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Bagpipe Pipe Bag
Selecting Your Bag
Selecting your pipe bag is a very important decision and an important part of your bagpipes. A good pipe bag will make your bagpipes enjoyable to play and easy to keep your reeds in tune for long periods of time. There are many bags on the market today and their performance, suitability and comfort will depend on your individual situation. It also depends on what pipe band you are playing in. Many bands require all their pipers to play similar bags.
Below are the 4 types of pipe bags available:
Selecting your pipe bag is a very important decision and an important part of your bagpipes. A good pipe bag will make your bagpipes enjoyable to play and easy to keep your reeds in tune for long periods of time. There are many bags on the market today and their performance, suitability and comfort will depend on your individual situation. It also depends on what pipe band you are playing in. Many bands require all their pipers to play similar bags.
Below are the 4 types of pipe bags available:
Cow Hide
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Advantages:
Disadvantages:
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Overall:
This is the pipe bag I started with. It's OK to buy if you are a complete beginner. However, when you become a better player you will want to upgrade your bag. I suggest completely bypassing this bag and buying something a little better. 
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Sheep Skin
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Overall:
Sheep Skin bags have the best tone of all the pipe bags. It's what I use and what most grade one pipe bands use. However, they are a big pain in the butt and expensive.
I would not recommend these bags to anyone that isn't playing at the highest level. 
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This is the Sheep Skin I recommend.
* Unless you are a child or a very large man I recommend getting the standard size*
* Unless you are a child or a very large man I recommend getting the standard size*
Synthetic
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Advantages:
Disadvantages:
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Overall:
Synthetic bags are easy to set up, maintenance free and you don't have to play them as often as a hide bag. However, the sound, tuning and comfortability is nothing compared to other bags. Synthetic bags are for the lazy piper who doesn't care how they sound. 
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Composite/Hybrid
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Overall:
These are a combination of the leather bag and the synthetic bag. It gives you the ease of the synthetic bag and the comfort and sound of the leather bag. This is the bag type I would recommend to 90% of people. 
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Selecting the Appropriate Bag Size
You will more than likely at some point have to select a bag size for your bagpipes. Here are some guidelines to follow to ensure you get a bag that will be comfortable and easy to play.
The best thing you can do is try another persons bag in your pipe band and if it's comfortable to play get that size.
If that isn't an option here are some guidelines below to help based on your height.
The best thing you can do is try another persons bag in your pipe band and if it's comfortable to play get that size.
If that isn't an option here are some guidelines below to help based on your height.
There is a myth in some piping circles that if you have a bigger bag it will be easier to blow. This is FALSE, 95% of pipers play either a small, an extended small (which is a size between small and medium) or a medium. Unless you are over 6 feet tall and 250 pounds you won't need a large or extra large bag.
Selecting a Bag Cover
Bag covers are made from either velvet or corduroy typically and come in many shapes, designs and sizes. I would suggest you get a pipe bag with the following factors:
Bag covers are made from either velvet or corduroy typically and come in many shapes, designs and sizes. I would suggest you get a pipe bag with the following factors:
- Get a bag that is a solid colour and that matches either your kilt or matches the colour of the future pipe band you would like to play for. If you don't have a band you want to play for or a kilt get black it goes with everything.
- Get a pipe bag with a Velcro back. It makes the bag look a lot nicer and tidier.
- Get a bag with a slip resistant material on the inside. This will help keep the bag under your arm and keep it from slipping. A corduroy bag will help as well.
Bag Airtightness
The pipe bag is the most likely area of the instrument to leak air and any air you lose from a leaky bag will make the bagpipes that much harder to play and less enjoyable. Try the 30 second rule in the video below to see if you have a leak.
How to Season Your Bag
You can skip this step if you have a synthetic or Composite/Hybrid bag.
Leather bags need moisture and to be played regularly to work properly. Frequent playing of the pipes keeps the bag supple, not the seasoning. However, seasoning still needs to be done to keep your bag airtight. It is important to season regularly, but it is equally important not to over-season.
How often to Season?
Season a hide bag every 4-6 months and a sheep skin every 1-2 months.
Seasoning new bag?
It is necessary to do a long and thorough seasoning on a new bag. Massage about half the can into your pipes for about 30 minutes.
After the first time, maintain the bag with seasonings targeted at the main seam. Only pour in about 10% of the can after the initial seasoning. For cow hide bags, the purpose of seasoning is to keep the stitching airtight. Seasoning will not improve moisture control in these bags, and too much of it may make a mess of the inside of your bag. Sheepskin bags require more attentive seasoning, not only to keep the stitching tight but to treat the skin also. The pores are not as close together as hide, so seasoning is required to keep the skin air tight and to improve moisture control.
Bag Lifespan: For hygiene reasons it is recommend that you keep a sheepskin bag for a maximum of three years and a hide bag for no longer than five years.
This is a little complicated the first time you do it, so if you have any question please contact me.
You can purchase your seasoning here. Remember you get 5% off at Lothian bagpipe Supply.