Look, there are lots of sports bags out there in the market and most of them will be just as good for dancers as they are for runners, gym athletes or anyone else for that matter. However, dancing is a quite different from the rest of sports activities and there are certain things that you should take into consideration to make sure you are not just wasting your money on something useless.

And in today’s article, I will show you exactly what to look for in a bag to get the best one for your needs. We will also have a look at our shortlist of the most reliable brands and models for you to choose from. Related articles: Best Dance Poles to Use at Home

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Best Dance Bags You Can Buy

Sports Bag for Men & Women by Boost

This one is probably the best bag for dancing you’ll be able to find today. Reasonable price, great quality, stylish design, dedicated wet pocket and a special shoe compartments will make your life as a dancer much more pleasant. This product has received thousands of positive reviews from all over the world for a reason. More over it will fit you perfectly regardless of whether you are doing dance classes, sports or yoga. It’s gonna be just as good.

  • Separate Shoe Compartment: Yes
  • Size: Medium Large, 20” L x 10” H * 10” W
  • Primary Color Options: Black | Purple | Pink | Grey

Lightweight Duffle Bag Backpack with Shoe Compartment

This one is a super versatile and the most healthy option of all as it may be carried as a backpack as well as a duffel bag when needed. Even though it’s not specific for dancers it still has a separate shoe compartment and can be used for any sports or gym activity. Another reason to choose this one is the fact that it has very colorful floral prints and will suite all sexes even if you like just black options.

  • Can Be Personalized: No
  • Size: Length: 11.75 in, Width: 9 in, Height: 20 in
  • Material: Water and Scratch resistant
  • Color Options: Black , Multicolored Floral, Green and other print options which may very depending on current availability

Silver Lily Dance Duffle Bag

Amazing roomy dance duffle bag with separate shoe and water bottle compartments. The bag itself is made of durable quality materials and doesn’t have any noticeable smell like other similar products. Multiple color options will let you find something just for you, so that you will love to taking it with you everyday.

  • Separate Shoe Compartment: Yes
  • Size: Medium Large, 17.5″ L x 11″ H x 7″ W
  • Secondary Color Options: Black | Purple | Pink

Horizon Small Dance Tote Bag for Kids

This one is super cute. It has 2 zippered compartments which is more than enough taking into consideration that it’s not for adults. It has a small tote on top with a separate shoe compartment below. Will be great for ages between 2 and 7 years.

  • Separate Shoe Compartment: Yes
  • Adjustable shoulder strap: Yes
  • Material: Microfiber
  • Size: Small, 11″ high x 11″ wide x 6″ deep
  • Secondary Color Options: Black | Purple | Pink

Dance Duffle Bag from Kilofly

Very spacious sports duffle which comes with a waterproof zippered pouch. It is great for kids, teens and adults, has multiple pockets and compartments to organize your items and a separate side shoe compartment to keep shoes away from other clothes. It can fit everything you may need for your dance classes including a bottle of water and a lunch box. This is a very practical and nice looking bag with lots of positive reviews from US customers.

  • Separate Shoe Compartment: Yes
  • Size: Large, Length 18.9in (48cm), Width 11.4in (27cm), Depth 7.9in (20cm)
  • Pouch Size: L 11in (28cm), W 7in (18cm)
  • Primary Color: Black
  • Secondary Color Options: Blue | Purple | Pink | Silver

Large Dance Duffle Bag for Adults

Looking for something really spacious? Than this one is for you. It has 3 exterior pockets and a roomy separate side shoe compartment. Great overall quality is another big plus and will be the dance bag of your choice for many years.

  • Separate Shoe Compartment: Yes
  • Adjustable Shoulder Strap: Yes
  • Comfort Grip Wrap: Yes
  • Material: Microfiber
  • Size: Large, 19.5″ long x 12.5″ tall x 11″ deep
  • Color: Black

Custom Name Bag for Dancing from Customized Girl

This one can be quite a nice gift for any dancer. It comes personalized, meaning that you can put a custom name on it. It’s perfect for dance classes, gym or pool activities. It has a separate side pouch for dirty clothes, shoes or a wet swimsuit to make sure your other clothes in other compartments stay clean, dry and fresh.

  • Can Be Personalized: Yes
  • Separate Shoe Compartment: Yes
  • Size: Large, Length: 20.75in (52.7cm), Height: 10.75in (27.3cm), Depth: 9.5in (24.1cm)
  • Primary Color: Black
  • Secondary Color Options: Pink | All Black

Mavii Dance Bag with Garment Rack

Here is an amazing heavy-duty Rolling Trolley bag with garment rack and lots of compartments to suite all possible needs. If you plan to travel a lot and have many costumes that you need to carry with you to numerous events, then you should buy one of these. It will keep your clothes, shoes and everything else you need for your shows and competitions tidy and clean. More over you won’t need to stress your back because of its weight. Rolling bags with garment racks is a must-have in these circumstances, so don’t even consider ordinary duffle bags.

  • Built-in Extendable Garment Rack: Yes
  • Heavy Duty Zippers: Yes
  • Water Bottle Pockets: Yes x2
  • Wheels: Yes
  • Telescopic Handle: Yes
  • Windows Pockets for Quick Aсcess: Yes
  • Colors: Grey
  • Size: Large; 15” x 15” x 28”

So, What Makes a Perfect Bag for Dance?

Image with girl and boy questioning which suitcase to buy

Well, it depends on how you plan to use it:

  • Is it for a kid or an adult?
  • Do you need it for competitions and performances?
  • Do you need it for classes?
  • For what kinds of dance styles?

After I’ve asked you these questions and you’ve got your answers – let’s dig into this!

Choosing the Right Size for Kids

Picture of a baby, a huge backpack and a laughing smile

This is huge!

It may seem obvious, but not all adults understand that if you’re buying a bag for a 5-year-old kid, you need to make sure that the bag itself is not bigger than your child, regardless of the number of costumes you expect it to fit.

There are no exceptions to this rule.

If your child has so many things to carry around that all of them cannot fit in one reasonably sized duffle or backpack – then it’s not normal! You, as a parent, should probably set yours and your kid’s priorities right.

Choosing the Right Size for Adults

Picture of clothes and shoes that have to fit into a briefcase

Rules for adults are generally softer and quite straightforward:

The more dance styles you do – the more things you have to carry around.

The more things you carry – the larger bag size you will need.

There are some exceptions here and there, but the general idea stays the same. More things require more space.

Dance Bags with Rack

Picture of a suitcase on wheels with garment racks

These are usually quite large and they are the ones that you will need for your performances and competitions. They can be of different sizes and they also come with wheels and a garment rack.

This is a must-have for any professional dancer since it’s pretty much a personal closet on wheels ready to accommodate all you may need for the stage.

So, how do you know that the one you got is a good one?

It’s simple:

If it is made of high-quality materials and the rack itself is robust and stable – you are all set. Because you see, most likely it will have to travel a lot, it will be lying around on the floor and sometimes people will kick it or even throw it around.

And it has to survive all of it.

So make sure it’s durable.

Duffels, Backpacks or Totes?

Image of back + backpack = thumbs up

Here’s the kicker:

If you need it for for a regular day-to-day use, then backpacks are usually more comfortable to carry and they are also healthier for your back and spine unless you are driving.

If you care a lot about your and your child’s spine, which is very normal by the way, then choose backpacks with thick wide dual shoulder straps.

Symmetry and even distribution of weight is the key here.

Another healthy option would be a pull bag on wheels, but it’s usually more appropriate for bigger weights.

And as I said, if you get to the classes in your own car, then both duffels and totes will be fine as long as you switch sides and don’t carry them around for too long.

Separate Shoe Compartment is a Must!

Shoes + Sports = Bio Hazard

Here is the truth:

Shoes smell even if you’re a superstar! They also get dirty.

So, if you have a separate waterproof shoe compartment for them, it will make your life 10 times easier.

After all, you want your clean clothes to stay clean, right?

Most of the dance duffle bags do come with a special side shoe compartment. Usually, it can easily fit a couple of ballet flats, pointe or tap shoes.

But:

It probably won’t have enough room for more than 1 pair of sneakers because these usually take a lot more space.

Here’s Why Personalization is an Awesome Idea

Picture saying that luggage with your name on it equals personilized luggage

Personalization is when you have an option to put your name on something that you want to buy. A custom name can be embroidered right on the side or it can be printed.

Another great way to personalize your belongings is to add a tag. You can make it your self or order it online.

You might be wondering:

“Why do I need a bag with my name on it?”

Well… in some cases it can be very helpful. For instance when there are lots of similar looking duffles lying in front of you and you have no idea which one is yours.

It also helps to prevent other dancers from accidentally taking your stuff.

Bottom Line

From the quality and customer satisfaction point of view, all of the above-mentioned items are pretty much equal. So it really doesn’t matter which one you will buy. If you are an adult and you believe that you’ll need to carry more than one pair of shoes with you, then choose large ones. If you need it for a 5-year-old then smaller sizes will be more appropriate.

Leave a comment below and let us know if you like our selection of the best dance bags we’ve mentioned here today.