Carrying your belongings in a transparent bag has been increasingly mandatory on stadiums, at music festivals, concerts, and any other event with a clear bag policy in recent years. So, it is critical to know what to pack in a clear bag (and how to pack it), unless you like stuffing your praised possessions in your pockets or in a sandwich bag. We’re dead serious about the sandwich bag as many event organizers allow it as a viable alternative to a clear bag if you don’t have one.
What to Pack in a Transparent Bag: The Essentials
A clear bag is not very spacious, so you’ll have to consider carefully what to bring with you during a clear bag policy event. The essentials vary from person to person but finding what you truly cannot live without for a few hours or a whole day boils down to making the difference between needs and wants.
While that difference is not that clear to everyone, here are some transparent bag essentials most people agree with:
- ID and credit card
- Car keys
- Event tickets
- Phone
- Meds
- Pen and paper
- Water bottle
- Snack
- Chapstick/ lipstick
- Mints
- Tissues
- Hand sanitizer
- Comb/ hairbrush
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Rain jacket/ Sweater (optional, depending on the weather)
Our checklist may not include what you deem essential. It is just a starting point. Feel free to improvise.
How to Pack a Transparent Bag
How to pack a clear bag is as important as bringing only the essentials because of the security and privacy risks a transparent bag may pose if not packed correctly.
The first rule of packing a clear bag is keeping your valuables (cash, phone, wallet, credit cards) as invisible as possible. Either pack them in a non-transparent container or stuff them in your pockets, unless you want to turn your clear bag into an open invitation to nearby thieves.
Also, for security reasons, don’t pack your house keys along with your ID. You don’t want wannabe burglars know where you live if they happen to find your misplaced clear tote with the house keys in it.
Keep potentially embarrassing items like feminine hygiene products, drugs, and other things you wouldn’t allow other people normally have a peek at in your pockets or in a smaller pouch.
Keep in mind that in a transparent bag, a spill can rapidly turn into a disaster as liquids don’t have any way out. So, don’t keep your phone and other items that may be irreversibly damaged if they come into contact with liquids in the drawstring bag. Or simply don’t keep leak-prone containers in the clear bag.
Another good rule of thumb is to not overpack your transparent bag. Clear bags are not as reliable as their fabric, leather, and faux fur counterparts when it comes to carrying heavy loads. The materials they are made of – usually clear vinyl – is just not meant for heavy duty use.
The Right Bag for the Right Occasion
Here’s a brief list of totebagfactory.com’s best-selling transparent bags that are most appropriate for a specific event. If the event comes with a clear bag policy, check the bag’s specifications and see if it complies with the venue’s clear bag requirements.
Only our stadium-approved bags are guaranteed to allow you to breeze through security without problems.
Stadium-Approved Clear Bags
Most NFL and college stadiums now have a clear bag policy. In other words, you’ll need to have a clear bag of the right size and type to get into the event venue. Usually, each ticket holder is allowed only a 12” x 12” x 6” clear bag or smaller. If you’re a big family, there’s more storage space for you as each family member can bring a policy-compliant clear bag inside the stadium.
Also, stadiums limit the type of bags that are allowed in severely. You can take a brief look at our previous post on the topic for more details: Best Clear Stadium Bags to Let You Stroll Through Security No Questions Asked.
Stadium-Approved Transparent Tote Bag
At 12" x 12" x 6", our stadium approved transparent tote bag is designed to meet some of the toughest security rules, NFL's and SEC's included. So, if you want a clear bag that let's you pack all the essentials and some more, the Stadium-Approved Transparent Tote should be your first choice. The bag is sturdy and roomy enough to fit the must-haves plus a rain jacket, and even a small umbrella. The large imprint area allows you to customize the bag with the name of your favorite team or your business' logo.
Crossbody Stadium Bag
Looking for a transparent stadium bag that is both stylish and functional? Look no further. Our Crossbody Stadium Bag ticks all the boxes. With a spacious zippered front pocket and an interior mesh pocket, this durable messenger bag enables you to keep everything organized. And thanks to the zippered closure, you don't have to worry about your stuff spilling out of the bag when not paying attention.
Transparent Bags for Festivals and Concerts
For most festivals and concerts, a stadium approved transparent bag is the safest bet when it comes to complying with security measures. But such bags can be rather small for things like spare clothing or a blanket.
Check each event organizer's website to see their clear bag policy as many festival and concert organizer are less strict than stadiums about clear totes.
Clear Drawstring Backpack
During a festival, you may want a bag that is fairly dirt-proof, water resistant, and roomy enough to fit all your stuff. Our Clear Drawstring Bag does all that while keeping your hands free to truly enjoy the experience. It also has a wide imprint area in case you want to personalize it with your favorite deign or logo.
Transparent Three Zipper Fanny Pack
A clear fanny pack is the go-to transparent bag for many festival goers as it can hold only the bare essentials, while being discrete and extra secure. Our Transparent Three Zipper Fanny Pack is made of heavy duty clear vinyl and comes with adjustable belt strap, a zippered front pocket, and a double zippered main compartment. So, if you're looking for a low-profile clear bag that leaves you plenty of freedom of movement, get this transparent fanny pack.
Transparent Toiletry Bags for Air Travel
Most regional and international airports request air travelers to limit the amount of liquids they bring with them on an airplane.In the U.S., TSA has the so-called 3-1-1 liquids rule, which allows a single passenger to carry just one transparent toiletry bag no larger than one quart and filed with liquids, lotions, creams, and other similar products that are under three ounces (100 ml) each.
This means that you cannot get through a security checkpoint an entire bottle of your favorite shampoo. You'll have to take a sample in a travel size container that is no larger than 3 ounces (3.4 ounces to be more exact). The same goes for your favorite cream, toothpaste, foundation, moisturizer, and so on.
Here's our best-selling clear toiletry bags for air travel.
Clear Vinyl Travel Size Cosmetic Bag
This one-quart size travel kit has everything to get you past airport security with all the mini-versions of your favorite beauty and skin care products no questions asked. The Clear Vinyl Travel Size Cosmetic Bag comes with a zip-top closure system (just like TSA requests), reinforced seams, and compact construction to easily fit in your carry-on.
Zippered Clear Cosmetic Bag
Here's a classier version of the clear toiletry bag for air travel. The Zippered Clear Cosmetic Bag is available in clear/white color combo, it has a wider bottom for bulkier items, and its bottom gusset allows it to sit upright on whatever flat surface it may land on. The bag can also double as an elegant mini cosmetic carry case if you decide to strip your beauty arsenal to the bear bones to carry it everywhere with you.