Promotional # Drawstring Bags, Cinch Backpacks and Pouches: A Buyer's Guide By the Eggroll Bags export deskPublished 16 October 2026Updated 16 October 20267 min read [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eggrollbags.com%2Fblog%2Fdrawstring-bags-guide%2F) **The short answer:** A drawstring backpack, also called a cinch bag or gym sack, is a fabric sack closed and carried by two cords threaded through a top channel. Cheap gym sacks use thin polyester or non-woven fabric; durable ones use heavier polyester or cotton canvas with reinforced corners. A custom drawstring pouch for makeup or toiletries needs a lined, wipe-clean interior. Specify fabric weight, cord, corners and print. Drawstring backpacks are the most-ordered promotional bag in many markets for one reason: they are cheap to make, flat to ship and give a large, uninterrupted print area. The same construction, scaled down and lined, becomes a custom drawstring pouch for makeup, toiletries or retail packaging. This guide covers both, from the cheapest gym sacks to cotton canvas versions, and explains which details decide whether the bag lasts a season or a single event. ## What is a drawstring backpack? A drawstring backpack is a fabric sack with a channel sewn around the opening. Two cords run through the channel and are anchored at the bottom corners, so pulling the cords closes the bag and the same cords become shoulder straps. The construction has five parts, and each one is a specification choice: - **Body fabric** — thin polyester, heavier polyester, non-woven polypropylene or cotton canvas. - **Top channel** — a folded and stitched tunnel; a wider channel lets the cord run smoothly. - **Cords** — usually braided polyester; cotton cord on canvas versions. - **Corner anchors** — fabric tabs, reinforcement patches or metal eyelets where the cords attach. This is where most drawstring bags fail. - **Extras** — a front zip pocket, an inside pocket, a reflective strip or a mesh panel. ## Which fabric is best for drawstring backpacks? Thin polyester is the cheapest and folds smallest; 420D–600D polyester lasts much longer; cotton canvas looks premium and takes print well but costs more and can shrink. Non-woven is the giveaway option. The table compares them on the points buyers ask about. | Fabric | Relative cost | Durability | Best decoration | Typical buyer | | Thin polyester (190T / 210D) | Lowest | Event or short season | Screen print, heat transfer | Event giveaways, cheap gym sacks | | Non-woven PP | Lowest | Short life, tears at corners | Screen print | Trade shows, mass handouts | | 420D–600D polyester | Medium | Everyday use, sports clubs, school | Screen print, sublimation, embroidery | Clubs, retail, school programmes | | Cotton canvas | Medium to high | Good; may shrink when washed | Screen print, embroidery | Lifestyle retail, merchandise | | RPET polyester | 8–15% above virgin at 600D | As polyester of the same weight | As polyester | Programmes with a recycled-content claim | Weight matters more than the fabric name: specify grams per square metre alongside denier or ounce weight, so two quotes describe the same cloth. Recycled-content claims need a GRS transaction certificate. Our catalogue model, the [flamingo and ocean print drawstring backpack](https://www.eggrollbags.com/products/drawstring-backpacks-flamingo-floral-ocean-elements/), is 600D with microfibre at 37 × 46 cm and shows what a full-surface printed cinch bag looks like. It sits within the wider [backpack range](https://www.eggrollbags.com/products/backpacks/). ## Cheap gym sacks vs durable cinch bags The difference between a cheap gym sack and one that lasts is mostly in three places: the corner anchors, the cord and the channel. The fabric matters less than buyers expect. - **Corners.** On the cheapest bags the cord is knotted through a single-layer slot in the corner, and the load tears it open. A doubled fabric tab, a reinforcement patch or a metal eyelet spreads the load. - **Cord.** Thin cord cuts into shoulders and frays where it runs through the channel. A thicker braided cord is more comfortable and wears longer. - **Channel and opening.** A narrow channel makes the cord bind; a channel stitched too close to the edge pulls apart. If the drawstring bags are going to a sports club or school programme rather than a single event, upgrading those three points usually costs less than moving to a heavier fabric, and it addresses the actual failure. When users need to carry wet kit, shoes and a towel every day, a cinch bag is the wrong product. A zipped holdall such as our [large-capacity 600D fitness gym bag with mesh pocket](https://www.eggrollbags.com/products/large-capacity-fitness-gym-bag-with-mesh-pocket/) (55 × 23 × 28 cm) is the step up. ## Canvas and cotton drawstring backpacks A canvas drawstring backpack or cotton drawstring backpack suits lifestyle retail, bookshops and merchandise programmes that want a natural look. Expect a higher unit cost, a heavier carton and some shrinkage on washing. Cotton canvas is specified by weight, often in ounces per square yard. A lighter cotton drawstring bag folds well for promotional use; a heavier cotton canvas drawstring bag holds its shape. Cotton cords match the look but stretch more than polyester. Print with screen inks suited to cotton, or embroider for a premium finish. Canvas drawstring backpacks are not tooled models in our catalogue. We do work in canvas, for example on the [8 oz canvas cosmetic pouch](https://www.eggrollbags.com/products/cosmetic-bag-16-5x20cm/), so a canvas drawstring design can be quoted from a brief. ## Custom drawstring pouches for makeup and toiletries A drawstring makeup bag is a small drawstring pouch with a lined interior, often with a flat base so it stands up. The lining is what separates it from a gift bag: it needs to wipe clean after a leaking bottle or spilled powder. Formats that work well: - **Makeup cinch bag** — a round or flat base that opens wide when the cord is released, so contents are visible. - **Travel drawstring cosmetic bag** — a water-resistant lining and a boxed base. - **Drawstring toiletry bag** — taller, sometimes with a zip inner pocket or a hanging loop. - **Retail or gift pouch** — unlined, used as product packaging or for accessories. Many buyers end up choosing a zip pouch instead once they consider spills. Our [cosmetic and toiletry bag range](https://www.eggrollbags.com/products/cosmetic-bags/) has tooled zip pouches that can be printed or labelled the same way. Small trial runs of 100–300 pcs are sometimes possible on pouches at a higher unit price, which suits a first test with a new design. ## Printing and branding drawstring bags Drawstring bags give a large, flat print face, which is why they suit promotional use. Choose the method by artwork and fabric. - **Screen print** — one or a few spot colours, priced per colour and position; matched to Pantone C. - **Heat transfer** — small runs of multi-colour logos and photographic detail. - **Sublimation** — full-colour, edge-to-edge artwork on light polyester; the full surface can be printed before sewing. - **Embroidery, woven labels, silicone or PU patches** — premium finishes for canvas and heavier polyester. Fabric colours are matched to Pantone TCX/TPG with lab dip approval. A catalogue colour starts at 500 pcs per colour; a custom-dyed colour needs 1,000 pcs per colour. For a full promotional programme built to a landed cost, our [promotional cooler and pouch programme](https://www.eggrollbags.com/projects/promotional-cooler-and-pouch-programme/) shows the approach. ## Drawstring bags for children Cords on children's products are an area where many markets have specific requirements, and children's products need their own test reports. If a drawstring backpack is aimed at children, raise it at the brief stage: cord length, cord ends and toggles may need to change, and reports such as EN 71-3 for Europe or CPSIA for the US are issued per model and market in your name. Confirm the applicable requirements with your compliance team. ## Checklist: briefing a custom drawstring bag - Use: event giveaway, club or school, retail, or cosmetic pouch. - Finished size, base shape and whether a gusset is needed. - Fabric and weight, colour reference, and any recycled-content claim. - Cord type, thickness and colour; corner anchor (tab, patch or eyelet). - Pockets, lining and any water-resistant finish. - Print method, colours, positions and artwork files. - Packing: folded per polybag, count per carton. - Quantity per colour, delivery date and destination for compliance reports. A counter sample takes 7–12 days, and the fee is credited against bulk. Bulk runs 25–35 days after approval, with about a week more from July to October. Every order is inspected before shipment to AQL 2.5 major / 4.0 minor, including a print rub test and a 5 kg, 60-second pull test on the carry points. To price a programme, [send us your brief](https://www.eggrollbags.com/contact/); we reply in writing within one working day. ## Frequently asked What is the difference between a drawstring bag and a cinch backpack? They are the same construction under different names. Drawstring backpack, cinch bag, cinch sack and gym sack all describe a fabric sack with cords that run through a top channel and anchor at the bottom corners, so the cords both close the bag and act as shoulder straps. Are cheap gym sacks worth buying in bulk? For a one-day event, thin polyester or non-woven gym sacks do the job at the lowest cost. For clubs, schools or retail, spend the difference on reinforced corners, thicker cord and a properly stitched channel. Those three upgrades address where cheap drawstring bags actually fail, and they cost less than a heavier fabric. Is a cotton or polyester drawstring backpack better? Polyester is lighter, cheaper, resists moisture and suits sublimation printing. Cotton canvas looks natural and premium and takes screen print and embroidery well, but it costs more, weighs more and can shrink when washed. Choose polyester for promotions and sport, and canvas for lifestyle retail and merchandise. What is the minimum order for a custom drawstring pouch? For catalogue colours our minimum is 500 pieces per colour, and 1,000 per colour for custom-dyed fabric or a new pattern. On small pouches, trial runs of 100–300 pieces are sometimes possible at a higher unit price. A counter sample takes 7–12 days, with the fee credited against bulk. Can a drawstring bag be used as a makeup bag? Yes, if it is lined. A drawstring makeup bag should have a water-resistant, wipe-clean lining and ideally a flat base so it stands up and opens wide. Unlined drawstring pouches work as gift or accessory packaging but stain easily with cosmetics. A zip pouch is the alternative when spills are a concern. Filed under [Promotional](https://www.eggrollbags.com/blog/tag/promotional/) [Backpacks](https://www.eggrollbags.com/blog/tag/backpacks/) [Cosmetic bags](https://www.eggrollbags.com/blog/tag/cosmetic-bags/) ## Models mentioned in this guide EB-BP002 ### Flamingo Floral & Ocean Elements Drawstring Backpack 600D+Microfiber 37×46cm 37×46cm · 600D + microfiber (lightweight polyester/nylon) EB-SP001 ### 600D Polyester Large-Capacity Fitness Gym Bag with Side Mesh Pocket 55×23×28cm 55×23×28 cm · Durable 600D polyester + mesh EB-CM001 ### Canvas Cosmetic Pouch — 8oz Canvas, 16.5×20 cm 16.5 × 20 cm · 8oz canvas ## Keep reading [All guides](https://www.eggrollbags.com/blog/) - [Promotional16 October 20267 min read ### Custom Backpacks with a Logo: Decoration Methods and Costs Custom backpacks with a logo: compare screen print, embroidery, sublimation and patches, what drives cost, MOQs, and how to brief drawstring or team bags.](https://www.eggrollbags.com/blog/custom-backpacks-with-logo/) - [Promotional16 October 20267 min read ### Custom Makeup and Cosmetic Bags: Materials, Printing and MOQ Cosmetic bag, makeup case or makeup organizer? Compare formats, materials and printing for custom makeup bags, with MOQ, trial runs and a brief checklist.](https://www.eggrollbags.com/blog/custom-makeup-bags-guide/) - [Cooler bags16 October 20268 min read ### Cooler Backpacks: What Makes a Good One and How to Specify It What makes a good backpack cooler: insulation, liner, capacity, straps and styles that sell, plus a spec checklist, MOQ and lead times for custom orders.](https://www.eggrollbags.com/blog/cooler-backpack-guide/) ## Have a brief that matches this guide? Send it to the export desk. A person replies in writing within one working day. [Send a brief](https://www.eggrollbags.com/contact/)[Browse models](https://www.eggrollbags.com/products/)