All hail the Rock N Roller Multi-Cart; quite possibly the best investment I have ever made on DJ equipment. With its rugged design giving it excellent durability, I do not know how I managed moving kit in and out of venues without it… actually I do, with a lot of effort! However, while I’m sure most Pro Mobile readers will already know about the back-saving benefits of Rock N Roller carts, did you know that they also make a range of DJ bags that can make your life even easier?

Even since discovering the DJ godsend that is the Rock N Roller Multi Cart, my load ins still weren’t as easy as they could be (although I didn’t know it at the time). Up until now I relied on an array of bungie cords, ratchet straps and clever loading to cart my equipment around safely, so I was very excited to hear that Rock N Roller have developed a range of ‘Stow-A-Ways’ cart bags specifically made for hard-working DJs and their trolleys. The three bags I’ve had the opportunity to road test and will be reviewing here are the Multi-pocket Tool/Accessory Bag, the Handle Bag and the Standwrap 4-pocket roll up accessory bag.

The Multi-pocket Tool/Accessory bag is a new lifesaver that will be a permanent fixture on my DJ equipment trolley from now on. It comprises of two large and two small pockets as well as a long top section that runs the whole length of the bag. There are also two D-rings positioned at either side of the bag, situated mid-way down, which are really useful for clipping a water bottle, torch or anything else with a carabiner attachment. The bag itself is designed to slide over the handle of your trolley, and it is a snug fit, so there is no flapping about or hanging weirdly when it is filled with stuff. Three different versions are available to fit perfectly the different sizes of Rock N Roller trolleys.

I loaded up the smaller pockets with all my adaptors, a few essential tools (my Pro Mobile multi-tool for sure), spare headphones, my many colours of electrical tape, fuses and spares, batteries, even a few snacks just in case catering forget to feed me! The second largest pocket is half the length of the bag, so a tablet or smaller laptop will fit easily and still leave room for the power adapter. The top pocket is the full length of the bag, but only thin, so ideal for long flat items you want to keep neat and tidy. I can’t think what right now, but I am sure it will come in handy at some point!

The second bag I had the opportunity to try out, the Handle Bag, is a real stroke of genius and I love its versatility. It is essentially a long round barrel of a bag with a snug-fitting sleeve that slides over the handle of your trolley which is ideal for storing and transporting speaker stands and other metal work. It is the same length as the handle, so you can either sit it on the cart or flip it so that it hangs on the outside without taking up precious platform space. In the bottom is a tough ABS plastic base, which ensures your stands, tripods, speaker poles etc. won’t start poking through the bottom after some use.

I found this one particularly useful at a recent corporate event where I needed an extra pair of tripods, two mic stands and a couple of roller banners. These are all difficult items to balance on the trolley, never mind getting them to stay put when going over bumps, but the Handle Bag made them all easy to roll alongside a full trolley load of other gear. To help everything stay put, the brains at Rock N Roller have even included a cinch belt at the top to tighten it all up and stop it flapping around; how did I cope without this bag in my life?

Having purchased new mic stands (as my last ones were not very loved – or well housed) I was determined to keep these looking sharp. This was a job for Standwrap! The bag is designed to look after your stands with a soft fleece-like material on the inside and four separate zipped pockets to stop your hardware clashing together in transit. There is a fold over flap at the top-end, secured by Velcro, and the bag then roll-folds to be closed with two snap toggles. The handle is well padded and comfortable to hold, making this the perfect way to carry mic stands and other similar hardware.

I’m sure we can all agree, musicians are not easily impressed! However, when I was asked to mic up a quartet recently and used this bag to carry in the stands they were all fascinated and commented that it was one of the best mic bags they had ever seen. There is nothing better than showing up at a gig with equipment in quality bags and cases, I think it helps add to your professional image – both in the eyes of clients and venue staff, not to mention seriously extending the longevity of your gear.

I have left the best until last as this applies to all the bags – the quality. They are made from a sturdy black weatherproof material that feels strong enough to take life on the road pretty seriously. The stitching is strong and does not feel as if you need to be cautious; I am confident it will allow the bags to hold all that you desire without straining or stretching. I love the way the cart bags fit snugly over either of the handles and the Handle Bag can stay on the trolley when it is folded. There are spaces in all of the sleeves where the holes are located on the Rock N Roller trolley, allowing access to fit the accessory shelves with the bags in situ as well as gaps where the top of the handle is so you can still pull the cart unhindered.

The large amount of research and development that has clearly gone into this range, backed up with great design and production, makes the Stow-A-Ways cart bags real contenders in the marketplace. The bags can be quickly removed or attached, and the extra loading potential they offer is amazing, leaving the cart platform free for the big bulky stuff and not an item in sight that will topple off as soon as you hit a small bump. The zips on the multi-pocket bag are good quality and slide effortlessly – I hate a zip that jams when I’m trying to look for something! – and I have now moved my ‘DJ Emergency Kit’ into this bag so anything I need in a pinch is always easily accessible.

In my opinion, Rock N Roller have done it again. This range of bags is another brilliant idea, well-designed, well-made and useful as hell when moving DJ equipment around simply and safely.