Although many, if not most, bags that we sell are “open top”, we also offer “open bottom” bags. There are several good reasons why you might want to use open-bottom bags, and we will explore them here. We will also explore when or why you might not want to use open-bottom, and instead continue with the “default” configuration of open-top.
For instance, stand-up bags (bags with a bottom gusset) must be open on the top. Additionally, if you do not plan on heat-sealing the bags immediately after filling, open-top allows you to close the zipper until you do. If you do not plan on heat-sealing the bags ever, then of course you would also want open-top.
Reasons to choose “open bottom” bags
Ease of filling and sealing
If there are so many reasons to choose open-top bags, why would you consider open-bottom bags at all? There are several use-cases or situations where open-bottom is the best choice. The most common reason is ease of filling. Traditional open-top bags require first opening the zipper, then inserting your product through the zipper. This adds a step to the process, generally adds wrinkles to the bag in the process of opening the zipper, and can make it more difficult to insert your product. Open-bottom bags, on the other hand, require you to only insert the product and seal the bag.
If you plan to vacuum-seal your bags, open-bottom configuration will work with more types of sealers. Some sealers will work around zippers, but not all. Vacuum sealers are generally expensive – keeping your options open can help keep you on budget. As a side note, while most bags designed for vacuum-sealing contain nylon, it is not a requirement. Almost any bag can be vacuum-sealed, under the right circumstances. Nylon adds strength to the material, and makes it less vulnerable to puncture when the vacuum is applied. (We offer several nylon-containing bags for sale, although they do not have zippers, and as such are neither open-top nor open-bottom.)
Below are some examples of open-bottom bags that we sell (the “sparkle bags” come in boxes of 2,000, the others in boxes of 1,000):
Food safety and sealing
Finally, if your bag requires a hang-hole, but does not require a gusset, open-bottom is generally best. If the heat-seal does not cover the entire hang-hole, oxygen and moisture can enter the bag and ruin your product. No one wants to refund spoiled product or be responsible for someone getting sick. Using an open-bottom configuration allows you to place a wide header seal around the hang-hole at the top of the bag.
We hope that this has been helpful and informative. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions.