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Information on Shoe Bags

By Anthony Levine, longtime sneaker collector.

There are a few shoe bags on the market perfect for keeping sneakers clean and protected. In this article I’m going to take a harder look at the different kinds available.

What A Shoe Bag Is

A Shoe Bag is a bag designed to hold shoes. Some hold one pair while others are designed for multiple pairs.

For the purposes of creating an article with actual products you can find today, I used Amazon to find a few of these different bags.

What The Purpose Of A Shoe Bag Is

Shoe bags provide a more efficient way to pack or store shoes and keep them clean. They keep other items one has packed (such as clothes) from the grime on shoe soles. Some shoe bags even provide structured support to prevent the shoes from being damaged or creased.

Saucony Shadow 6000 Up There Doors To The World WDYWT On Feet
Click/tap image to shop for these on eBay!
Shadow 6000 “Doors To The World” (review)
This pair comes with a dustbag to help keep the suede
niiiiiice and buttery!

Sneaker collectors want to keep their kicks clean! Generally speaking, that is. While not every collector will have a use for a shoe bag, they can definitely help the sneakerhead on the go. When you need a way to transport a pair (or several), there are solutions out there.

I’ve personally gotten a few sneaker bags throughout the years in the form of dustbags. They came included with certain pairs that I bought, typically as an added extra on a collaboration. For example, my pair of Up There x Saucony included a mesh dustbag.

Whenever I travel, I tend to just bring the shoes on my feet. I also am the type to just bring one carry on and I try to avoid checking any luggage. So I don’t tend to personally use sneaker bags. However, I see others use them all the time, and I totally get their utility. If the situation arises where I need to transport a few pairs with me, I can see myself investing in a nice bag. I see people rocking cool looking sneaker duffels on social media all the time, so I know people definitely use these products. Traveling around looking super fresh with my bag of kicks might just truly be living the dream!

Shoe Bags Are Not Necessary But Can Be Helpful In Some Situations

Shoe bags help protect shoes from each other and the outside elements. They also protect the things around them from grime. That said, they are not necessary unless one is packing away pairs or needs storage for some pairs.

Do you need a sneaker bag when you travel? No. Will a sneaker bag help you if you are packing or storing sneakers? Definitely.

So, while not a must have, dustbags and sneaker duffels are tools that help sneakerheads.

For example, if you were going on a trip and wanted to pack more than the pair. If some shoes are going in your bag, you probably want a way to keep the rest of your packed items from contacting the grimy soles of your kicks. And you want to keep your other possessions from messing up the uppers of the shoes.

If you don’t travel with sneakers or throw your sneakers in the laundry, shoe bags can still be a great help for storage. If you have a pair and do not have a box, a shoe bag can be a perfect way to protect the sneakers from getting scuffed and dirtying up their surroundings.

Different Types Of Shoe Bags

The types of shoe bags are dustbags, laundry bags and travel duffel bags. Dustbags are great for keeping one pair clean while travel duffel bags offer additional support and chambers for multiple pairs. Laundry bags are for laundering shoes.

Dustbags are a commonly found type of sneaker bag and are useful for a single pair. If you need to keep a shoe from getting scuffed and protect the area around which the pair is stored or transported, these will work in a pinch. Check out some sneaker dustbags on Amazon.

If you need something a bit more sturdy and/or are planning to transport or store multiple pairs, you should look into a sneaker duffel. There are many sneaker duffel bags available on Amazon. These provide more reinforcement (and style) for your shoe transportation needs. Sneaker duffel bags typically have multiple chambers with added sturdiness to keep the sneakers clean and also preserve their shape. While a dustbag may be too flimsy for multiple pairs, a duffel will help alleviate this issue.

Finally, there are shoe bags that help with laundering sneakers. As I prefer to hand clean my pairs, I don’t have a use for these. However, for those that just want to be able to throw their kicks in the laundry without damaging the machine or other clothes, this item can help. Here’s the selection of sneaker laundry bags on Amazon. Definitely approach laundering sneakers in a machine with caution.

Should You Get A Sneaker Bag?

If you plan on traveling and want to protect your shoes from themselves and their environment, a dustbag or sneaker duffel bag can be a great investment.

If you’re like me and travel light, you may need only one pair for a trip. In that case, you are already packing your kicks – on your feet!

However, if you are bringing more than one pair, you definitely want to be careful with how you’re transporting your beloved sneakers! Some of the multichambered duffel bags out there actually look cool too! Many bags are available with Amazon prime too, so if you need it in a day or two, you can get one very quickly!

While I haven’t needed a shoe bag for myself yet, I can definitely see the utility there. I see posts on social media all the time of people that are traveling with their sneaker bags. From what I see, they help the sneakerhead that wants to bring their pairs with them on trips without the kicks taking damage or damaging other luggage.

Sneaker Bags Make Great Gifts!

If you are struggling with what to get your favorite sneaker collector as a gift, consider a nice sneaker bag! A dustbag makes a great low-cost gift while a sneaker duffel is a more impressive splurge that will please any sneakerhead!

There are plenty of gifts you can get a sneakerhead besides sneakers. I think shoe bags fall in that category!

Dustbags make great accessory gifts, so maybe pack in a dustbag plus another item like shoe trees or a cleaning kit. Together, these make a nice, robust offering for any holiday or birthday.

If you really want to impress or just want one gift to rule them all, try a sneaker duffel bag! These often look a lot more impressive as far as size, weight and color scheme. If you have the coin, a sneaker duffel will likely surprise and delight anyone you are buying a gift for. Even those that don’t collect sneakers can use a multi-chambered duffel bag for travel.