Canvas, Mallet, Crushed Ice: Choosing the Best Lewis Bag for Home

Crushed ice is what makes a mint julep frost its cup and a tiki drink stay cold to the end. You can buy a machine for it, but bartenders were doing the job with a canvas bag and a wooden mallet long before anyone plugged in an ice maker, and at home that is often still the best way.

This guide covers only that bag-and-mallet setup. Some of the eight picks are complete kits, and some are bags alone for people who already own something heavy to swing. We note which listings state a size, because many do not, and which brands are worth buying from.

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Quick verdict: the best Lewis bag for most home bars

Below are five of the eight side by side, then a full look at each and what to weigh before you buy.

Five ice bags and kits at a glance

Five standout picks, one for each kind of home bartender, with what each listing states.

Our picks for the best Lewis bag and mallet kits

The complete kits come first, then the bags sold alone, and last the two Amazon-first options. Where a listing leaves out a size or care instructions, we say so.

How to choose a Lewis bag

A Lewis bag is just a strong canvas sack with a closure, as The Manual describes it: you fill it with ice and pound it into fine fragments. KNKX calls it essential 19th-century barroom gear and says the canvas wicks away moisture for drier ice. So the buying decision is small, and only a few things change it.

Kit or bag alone

If you have a heavy muddler or a rolling pin, a bag alone will work. The Manual says a soft, wide mallet works better than a regular claw hammer, so we would not use a metal hammer. If you own nothing suitable, buy a kit, as it costs less trouble than finding a substitute.

Size and how much ice you need

Many listings do not state their bag size, which is frustrating. Of those that do, the Viski extra-large is 10 by 18 inches, the A Bar Above XL is 15.5 by 12 inches, and the Barillio and Boao bags are about 13.5 by 8.5 inches. Do not overfill any of them: ice needs room to move, and a loose layer breaks up faster than a packed one.

Seams and closure

The seams take the punishment, so reinforced or triple stitching is worth noting. For closure, a flap is quick and ties are more secure. Neither matters if the bag is well made and you hit it on a stable surface, such as a sturdy counter with a towel under the bag. We would not pound ice on a stone counter edge or anything fragile.

Washing and storage

Follow your maker’s instructions. Dry the bag fully before folding it away, since canvas that stays damp is a good home for mildew. Use no scented detergent. The Manual’s warning about pods applies to all of them: whatever scent stays in the canvas can end up in your drink.

Bag or machine

A Lewis bag is cheap, stores flat and needs no outlet, but it is noisy and slower for a crowd. If you want crushed-style ice every day, compare our nugget ice maker guide. For one or two drinks at a time, the bag wins on simplicity.

How we picked these eight ice bags and kits

We have not used these bags for this guide, and we make no claim that Julia’s uses them. We read each Amazon listing through Amazon’s product data for stock, seller, materials and care, and counted only items in stock and offered new. We favored bar-tool makers we could identify and limited Amazon-first brands to two. Where one brand has both a kit and a bag, we kept both only when they differ: Viski’s extra-large bag is a separate, larger product, while A Bar Above’s bag has a stated size and color but may share its fabric with the kit, and we say so. We left out unbranded kits with near-identical wording. For how a Lewis bag works and why canvas matters, we read Robert Haynes-Peterson’s guide in The Manual and a short piece from KNKX. Neither is a side-by-side review, and we did not find one worth relying on, so the product notes rest on listing and maker details. We also searched the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s recall data by brand and found nothing covering these items.

Lewis bag questions, answered

What is the best Lewis bag for a home bar?

For most home bars, we would buy the Viski kit, because it gives you a canvas bag and a beechwood mallet from a known barware name. If you need more capacity, look at Viski’s extra-large bag.

Why use canvas and not a plastic bag?

Canvas soaks up the water that forms as the ice breaks, which leaves you with drier crushed ice. It is also sturdy: The Manual says it will not tear or leak. A zip-top bag holds on to that water and can split under a mallet.

How many times do you hit it?

The Manual suggests five or six hits, or eight, then check the texture. Stop sooner for pebbly ice and carry on for something finer. Fold the flap over or tie the bag first.

How do you clean a Lewis bag?

Go by the maker. Barfly says to hand wash with mild soap and avoid bleach, A Bar Above says machine wash and air dry for its XL bag, and The Manual suggests the top rack of the dishwasher without soap. Air dry it fully before you fold it.

Which drinks need crushed ice?

The Manual names mint juleps, Moscow mules, scorpion bowls and frozen margaritas, and the listings add Mai Tais and daiquiris. It is also good for a quick batch of chilled agua fresca served over ice.

Our final pick for crushed ice at home

The best Lewis bag for most home bartenders is the one in the Viski kit, because it is simple and complete. Choose Barfly for ties, A Bar Above for a heavier swing, and Viski’s extra-large bag for a party. Round out the bar with our bar spoon guide and cocktail tool set guide. If you would rather have someone else do the pounding, call to order or look over Julia’s drinks.