Drum bags are arguably as important as the drums themselves. Drums are especially fragile instruments that are sensitive to all sorts of things that could alter how they sound or in the worst cases damage them outright.
Being usually made of wood, drum shells are sensitive to changes in the environment. If where they are stored is too hot, too cold, too humid, or too dry, their sound will be affected. While being transported, a lot of things could damage drums. Given the rigours of the road, drums must be protected while being transported. All these factors in storage and transporting make drum bags a necessary piece of gear that is as important as the drums themselves.
What Are Drum Bags?
Drum bags are simply cases where drums are being stored or transported in. These bags provide proper protection for drums by serving as a layer between the drums and the environment to protect the drums inside from bumps and scratches, and the weather. Because the slightest change in the environment or the smallest damage to drum hardware will affect how drums sound, drum bags are needed to protect drums while in storage or on the road.
Types of Drum Bags:
Drum bags are generally divided into two categories. These are hard drum bags and soft drum bags. The situations in which one is preferred over the other will depend on how you use your drums.
Hard Drum Bags:
These drum bags are hard cases made of either plastic or wood to ensure maximum protection for your drums. They are like chests where you can store your drums for transport or storage. They are tough and are designed to survive transporting via long distances either by land, sea, or air.
Soft Drum Bags:
These drum bags unlike their counterparts are like soft skins that serve to protect your drums not by providing a hard shell but by serving as a soft but rugged skin that will cushion your drums from bumps and scratches while shielding them from the weather and the environment. These are more suited to the drummer in an urban setting where weight is a primary concern especially when you have no vehicle to transport your drum with from your place to your gigs.
Check out our review of the best cymbal bags to go along with your drum bags.
Top Ten Best Cymbal Bags:
Gearlux 5-Piece Drum Bag Set
Material: Nylon Fabric | 10mm Interior Padding
Dimensions:
- 22″ Bass Drum
- 16″ Floor Tom
- 14″ Snare Drum
- 13″ Rack Tom
- 12″ Rack Tom
Features:
- Labelled Bags
- Side Handles
Description:
The Gearlux 5-Piece Drum Bag Set is a set of drum bags that are will accommodate a full 5-piece drum set excluding cymbals. It comes with bags for a 22-inch bass drum, 16-inch floor tom, 14-inch snare drum, 13-inch rack tom, and a 12-inch rack tom. The material of these bags are nylon fabric and lined with 10mm padding in the interior. Simple and utilitarian, the Gearlux 5-Piece Drum Bag Set are substantial-quality drum bags that will get your drums from your place to your gig safely.
Pros:
What we like about the Gearlux 5-Piece Drum Bag Set is that it is simple and useful. Offering nothing but great protection for your drums, the Gearlux 5-Piece Drum Bag Set will do its job well.
Cons:
One possible con of the Gearlux 5-Piece Drum Bag Set is also its pro; its simplicity. Without a vehicle, these bags might be hard to transport around the city especially when you have to use public transportation.
XSPRO DGB-XS5 5 Piece Standard Deluxe Padded Drum Bag Set
Material: Nylon Fabric | Interior Padding
Dimensions:
- 8″ x 18″ Snare Drum
- 10″ x 14″ Rack Tom
- 11″ x 16″ Rack Tom
- 16″ x 20″ Floor Tom
- 22″ x 28″ Bass Drum
Features:
- Reinforced Handles
- Shoulder Carry Straps
Description:
The XSPRO DGB-XS5 5 Piece Standard Deluxe Padded Drum Bag Set, like the Gealux 5-Piece Drum Bag Set are simple, no-frills drum bags, designed to get your gear safely from gig to gig daily. Its material is a nylon fabric exterior which is lined with soft padding on its insides. It features a shoulder strap that will make it easy to carry from your vehicle or a cab to the venue.
Pros:
Like the Gearlux 5-Piece Drum Bag Set, the XSPRO DGB-XS5 5 Piece Standard Deluxe Padded Drum Bag Set is simple and gets the job done well. It forms a layer of protection between your drums and the outside properly and is padded adequately to prevent damage to your drums. The shoulder strap is also a bonus to provide ease of transporting
Cons:
Again, without a vehicle, the XSPRO DGB-XS5 5 Piece Standard Deluxe Padded Drum Bag Set may be hard to transport around town especially when using public transportation.
TAMA Drum Set Bag (TDSS52KMG)
Material: Nylon Fabric | Interior Padding
Dimensions:
- 22″x18″ Bass Drum
- 10″x8″ Rack Tom
- 12″x9″ Rack Tom
- 16″x16″ Floor Tom
- 14″x6.5″ Snare Drum
Features:
- Reinforced Handles
- Shoulder Carry Straps
Description:
Tama provides an eye-catching set of drum bags for their drums in the TAMA Drum Set Bag (TDSS52KMG). However, you can also use this for your other drums because TAMA sells these bags separately. Produced by TAMA, a leading drum manufacturer, the TAMA Drum Set Bag (TDSS52KMG) is a high-quality set of drum bags that will help you get from your place to your gig and the next gig easily and in style.
Pros:
Let’s address the most obvious pro the TAMA Drum Set Bag (TDSS52KMG) has over the other bags on this list which is its aesthetics. The TAMA Drum Set Bag (TDSS52KMG) comes in great-looking designs that stand out from the utilitarian and otherwise drab look that other drum bags come in. In terms of its features, however, the TAMA Drum Set Bag (TDSS52KMG) boasts amazing build quality which ensures that it would last a long time in protecting your drums.
Cons:
Like all the other drum bags on this list, transporting without a vehicle is the main cons one could expect from the TAMA Drum Set Bag (TDSS52KMG). However, the added cost can be a turn-off for drummers who are on a tight budget.
Gator Cases Large Electronic Drum Kit Bag
Material: Nylon Fabric | Interior Padding | Plastic/Metal Frame
Dimensions:
- 36 ” Interior Length
- 16 ” Interior Width
- 16 ” Interior Height
Features:
- Wheels and Tow Handle
- Nylon Web Carry Handles
- Padded Removable Adjustable Shoulder Strap
- Adjustable Velcro Divider System
Description:
As more and more electronic drums come into the market and make their way into live performances, it would be foolish for drum case manufacturers to exclude electronic drums from their catalogues. It would be foolish as well for us to not include a drum case for electronic drums here on this list. So, here is the Gator Cases Large Electronic Drum Kit Bag. These are drum bags, designed to carry and protect electronic drum kits for storage or for transporting.
Pros:
The great thing about the Gator Cases Large Electronic Drum Kit Bag is the compartments that store the electronic drums can be adjusted to fit all sorts of sizes of electronic drum pads. This allows you to carry the whole set with you including the electronic drum pad’s brain/control unit.
Cons:
There is not a lot of issues with the Gator Cases Large Electronic Drum Kit Bag aside from its price. Being quite expensive, the Gator Cases Large Electronic Drum Kit Bag caters for owners of more expensive electronic drum models which a beginner would not usually own.
Gator Cases Protechtor Series 5 piece Padded Drum Bag Set
Material: 600D Nylon Fabric | Interior Padding
Dimensions:
- 22” X 18” Kick Drum
- 10” X 9” Tom
- 12” X 10” Tom
- 14” X 12” Floor Tom
- 14” X 5.5” Snare Drum
Features:
- Comfortable Carrying Straps
- 10mm Interior Padding
Description:
The Gator Cases Protechtor Series 5 piece Padded Drum Bag Set is very similar to the other soft drum bags in this list. With a nylon exterior material and 10mm of interior padding, this set of drum bags proves yet again that simple is best when it comes to storing and transporting your drums. It comes in a utilitarian black colour which denotes its simplicity. Made by Gator Cases, you are assured that your drums are adequately protected in this set of drum bags.
Pros:
Yet again, the design of the Gator Cases Protechtor Series 5 piece Padded Drum Bag Set is simple and gets the job done. Another pro is that it is manufactured by Gator Cases, a reliable brand when it comes to instrument cases.
Cons:
Like all the other drum bags transporting around the city will be a hassle if you do not own a vehicle. The lack of shoulder straps on the Gator Cases Protechtor Series 5 piece Padded Drum Bag Set compounds this issue a bit more than the other drum bags with additional handling and carry options.
Kaces Snare Drum Kit Porter w/Wheels
Material: 600D Nylon Fabric | Interior Padding
Dimensions:
- 14” X 5.5” Snare Drum
Features:
- Heavy Duty Wheels
- Telescoping Luggage Style Handle
- Zippered Compartment for Snare Stand
- Zippered Pocket for Drum Accessories
- Comfortable Back Straps
Description:
There are times when a gig venue will have in-house drums giving you the option of not having to lug a whole drum kit to the venue. This is true for most gigs around an urban setting and all you will need to bring to retain your sound are your snare drum and cymbals. For times like these the Kaces Snare Drum Kit Porter w/Wheels has got you covered. These are drum bags for your snare drums that will accommodate a 14” x 5.5” snare drum.
Pros:
Unlike the other drum bags on this list, transporting the Kaces Snare Drum Kit Porter w/Wheels around the city will be a breeze even via public transportation due to the telescopic luggage-style handle and wheels. It also features built-in back straps for rough ground which luggage cannot traverse. It also has a compartment for a snare stand and a few accessories. The Kaces Snare Drum Kit Porter w/Wheels is truly an all-in-one solution to daily city gigging.
Cons:
Given its purpose which is travelling light with only your snare drum and a few cymbals, the Kaces Snare Drum Kit Porter w/Wheels works perfectly. However, some users have reported that the Kaces Snare Drum Kit Porter w/Wheels may fall over especially when loaded with particularly heavy snare drums such as steel snares. It also will not fit larger snare drums.
No products found.TAMA POWERPAD Designer Bag Snare Drum Bag
Material: 600D Nylon Fabric | Interior Padding
Dimensions:
- 14” X 6.5” Snare Drum
Features:
- 20mm Semi-Hard Cushion
- Tuck-Away Back Straps
- Ergonomic Handle
Description:
The TAMA POWERPAD Designer Bag Snare Drum Bag are snare drum bags that come in a wide variety of colours. Loud and proud, these snare drum bags will fit 14 x 6.5 snare drums inside its 20mm semi-hard lined interior and protect it with a tough 600D nylon exterior. Made by TAMA, you can be sure that your snare drum will be amply protected by the TAMA POWERPAD Designer Bag Snare Drum Bag.
Pros:
It looks great. It feels comfortable to carry, and because it is lined by 20mm of semi-hard cushioning, the TAMA POWERPAD Designer Bag Snare Drum Bag will protect your prized snare drums while looking amazing.
Cons:
It does not have the telescoping handle and luggage-style wheels that the Kaces Snare Drum Kit Porter w/Wheels. Still, given its tuck-away back straps and ergonomic handle, the TAMA POWERPAD Designer Bag Snare Drum Bag will still be easy to carry from your gig to gig.
Kinekulle Drum Hardware Bag With Wheels
Material: Polyester Exterior | Padded Interiors and Dividers | Polyethylene Support Panel
Dimensions:
- 40″ interior length
- 18″ bottom section diameter
- 16″ middle section diameter
- 14″ top section diameter
Features:
- Large Sturdy Wheels
- Multiple Drum Compartments
- Extra Drum Hardware Bag
- Extra Drum Stick Bag
Description:
Kinekulle offers a great solution to drummers who want to travel light however do not need to bring a full drum kit; particularly a bulky bass drum with the Kinekulle Drum Hardware Bag With Wheels. It will fit one floor tom and two more drums, be it a tom and snare combo or two toms.
Pros:
The Kinekulle Drum Hardware Bag With Wheels provides a middle ground for drummers who want to bring a more complete set albeit without the bass drum. This degree of flexibility is what we like about this drum bag. It also comes with wheels for easy transporting.
Cons:
It might seem a bit ludicrous for some to bring toms but not a bass drum. Thus we list this as a con. However, the Kinekulle Drum Hardware Bag With Wheels can also function as a bag for all your toms while you carry your bass drum and snare drum in separate bags.
Gator Cases Protechtor Series Classic Hard Snare Case
Material: Polyethylene Plastic | Metal Hardware
Dimensions:
- 14″ X 6.5″ Snare Drum
Features:
- Strong Rotationally Molded Drum Case
- Water-Resistant
- Utilitarian Carry Straps
- Limited Lifetime Warranty Against Cracking
Description:
Snare drums like cymbals are one of the more expensive and precious pieces of kit in a drum set. You may have a standard set of toms and bass drums but play with premium cymbals and snares. Therefore, a good hard drum bag might be necessary to protect your snare drums either in storage or in transport. The Gator Cases Protechtor Series Classic Hard Tom Case does just that. Featuring a Polyethylene Plastic and Metal Hardware construction, you can be sure that your snare drum will be protected well.
Pros:
There are not a lot of things that could dent a hard case like the Gator Cases Protechtor Series Classic Hard Tom Case. When transporting your snare in the back of your own vehicle, a trailer, or a trolley/hand cart (via public transport) you can be sure that bumps along the road or accidents will not damage your precious snare drums.
Cons:
As is typical with hard drum bags, the Gator Cases Protechtor Series Classic Hard Tom Case will be hard to transport via public transportation. The lack of comfortable handles or carry straps further compounds this issue.
DW Logo Snare Bag – 6.5″x14″
Material: Reinforced Plastic | High-Grade Nylon | Interior Padding
Dimensions:
- 14″ X 6.5″ Snare Drum
Features:
- Oversized Compartment
- Comfortable Handle
- Comfortable Shoulder Straps
Description:
The DW Logo Snare Bag – 6.5″x14″ provides a middle ground between soft bags and hard bags for your snare. Although the main body is formed with reinforced plastic, the outside is layered with fabric that is not uncomfortable to carry on your person. It is also lined with interior padding that cushions your snare drum from shock. It will fit a standard-sized 14” x 6.5” snare drum.
Pros:
Having some of the strengths of both a hard case and a soft case is great. This flexibility allows drummers to have more options in transporting their snare drums. Be it for urban gigs or on the road, the DW Logo Snare Bag – 6.5″x14″ will protect your snare well. It also features an oversized interior that will accommodate snare drums with unconventional and bulky hardware.
Cons:
The lack of extra carrying options prevents this otherwise great drum bag from being perfect. While it is a middle ground between soft bags and hard bags, it still might be quite uncomfortable to carry especially for a drummer who relies mainly on public transport to go from gig to gig.
FAQs about Drum Bags:
Do drum cases protect against damage?
Yes. Drum cases protect your drums from damage. When being stored, moisture and the weather corrodes the metal parts on your drums and warps the wooded shells. Drum cases minimize the damage that moisture can pose to sensitive drums.
What are the right drum cases for me?
It depends on how you usually use your drums. If you are the type of drummer that goes on tour frequently and transports your drums via trailer across long distances, then hard drum bags will be what you need. These protect your drums from the rigours of the road. If you are the type of drummer that works in the city, going from gig to gig every day, then a comfortable set of drum bags that can be easily carried are what you need.
Do you need drum cases to transport drums?
Absolutely. Drum cases are necessary for transporting drums. Even though drums have wood and metal constructions which are fairly tough materials, they are sensitive to damage. The slightest damage to your drums may affect their sound drastically. You can avoid this by investing in quality drum bags.
How to store drums?
Store drums in a cool and dry place away from sunlight. This will ensure that your drums do not age too quickly. Putting your drums in drum bags while in storage will also greatly prolong the life of your drums by protecting them from rust and dust.
How do drum cases keep away moisture?
Drum cases keep away moisture which can cause premature damage to the metal parts of your drums by forming an isolated environment for your drums inside the cases.
Conclusion:
Like the drums themselves, drum cases are a necessary investment to protect your investment; your drums. With drum cases, you can be sure that your drums will last longer while in transport or in storage.