Best Clear, Stadium-Approved Bags to Buy Ahead of Festival Season

The sun is higher, the days are longer and festival season is upon us. As always, the packed slate of multi-stage music events scheduled throughout the spring and summer kicks off with Coachella, which will return to the famed Empire Polo Grounds on April 12th and again for Weekend 2 on April 19th. A week later, pop stans will be swapped out for country fans at Stagecoach, featuring headliners Morgan Wallen, Willie Nelson, Miranda Lambert and Post Malone.

Every music festival has a different vibe. The chill and weed-friendly aura of Outside Lands, attendees dressed in the same light-wash denim jeans and tee they wear to their tech job down the street, some with toddlers wrapped around their necks. Bottle Rock for the older crowd, more interested in sipping Napa-bred wine from the back row than shoving their way to the pits. Governor’s Ball for the New York kids, whose three-day trek to Flushing Meadows is a summer break tradition.

Whichever your music taste or choice of vibes, however, some rules stay the same. At many music festivals, and basically all stadium concerts, in the country, there are very strict rules about what kinds of bags you’re allowed to carry. Coachella, for example, only allows medium-sized backpacks and smaller bags such as fanny packs, hip bags, purses and handbags. Others are more strict though, such as New Orleans’ Essence Festival, whose rules follow the NFL Clear Bag policy.

Below, shop through some of the most stylish and affordable clear bags — that can get you into any festival, concert or sports event you plan to go to this year. Once you find the perfect bag, you’ll want to look through more festival essentials to make sure you’re packed with everything you’ll need. fDon’t have tickets yet? Here’s where to find tickets for every music festival announced so far in 2024.