A tech pack (technical package) is the single document that turns the bag in your head into a product a factory can actually quote, sample and mass-produce. It collects every specification a manufacturer needs — shape, dimensions, materials, hardware, construction, logo, packaging and labelling — in one place, so nothing is left to guesswork. The quality of your tech pack is the single biggest predictor of how close your first sample comes to what you imagined.
SYMPATHYBAG reviews incoming specs every day across school, business, outdoor, travel and promotional bags, and the pattern is consistent: a clear tech pack produces a fast, accurate quote and a near-right first sample; a vague brief produces back-and-forth, re-sampling and delays. This guide walks through exactly what to include, with a checklist you can copy.
Why a tech pack matters
Without a tech pack, a factory has to assume — and every assumption is a place your product can drift from your intent. A complete spec does three things:
- Speeds up and sharpens your quote. The factory can price the exact materials, components and labour instead of padding for unknowns.
- Gets the first sample closer. Fewer rounds of sampling means lower cost and faster time to market.
- Protects you in production. An approved tech pack plus a signed-off sample is the reference both sides hold the bulk run against.
You do not need expensive software. An experienced factory can work from clear annotated photos, hand sketches with measurements, and a reference bag. What matters is that the information is complete and unambiguous.
The anatomy of a bag tech pack
A solid bag tech pack has seven sections. Work through them in order and you'll cover almost everything a factory asks about.
1. Overview and reference
One page describing the product: bag type (laptop backpack, school bag, tote, duffel), intended user, target retail price band, and any reference products or competitor samples you're benchmarking against. Photos of a similar bag — yours or a competitor's — are worth a paragraph of text.
2. Dimensions and shape
Give finished external dimensions in centimetres (Height × Width × Depth), plus capacity in litres if relevant. Note key internal dimensions — for a laptop backpack, the exact laptop pocket size (e.g. fits 15.6" / 16"). A simple front, side and back sketch with arrows beats a long description.
3. Materials and fabrics
This is where most briefs are too vague. Specify each material by type, denier/weight and finish:
- Main fabric: e.g. 600D polyester, 1680D ballistic nylon, 16oz canvas, recycled rPET — with any coating (PU/PVC) for water resistance.
- Lining: e.g. 210D polyester, colour.
- Padding/foam: back panel and strap foam type and thickness (e.g. EVA, 8–10mm).
- Trims: webbing width, mesh, leather/PU patches.
If you don't know the technical names, describe the feel and function ("rugged, water-resistant, matte") and let the factory propose options — see our OEM/ODM customisation guide for what's available.
4. Hardware and components
List every functional part: zippers (brand/size, e.g. SBS or YKK #5, reverse-coil, two-way), buckles, sliders, D-rings, magnetic snaps, elastic, and any custom-moulded hardware. Note colour and finish (matte black, gunmetal, antique brass). Custom hardware affects MOQ and tooling — flag it early.
5. Colours (with codes)
Give Pantone TPX/TPG codes where possible, or send a physical colour swatch. "Navy" means a dozen different blues to a dye house. A code or swatch removes that risk entirely.
6. Logo and branding
Specify method (embroidery, woven label, silicone/PVC patch, screen print, heat transfer, metal plate), placement, size and colours, and supply vector artwork (AI/EPS/PDF). Our overview of custom logo options for bags covers the trade-offs of each method.
7. Packaging and labelling
Often forgotten, frequently required by your channel: polybag type, hangtags, care/content labels, barcode/UPC, master carton quantity, and any retail or Amazon FBA packaging rules. Specify these now and you avoid a re-pack scramble before shipment.
Free bag tech pack checklist
Copy this into your document and fill every line. If you genuinely don't know an item, write "factory to advise" rather than leaving it blank.
| Section | Items to specify |
|---|---|
| Overview | Bag type, target user, price band, reference samples/photos |
| Dimensions | External H×W×D (cm), capacity (L), key internal pockets, laptop size |
| Main fabric | Type, denier/weight, finish/coating, colour code |
| Lining & padding | Lining denier & colour, foam type & thickness |
| Hardware | Zipper brand/size/type, buckles, sliders, rings, custom parts, finish |
| Colourways | Pantone codes or physical swatches per colour |
| Logo / branding | Method, placement, size, vector artwork supplied (Y/N) |
| Construction notes | Bartacks, double stitching, seam binding, reinforcement points |
| Packaging | Polybag, hangtag, care label, barcode, carton qty, FBA rules |
| Order info | Target quantity (MOQ), required colours, ship date, destination market |
Common tech pack mistakes
- Naming colours instead of coding them. Always use Pantone or a swatch.
- Listing fabric without weight. "Polyester" can be 210D lining or 1680D ballistic — say which.
- Forgetting packaging and labels. These are part of the cost and the timeline.
- No construction detail. Call out stress points that need bartacks or double stitching, especially on straps and base.
- No reference sample. A physical bag resolves more ambiguity than ten pages of text.
Construction notes that prevent failures
Materials and dimensions get most of the attention, but construction is where bags actually fail in the field — and where a few lines in your tech pack save returns later. Call out the stress points explicitly so the factory reinforces them rather than guessing.
Where bags break, and what to specify
- Strap attachment: the most common failure point. Specify bartacks and box-X stitching where shoulder straps meet the body and base.
- Base and corners: for heavy-load bags, ask for a reinforced or double-layer base and bound seams.
- Zipper ends: bartack the ends of main zippers so they don't pull loose under repeated use.
- Handle and grab loops: note webbing width and stitch pattern; these carry concentrated load.
You don't need to dictate every technique — an experienced factory has standard reinforcement practices — but naming the stress points tells them how hard the bag will be used and aligns expectations before the first sample.
What to send the factory
Bundle your tech pack with: annotated photos or sketches, vector logo files, colour codes or swatches, and — ideally — a reference sample shipped to the factory. State your target quantity and destination market up front, since both affect materials, testing (CE/RoHS/REACH/Prop 65 on request) and packaging. The more complete the package, the faster you move from quote to a sample worth approving. If you're unsure how the components fit together, our overview of backpack anatomy and components is a useful companion while you fill in the spec.
Version control your tech pack
A tech pack is a living document. As you move through sampling, details change — a strap lengthens, a pocket moves, a colour swaps — and if those changes aren't captured, the bulk run can drift back to an old assumption. Treat the document with simple discipline:
- Date and number each version (v1, v2, v3) and note what changed in a short revision log.
- Keep one source of truth. Don't email a dozen loose corrections; update the master and resend it.
- Tie the final version to the approved sample. The signed-off pre-production sample plus the matching tech pack version together form the production reference both sides hold the order against.
This small habit prevents the classic dispute where the bulk goods technically match an earlier spec but not what you actually approved. It also makes reorders trivial — you simply reference the locked version and the factory rebuilds to the same standard.
How SYMPATHYBAG works from your tech pack
Our team reads your spec, flags anything missing, proposes material and hardware options where you've left it open, and quotes against the exact build. From an approved tech pack we produce a sample — VIP/development samples in about 3 days, standard samples around US$98 in about 7 days and refundable on bulk — then lock the approved sample as the production reference. With three workshops, 150+ machines and capacity for 50,000 bags a month, we can take you from spec to bulk smoothly once the sample is signed off. Send your tech pack to our team or read how the next step works in our bag sampling process guide.
