What bag do you take your 'other shizz' to gigs in (merch float/mics/multitool/spare shirt/cables/sharpies/batteries/rum/etc)

[andydye]

As it says really, I've been using a very floppy messenger bag for a while now and it's on it's way out, i've had a few frustrations with it (floppiness/not quite big enough/doesn't keep rain out for starters) and wondered if anyone has any insights on the 'perfect' bag for carrying your shizz to gigs?

 

product links and user reviews welcome

[warwickhunt]

Not my actual case but I use an almost identical old (vintage) leather case.  They can be bought for peanuts, nice and solid, waterproof and you can put all your pedal/bike mag/band stickers on to identify it. 

 

 

[Rosie C]

I have one of these heavy canvas tool bags - mine is the 450mm and has my spare signal and power cables. It's sort of rubberised on the inside so I expect it's waterproof:

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0001IWI4W/

 

 

Edited October 14 by Rosie C

[andydye]

39 minutes ago, Rosie C said:

I have one of these heavy canvas tool bags - mine is the 450mm and has my spare signal and power cables. It's sort of rubberised on the inside so I expect it's waterproof:

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0001IWI4W/

 

 

well, I'm sold, thankee and problem solved (hopefully)

 

...that was quick  go BC!!

[NancyJohnson]

1 hour ago, andydye said:

As it says really, I've been using a very floppy messenger bag for a while now and it's on it's way out, i've had a few frustrations with it (floppiness/not quite big enough/doesn't keep rain out for starters) and wondered if anyone has any insights on the 'perfect' bag for carrying your shizz to gigs?

 

product links and user reviews welcome

 

I've just been using a variety of smallish Gator bags.  I've got one (12"x12x5.5" - bought ten years ago), that will snugly hold my (class-d) amp and it has front pockets which are adequate enough to hold Speakon/power cables.  If I need to take anything else, I'll just take a bigger version of the same bag.

 

Gator bags are competitively priced, incredibly well made, decently padded, robust zips, spacious in a TARDIS like way.  (God, I should work in marketing for them.)

 

Here you go:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gator-G-MIXERBAG-1212-5-5-Inch-Mixer-Gear-dp-B00T0OJG5M/dp/B00T0OJG5M/ref=dp_ob_title_ce

 

 

[andydye]

5 minutes ago, NancyJohnson said:

 

I've just been using a variety of smallish Gator bags.  I've got one (12"x12x5.5" - bought ten years ago), that will snugly hold my (class-d) amp and it has front pockets which are adequate enough to hold Speakon/power cables.  If I need to take anything else, I'll just take a bigger version of the same bag.

 

Gator bags are competitively priced, incredibly well made, decently padded, robust zips, spacious in a TARDIS like way.  (God, I should work in marketing for them.)

 

Here you go:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gator-G-MIXERBAG-1212-5-5-Inch-Mixer-Gear-dp-B00T0OJG5M/dp/B00T0OJG5M/ref=dp_ob_title_ce

 

 

oh but I do like the Gator bags too, they are robust and nicely made as well as looking the biz and also looking like musician's bags

[NancyJohnson]

31 minutes ago, andydye said:

oh but I do like the Gator bags too, they are robust and nicely made as well as looking the biz and also looking like musician's bags

 

My old one is great, but the lining is nightmareish if you have a hangnail (it just makes the hairs on my arms stand up even thinking about this!).  They've changed the interior finish, thankfully.

 

[Lozz196]

I use a Wenger rucksack to take my stuff to gigs. Plenty of compartments & pockets so it’s easy to keep things separated and not in a big jumbled mess. 

[WinterMute]

When I was last gigging, all my cables/batteries/strings/spares etc. went into a nylon zipped bag that went into the back of the 4u rack that housed the pre/power amp.

 

Everything else went into a Brenthaven laptop backpack, had it for nearly 25 years, still going strong.

 

I used to use a leather suitcase back when I thought I might be cool, then a custom flight case that housed everything in drawers.

[NancyJohnson]

6 minutes ago, WinterMute said:

When I was last gigging, all my cables/batteries/strings/spares etc. went into a nylon zipped bag that went into the back of the 4u rack that housed the pre/power amp.

 

Everything else went into a Brenthaven laptop backpack, had it for nearly 25 years, still going strong.

 

I used to use a leather suitcase back when I thought I might be cool, then a custom flight case that housed everything in drawers.

 

I used to run a shallow 4U rack, tuner, Sansamp and a 2U Poweramp.  On the back I had a 1U PSU.  Everything was hardwired in including a wireless unit, there was even a convenient short XLR extension out of the Sansamp that made it a breeze to squirt my signal to FoH.  Speakons were always jacked into the Poweramp.  It was also a good place to put your keys/phone while playing.

 

I'd agree that having everything tucked away in there was kind of dreamy; coil up the leads, pop all the little bits in a small plastic box, put the lid on and you knew nothing was missing and it would all get home safely.

 

Happy days.

[Jack]

I know you're sorted now but for years I've used an aldi copy of a Stanley fat max. Holds everything with room to spare and it's pull along. 

[paul_5]

leads and pedals in my pedalboard, power leads in my 4U rack case with the head - basses in cases/gigbags.

 

I can't stand bits of stuff floating around, so everything has to go in boxes for me.

 

Recently I've come to rely on an ipad for charts, so that comes with me in a messenger bag, but radiohead said it best: everything in its right place.

[tauzero]

For open mic nights & rehearsals, a small fishing tackle bag which holds Lekato wireless, A-B box, Zoom MS-60B, spare batteries, Allen keys, capo, screwdriver with swappable ends, short jack-jack leads.

 

For gigs, PA leads (XLR & IEC & mains extensions) in a suitcase with wheels and tablets, tablet holder, microphone, towel, spare T-shirt, USB charger in a Spada messenger bag.

 

[BigRedX]

My "bits and pieces" are split over 4 bags but it's all entirely logical.

 

1. Instrument case. Contains the instrument, it's strap and spare strings and tools specific to that particular instrument.

 

2. Helix bag. Contains the Helix and all the leads needed to connect it to the instrument, FRFR and the PA, plus wireless system for the instrument. I have all of these with the Helix because I use different instruments for different bands but I always use the Helix so it makes sense to put all the extra bits in with the Helix to prevent me from turning up to a rehearsal or gig with something missing because it's in the wrong instrument case.

 

3. Big Bag o' Leads and Tools. Everything that isn't in the two other bags. Mostly spares for the above and leads for connecting up the computer that does our backing. Also DI boxes for the synths.

 

4. Personal bag for stage clothes.

 

Merch float and SumUp card reader are in with the merch. Every bag also has a couple of spare picks in it, so there is no chance of finding myself without one.

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

My bag was £1.50 from Tesco

 

Inside are:

• Clipboard with set lists/notes
• Cables inc spares
• Zoom h2n recorder + spare batteries
• Hand sanitizer
• Earplugs
• Spare strings
• Setup tools

[StingRayBoy42]

Gator Micro Keyboard bag - I think it's the 2110.

I've had mine for about 200 years and it's still going strong.

[krispn]

I have a Crumpler laptop bag I got for dirt cheap online. Takes the power strip and iec cables in the main bit and has zipped pouches etc for IEM stuff ear buds. 
 

It’s got a shoulder strap so frees up the hands when loading in. 

[rushbo]

I've recently picked up one of these: Cobra padded equipment bag.

 

 

I use a small pedalboard which fits in the main area at the front. It comes with a detachable divider which is meant to go across the middle of the bag, attached with velcro. I added some extra velcro closer to the front of the bag, so my board fits snugly in its own space and I have a large area for leads etc behind it. I briefly used a multi-compartment bag, which had cleverly designed spaces for every doohicky you could imagine. I hated it, as I kept forgetting where I'd stashed everything! A single big space is the way forward for me, so I can happily chuck all my doodads into it (from a distance occasionally...) at the end of a gig.

 

I've only used it a few times, but it seems pretty sturdy and the zips are nice and smooth - also, the handles are just about long enough for you to have it on your shoulder if you need to.

 

Edited October 27 by rushbo

[Dan Dare]

I use a padded lighting bag. Less than 20 quid and does the job.

[cybertect]

Over 40+ years I have used variously an old suitcase like @warwickhunt, diferent sizes of sports bags, aluminium cases, etc.

 

After some changes to my gear, I needed a new solution to carrying the various bits and pieces I need, ideally with some kind of compartementalisattion so that I had a place for each thing (and importantly to help remind me that something is missing at the end of a gig or rehearsal). Large, undivided bags may have capacity benefits, but it's easy to overlook stuff, and sometimes difficult to find just one thing when you want it from the bottom of the bag. Also, I wanted something I could sling over my shoulder to help when carrying with my other gear.

 

I spent ages looking online and in luggage shops and department stores.

 

I ended up with a case made for carrying two laptops that I picked up in a local charity shop for all of £5. It was missing a shoulder strap, but it had the lugs to clip to and I had one spare at home that fits perfectly. One other bonus of it being made for laptop computers  is that it's reasonably padded and everything inside is relatively well protected.

 

One side has my cables, including a 4-way power lead extension, wireless guitar system and an Elf that is my backup and rehearsal amp. The other side has effects and pedals. There's a compartment to slip my iPad in if that is needed and plenty of room to stash other small items like pens and the like.

 

For rehearsals, it's grab and go one trip from the car (or even bus!) with a Barefaced One10 and a gig bag for the bass.

 

My main MB500 amp has a separate case, although with a little rearrangement I could just squeeze it in here instead of the Elf.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 30 by cybertect

[cybertect]

On 15/10/2024 at 10:22, WinterMute said:

Everything else went into a Brenthaven laptop backpack, had it for nearly 25 years, still going strong.

 

Brenthaven bags are/were excellent. Not cheap, but the best laptop bag i have ever owned was one of their backpacks of similar vintage with a removable sleeve for a work TiBook. I loved that bag.

 

I was at the MacUser show (probably around 2004/5) and some guy came up to me and said 'Glad to see you are using one of our bags, I'm President of Brenthaven'. He was really nice and we had a good chat.

Edited October 30 by cybertect

[SimonK]

I picked up a hand gun case many years back that has been brilliant. As strong as any other flight case and even enough space for a little Aguilar 350 to act as a backup head and DI box alongside all my cables and the must have deodorant!

 

[walshy]

On 30/10/2024 at 22:31, SimonK said:

I picked up a hand gun case many years back that has been brilliant. As strong as any other flight case and even enough space for a little Aguilar 350 to act as a backup head and DI box alongside all my cables and the must have deodorant!

 

Similar here, I have a couple of Peli cases, one large on wheels for cables, extensions, tools, gaffa tape etc.. and the smaller one for strap, wireless, etc.. You can pick them up on Ebay cheap enough, waterproof and last forever

[WinterMute]

On 30/10/2024 at 14:55, cybertect said:

 

Brenthaven bags are/were excellent. Not cheap, but the best laptop bag i have ever owned was one of their backpacks of similar vintage with a removable sleeve for a work TiBook. I loved that bag.

 

I was at the MacUser show (probably around 2004/5) and some guy came up to me and said 'Glad to see you are using one of our bags, I'm President of Brenthaven'. He was really nice and we had a good chat.

 

Yup, that's the one, mine was originally for a 17" MacBook Pro, now houses an M2 MacBook Air and an iPad Pro.

 

Just been to Florida for 2 weeks with it, all the chargers/cables/US adaptors etc, plus a bunch of useful stuff, goes in the overhead locker.

[NJE]

My wife works for the NHS and has these brilliant bags for the vast array of kit they need to carry. One of the zips broke so she got a new one and I snapped up the old one, it’s bloody amazing!