Beyond the Cotton Tote: Drawstring, Laptop, Cooler and Shopper Bags

A cotton tote suits a lot of jobs, but it isn't the right bag for all of them. A drawstring bag suits sports clubs, schools and anything posted. A laptop bag or rucksack suits staff, speakers and anyone carrying a laptop. A cooler bag suits summer and outdoor events, and a jute shopper suits retail and heavier loads.

This is how we'd match the rest of our bags range to the job, and what to specify so a conference bag doesn't look cheap.

Drawstring bags, for clubs, schools, gyms and events

Light, easy to post, and with a large print area on the back.

A drawstring bag is carried on the back, so the print sits at eye level in a crowd, at the school gate or on the walk to training. That's why it suits sports clubs, schools, gyms, fun runs and freshers' fairs, where people are carrying kit rather than paperwork.

It folds flat, which keeps postage down if you're sending kit to members or remote staff. The trade off is comfort under weight. A thin cord digs in once the bag is full, so for anything heavier than kit and a bottle, a rucksack is kinder on the shoulders.

We supplied drawstring bags and keyrings to Wessex Volleyball Club for its 50th anniversary. See our drawstring bags for the full range.

Laptop bags and rucksacks, for staff, speakers and new starters

The bag people use every working day, so your logo goes wherever they go.

A laptop bag or rucksack does something most promotional items can't: it's carried on the commute, into meetings and onto trains, for years. That's why it suits staff kits, new starter welcome kits, conference speakers and gifts for clients who travel.

Two things are worth checking. The laptop compartment has to fit the laptops your team actually uses, so check the size on the product page. And the branding area on a structured bag is usually small, so a simple logo works better than a detailed one. Discreet branding also makes people more likely to carry the bag outside work.

The Trend Plus 15 GRS Recycled Laptop Backpack is a certified recycled option. See our laptop and tablet bags and rucksacks for the rest.

Cooler and picnic bags, for summer, outdoor and hospitality events

Useful for a whole season rather than a single day.

A cooler bag gets packed for picnics, sports days, days out and site lunches, so it's used over and over while the weather's good. That makes it a strong choice for away days, staff summer events, food and drink brands, and outdoor events where people bring their own lunch.

Check the capacity against the job, since a lunch bag and a family picnic cooler are very different sizes. See our cooler and picnic bags.

Shoppers and carrier bags, for retail

A jute or juco shopper when the bag is the product, and a printed carrier when the bag is the packaging.

A shopper is built to carry weight again and again. Jute and juco shoppers stand up on their own, usually have rope handles, and give a large print area for a bold logo or a slogan. Our guide to tote bag materials explains how jute, juco and cotton differ, and the Natural Jute Bag For Life is a good place to start.

If the bag is there to carry a purchase home rather than to be kept, a printed carrier or paper bag does the job without the cost of a reusable one.

Travel, messenger, duffel and sports bags, for teams on the move

These are the bags that go wherever the team goes.

Sales teams on the road get daily use from a travel or messenger bag. Sports teams, gym partners and anyone kitting out a squad get more from a duffel or sports bag, which carries kit rather than paperwork and gets seen at every away match.

Why do conference bags look cheap, and what should you use instead?

Usually because the fabric is thin, the logo is the wrong size and the bag has no base, so it collapses the moment it's put down.

A delegate bag is carried all day and judged in the first few seconds, and those three things are what people notice. The fix is a short specification rather than a much more expensive bag:

Heavier fabric. A heavier cotton or a canvas bag holds its shape and feels substantial. The weight is on the product page, and our materials guide explains what the numbers mean.

A gusset or base. It gives the bag depth, so it stands open with a programme, a notebook and a bottle inside rather than folding flat.

Handles long enough for a shoulder. Delegates carry the bag between sessions all day, and short handles in a full hand are what make a bag feel like a burden.

A logo sized for the bag. Artwork sized for the panel looks intentional. A small logo lost in the middle, or one stretched from a low resolution file, looks like an afterthought.

For speakers, sponsors and VIPs, a laptop bag or rucksack goes further again, because it's still in use long after the conference.

You can check the logo size and placement on a free Visual Proof™ before you order, and you can order a sample through the product page to feel the fabric, with the current terms shown there. Our Obimi CIC case study covers the same points from a real welcome pack order, and our guide to conference merchandise covers the rest of the kit.

How do you choose the right bag?

Answer three questions: what's going in it, who's carrying it, and how long it needs to last.

Every bag in our range can be branded with your logo. Request a free Visual Proof™ on the one you're considering, and our in-house designers will show you your logo on it with the price and the delivery date, usually in around 20 minutes.