Best vacuum sealer?

[sethkuhl]

I have burned up 2 in four years
first was a foodsaver. Second was a nesco.

Looking for advice or testimonials of a bigger unit maybe even a chamber vac. The amount I use it can justify some cash towards it but sick of them burning up halfway through batches.

 

[Nick87]

My cabelas lasted for years. Wouldn't go back now since the buyout. Nesco has been trash for me as well as food saver. Next time will be a chamber for me. Good luck.

 

[Wild Bill]

I’ve got a Weston Pro-1100 that has worked flawlessly for about 5 years. I find myself breaking the “wait 30 seconds between cycles” rule more often than not, and it hasn’t faulted in anyway.

 

[Dave N]

I use a Weston Profesional Advantage. Model number 65-0501-W. It just flat out works. I also don't wait 30 seconds. Pull one out and load another and go. Search the web for the model number and shop around for the lowest price. Think this one is right around $200.

 

[jryoung]

I've got the Weston Pro-2300 (might be the 2600 now) that I've had for 10 years. I'm certain I use mine way more than most people, year round from hunting, fishing, leftovers and vegetables from the garden. Well worth the $400 or so they want for it. Replaced the gaskets and seal strip a few times, but they've sealed thousands of times.

 

[cgasner1]

Get what you pay for with these i have lem commercial one it’s nice

 

[Wildabeest]

Costco has the Weston Pro 1100 for $270. I’ve got a Food Saver that works ok, but when it eventually gives out or I start doing more packaging in bulk, I’d likely upgrade to the Weston.

 

[Bambistew]

I bought a vacmaster 215 a couple years ago, and use the hell out of it. I burned up many of the cheap sealers before I bought a Weston Pro 2600, which is about the best of the vaccume sealers. I rarely use it now, it doesn't compare to a chamber sealer.

Meat Your Maker usually runs sales up to 20-25% off, seasonaly as does Vacmaster. Costco used to carry Vacmasters from time to time here, and they were usually $100 less than retail.

I wouldn't buy an oil-less sealer, nor whould I buy a LEM. The oil-less chamber sealers are a step up from the vaccum sealers, but they won't last as long, and you're paying 60-80% the price of the oil pump version that is serviceable and will last for ever. I have a few friends that are using the same Vacmaster they bought almost 30 years ago.

If I didnt' run through a few hundred pounds of fish and game each eyar, I'd problby by an Avid Armor oiless chamber sealer. When I did a bunch of reserch a few years ago, they seem to have really good reviews and last a long time with moderate use.

 

[Brittany Chukarman]

I had a Vacmaster 112 for 20 years. When It went down last summer I replaced it with an Avid Armor USVX. No problems so far. I like the compact size, my old unit was a beast. I get best results by semi freezing whatever I'm packaging first. That gives me a really tight bag comparable to a more expensive unit. I use mostly 8x10 bags but it will do 10" wide.

 

[Mallardsx2]

Following.

We have went through about 6 of the cheaper ones in the last 10 years.

 

[Addicting]

I stepped up to a chamber for most anything at home. It is definitely the best way. But the unit is huge and heavy. I still have the food savor and pack that for trips. That way I can do some hotel work for blackstraps and tenderloins.

 

[Steiny77]

I've burned through a couple Food Savers but they last a couple years and are pretty inexpensive.
Most recently bought a LEM brand and it's working great.

 

[Jamen]

I have the lem max vac 1000 no complaints

 

[Cammy]

Fished with a cousin in Alaska who had 2 large chamber vacuums and was impressed by the ease of the process compared to my "traditional" vac sealer. Bought an Avid Armor unit mostly based on budget and have not regretted the purchase a bit. Package ground game meat in 1 pound packages that flatten out to about 1/2 in thick and stack like a dream in the freezer.
Advantage of the chamber vac is the ability to package liquids or wet/bloody meat without the worry of getting liquid in the pump.

 

[mtmiller]

I purchased a VacMaster 215 in Jan of 2023. It has worked flawlessly.

 

[npaden]

I bought a JVR VAC100 chamber vacuum sealer about 3 years ago and have been very happy with it. They are expensive but if you look at total costs over a 10 year period or so you probably are money ahead with one of the chamber sealers. The bags are in the neighborhood of 6 or 7 cents each if you buy in bulk and you don't have to buy a new machine every 5 or 6 years. Plus they do a way better job at sealing, I used to have a few of the food saver type bags lose their seal every batch I did, once I got the right settings figured out I think I have only had 1 of the chamber bags lose it's seal in 3 years.

 

[Trial153]

max vac 1000 here, going on five or six years no issues.

 

[DeltaDave]

I use Gamesaver V1205 for more than 20 years to package 30 to 40 bags of smoked salmon. I have a gamesaver G800 that sits on the shelf like the elf. If I was rich and famous I would have a chamber vacuum sealer. Downside of the chamber vacuum system is they are big, bulky, heavy, and I do not have a place to store the unit when not in use.

 

[DoubleAron]

I use an Avid Armor Ultra Series USV32 and have been very happy with it. I would call myself moderate level of usage but it is hard to compare really, I do a bunch of fish, some wild game for me and others every year. Plus some random things along the way.

 

[ChaosOneZero]

This is a solid thread; saving for future reference. Thanks, fellas.