You made the team, got measured for a uniform, found just the right shoes, pom-poms, and matching accessories.  What more could a cheerleader need?  A cheerleading bag of course!  The cheerleading bag may be the single most important accessory a cheerleader can have.  It is the accessory that will carry all the other important accessories and cheerleading equipment every cheerleader needs to keep with them. 

Part of a being a cheerleader is travelling.  Away games, camps, and team outings all require packing a bag.  Because of this, a cheerleading bag needs to be functional and fashionable.  Fortunately, there are a number of companies that cater to schools and their cheerleading bag needs.  The problem is not finding a bag.  The problem is selecting the right one.  Who knew that choosing a cheerleading bag could be so difficult?

Cheerleading bags come in all shapes, sizes, and of course a gazillion different colors to match every school's colors in every combination imaginable.  Add to that different brands, logos, embroidery options, and you have a pretty complex decision to make.   Breaking down the decision-making  process by choosing one option at a time can make this task a little easier.

Step 1:  The colors.  Usually this is the easiest choice to make since the school's chosen colors won't leave too much room for creativity. 

Step 2:  Every school has a mascot or a version of one, so choosing the logo is also a fairly easy decision to make.  Another easy option is the schools acronym.  An example would be choosing to use the letters EHS for East High School. 

Step 3: Will the logo be screen-printed or embroidered?  Obviously, embroidery will be much less cost-effective.  If you are working on a budget,  screen printing is the least expensive option. 

Step 4:  Generic or name brand?  This again, depends on the available budget.  Popular brands like Nike and Under Armour make high-quality cheerleading bags.  However, it can be argued that there are just as many high-quality generic cheerleading bags to choose from.  This choice can be a little harder since it will usually come down to personal brand preference.  It might be a good idea to do some product research once you have narrowed your choices down to just a few.  These cheerleading bags will be doing a lot of traveling, so quality is important. 

Step 5:  This will be the hardest decision to make.  What type of cheerleading bag?  There are many types of cheerleading bags available.  Listed below are the most popular types.

Duffel Bag-This type of cheerleading bag is big enough to carry a lot of equipment.  It usually comes with both shoulder and hand straps.  Some are also designed to be carried on the back similar to a backpack. The downside to this option is the weight.  A heavy bag can be hard to carry on one shoulder, and is not good for you back if the weight really heavy.

Sling Bag-This type of cheerleading bag is similar to a backpack.  The difference is the straps.  A sling bag is designed for comfort and protects your back from too much strain.  The bag has only one strap that is worn diagonally across the chest.  This bag also has a big drawback; its size. 

Backpack- While a backpack is functional for use as a cheerleading bag, there is a size problem.  Over packing of a backpack can cause back problems as well as the possibility of damaging the bag.   

Tote bag- The tote bag-style cheerleading bag is quite stylish and functions similarly to a duffel bag.  However, it is much smaller than a duffel bag.  Depending on the material used, it may also not be as durable as some of the other types.  

Garment bag- The garment bag does have its place as it will keep the most important part of a cheerleader's equipment, the uniform, looking its best.  However, these types of bags might not be suitable for all the items a cheerleader needs to have on hand. 

Even after using this 5-step process to make a decision on the best cheerleading bag, it may still be difficult to decide.  It may be that more than one type of cheerleading bag is needed.  Fortunately, there are many resources and just as many companies willing to help walk you through the design process.