Our Favorite Custom Promotional Bags for Event & Trade Show Giveaways

Custom Promotional Bags, Backpacks, Duffel Bags & Branded Tote Bags

The most important thing to consider when choosing a bag to use as your Trade Show Swag Bag: quality is key. The better the giveaway, the more these custom promotional bags will be used. The result? Not only will you bring back more than just a lanyard, but your company logo and brand will become familiar to a broader market and be worn by people outside your brand, perhaps on the go or to the local supermarket for instance.

The right high quality promotional products such as gift bags are giveaways that just keep on giving back. From grocery tote bags and drawstring shopping bags to laptop / tablet bags and duffels, there are many options to choose from. So you have to consider a few factors when choosing.

Obviously the first consideration is budget – a simple tote has a big price difference from a custom backpack or high grade material travel bag. Second, consider your audience, what kind of bag would they appreciate and use in their daily life?  A related thing to consider is the style of event you are holding. An executive retreat for your employees is different from a trade show attracting 1000s of attendees.  Below are some of our favorite choices of all types to use for your event swag bag needs.

Branded Tote Bags – The ol’ dependable swag bag

Tote Bags are the perfect choice for larger events and trade shows. They are one of the most commonly ordered custom promotional bag types and perfect to hand out at registration pre-stuffed with materials.  But, as stated above, quality matters with all items, and that includes promotional items. There are a wide range of cotton tote, non-woven and canvas tote bags, so choosing one that your attendees will use in their daily life increases their value to you.  A good bag that your attendees will use to shop as their main reusable grocery bag or on their commute is an excellent vehicle for your company logo and branding efforts. Most of out tote options come in an assortment of colors and have large imprint space, and will last for years.

A few of our most popular bags include:

1. The Casual Tote – This is our most basic tote. 100% Cotton and comes in a variety of colors.
2. The Cotton Canvas Tote – This one is a favorite because of its longer handles and sturdy material. It also features gusseted sides to hold more of whatever you are giving away.
3. The Lulu Style – Another favorite because of its sturdiness and large capacity. This laminated bag is great as a giveaway for more consumer and ‘lifestyle’ audiences.
4. The Zipper Beach Tote are more expensive, but are a great option for summer events. The zipper makes this bag a great option for your audience to use on their commute, going to the store or (obviously) to the beach.
5. Econscious Cotton Canvas Tote – This eco-friendly bag is made from 100% organic cotton canvas.

There are many options to choose from, for more options browse our collection or read our other blog post about custom tote bags too!

Custom Backpacks – The Impression Maker

Some events call for a custom swag bag that is going to stand out and make an impression. Backpacks or Messenger Bags are some of our best sellers and are great giveaways for tech events, user conference or smaller education focused events. They are custom brand or logo ready and will last for years, long outliving old drawstring promotional bags, fanny packs that rarely get used, or plastic bags full of giveaways everyone already has, such as USB flash drives, keychains and stress balls. This can be a higher ticket item, but the focus on quality is crucial – nobody will use a cheap backpack and it can create a negative impression.

Here are our top custom promotional backpacks for event giveaways:

1. Timbuk2 Division – This backpack is a great combination of style and function. It has a large main compartment that fits books, lunch, and a light jacket and has a padded compartment for laptops. Also a side stretch pocket for a water bottle.
2. The Blade Backpack is another stylish option with a really unique look that will really help your brand standout. It is also a great price point, so your classic win-win.
3. Incase ICON – This is the mack daddy of tech laptops. It is a killer giveaway for a high-end tech event, or as a special speaker gift or prize. It is available in a variety of colors and features multiple compartments for organization, adjustable padded shoulder straps and a cable port for on-the-go access. (Note:I have been using this backpack for my daily commute for many years and I love it).

These are just a few popular options, but there are many more to choose from. See our Backpack Collection for more.

Custom Promotional Briefcases, Weekender & Duffle Bags – The Luxury Choices

Sometimes a promotional tote bag or drawstring backpack isn’t the right choice for your more upscale audience. An executive retreat or c-level focused event might call for something a little different. Here are a few of high-end options for swag bag giveaways.  All can be ordered with custom luggage tags too.

1. Herschel Novel Duffel – See comments about Herschel Brand above. These are great bags with a hot brand name. This is a perfect weekend bag with plenty of storage, including convenient signature shoe compartment and internal storage sleeve.
2. High Sierra Weekender – This is a great option for a gym bag. It has a great compartment for running shoes and a water bottle.

Check out our full selection of custom promo bags here and find the right promotional bag for your event or trade show to match your company’s branding strategy. We add new products all the time and not just bags, we have the perfect companions to fill your swag bag too such as outerwear, headphones, chargers, drinkware, tumblers, t-shirts, activewear, hand sanitizers (best sellers these days due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic) first aid kits and more, all with your logo front and center and in full color.