Trash bags may just seem like a commodity – those unglamorous plastic sacks we toss away without another thought. But not all trash bags are created equal. Get the wrong ones for your needs, and you can end up dealing with ripped bags, failed odor control or unnecessary environmental waste.
Two of the biggest brands in the game are Hefty and Glad trash bags. They each offer a range of waste sack options, from standard trash bags to odor control and biodegradable. But which brand is best for your needs?
Let’s dig into the details and facts on each one.
A Brief Comparison Table
| Feature | Hefty Trash Bags | Glad Trash Bags |
| Durability | Slightly tougher polyethylene plastic on average | Triple layered thickness plus reinforcements |
| Odor Control | Odor Armor tech, up to 10 days protection | OdorShield tech, 5 days/30 lbs guarantee |
| Style & Design | Primarily standard bags, limited specialty sizes | Numerous custom bag shapes and innovations |
| Sustainability | Biodegradable Earth Essentials bags marketed | Standard bags, limited recycling options so far |
| Pricing | Competitive pricing, occasional sales | Similar pricing, occasional sales |
| Size Range | Standard to tall outdoor and commercial sizes | Standard to extra large bags available |
| Key Strength | Leading durability from tough materials | Purpose-driven designs match user needs |
Hefty Trash Bags
Hefty, part of Reynolds Consumer Products, is one of the first names in trash bags.
Founded in 1965, the strong 60s slogan “Hefty, hefty, hefty – wimpy, wimpy, wimpy” carved out a reputation for durability that lives on today.
The company offers a range of household trash bags plus a commercial line for businesses.
Hefty Pros
- Strength & durability: Tearing and leaking are among the top trash bag complaints, but Hefty responds with strong polyethylene plastic to reduce these mishaps. The bags pass ASTM International “drop dart impact test” for toughness and tear resistance.
- Range of sizes: From small bath cans to 4-foot-tall outdoor bags, Hefty has you covered with a line-up of standard trash bags for every room.
- Advanced odor control technology: Hefty added their patented Odor Armor technology that traps smelly molecules through multiple layers. Owners say it keeps the garbage can smelling fresh for longer.
- Biodegradable Earth Essentials bags: The company has expanded into eco-friendlier bags made with 40% plant-based materials for renewable backyard composting.
Hefty Cons
- Expensive: They cost more ounce-for-ounce than value options, although you might pay for durability.
- Limited sustainability: Most Hefty bags are still standard plastic that ultimately heads to the landfill. Only the Earth Essentials line offers greener benefits.
Glad Trash Bags
Glad bags, thanks to its Clorox company backing, ranks as another top name in trash protection. Their side gusseted design expands to hold up to 50% more trash, and the brand’s tagline of “Keeping It Together” promises fewer tear troubles.
Glad Pros
- Innovative bag shapes: Side gussets expand trash room while cinch-tight tops and drawstrings lock in odor. Pull-down odor-shield drawstring bags feature another line of defense.
- Thicker plastic: Denser plastic construction helps prevent rips or leaks under the heavy weight of trash. Quantities range from trial size to giant commercial units.
- Strong odor blocking: Glad touts their proprietary “OdorShield Technology” that captures smells for up to 5 days or 30 lbs of trash.
- Budget pricing: Despite premium features, Glad trash bags offer very competitive or value pricing on most lines.
Glad Cons
- Lack sustainability features: While Glad does offer basic recycling options, they don’t have the range of Earth conscious options available from Hefty or other brands.
- Overkill for some needs: Not everyone needs super heavy bags for lighter household use. Their premium strength and features come at an small cost in plastic and price.
Feature Comparison of Hefty And Glad
Both leading brands offer quality trash bags that excel in strength, odor control and design innovations. But how do Hefty and Glad bags compare by their prominent features?
Durability
| Feature | Hefty | Glad |
| Bag Strength | Strong polyethylene film won’t rip or leak easily | Tough Maxflex formula and thick film construction |
| Reinforcements | Reinforced seams and stretch bands help prevent breaks | Heavy side gussets provide extra structural support |
| Leak Control | Multi-layer bags, triple seal bottoms and PowerBands cut leak risk | Patented LeakGuard bottom funnel liquids securely |
| Edge | Hefty takes the lead on tough film durability | Though Glad is quite durable and has key structural reinforcement |
Bottom Line: Hefty holds a slim durability edge thanks to the toughness of their base polyethylene film. But Glad has added structural supports that minimize most threats. Call it a virtual tie for strength.
Odor Control
| Feature | Hefty | Glad |
| Odor Tech Design | Patented Odor Armor tech using activated carbon and a 6-layer film | Proprietary OdorShield tech through multiple bag layers |
| Superior Trapping | Bags neutralize, capture and conceal nasty smells in the trash | OdorShield chemistry destroy garbage odor molecules |
| Odor Blocking Claims | Up to 10 days odor control* | Guaranteed odor control for 5 days or 30 pounds |
| Edge | Another tight one, but Glad OdorShield lasts longer | While both work, Glad’s time/weight guarantee wins out |
Bottom Line: Odor trapping tech in both bags largely do the job. But Glad’s quantifiable 5 days or 30 lbs odor guarantee earns the brand bonus points.
Style & Design
One area where Glad pulls away from Hefty a bit more is on style and design innovations tailored to user needs.
Glad bags come in a wider range of unique shapes and adaptors to custom fit user tasks, along with smart innovations like odor trapping drawstring tops. Their products feel more tailored for distinct homeowners vs the one-size industrial approach from Hefty.
| Feature | Hefty | Glad |
| Bag Shapes & Features | Primarily standard barrel bags for indoor/outdoor use | Barrel bags plus unique cinch, pull tie, gusset and custom shapes |
| Specialized Designs | Limited to ForceFlex commercial or EZ-ties on some | Many choices tailored for kitchen, outdoors, per size |
| Use Innovations | Few unique bag features or adaptations | Odor trapping pull strings, LeakGuard funnels, sliding drawcords |
| Edge | Glad thinks more about real user needs in their design | And translates those needs into smart bag innovations |
Bottom Line: Glad tailors more to typical homeowner use cases through smart bag shapes and purpose-built designs.
Sustainability
The final area of comparison is on eco-friendly offerings. While standard Hefty and Glad bags are plastic destined for landfills, both makers are responding to environmental consumer demands with “green” alternatives.
| Feature | Hefty | Glad |
| Recycled Content | Limited ECO Brown bags use 35% recycled plastic | Partial recycled plastic available on some lines |
| Biodegradable Bags | New Earth Essentials bags biodegrade from plant content | No current biodegradable bags, but basic recycling options |
| Other Initiatives | Some plastic diverted in “Gimme 5” schools recycling | Parent Clorox committed to sustainability progress |
| Edge | Hefty goes further on eco-friendly bags now | But Glad likely to catch up over time |
Bottom Line: Today Hefty leads in usable eco-friendly trash options with their renewable Earth Essentials bags. But sustainably-minded Glad owners may add innovations soon.
Pricing
Finally there is the bottom line – what are Hefty and Glad bags going to cost you? As in most purchasing decisions, price inevitably plays a role.
When comparing similar size or feature bags from each brand side-by-side at leading retailers, pricing is strikingly competitive:
| Size/Type | Hefty Price | Glad Price |
| 13 Gallon Kitchen | $7.97 for 80 bags* | $8.99 for 80 bags* |
| 39 Gallon Trash Can | $13.97 for 60 bags* | $12.99 for 50 bags* |
| 55-65 Gallon Lawn Bags | $15.97 per 32 bags* | $15.99 per 40 bags* |
Bottom Line: Glad bags cost a little more than Hefty ounce-for-ounce in some cases due to their thicker plastic. But for comparable utility sizes, overall pricing is quite close between brands at leading retailers. Value shoppers can likely find periodic sales on either one to save a few more dollars.
Hefty Or Glad – Which Trash Bag Brand Is Best?
We’ve walked through how Hefty and Glad trash bags compare on critical criteria from strength and features to odor control and eco-impact.
So which brand comes out on top in this trash bag title bout?
For the traditional basics like durability and odor blocking, Hefty and Glad come out remarkably even.
Both brands build quality protection from rips and leaks into their standard bags, then combat smells with advanced technologies.
Hefty polyethylene averages slightly tougher than Glad Maxflex plastic by density, but Glad counters with structural supports. On the smelly side, their guaranteed 5 days/30 pounds protection edges Hefty’s odor barriers by field longevity.
Where Glad bags pull ahead more is matching user needs through purpose-built bag styles. Their lineup simply contains more custom shapes and smart innovations tailored to typical household scenarios.
Things like kitchen cinches, sliding outdoor locks and their popular odor blocking drawstring mouths solve consumer hassles. Hefty answers with a simpler linear product line across basic use categories.
The final differentiator goes to Hefty for leading sustainability efforts so far. Their Earth Essentials renewable, compostable bags from plant materials break new ground for mainstream recyclability.
Glad still relies primarily on standard plastic bags destined for landfills without clear biodegradable options in market yet.
So as we take down the verdict scorecards, Glad trash bags win on purpose-driven design and strong market reputation. But Hefty takes durability bragging rights and environmentally-conscious products. Your own feature preferences likely determine which brand fits your household trash style best.
Regardless of whether you pick powerhouse Hefty or innovative Glad, both deliver quality and reliable protection from your garbage woes. You might just discover, like so many homeowners, that opting up to name brands over bargain bags saves cleanup headaches down the road.
Spend wisely to contain the trash tide, then take out waste with convenience confidence using Hefty or Glad strength by your side.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Here are answers to some of the most common questions shoppers have around Hefty and Glad trash bag performance.
By the numbers, Hefty trash bags use a denser polyethylene plastic film that rates as more puncture resistant on average. But Glad bags bring triple layered strength through thickness along with tough reinforcements at stress points likes side gussets. Bottom line – they both make robust waste bags, with Hefty slightly tougher by the viral videos dropping bricks on them.
Both Hefty and Glad rank among the strongest mainstream trash bag brands you can buy today. Hefty HD and Black ForceFlex lines along with Glad ForceFlexPlus trash bags set the high bar for durability. Budget generic store brands inevitably trade toughness for cost. You usually get what you pay for in puncture and tear resistance.
Within their wide brand family, Glad ForceFlexPlus heavy duty bags take top honors for strength, capacity and odor control. The Plus series resists rips better than original ForceFlex while standing up taller to contain more trash. If green matters most, Glad recycling bags offer basic sustainability benefits. And around the holidays, Glad kitchen turkey bags that fit most bins make cooking easier.
Eco-conscious shoppers increasingly look for trash bags that go easier on the environment through recyclability or renewable materials. Hefty Earth Essentials bags crafted from plants to fully biodegrade through backyard composts set the new eco standard. But expect Glad ForceFlex and other competing brands to offer their own green innovations soon. Check popular retailers for the latest environmentally-friendly options.
Closing Remarks
For shoppers seeking a reliable high-performance trash bag brand, you can’t go wrong with either Hefty or Glad protection. Both ace the tests around strength, leak resistance and odor containment that homeowners demand.
Evaluate your preference for specialty bag features vs basic functions, along with sustainability interests, to decide if tough Hefty or tailored Glad solutions fit your household trash style best. But rest assured that these leading national brands have your smelly garbage needs handled.