The 8 Best Cymbal Bags and Hard Cymbal Cases

The case can hold up to seven cymbals.

The outer shell is a rugged linear-low-density polyethylene providing sturdy protection from falls, making it an ideal choice for transporting your cymbals.

SKB’s ATA Cymbal Vault can house cymbals up to 24″ in size. The interior of the case features a large internal storage pocket — perfect for extra clutches and drum keys.

Also included are four cymbal pads to keep your cymbals from bumping into each other while in transit. Metal-on-metal contact is one of the leading causes of damage.

Soft cymbal bags are a decent option, but nothing beats the protection of a hard plastic case for protecting your plates.

I have always loved my SKB Cymbal Vault, though I don’t use it exclusively. I have a kick drum case that houses my cymbals, but on certain gigs and fly dates, the hard case works great.

My cymbals don’t move while in the case, and my mind is at ease knowing they’re fully protected.

Humes & Berg makes excellent hard cases — their cymbal case is no exception.

Like the SKB option, H&B’s hard cymbal case features wheels and a retractable handle. It’s another great option for drummers traveling in airports to gigs around the country.

Expect to fit five to ten cymbals in the case.

One downside — the Enduro cymbal case only holds cymbals up to 22″ in size. That said, H&B does make a larger variant of the case for a bit more money.

The Cymbal Vault holds cymbals up to 24″ in diameter and features wheels and a retractable tow handle for lugging around your plates.

The metal center bolt has a plastic sleeve, preventing keyholing of your cymbals.

Between five to ten cymbals can be stored in the Zildjian Cymbal Vault.

The top piece of the case has a foam liner, reducing rattling and movement of your cymbals inside the case during transport — a big plus.

One thing I do like about Gator’s case is the strapless design. Those little plastic clips on many drum cases tend to break easily, especially when stagehands carry them from the straps. 

If you’re a stagehand reading this, please lift and move our drum cases with the provided handles. -Concerned Drummer

With my rant aside, having no strap eliminates that issue, which is nice.

That said, there is a bit of an engineering flaw with Gator’s case. When wheeling the case, the fit isn’t tight at the bottom. According to some, rain and snow can easily enter the case, damaging your cymbals.

The biggest downside? The X2 only holds cymbals up to 20″ in diameter.

Having the ability to transport all hardware, snare drum, pedals, and cymbals in one case can be a game-changer. I wish it could house larger cymbals.

The casters reportedly aren’t the greatest, but aside from that, it’s a phenomenal hardware and cymbal case.

Drummer Scott McPherson (Bright Eyes, Beck, Elliot Smith) founded Tackle in Portland in 2011. The company makes everything from drumstick bags to drum keys.

The cymbal backpack holds cymbals up to 24″ in diameter and features high-quality 15oz cotton canvas and leather.

The front pocket easily holds your hats, and the main storage area includes three canvas cymbal sleeves for protecting against metal-on-metal contact.

Drummers with a little bigger budget who want a more stylish cymbal bag may find the Tackle Cymbal Backpack a perfect choice.

The bag gets the job done featuring backpack straps, felt spacers for cymbals, and even a drumstick compartment (up to six pairs). The main pocket holds cymbals up to 22″ in diameter, and the smaller pocket holds cymbals up to 15″ in size — perfect for hi-hats.

The major downside to these types of bags is that they’re made from cheap nylon material. Over time, these bags do tend to rip, typically along the zipper.

The backpack straps can rip with aggressive handling, as well. If you’re careful and take care of the bag, you should have no issues.

It holds cymbals up to 22″ in diameter and even has exterior pockets on the front and back for hi-hats, drumsticks, and other accessories.

If you happen to have a 24″ cymbal, Meinl does make a larger variant of the bag, but I can’t find it sold anywhere currently. You may need to search one out from a local store.

The Meinl Cymbal bag does not feature backpack straps, so you’ll need to carry your plates by the hand straps.