Guard members no longer need to carry two, three, or even four different bags to rehearsals and performances. The all-encompassing StylePLUS Guard Max Bag provides space and pockets for all of a guard member’s essential items.
Debuting in 2018, the 6.5-foot bag is made of 600 denier nylon and contains a zippered main section that can carry up to four 6-foot poles with flags. A long, zippered pocket holds a rifle and saber, a gusseted pocket fits shoes, and a small pocket carries gloves, tape, keys, phone, wallet, and other personal items. The bag has an adjustable shoulder strap and is available in black.
Transporting students’ flags and rifles as well as ensuring that they have their other items like tape, shoes, and cell phones can be a hassle, says Peter Trimble, a StylePLUS creative designer. When Trimble, who is also guard coordinator for Jefferson and Kennedy High Schools in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, tried other companies’ bags, they were either not durable enough or did not have enough space, he says.
“I wanted a bag that … had a designated place for [whatever they needed],” Trimble says.
The bag also teaches personal responsibility, Trimble adds. “[For example,] if your rifles come untaped, you have tape in there, so you [can] take care of it,” he says. “You shouldn’t be relying on your instructor or band director to do everything for you. We’ve given you the tools to be self-sufficient, so take responsibility for your things.”
The suggested retail price is $29.95.
Visit styleplusband.com for more information.
