags
So what should you store in a mylar bag? Here are my recommendations:
- White rice
- Wheat
- Flour
- Sugar
- Oats
- Beans
- Pasta
- Salt
- Whole spices
- Dehydrated vegetables
These foods are staples in most prepper pantries and are also featured in our 3-month food supply list.
Tips on Using and Storing Mylar Bags
We have written a complete guide on using mylar bags, which we do recommend taking a look at. But, here are some of our most important tips for anyone diving into mylar bag storage.
- Choose dry, low-moisture, low-fat foods. Moist and high fat foods carry a risk of botulism. According to the Centre for Food Safety:
“Foodborne botulism is caused by ingestion of food containing very potent neurotoxin produced by Clostridium botulinum. The toxin can cause illness in minute amount, in the range of a few nanograms. However, it can be destroyed by heating at 80°C for more than 10 minutes.”
- Decide on portion sizes before filling. Smaller bags (quart or gallon) are often better than large 5-gallon ones for practical use.
- Match the absorber size to the food and bag size. For example, use 300cc for a gallon bag with rice or 500cc for pasta.
- Use a clean workspace and support the bag in a box or container for easier filling.
- Place sealed bags in food-grade buckets with tight lids to protect against rodents and punctures. Avoid cardboard boxes.
- Mark each bag with the contents and date before sealing to avoid confusion later.
- Heat and light degrade food quality, so keep stored bags in a basement or pantry with stable temperatures.
If you’re planning to use Mylar bags, this walkthrough shows exactly how to store rice and beans using this method from start to finish.
Which Mylar Bags Should You Get?
For the vast majority of people, I recommend getting the PackFresh USA 7 Mil Box Set Bundle. It has everything you need in it, including a heat sealer. So you don’t have to shop around for everything.
Mylar bags are essential for DIYing your own long-term food supply, but they are just a starting point.
Don’t forget other essentials, though, like an emergency stove for when the power goes out. Having some emergency recipes on standby that you can cook with your stored food is also recommended.
Don’t know what to store? Check out our list of the best survival foods for some ideas.
If you want to prepare for really long-term situations, having emergency seeds stocked for a survival garden is essential.
