SDCC Ita Bag Guide: Bringing an Ita Bag to Comic-Con

Can you bring an ita bag to San Diego Comic-Con?

Yes. Comic-Con’s official convention policies do not single out bags or backpacks, so an ita bag is fine to bring, but three of those policies shape how you should pack it. Bag searches may be performed at entry points, with wanding and metal detectors at some locations; handcarts, trolleys, rolling luggage and oversized strollers are not allowed in the Exhibit Hall; and props or weapons that function are banned outright. San Diego Comic-Con is held every July at the San Diego Convention Center and is run by Comic-Con International, a nonprofit that has organised it since 1970; its Wikipedia entry puts 2023 attendance at about 135,000. With no rolling bags allowed on the show floor, everything you buy or bring rides on your body, so the bag you choose matters more than at a smaller event. Read the official convention policies for the current year before you pack; the sections below explain what they mean for an ita bag.

New to ita bags? Our beginner picks are the quickest way to choose a first bag before a big convention. If you are buying a bag for the event, order early enough to test it for a full day before you travel.

Featured Ita Bags

Free shipping on orders over $75 — 500+ styles, inserts, and accessories in stock.

Pastel Convertible Bag with Clear Window for Pin Display$175.98View →

Large Black Kawaii Y2K Ita Backpack with Clear Window for Pin Display$32.76View →

Ita Crossbody Bag with Clear Window for Plushies and Pins$41.45View →

Browse all ita bags →

What do Comic-Con’s policies mean for your ita bag?

The policies are short, but each one has a practical consequence for a display bag. Security will look inside, you cannot wheel anything around the Exhibit Hall, and some items that fans like to attach to a bag or carry with a costume are not allowed. Plan around them at home, where changes are easy, rather than at an entry line. The quotes below come from the official Convention Policies page; policies can change from year to year, so check the page for your edition before you travel. If a rule is unclear, email the organisers before the event rather than asking at the door, and keep your badge confirmation on your phone:

• Bag searches — The policy states that bag searches may be performed at entry locations. Pack the main compartment so it opens without disturbing the display, and keep anything you would not want tipped out in a zipped pouch. Staff are looking inside the bag, not at your display, so a tidy main compartment speeds things up for everyone behind you.
• No rolling luggage in the Exhibit Hall — Handcarts, trolleys, rolling luggage and oversized strollers are not allowed there, so purchases, water and layers all go in or on your bag. Choose a format that carries that load comfortably for hours. If you expect heavy purchases, plan a midday trip to drop them at your hotel rather than carrying them until closing.
• Props and extending devices — Functioning props and weapons are banned, and so are selfie sticks and other devices that extend a camera away from your body. Check any accessory you plan to clip to the bag or carry with a costume against those rules. Novelty charms shaped like weapons are worth leaving at home, since staff decide at the door, and costume accessories that are fine elsewhere may still be checked here.

Which ita bag format works best at Comic-Con?

Because nothing can be wheeled around the Exhibit Hall, a bag that carries weight well is the priority. A backpack spreads the load across both shoulders; a convertible bag lets you switch carry styles as the day goes on; a shoulder bag works for a lighter day focused on panels rather than shopping. Pick the format for the day you actually plan, and check each listing’s size against what you expect to carry. These current YourItBag listings show the main options and what their descriptions state. If you attend with friends, one larger bag for shared purchases lets everyone else carry lighter displays. Whatever you choose, the straps should sit comfortably with the outfit or costume you will wear:

• Large display backpacks — The Cream Ita Backpack with Large Doll Window lists 42 × 33 × 26 cm with an extra-deep front compartment, enough room for a plush display and a day’s purchases. Pack it to about two thirds so the display stays flat and the weight stays manageable; the deep compartment also keeps a plush from being squeezed flat in crowds.
• Water-resistant everyday bags — The Mint Green Boxy Ita Bag with Bear Window describes nylon and PVC that are water-resistant and wipe clean, and an interior sized for a tablet, notebooks and daily essentials. Wipe-clean materials also cope with spilled drinks in crowded food areas.
• Convertible backpacks — The Pastel Kawaii Ita Backpack for Pin Display converts between backpack and shoulder or crossbody wear. Wear it as a backpack on the show floor, where your hands are busy, and switch to shoulder wear in seated panels, where a backpack is awkward to hold on your lap.
• Shoulder bags with strap options — The Kawaii Cat Ita Shoulder Bag with Clear Window for Plushies and Pins lists three interchangeable straps, a flexible choice for a lighter day. It suits a day of panels and signings more than a day of heavy shopping; move to the longest strap for crossbody wear when the bag gets heavier.

How do you protect your ita bag display at Comic-Con?

A very large convention is hard on a display: bags are pressed in queues, bumped in aisles and set down on floors and pavements. San Diego in July also means sun and warmth in outdoor lines, and a closed clear window traps heat. The fixes are simple and mostly done before you leave. Build the layout early, carry it for an hour at home and adjust anything that shifts. Pack a light cover, such as a scarf or a thin tote, to shade the window when you need to. These habits make the biggest difference on the day:

• Lock every pin — swap butterfly clutches for locking pin backs before the event, and remove fragile pieces you could not replace. Our guide on protecting pins in an ita bag covers the options. Carry a few spare locking backs in an outer pocket, and test the layout by shaking the bag gently; anything that moves at home will move more in the hall.
• Shade the window in outdoor lines — turn the display toward your body or cover it while you queue in the sun, so printed items and clear plastic are not baking for hours. A light-coloured bag also stays cooler in direct sun than a dark one, and a well-hydrated wearer keeps a bag upright far better than a tired one.
• Keep the event badge separate — Comic-Con asks you to always wear your badge; wear it on a lanyard or clip, not inside the display window, so it stays visible and easy to scan. Keeping it outside the bag also means you never unzip the display to show it, and a badge reel or a short lanyard keeps it clear of the window.
• Carry the bag in front in the Exhibit Hall — dense aisles press bags against other people and displays. Swinging it to the front keeps it in view and protects the window. At signings and photo stations, hold the bag or set it down upright rather than leaving it on the floor. Aisles near the busiest booths are the tightest, so plan routes around them when you can.

What mistakes should you avoid with an ita bag at SDCC?

Most problems at a convention this size come from underestimating the day. Without rolling luggage, every purchase adds weight to your shoulders; without shade, lines take a toll on you and the display; and without checking the policies, an accessory can be refused at the door. A little planning the night before prevents all three:

• Planning a big shopping day in a small bag — if you intend to buy convention exclusives or large items, bring a bag with room to spare, because you cannot wheel purchases around the hall. Check each purchase’s size before you buy it, and pack a foldable tote flat as a light backup.
• Attaching restricted items — anything that works like a prop weapon or extends a camera can be refused. Keep costume accessories and bag charms within the rules. If you are unsure about an item, leave it in your room, or send the organisers a photo of it well before the event.
• Relying on last year’s rules — policies are reviewed each year. Read the official page for your edition close to the event. Screenshots of the policy page taken close to the event are easy to show if a question comes up.