Costume Bags

Two jobs at once

A costume bag is doing two things: finishing the look, and carrying whatever needs carrying. Halloween buckets are firmly in the second camp, and the practical details matter more than they first appear.

What makes a good trick-or-treat bucket

Capacity is less important than you would think — most children fill far less than they expect. What matters is the handle. A thin plastic handle digs in once the bucket has any weight in it, and a bag with a shoulder strap leaves both hands free, which children going door to door in the dark will appreciate.

Rigid buckets stand up on their own and are easier to sort through at the end of the night. Soft bags fold into a pocket on the way there.

Character and themed bags

Themed satchels and character bags work as part of the costume — a doctor's bag, an adventurer's satchel, a character's signature bag reads immediately and gives the wearer somewhere to put their phone and keys.

Sizing for children

A bag that hangs to a child's knees swings into their legs as they walk. Look for an adjustable or short strap, and check the listed drop rather than assuming it will be right.

Afterwards

Sturdier costume bags carry on as library bags, beach bags and dress-up box storage long after the event, which is worth factoring in when choosing between a flimsy one and a solid one.