You can tuck a bottle of wine between soft clothes in a suitcase and hope that it doesn’t break, or you can shield it in a wine travel bag that’s designed to protect bottles on the go. We tested four (priced from about $5.00 to $28.00) made of various types of plastic or neoprene by running them through a series of abuse tests. After loading each model with bottles that were skinny, squat, short, and tall, we dropped them from waist height, packed them in a suitcase and tossed them as an airplane baggage handler might, and rolled them down a flight of stairs. We even flew with them back and forth across the country. Two of the bags were useless. Bottles stored in the two bags made from thin, lightly cushioned plastic—one lined with something akin to paper towels and the other with bubble wrap—broke in almost every test, and when they did, the glass shards slashed the plastic sides and wine spilled out. The thick cushioned neoprene material of another model looked promising, but its bottles broke, too, and since its sides were open, the wine spilled everywhere.

Our winner, an inflatable bag made from thick, durable plastic (inspired by the dry bags that sailors use), was the best of the bunch. You blow it up like a beach ball (when loaded with a bottle, it’s about the size of a loaf of bread), and the air cushions the bottle. best wines under 20 dollars fall 2015We had only one break in this bag—the fifth time we dropped it from waist height onto hard pavement­—but even then the heavy-duty plastic kept all the wine contained. wine in korean wordIt was also the only bag that accommodated taller wine bottles or wider liquor bottles. red wine to pair with chocolate cakeWe’ll be packing one in our luggage from now on.best dry red wine recommendations

20+ years of Cook's Illustrated foolproof recipes In-depth videos of recipes and cooking techniques SAVE all your Favorites for easy access Up-to-Date reviews and product buying guides Get everything Cook's Illustrated — become the Smartest Cook you know, guaranteed.best place to drink wine in france How we use your email addressbest port wine cheap Design Trifecta 360 Knife Block Admittedly expensive, this handsome block certainly seemed to live up to its billing as “the last knife block you ever have to buy.” The heaviest model in our testing, this block was ultrastable, and its durable bamboo exterior was a breeze to clean. Well-placed medium-strength magnets made it easy to attach all our knives, and a rotating base gave us quick access to them. One tiny quibble: The blade of our 12-inch slicing knife stuck out a little.

Schmidt Brothers Downtown Block This roomy block completely sheathed our entire winning knife set using just one of its two sides—and quite securely, thanks to long, medium-strength magnet bars. Heavy, with a grippy base, this block was very stable. An acrylic guard made this model extra-safe but also made it a little trickier to insert knives and to clean; the wood block itself showed some minor cosmetic scratching during use. Schmidt Brothers Midtown Block This smaller version of the Downtown Block secured all our knives nicely, though the blade of the slicing knife stuck out a bit. With a base lined with grippy material, this block was very stable. An acrylic guard afforded extra protection against contact with blades but made it a little harder to insert knives and to clean; the wood itself got a little scratched during use. Swissmar Bamboo Magnetic Knife Block This small, scratch-resistant model had a stable, rubber-lined base and could hold all our knives, though the blade of the 12-inch slicing knife stuck out a bit.

But inch-long gaps between its small magnets made coverage uneven and forced us to find the magnetic hot spots in order to secure the knives. Its acrylic guard made it safer to use but harder to insert knives and to clean. Messermeister Walnut Magnet Block This handsome block was done in by its shape—a tippy, top-heavy quarter-circle that wasn’t tall or broad enough to keep the blades of three knives from poking out. It lacked a nonslip base, and its extra-strong magnets made it unnerving to attach or remove our heavy cleaver. Finally, it got a bit scratched after extensive use. Epicurean Standing Knife Rack 12" This magnetic block sheathed all our knives completely, though with a bit of crowding. But it was hard to insert each knife without hitting the block’s decorative slats on way down, and because the block was light and narrow, it wobbled when bumped. Worse, we couldn’t take it apart, so splatters that hit the interior were there to stay. Additionally, the outside stained easily, and when we wiped it down, the unit smelled like wet dog.

Kapoosh Rondelle Knife Block This model stabilized knives with a mass of stiff, spaghetti-like bristles that shed and nicked easily after extensive use, covering our knives with plastic debris. While all our knives fit securely, several of the blades stuck out, making this unit feel less safe overall. Finally, though the bristles could be removed and cleaned in the dishwasher, their nooks and crannies made this block hard to wash by hand. Kuhn Rikon Vision Knife Block, Clear This plastic block required us to aim each knife into the folds of an accordion-pleated insert that was removable for easy cleaning but got nicked easily with repeated use. Because we could only insert the knives vertically, longer knife blades stuck out; a cleaver was too wide to fit. The lightest model in our lineup, this block was dangerously top-heavy when loaded with knives. FREE Shipping on orders over $35. Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) is a service we offer sellers that lets them store their products in Amazon's fulfillment centers, and we directly pack, ship, and provide customer service for these products.

Something we hope you'll especially enjoy: FBA items qualify for FREE Shipping and . If you're a seller, Fulfillment by Amazon can help you increase your sales. We invite you to learn more about Fulfillment by Amazon Used & new (8) from $23.05 Sold by Ellessco LLC and Fulfilled by Amazon. Selection for all your Kitchen needs; from pendant lights to appliances, cookware and more. VinniBag Inflatable Travel Bag - Reusable, Recyclable & Made in USADetailsJet Bag Reusable Padded Absorbent Bottle Bags, Bio-Degradable Travel Accessory, Set of 3 FREE Shipping on orders over . DetailsWine Skin WineSkin Bag, 2-Pack FREE Shipping on orders over . Wine Travel Bottle Protector (3 Pack) by Bee Smart Gear | Smart Wine Bottle Caddy For Travel | Waterproof and Leak Proof | Essential Travel Accessory For Wine Bottle Protector | WINEVINCI Reusable Wine Bottle Protector: Pack of 3 - Travel Wine Bags for Safe Transportation - The Best Leakproof Wine Bottle Travel Bag - Double Layered Protection For Peace of Mind

Wine Skin WineSkin Bag, 2-Pack VinniBag is a versatile travel bag that suspends items in an inflatable air cushion. Air chambers conform to the contents protecting against impact, leakage and shifting during transport. Made of very durable materials, VinniBag is specifically engineered to withstand fluctuations in the altitude and temperature. Easy to use - simply insert items, partially inflate with just a few breaths, roll up the bottom flap to form a liquid tight seal, and snap the buckle closed. Top off with air to suit your needs and space available. Weight: 9 oz Dimensions Inflated: 16 x 7.5" Dimensions Flat: 23 x 8.5" 8.5 x 1.8 x 8 inches 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies) #36,129 in Kitchen & Dining (See Top 100 in Kitchen & Dining) #162 in Kitchen & Dining > Wine Accessories > Wine Accessory Sets #1,404 in Clothing, Shoes & Jewelry > Luggage & Travel Gear > Travel Accessories #2,423 in Kitchen & Dining > Bar Tools & Glasses Product Warranty: For warranty information about this product, please click here