It turns out they're called FRAKTA bags

May 17, 2017 10:50 AM

Got one too many of those bright blue Ikea bags? Of course not. You can never have too many. But you can still repurpose them.
posted by Etrigan (21 comments total)

related: Balenciaga made a $2,145 version of the Frakta bag, and Ikea replied
posted by FirstMateKate at 10:54 AM on May 17, 2017 [3 favorites]

More good stuff on the #frakta Instagram hashtag. I just love IKEA. We were there just last night, and then I spent all night putting together a HEMNES sideboard (almost successfully- have to reinstall the drawer tracks, I put them in upside-down). Did you know Kids Eat Free on Tuesdays? I'm never cooking on Tuesdays again [reluctantly fake]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 10:58 AM on May 17, 2017

I was expecting a lot of pragmatic re-uses of the bag (like the flower pot bag), but instead I really enjoyed all the things people crafted from the bag material and straps. Sometimes humans are awesome, and yes I love ikea too.
posted by Joh at 11:10 AM on May 17, 2017 [1 favorite]

Sort of disappointed that this extremely practical dog transportation FRAKTA wasn't included (found here), but those were some creative and interesting things, made skillfully.
posted by asperity at 11:22 AM on May 17, 2017 [3 favorites]

Is there a different name for the bright yellow Ikea bags they use in-store?
posted by ZeusHumms at 11:36 AM on May 17, 2017

I'm moving next week and my half-dozen FRAKTA bags are a significant part of my packing/schlepping strategy.
posted by mochapickle at 11:43 AM on May 17, 2017 [2 favorites]

Out of the blue (so to speak) when I innocuously mentioned that I liked to buy the FRAKTA bags to use for all sorts of things I was shouted down by someone who explained "YOU ARE ONLY SUPPOSED TO BUY ONE! AND YOU REUSE IT! ONLY ONE! THE REST ARE FOR OTHERS!" So there are rules, I guess.
posted by lagomorphius at 11:55 AM on May 17, 2017 [2 favorites]

I am aware of no such rules. The rest are for others? What absurdity. Buy as many bags are you want.
posted by Peter B-S at 12:03 PM on May 17, 2017 [6 favorites]

I'm calling the police.
posted by ernielundquist at 12:07 PM on May 17, 2017 [6 favorites]

I feel so old-fashioned...I just use mine to carry stuff...
posted by Greg_Ace at 12:23 PM on May 17, 2017

I just use mine to carry stuff...

Yeah, everyone I know uses it as the dragging-stuff-to-the-laundromat bag.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 12:29 PM on May 17, 2017

I stole one of the yellow ones. *hangs head in shame* It's perfect for holding empty soda bottles for recycling...,.
posted by The otter lady at 12:40 PM on May 17, 2017 [1 favorite]

I bought 50 FRAKTA bags at one time and use them for those times I completely change the litter in my cat's litter box. I can fit the entire box into the bag and pull up on one long handle to dump the contents into the bag. I then tie the bag closed with the long handles and lift the bag into a garbage bag with the short handles. I leave the long handles sticking out of the tied garbage bag so I can carry it out to my trash can. That's probably more than you wanted to know about my cat litter disposal standard operating procedure.
posted by Rob Rockets at 1:07 PM on May 17, 2017 [3 favorites]

They are fantastic for toting firewood back to your cabin from a meditative windfall roam.
posted by sonascope at 1:13 PM on May 17, 2017 [4 favorites]

Only one? I seriously can't imagine my life without the five or so that I have.

I use them to schlep everything around. In the last week I've used them for dragging potting soil up and down stairs, carrying firewood at a campsite, packing up dog blankets, etc etc etc etc ad nauseum.

I have tried to get my dog to sit in the bag so that I can take her on the City Bus, but that has not happened yet.
posted by Elly Vortex at 1:30 PM on May 17, 2017 [1 favorite]

I bought 50 FRAKTA bags at one time and use them for those times I completely change the litter in my cat's litter box. I can fit the entire box into the bag and pull up on one long handle to dump the contents into the bag. I then tie the bag closed with the long handles and lift the bag into a garbage bag with the short handles. I leave the long handles sticking out of the tied garbage bag so I can carry it out to my trash can. That's probably more than you wanted to know about my cat litter disposal standard operating procedure.

While ingenious, that seems like it would be significantly more expensive than buying those heavy duty contractor trash bags. But if it is working, don't change.

I just the other day saw a photo online of a head-to-toe Ikea bag outfit. Googling doesn't find that photo, but brings up dresses, thongs, and swimwear. Lots and lots of swimwear, actually, which seems odd given how awful that fabric would feel against your skin.
posted by Dip Flash at 5:25 PM on May 17, 2017 [1 favorite]

When my family had to spend a night at a hotel in downtown Vancouver for some business with the US consulate, we felt decidedly déclassé with our FRAKTA bag luggage. But with Balenciaga making a knock-off, I guess we were fashionable?
posted by borsboom at 6:45 PM on May 17, 2017

I buy two or three every time I go to IKEA. When I take stuff to Goodwill I just let them keep the bag.

I was delighted to find last time I was at IKEA that they now have a miniature version of the bag that could be carried as a shoulder bag or grocery bag when you only need a few things.

That said, I wouldn't wear anything that displayed the logo. Wearing a logo on your clothing smacks of brand-worship. If I'm going to advertise anyone's logo shey should be paying me.
posted by bendy at 7:47 PM on May 17, 2017 [2 favorites]

The bags used to have a snap in the middle. I miss those bags.
posted by vespabelle at 8:29 PM on May 17, 2017 [2 favorites]

I love and use these bags for everything. They're awesome for toting folded laundry, baking supplies, as a last-minute 'didn't fit in a box' assortment of stuff when packing and moving. I must have at least 10 of them in my bag of bags. Everyone uses one of these to store all their other bags, too, right?
posted by rachaelfaith at 6:44 AM on May 18, 2017 [1 favorite]

I know I am an outlier. When I saw the topic of this post, THIS is the only thing I could remember seeing made out of those bags. An AK magazine chest rig.
I might spend too much time in the presence of anarchists and communists.
posted by Seamus at 10:26 AM on May 19, 2017