Ita Bag Inserts: What They Are and Why You Need One

An ita bag insert is a padded board that sits inside the display window of your bag. You push your pin posts through it, fasten the clutches on the back, and the insert holds everything in place. Without one, your pins just rattle around loose behind the clear panel. They slide to the bottom, scratch each other, and the display looks messy after five minutes of walking.

If your bag came without an insert, this is probably why your pins keep moving around.

What a good insert does

Holds pins in position. The foam backing grips the pin posts so they don't shift when you move. You can arrange a layout at home, pin everything in, and it stays exactly where you put it all day.

Protects the back of the window. Without an insert, pin posts and clutches press directly against the inside of the PVC window. Over time, that pressure creates marks and scratches on the clear panel from the inside. The insert acts as a buffer.

Distributes weight. 30 pins weigh 300 to 400 grams and gravity pulls them to the bottom of the window. An insert keeps that weight distributed across the full panel rather than pooling at the base, which also prevents the window from bowing outward at the bottom.

Makes swapping displays faster. If you have two inserts, you can have two different layouts ready to go. Pull one out, drop the other in. No repinning 30 pins at your convention table while someone waits to see your other set.

What's inside an insert

Most inserts are layered. The front layer is a fabric or faux leather face. Behind that is a sheet of foam, usually EVA or similar, soft enough for pin posts to push through but firm enough to hold them. The back is usually another fabric layer or a cardboard stiffener.

The foam density matters. Too soft and the pins wobble. Too firm and you can't push the posts through without bending them. The sweet spot is about 3 to 5mm of medium-density EVA foam with a fabric face.

Sizes are not standard

This is the frustrating part. There's no universal insert size. Every bag brand uses a different window size, so inserts from one brand rarely fit another brand's bag. If you're buying a replacement or a second insert, measure your window first. Measure the inside dimensions of the display cavity, not the visible window from outside.

Our bags ship with inserts cut to fit the window exactly. The 17 inch backpack comes with one insert, and additional inserts are sold separately so you can build a rotation. The 15 inch Shapeshift comes with two.

DIY inserts

If your bag didn't come with one and you can't find a compatible insert, you can make one. Cut a piece of EVA foam sheet (available from craft stores) to fit your window. Cover the front with fabric using spray adhesive. That's the basic version and it works fine.

For a neater finish, wrap the foam and fabric around a piece of thin cardboard or coroplast so the insert holds its shape when you pull it out of the bag. Sew or glue the edges.

The DIY route works, but it takes time and the finish depends on your craft skills. If your bag came with an insert already, you're ahead.

How to pin into an insert properly

Push the pin post through the fabric face from the front. Don't force it. If the foam is too dense, make a small starter hole with a thumbtack first, then push the pin post through.

Fasten the clutch on the back, but don't overtighten rubber clutches because they can tear the foam if you press too hard. Locking clutches are better for inserts because they grip without needing pressure.

Leave about 1cm between pins so nothing touches. Enamel on enamel contact scratches both pins. This is especially true with glitter enamel pins where the textured surface acts like sandpaper against smooth enamel.

Start your layout from the centre and work outward. If you start from the top left corner, you'll run out of room on the right side and the layout will look lopsided.