Drawstring Pouches vs Drawstring Backpacks: Which Fits Your Event?
The quick answer: choose a drawstring pouch when you need a small, flat bag for cosmetics, accessories, gifts, or retail packaging, and choose a drawstring backpack (a gymsac) when people will carry it on their back at a sports day, festival, or conference.
Both close with a cord and print beautifully, but they solve different jobs.
This guide compares them side by side, covers fabric, sizing, print, and sustainability, and helps you match the bag to your event.
What each bag actually is
A drawstring pouch is a small cotton bag with a single cord that cinches the top closed.
It sits in a hand, a larger bag, or on a shelf.
It is the natural home for jewellery, cosmetics, a small gift, electronics accessories, or a retail product that wants a reusable, brandable wrapper.
A drawstring backpack, often called a gymsac, has two cords that run to the bottom corners so the bag can be worn on the back like a light rucksack.
It is built to be carried hands-free, which makes it the default for gyms, sports clubs, festivals, and event giveaways where people are on the move.
The two cords double as both the closure and the straps, which is what gives the gymsac its practical, sporty character.
Pouch vs backpack, side by side
| Drawstring pouch | Drawstring backpack (gymsac) | |
|---|---|---|
| Carried | In hand or inside another bag | On the back, hands-free |
| Typical size | Small, from ~14 x 20 cm upward | Larger, gym-bag scale |
| Best for | Cosmetics, gifts, accessories, retail packaging | Sports, festivals, conferences, giveaways |
| Print area | Small, logo or short message | Large front panel, bold branding |
| Cost per unit | Lower (less fabric) | Higher (more fabric, two cords) |
A large front print and hands-free carry make this the event and sports giveaway that keeps being used.
See quantity pricing →Which one fits your event?
Choose a drawstring backpack when:
- Attendees are moving around and need their hands free, at a festival, sports day, or expo.
- You want a large, visible print that acts as branding across a crowd.
- The bag needs to carry a water bottle, a hoodie, or a few event items.
Choose a drawstring pouch when:
- You are packaging a product, a gift, or a small set of items.
- You want a reusable, brandable alternative to disposable wrapping.
- Budget per unit matters and the item is small, so less fabric keeps the cost down.
Some events use both: a gymsac as the main giveaway and a pouch inside it for a smaller product or sample.
If you are weighing sizes across the whole range, our EU sizing guide puts pouches, totes, and larger bags on the same scale.
Capacity: what actually fits
Size dictates use, so think about what each bag needs to hold before you choose.
A small pouch from around 14 x 20 cm suits a piece of jewellery, a cosmetic set, a phone and cables, or a single retail product. Step up to a larger pouch and you can fit a folded garment or a bundle of samples.
A gymsac, by contrast, is sized for a day out: a water bottle, a light layer, a pair of trainers or a towel, plus the odd programme or freebie. If attendees will carry event pickups around all day, the gymsac wins on capacity and comfort. If the bag is really packaging for one item, the pouch is the right, cheaper tool.
A useful test is to picture the heaviest realistic load: a pouch stuffed past its size loses its neat look, while a half-empty gymsac just packs down smaller.
A reusable, printable wrapper for gifts, cosmetics, and retail products, at a low per-unit cost.
See quantity pricing →Fabric weight and durability
Both bags are cotton, and weight affects how they feel and last.
A lighter cotton keeps a giveaway pouch or gymsac affordable at volume, which is often the right call for a large event where the bag is a bonus rather than the product. A heavier cotton feels sturdier and holds a sharper print, which suits a premium pouch used as retail packaging or a gymsac meant to survive repeated gym trips.
As a rule, match the weight to how hard the bag will work: a one-day festival giveaway can be light, while a bag you want people using for a year is worth making heavier.
Our guide to cotton bag weights explains the trade-off in full, and the same logic applies to drawstring bags as to totes.
Print, branding, and sustainability
The same print principles apply as with totes.
A tighter weave and a bit more weight take a sharper print and last longer, and a clean one- or two-colour logo usually looks better than a busy design.
On a gymsac, the large front panel invites a bolder graphic and can carry a full-colour design or a big wordmark that reads across a crowd.
On a pouch, a small logo is usually all the space allows, and all it needs, and a tonal print on natural cotton looks quietly premium. If sustainability is part of the pitch, choose a certified material and keep the branding tasteful, the same reuse-first thinking we cover in why brands are moving to cotton.
A reusable drawstring bag that replaces disposable packaging or a plastic goody bag is both greener and better branding, provided people actually keep it.
And whichever you choose, budget the full order using our event budget checklist so quantity and print colours do not surprise you.
Ordering and lead time
Both bags start from a low minimum order, so you can test a design or run a small batch before scaling.
Order a sample first to check the fabric, the cord, and the print in person, then place the full order with comfortable lead time before your event. If the date is tight, our note on rush orders explains what is realistically possible.
Supply print-ready, high-resolution artwork sized to the bag's print area, and approve the proof quickly to keep production moving.
One last point: the best drawstring bag is the one that fits how people will actually carry it and what they will put in it, so picture the real moment of use before you decide.
A festival-goer wants hands-free and a bold logo they are happy to wear; a boutique wants a small, tidy pouch that makes a product feel like a gift.
Match the bag to that moment, keep the print clean, order a sample, and the result works for both the recipient and your brand.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a drawstring pouch and a drawstring backpack?
A pouch is a small bag with one cord, carried in the hand or inside another bag.
A drawstring backpack, or gymsac, has two cords so it can be worn on the back hands-free, and is larger.
Which is better for a festival or sports event?
A drawstring backpack.
Hands-free carry and a large front print make it ideal for crowds on the move, and it holds a bottle, a layer, and event items.
Which is better for packaging a gift or product?
A drawstring pouch.
It is a reusable, brandable wrapper for cosmetics, jewellery, gifts, and small retail products, at a lower per-unit cost.
Which is cheaper?
A pouch, generally, because it uses less fabric.
A backpack costs more per unit due to more material and two cords, but offers a much larger print area.
What fabric weight should I choose?
Lighter cotton keeps a high-volume giveaway affordable, while a heavier cotton feels sturdier and holds a sharper print for bags meant to be reused.
Match the weight to how hard the bag will work.
Can I order both for one event?
Yes.
A common approach is a gymsac as the main giveaway with a pouch inside for a smaller product or sample.
Both start from a low minimum order.
Do drawstring bags print as well as totes?
Yes.
They are cotton, so the same print methods and quality apply.
A gymsac's large panel suits bold or full-colour graphics, while a pouch suits a small, clean logo.
Match the bag to your event
Pick a pouch or a gymsac, upload your logo, and we check the artwork before production.
Explore drawstring bags →From a low minimum · Artwork checked before print · EU-wide delivery
