Winner: Husky Extra Large Trash Bags

How It Performed: At 45 gallons, versus the typical 30, this bag is big enough to handle volume — a good feature, since you’re always trying to cram in just one more thing (OK, 10) before you close up that twist tie. Tests proved it can also take the weight and the abuse with nary a poked hole or a split up the seams. So unless you’ve thrown in an anvil, the trip to the end of the driveway is sure to be disaster-free. Drawstring handles are iffy when you’re packing weight, so the Husky wisely closes with a tie (or a knot).
To Buy: $10 for 45, Home Depot, www.homedepot.com.

Runner-Up: Hefty Cinchsak Ultra Large Trash Bags

How It Performed: This was a close contest. In fact, this 30-gallon trash bag actually held more weight than the bigger Husky bag did, thanks to its ultrathickness (1.3 mils — other bags were as thin as 0.5 mil). Although it fared slightly less well than the winner when Real Simple took it on the (rocky) road, it far surpassed all the other bags. The Hefty has drawstring handles, with all their pluses and minuses.
To Buy: $6 for 24 at supermarkets.