A piping bag may look like a simple tool, but anyone who spends hours decorating, filling or portioning food knows how much difference the right bag can make. Strength matters. The right size matters. But one feature is often overlooked: grip.
In a professional bakery or kitchen, hands rarely stay perfectly clean and dry throughout the day. Water, condensation, butter, cream, oil and other ingredients are simply part of the working environment. When a piping bag becomes slippery, the user has to compensate by squeezing and gripping harder.
Over the course of a full working day, that matters.
From cotton piping bags to disposable plastic
Before disposable piping bags became common, many professionals worked with reusable cotton bags. Their textured surface naturally provided a secure hold.
Disposable plastic piping bags offered clear advantages: they were hygienic, convenient and did not need to be washed or dried. But early plastic bags also introduced a new challenge. Compared with cotton, the surface was extremely smooth.
This was especially noticeable in busy kitchens, where wet or greasy hands are difficult to avoid.
The idea behind One Way’s Soft Touch grip
One Way founder Jan van der Straaten saw that the move from cotton to disposable plastic had improved convenience, but had taken away an important characteristic of the traditional piping bag: its grip.
His idea was simple in principle: what if a disposable plastic piping bag could have a genuinely grippy outer layer?
Instead of relying on smooth polyethylene alone, a special soft-touch outer layer was developed to provide grip where the user actually needs it.
The innovation was patented internationally and became one of the defining characteristics of One Way piping bags.
The principle remains at the heart of One Way's piping bags today.
Why grip makes a difference
When a smooth piping bag starts to slip, the user instinctively applies more force to keep hold of it. That makes piping more tiring and can reduce control over the filling.
A good gripping surface helps the bag stay stable in the hand, allowing the user to focus more on pressure, movement and precision.
This becomes particularly important when:
decorating cakes and pastries
working with creams, buttercream or other fatty fillings
filling products repeatedly during production
using piping bags for several hours a day
working with damp or greasy hands
For occasional use, the difference may seem small. In a professional environment, it can have a much greater impact on comfort and handling.
Not all piping bag grips are the same
Today, many piping bags are described as having grip. However, the way this grip is created can differ significantly.
Some bags rely on an embossed or coarse outer structure. This can increase friction, but may also result in a rough, almost sandpaper-like feel.
One Way’s approach is different. The Soft Touch grip is designed into the outer surface of the piping bag itself. The result is a softer, more comfortable feel while still providing the friction needed for controlled piping.
That distinction becomes especially noticeable during prolonged use.
