I need a larger gear bag -- suggestions?

[BartmanPDX]

Howdy!

I'm currently using a canvas duffel bag to carry all my stuff -- cables, power strip, Genz Shuttle, etc.. I also like to carry two bass stands (Hercules) to gigs in the bag as well, but they don't really fit and the ends have to stick out of the bag and wind up getting caught on things while I'm moving stuff around. I'm sick of it.

I want a larger bag (or rolling bag) that has an interior that's at least 28" long so that the stands can fit in and I can zip it up all the way.

Any suggestions? Most of the bags I've found are either too small or are wayyy too long (speaker stand bags).

[Din Of Win]

I've had tremendous luck finding good luggage stuff at thrift stores (Salvation Army, Goodwill etc.). I've always gone there for both music bags and backpacking adventures bags.

[Vic Winters]

Maybe a drum hardware bag?

[Lady Kayri]

Army / Navy surplus stores - the gear bag I had when I was in the USAF was about 30 inches long, a good 20 inches high and across...

[jaywa]

Hockey bags are humongous. Very pricey, but some of those things are so big you could practically live in them.

[RickenBoogie]

Originally Posted by Lady Kayri

Army / Navy surplus stores - the gear bag I had when I was in the USAF was about 30 inches long, a good 20 inches high and across...

Exactly. You'd be surprised what you can come up with at the Army/Navy store. Some really cool bags, lots of various configurations.

[BartmanPDX]

Thanks for the ideas, folks!

Hopefully I'll have a chance to go to a surplus store or Goodwill soon.

Land's End seems to have one or two that would fit the bill as well if I can't find what I want elsewhere.

[duff beer]

Go to your local big box hardware store...they have dozens of heavy duty tool bags in all shapes and sizes. Most of them are loaded with pockets so you don't end up with at jumbled mess of stuff at the bottom of the bag.

[Bluesy Soul]

I, too, have had good luck with drum hardware bags. Levy's, Gator and most drum manufacturers make them. They all seem to be made of cloth that is heavy enough, are available with various combinations of handles and/or straps and/or wheels, and come in a large variety of sizes.

After finding a brand and model that you like, a few minutes of internet searching will usually unearth a good sale price.

I've even gone to a "bag within a bag" system. I keep "essentials" (tuner, spare battery, extra instrument cord, etc.) in a smaller bag that is stored in the larger bag, but goes over my shoulder and into every gig with me. For some gigs, I take in the larger bag with its heavy-duty extension cord, stage fan, back-up amp, extra XLR cord, etc. For others, there's no need. And even if the need arises, it's no farther away than the parking lot.

Bluesy Soul

[Auzzie-Phoenix]

Paintball bodybag... general cost is about $80, but you have pockets galore, many of them have rolling wheels, and should be long enough to hold a hercules without disassembling it.

[MX21]

How about one of those bags that baseball / softball players carry. They usually have a slot to hold a couple of bats, which are about 30 - 36" long.

Something like this:

[BartmanPDX]

Lots of great suggestions. Thanks for the help, guys!!!