A shot bag is a ready to use, easily applicable ballast and counterweight bag. Its construction is thought to make it simple to wrap around an object.

A shot bag usually consists of one or two pockets filled with steel shot, often accompanied by a strap for easier grip. The pockets are rather flexible, which makes them easy to mold and fit in the required space.

Typical instances of use include: stabilising legs of lighting and grip stands, weighting and securing wind-affected objects like umbrellas, banner stands or tents, ballasting watercraft, testing load capacity in automotive and aeronautics.

Shot bags are commonly used in the filmmaking industry and most frequently purchased by big rental companies and TV producers. Thanks to the stainless properties of steel and small volume for their mass, shot bags very often serve as ballast on boats.

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Keeping the same weight, the size of a shot bag can be reduced by a half compared to a sandbag. This means they are far more convenient to use, move around, able to fit in tiny spaces and finally incomparably easier to store. 

Maintenance. Sandbags are known to be messy: they can leave a print when dropped, are more probable to spill and need refilling to keep consistent weight. This means unnecessary dirt, as well as may result in uneven weight distribution. 

Wet working environment. Shot bags don’t absorb water and therefore won’t become too heavy when soaked. They also require far less time to dry than sandbags.

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Shot bags can have various types of filling. Most popular is stainless steel pellet, yet balls or globules are also used.

These types of filling will act differently in certain situations, eg. Balls have more mass for a volume, but will be more dangerous and harder to contain if spilled. 

Shot bags can either be sewn shut, or have an opening (zipper or Velcro), allowing to exchange the filling, take some away or add in specific situations.

Steel Shot Bag 

Available in 6, 10 and 14 kg size.

Chrome plated stainless steel balls are used for the filling. These bags are slightly heavier and less costly than the second option. Important notice: if spilled, balls may cause danger of slipping on them.

Stainless Steel Shot Bag

Available in 5,5 , 9 and 12 kg size.

Certified stainless steel pellet (1.4016 / AISI 430 Stainless Steel) used for filling. The big advantage of these bags is their durability. Tested in harsh environments like salt water, pellet don’t show signs of rusting even after a long time. Advised for heavy outdoor conditions. 

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