Military ceremonies and other events require service members to wear their official military dress uniform. These uniforms must be kept in the best condition possible to meet regulations, but it can be challenging when you need to travel over long distances with your uniform in tow. Accidents happen and you could end up with stains, dust, and other imperfections on your uniform when you’re carrying it unprotected.

Rather than risk damage to your official military dress uniform, you can store your uniform inside a high-quality garment bag. Check out our tips for choosing the right garment bag and how to pack your bag to reduce the risk of wrinkles or damage so you can show up looking your best.

What Is a Garment Bag and When Do You Need to Use it in the Military?

A garment bag is usually a zippered bag that is designed to store and transport clothing while you’re traveling. Service members use garment bags to transport their official military dress uniforms to ceremonies or other military events. Apart from ceremonies, service members might wear their official military dress uniforms at:

●Weddings and funerals

●Military balls

●Military or patriotic parades

As you’re on the way to an event, you’ll need to protect your official military dress uniform so it doesn’t become damaged or stained. These uniforms must be kept in good condition to meet strict regulations, which makes garment bags a must-have any time service members need to travel to an event. You can also use these bags to store these uniforms in closets when they’re not in use, preventing dust from collecting directly onto these uniforms.

What to Look for in a Garment Bag for Your Upcoming Ceremony or Event

Not all garment bags are made the same, and choosing a low-quality garment bag could end up costing you in the long run. Instead, you’ll want to invest in something with quality, but what should you be looking for? We’ve compiled a list of some of the most important factors to consider when you’re choosing a garment bag for your upcoming military ceremony or event:

1. Material

One of the first things you want to look for is the material the garment bag is made from. If you choose a low-quality material, it won’t offer as much protection as something made with a higher-quality material.

Look for products made from polyester or ripstop nylon, and ensure a high denier count. Generally, you want to stick with denier counts of 600 or more to ensure it’s strong enough to protect your uniform. When you opt for materials with this strength, you can rest easier during your travels knowing your uniform is shielded from the elements, reducing the risk of stains, dust collection, or scuffs.

Choosing materials like polyester or ripstop nylon also allows you to fold the garment bag once your uniform is inside. The non-rigid material is easier to travel with, especially if you’re boarding a flight. Some garment bags are compact enough that you can use them as your carry-on if you want to avoid paying additional checked baggage fees.

2. Space

Once you’ve found garment bags made with high-quality materials, you need to look for a bag with enough space to carry your uniform and any accessories you plan on bringing. If you’re just storing or packing your uniform and no other items, you can get away with something around 40 to 50 liters. However, if you need to pack toiletries, shoes, civilian clothing, or other items, look for something closer to 60 liters or more.

Remember that the more space you go for, the more you’ll be able to bring to help you show up to your next ceremony looking your best. Some garment bags even come with additional pockets to accommodate extra items you might need during your trip.

3. Security

Another factor to consider when choosing a garment bag is the security features it offers to help protect your uniform while you’re headed to your next ceremony. For example, a zippered closure can add extra protection and prevent the elements from affecting your uniform. Other features you want to keep an eye out for include an adjustable tie-down system, parachute clasp closures, and hanger loops.

4. Handling

The handling method you choose will determine how easy it is to carry your uniform to and from your next event. If you choose a simple garment cover, you’ll likely only have a hanging loop handle to carry your uniform, which is ideal for storage or packing the cover into another bag, but not as a way to transport your uniform on its own.

You can find garment bags that are easier to travel with, which usually include bags with grab handles and an adjustable shoulder strap. Having these features makes it easier to carry through airports, hotels, or event venues.

5. Flexibility

While it’s not necessary, you can always look for garment bags with more flexibility. You can find garment bags that can double as another type of bag, such as a duffle bag. These hybrids are convenient when you need to travel longer distances with more items but still need a way to protect your uniform once you get where you’re going.

For example, if you have a military event or ceremony that’s more than a couple hours away from home and you have to stay the night, you can use one of these hybrid bags to pack your uniform, civilian clothes, and other essentials. Once you get to your destination, you can unpack the bag and convert it into a garment bag to hang and protect your uniform until you’re ready to put it on.

How to Effectively Pack Your Garment Bag

You don’t want to just shove your official military dress uniform inside your garment bag and hope for the best. You could end up with stubborn wrinkles or creases that are difficult to get out, which could cause delays as you’re getting ready or could cause your uniform to look less than ideal. Rather than toss your uniform haphazardly inside your garment bag, use the following tips to pack your garment bag:

1. Wash and Iron Your Uniform Before Packing

When you know about a military ceremony or event in advance, make sure you’re taking the time to iron or dry clean your uniform components in advance. Cleaning and ironing your items in advance saves you time once you get to your destination. Doing this will also minimize wrinkling, meaning you may only need to perform some ironing touch-ups once you arrive.

Before you leave, you should also test the zippers and buttons on your uniform to make sure none are missing, allowing you to make repairs before you reach your destination.

2. Use Tissue Paper to Prevent Wrinkles

Next, you should consider stuffing tissue paper inside the arms and legs of your uniform to prevent wrinkles. This is especially important if you’re packing a lot of items since it can cause parts of your uniform to lose their shape. If you decide to use tissue paper, stick with white as many of the colored options use dyes that could stain your clothing if they become wet.

3. Pack Based on Dressing Order

If you’re packing multiple outfits into your garment bag, such as your uniform and a spouse's outfit, pack the bag based on who needs to get dressed first. If you need to get ready as soon as you reach your travel destination or it's the first thing you plan on doing, keep your uniform and any relevant accessories at the front.

4. Use Hangers When Possible

Some garment bags will feature built-in hangers while others will have loops or holes you can pair with your own hangers. Hanging your clothes inside your garment bag when possible helps keep the form of your uniform, prevents wrinkles, and makes it easier to take your uniform out of the garment bag.

If you’re using your own hangers, try to use wire hangers when you can since these are smaller and more lightweight than bulky plastic or wooden options. You can even save space by using the same hanger to hold multiple items of clothing. When you’re hanging your pants, use pant hangers to prevent them from sliding around and developing wrinkles during your journey.

5. Secure All Garments

Once your uniform is on your hangers, use the buttons or snaps on your uniform to keep it secure. With your uniform buttoned up, it will be significantly less likely to fall off the hanger and become wrinkled while you’re traveling.

6. Consider Using Plastic Dry Cleaning Bags

Now that everything is hanging on a hanger and secure, consider using a plastic dry-cleaning bag. When you wrap your uniform in one of these bags, you can further prevent wrinkling by reducing the friction between your uniform and the garment bag.

7. Pack Items Into Pockets or Compartments

If the garment bag you’ve chosen features different pockets or compartments, you can use this moment to pack the rest of your items. Pack your boots, undergarments, toiletries, shaving kit, and other supplies inside.

8. Fasten Your Garment Bag

Now that everything is inside, you can fasten your garment bag so it’s travel-ready. Some garment bags use zippers while others use fasteners to keep them closed. Closing your garment is an essential step to ensure your official military dress uniform is as secure as possible.

Find the Perfect Garment Bag From MLC

You need a garment bag you can trust for your upcoming military ceremonies and events, which is where we come in. Military Luggage Company offers a wides election of garment bags with varying sizes, durability options, and features. Choose from a wide range of colors and camos, such as black, coyote, Multicam OCP, olive drab, and more. We personally vet each of our bags, so you can trust they’re the best quality possible for your applications. Shop our collection of garment bags, or contact us with any questions!