Best Gig Bags Compared

[john nam]

I've recently compared a few of the most well-known hybrid, semi-hard gig bags and here is how I've rated them, from my least favorite to most:

#8 Gator Commander - $159
This bag isn't really stiff enough to be a hybrid, but it's priced like one ($159 at GC), so I thought I would include it.
Pros: None.
Cons: Price, heavy, floppy, no neck support system, way wider than necessary, rides high on your back and very top-heavy feeling.

#7 Mono M80 - $189
Pros: Space-age look for those who like that, high quality construction and zippers. The double-gig bag version seems to be the best of it's kind.
Cons: Walls are nicely padded, but not that rigid.

#6 iGIG 515 - $194
Pros: Similar to the Mono M80, except more traditional looking with larger pocket areas and more handles, but slightly less rigid and slightly cheaper feeling zippers.

#5 Access Stage 5 - $289
Pros: Never tried it, but it looks like a great hybrid bag.
Cons: Price!

#4 Incase - n/a
Pros: There are some great reviews on this bag, however...
Cons: they don't make them anymore, only the double bags.

#3 Protec Contego - $115ish
Pros: I like this bag. It's light, slim profile, cool-looking, very comfortable when worn, rides low on your back, very rigid walls with enough pocket space.
Cons: Headstock area is not big enough to fit a Fender 5 string (4+1 tuners), walls are rigid, but not padded enough. Also, there isn't enough padding on the front and back sides, straps feel flimsy and zippers do not seem as robust.

#2 Sadowsky Portabag - $189
Pros: This is a great bag. Very rigid walls, high quality zippers and overall construction. Solid. Probably the closest thing to a hardshell case you can get.
Cons: It's heavy and the metal strap connectors really pinch your shoulders. Also, when you're walking, the bottom of the bag flops against your butt with each step. It's the most uncomfortable bag I've tried, but I still liked it because it was so rigid and protective. There is a molded neck support foam piece, but no velcro strap.

#1 Reunion Blues Continental Electric Bass - $189
Pros: My favorite. Fairly rigid walls with ample padding everywhere, not just on the walls, but on the front and backsides as well. There is the main handle, but also a hidden recessed handle by the neck for taking in and out of the car. Fabric, rubbers, zippers, straps, handles, and overall construction is all top notch. Very comfortable when worn, balances great, does not ride high on your back. The neck pillow and velcro strap provides excellent support. Lifetime warranty. Crazy videos on Youtube of this thing being thrown from buildings and catching on fire, but still protecting the instrument!

Cons: Not as cool looking as maybe the Mono, iGIG or Contego, but not bad looking either.

[VWbug08']

Isn't the access stage 5 and portabag the same thing?

[VWbug08']

IGIG has now reintroduced their G315 slim bag. A little less padding I believe? $120.00. A lot of the cool G515 stuff like the neck pillow, gig saddle and hanging chain in a slimmer package. Good customer support.

Cool that you put this out!

[pica]

For that kind of money you can buy a hard case and get better protection for your bass.

[B String]

Originally Posted by pica

For that kind of money you can buy a hard case and get better protection for your bass.

The worst damage I've ever had was when my bass was in a hard case. In a high quality bag my bass stays right against my back, not sticking out in front and behind me. My bags also have a lot more storage than a hard case. It all depends on what your needs are.

Also, my Fender am dlx J V, 4+1 fits fine in my Contego.

[tuBass]

I was considering all these bags, but the 50% off sale at mono made up my mind for me

[L.A. BASS]

Originally Posted by john nam

I've recently compared a few of the most well-known hybrid, semi-hard gig bags and here is how I've rated them, from my least favorite to most:

#8 Gator Commander - $159
This bag isn't really stiff enough to be a hybrid, but it's priced like one ($159 at GC), so I thought I would include it.
Pros: None.
Cons: Price, heavy, floppy, no neck support system, way wider than necessary, rides high on your back and very top-heavy feeling.

#7 Mono M80 - $189
Pros: Space-age look for those who like that, high quality construction and zippers. The double-gig bag version seems to be the best of it's kind.
Cons: Walls are nicely padded, but not that rigid.

#6 iGIG 515 - $194
Pros: Similar to the Mono M80, except more traditional looking with larger pocket areas and more handles, but slightly less rigid and slightly cheaper feeling zippers.

#5 Access Stage 5 - $289
Pros: Never tried it, but it looks like a great hybrid bag.
Cons: Price!

#4 Incase - n/a
Pros: There are some great reviews on this bag, however...
Cons: they don't make them anymore, only the double bags.

#3 Protec Contego - $115ish
Pros: I like this bag. It's light, slim profile, cool-looking, very comfortable when worn, rides low on your back, very rigid walls with enough pocket space.
Cons: Headstock area is not big enough to fit a Fender 5 string (4+1 tuners), walls are rigid, but not padded enough. Also, there isn't enough padding on the front and back sides, straps feel flimsy and zippers do not seem as robust.

#2 Sadowsky Portabag - $189
Pros: This is a great bag. Very rigid walls, high quality zippers and overall construction. Solid. Probably the closest thing to a hardshell case you can get.
Cons: It's heavy and the metal strap connectors really pinch your shoulders. Also, when you're walking, the bottom of the bag flops against your butt with each step. It's the most uncomfortable bag I've tried, but I still liked it because it was so rigid and protective. There is a molded neck support foam piece, but no velcro strap.

#1 Reunion Blues Continental Electric Bass - $189
Pros: My favorite. Fairly rigid walls with ample padding everywhere, not just on the walls, but on the front and backsides as well. There is the main handle, but also a hidden recessed handle by the neck for taking in and out of the car. Fabric, rubbers, zippers, straps, handles, and overall construction is all top notch. Very comfortable when worn, balances great, does not ride high on your back. The neck pillow and velcro strap provides excellent support. Lifetime warranty. Crazy videos on Youtube of this thing being thrown from buildings and catching on fire, but still protecting the instrument!

Cons: Not as cool looking as maybe the Mono, iGIG or Contego, but not bad looking either.

I thought that InCase was not making any gig bags anymore. Not the slim or the dub?

[VWbug08']

Originally Posted by tuBass

I was considering all these bags, but the 50% off sale at mono made up my mind for me

50% off sale? Where?

[tuBass]

Mono cases 50% off today 12/25

[VWbug08']

Tubass thanks much!!

I ordered a black one. Even with shipping it was a good deal!
I have the IGIG and have been reading good things about the Mono too so for half off I had to go for it.

Thanks again. Merry Christmas

[tuBass]

Cool! Glad you got the deal!

Its been a good day for lots of us here!

[pica]

Originally Posted by B String

The worst damage I've ever had was when my bass was in a hard case.

I find it hard to imagine that a base would suffer that much damage in a hard case unless you dropped it from a 20 story building.

[bassgod0dmw]

Originally Posted by john nam

#2 Sadowsky Portabag - $189
Pros: This is a great bag. Very rigid walls, high quality zippers and overall construction. Solid. Probably the closest thing to a hardshell case you can get.
Cons: It's heavy and the metal strap connectors really pinch your shoulders. Also, when you're walking, the bottom of the bag flops against your butt with each step. It's the most uncomfortable bag I've tried, but I still liked it because it was so rigid and protective. There is a molded neck support foam piece, but no velcro strap. .

Mine has a huge flap (made form the same material as the outside of the bag) with velcro all over the bottom that attaches to the molded neck support and holds the neck very firmly in place. It's a good 6-8" long too.

[B String]

Originally Posted by pica

I find it hard to imagine that a base would suffer that much damage in a hard case unless you dropped it from a 20 story building.

This was a number of years ago. I was using a stock Fender type hard case. I get that you can't imagine anything ever happening to a bass in a hard case. You obviously haven't seen it happen. In fact, I've seen instruments in ATA flight cases come off airport conveyor belts with major damage.
There are risks with most all options. Hard cases work for you. I find a good bag works much better for me.

[john nam]

I think the winner between hardshell vs. hybrid gig bag depends on the type of damage you're talking about. If you're stacking heavy objects on top of your bass or slamming it into the corner of a doorway really hard, a hardshell case will probably have the advantage. But for the more common damages like a bandmate throwing it into the back of a van and stacking light gear on top of it or running into the doorway at normal walking speeds, the hybrid gig bag will do just a good a job at protecting it, with the added advantages of it being lighter, you can wear it like a backpack, it takes up less space, and you're less likely to leave it somewhere unmonitored while you're hauling your amp. Also, I think the hybrid gig bag does a better job of protecting your instrument when it's dropped because the semi-rigid exterior and neck cushion absorbs the brunt of the energy by flexing and compressing whereas the hardshell case will transfer much of the impact energy directly to the bass itself. Check out these clips on the Reunion Blues Continental gig bags that I've voted as my favorite; there's absolutely no way my hardshell cases would've protected my basses in the types of drops in the first two clips:

Reunion Blues RB Continental Field Test - YouTube

RB Continental Case Tilted Headstock Drop Test.mov - YouTube

Famous Country Singer Randy Houser's Bus Fire & Reunion Blues Gig Bags - YouTube

[jimmyjames]

my reunion blues gig bag has been the best investment i have ever made.... it gets my vote...

[L.A. BASS]

Originally Posted by john nam

I've recently compared a few of the most well-known hybrid, semi-hard gig bags and here is how I've rated them, from my least favorite to most:

#8 Gator Commander - $159
This bag isn't really stiff enough to be a hybrid, but it's priced like one ($159 at GC), so I thought I would include it.
Pros: None.
Cons: Price, heavy, floppy, no neck support system, way wider than necessary, rides high on your back and very top-heavy feeling.

#7 Mono M80 - $189
Pros: Space-age look for those who like that, high quality construction and zippers. The double-gig bag version seems to be the best of it's kind.
Cons: Walls are nicely padded, but not that rigid.

#6 iGIG 515 - $194
Pros: Similar to the Mono M80, except more traditional looking with larger pocket areas and more handles, but slightly less rigid and slightly cheaper feeling zippers.

#5 Access Stage 5 - $289
Pros: Never tried it, but it looks like a great hybrid bag.
Cons: Price!

#4 Incase - n/a
Pros: There are some great reviews on this bag, however...
Cons: they don't make them anymore, only the double bags.

#3 Protec Contego - $115ish
Pros: I like this bag. It's light, slim profile, cool-looking, very comfortable when worn, rides low on your back, very rigid walls with enough pocket space.
Cons: Headstock area is not big enough to fit a Fender 5 string (4+1 tuners), walls are rigid, but not padded enough. Also, there isn't enough padding on the front and back sides, straps feel flimsy and zippers do not seem as robust.

#2 Sadowsky Portabag - $189
Pros: This is a great bag. Very rigid walls, high quality zippers and overall construction. Solid. Probably the closest thing to a hardshell case you can get.
Cons: It's heavy and the metal strap connectors really pinch your shoulders. Also, when you're walking, the bottom of the bag flops against your butt with each step. It's the most uncomfortable bag I've tried, but I still liked it because it was so rigid and protective. There is a molded neck support foam piece, but no velcro strap.

#1 Reunion Blues Continental Electric Bass - $189
Pros: My favorite. Fairly rigid walls with ample padding everywhere, not just on the walls, but on the front and backsides as well. There is the main handle, but also a hidden recessed handle by the neck for taking in and out of the car. Fabric, rubbers, zippers, straps, handles, and overall construction is all top notch. Very comfortable when worn, balances great, does not ride high on your back. The neck pillow and velcro strap provides excellent support. Lifetime warranty. Crazy videos on Youtube of this thing being thrown from buildings and catching on fire, but still protecting the instrument!

Cons: Not as cool looking as maybe the Mono, iGIG or Contego, but not bad looking either.

Hey "john nam"
Great job on this Gig Bag comparison... I think you were dead on with all your observations... I have an InCase Slim Bag and I think it is above and beyond the best bag by every standard, shape, protection, build quality, durability, spaciousness, esthetics and more... If they would only continue making them again... The Reunion Blues is the closest thing out there after the InCase... Thanks for this post...

[VWbug08']

Looking forward to reporting on the M80 Mono I ordered after TUbass was nice enough to post about the 50% off Christmas sale. Should arrive on the 7th.

I particularly like how IGIG and Mono have adressed the endpin/strap pin protection on likely to happen vertical drops when using a gig bag.

[tuBass]

I have a kaces gig bag that the strap buttton has gone all the way through the bag

[john nam]

All of the gig bags that I reported on, except for the Gator, have end strap button padding/protection. In regards to this, the Contego offers the least amount of protection, then it's the iGiG (much better), Mono, Reunion Blues, then Sadowsky with the most padding in this area.