I need a recommendation for a durable vacuum sealer that will hold up and is simple to use.
Thanks,

I have a tilia professional II. works great

Get a FoodSaver 8200 or 8400 when they run them on sale at Kohls. Less than $100, unless you go for a model with a bunch of accessories. I don't think you will be displeased. I also have an older Tilia and I would still recommend the Foodsaver.
I know that at Kohls they have the price to beat when they run a sale...and Kohls almost always runs a sale.
I recommended the 8200 because it has the removable tray that will capture liquid to prevent it from getting into the pump. Plus it will come with some accessories at that price.

Food Saver here, pleased with it. Don't recall the model, am traveling at the moment. Removable try is nice for cleanup. It's key for my Q habit, as family will not polish off all I Q up in a weekend, need to put it up for later.

Go with the Foodsaver (which BTW is Tilia) picked mine up at Sam's Club had all the bells and whistles (bags, marinade dish and canisters)

Avoid the Black & Decker, mine was a piece of junk had lousy vacuum & even poorer sealing.

Yup Tilia does make the Foodsaver. But the older ones were not labeled with the Foodsaver moniker. Tilia has come a long way from the first one I bought.

My Foodsaver/Tilia has served me well. Tempted to buy a new version. some of the newer models have some different options for dealing with liquids and vacuum pressures, etc.

The basic model works great.

Do a search on the forum. Several good discussions about other models as well as sources of bags.

Sinbo was one highly recommended also.

Search for "Sinbo"

I just ordered a Sinbo from the seller on ebay for $64.95 plus shipping and handling. I have a FoodSaver, and it sits on my limited counter space, but I sure don't consider it the wonderful machine that it is hyped to be. My complaints are like the others, the bags are expensive, the bags don't hold the seal, and for some reason the auto seal on mine no longer works, this may have to do with sucking some liquid into the pump, and it won't suck enough to activate the auto seal, but who knows. Therefore, when it sucks what I think is enough I have to hit the manual seal button. I do use it for jars, and the canisters that came with the unit from Costco.

I bought the Sinbo, because the bags are cheaper, the price is right, and some of the vendors seem to sell replacement parts if needed. I can get bags that have a zip lock top that you seal from the bottom, like a lot of the packaged goods we buy today.

I like to make jerky, but just put it in zip lock bags, because you don't use the whole bag at a time. I look forward with the Sinbo to making larger batches, sealing them in smaller vacuum bags, maybe even with an oxygen absorber, and being able to keep enough jerky on hand so I never run out if I get busy.

I also use the sinbo....Been thru about 3000+ bags and still sealing...

I too have had a Sinbo for about a year and have been really happy with it. You can't beat the regular bags that cost about 4 cents each. See this thread from the archives for more info about the Sinbo, as well as the best deal on bags if you buy in bulk (a place called CPT).

One thing I have noticed about the Foodsaver, it works best with the Foodsaver brand bags which tend to be a little heavier guage and more expensive. My dad washes his out. I thought about doing the same thing but always balk when I can't get them real clean, so I guess it sort of depends on what you are storing, as to whether they are worth washing out. I tried to use the black and decker bags and they dont seal real well at times. They also have an additional ply that is on both sides of the bag, I don't quite get that. It may just be me though, so I won't bash the B&D name.

I have seen that you can buy bags and rolls real cheap on Ebay, I haven't. Therefore I don't know the quality. If someone else here has bought other brands of bags let us know how well they worked with your specific vacuum sealer.

Take a look at this site

http://www.vacuum-sealer-bags.com/index.htm

for both the sealer and bags. The sealer is far superior to the Food Saver. I have used the Food Sealer for several years and got fed up with bags losing the seal in the freezer. The seal line created when the Food Saver bonds the bag is about the width of a pencil line. The seal line with the one above is about 3/16" and holds the seal much better.

The Sinbo sealer arrived yesterday. I looks to be well made and has a heft that my Food Saver doesn't. This ebay model has another name rather than Sinbo but seems to be the same machine. Not quite as idiot proof as a Foodsaver. The ability to use just plain old plastic bags, really appeals to me. Time will tell how it holds up.

I have been using these at Doug Care Equip http://www.dougcare.com/packsupplies/embossed.htm with my foodsaver and they have been the best & cheapest I have found