Best Chip Clips, According to CR Staffers
Never bite into a stale tortilla chip again with the help of one of these trusty clips recommended by six Consumer Reports employees
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Unless you only buy single-serve bags of chips, you probably need a good chip clip. Despite the apparent simplicity of this product category, there are some bad ones out there; I have a large number of cheap, SEO-garble chip clips I bought from Amazon that have the bad habit of chipping (sorry) my manicure with their sharp, unpolished edges. As a result, I clip the top of my toddler’s Bamba bags very delicately.
I asked Consumer Reports staffers about their favorite chip clips, and got some passionate responses, including from one person who’s been using the same chip clips for decades. Lest you think the only thing that matters is the product itself, however, there’s the small matter of technique. According to Nahrae Tinney, a manager of product marketing at CR, making sure you fold down at least an inch of the bag before clipping will help keep your chips fresh—and, she says, you can use almost any clip (she sometimes uses hair clips) to do this.
(See our reviews of the best tortilla and potato chips, salsas, and guacamole.)
Oxo Magnetic All-Purpose Clips
Melissa Garber, a UX researcher at CR, swears by these magnetic clips from Oxo. “They don’t break, and they serve the dual purpose of keeping chips fresh and kids’ art securely hung on the fridge,” she says. “I use them on bags of pretzels and Extra Toasty Cheez-Its.”
Anvil 3/4-in. Mini Spring Clamp
Karla Noboa, a CR research specialist, is loyal to a set of clamps one might associate with construction projects more than a bag of chips. But she says they’re easy to use as someone with a disability that affects her grip strength. “They probably seem like overkill, but they’re the best. They’re very strong, so they really keep the bag sealed, and they don’t fall off. I feel like other chip clips are always popping off or not strong enough to really keep the bag closed, so the chips stay fresh.”
Pittsburgh Micro Spring Clamp Set
When her grip isn’t at its strongest, Karla uses these colorful clamps. “They are less strong and intense, but more affordable and accessible,” she says.
Comtar Mini Bag Sealer
Stale Bamba is intensely unpleasant, so I was especially intrigued to hear that Justin Huynh, a CR product manager, completely reseals his chips rather than clips them closed. “I personally like using these melting sealers because I often don’t come back to snacks for a long time after opening them, so I feel that this gives them a better shelf life,” he says. “I’ve used multiple sealers before, and they’ve never performed consistently, but this one is the closest. I can get a good seal within 2 tries on this one, and it includes a blade on the inside that can cut the excess bag before sealing. This is also by far the smallest one I’ve gotten, which makes it easy to throw into the pantry for easy access.”
Ikea Bevara Sealing Clips
These clips are so beloved, two people independently nominated them as their faves. “I’ve been using the Ikea Bevara clips for more than 20 years,” says Marci Whalen, a video editor. “They’re my favorite because they essentially seal a bag closed and they don’t have a mind of their own. They’re like the newborn baby of the snack-sealing world—they stay where you put them until you’re ready for them to move.”
Plus, she says, they last pretty much forever. “I’m sure a few of the ones in my drawer are more than two decades old—surviving four moves from my first tiny apartment in the city all the way to a house in the suburbs. I’d be surprised if I’ve had to throw more than one or two away during that time.” She even packs them on vacations—just in case.
Jessica Waller, a writer on the Baby team, agrees that the Bevara clips are seemingly beneficiaries of the Elixir of Life. “The Ikea chip clips have never let me down. They’re sturdy, highly functional, and super cheap,” she says. “Plus they last a long time (I’ve maybe had to decommission two out of the nearly 20 we own) and they come in two sizes and interesting color combinations.”
Linden Sweden Twixit! Bag Clips
Keith Barry, a writer on the Cars team, acknowledges that while they’re not as cute as other clips he’s used, they’re sturdy and reliable. “I like that they’re inexpensive, they seal very tightly, they’re easy to store and clean, and they’re fairly indestructible,” he says. “On a thicker bag, they don’t slide off like some of the hinged ones do.”
