I’ve spent considerable time trying out various pickleball bags while on the hunt for one I like for myself. Surprisingly, there aren’t many good reviews or content around bags which is what motivated me to share my experiences and review the bags I’ve tried in this article.
I hope this article can help you find a bag that aligns with your specific needs and preferences. Please note that the opinions below are entirely my own. However, I did seek out affiliate relationships with the bags I liked so I could give you a discount on them if you decide to purchase one and to help support my review efforts.
I’ve categorized all the bags I’ve tried into three groups. Large, medium and small. I’ll put my favorites for each category at the top of my list and then share my thoughts about the others I’ve tried.
Table of Contents
My Favorite Bags for the Large, Medium, and Small Categories
CRBN Pro Tour Bag 2.0 - My Favorite Large Bag
Category: Large
Bag name: CRBN Pro Tour Bag 2.0
Dimensions: 23″ L x 12″ H x 14″ W
Price: $139 ($126 with code 10EFFECT)
Link to purchase >>
Overview:
This has to be the most well built bag I’ve tested. The material is thick, sturdy, durable, and easy to clean. I used this bag a lot and it still looks new, it’s going to last you a long time. It features two large paddle sleeves that have thick, thermal lined padding to protect the paddles from the sun or being damaged in transit. You can comfortably fit two paddles in each sleeve and could squish a third if you really needed to. On the outside of the bag is a large, easy access accessories pocket for your smaller items. It held all my accessories though it was a little tight and I wish there was more space inside the main pocket for other accessories you don’t access as often like my tungsten tape and other paddle optimization gear.
The main pocket is big and is where I put my balls, water bottle, towel and other larger items. Although the main compartment is big, there are no other smaller pockets in there though I wish there was. The bag has a separate shoe compartment that feeds into the main compartment, as well as a smaller pocket meant for dirty clothes that also feeds into the main compartment. I wear men’s 10.5 shoes and they fit in the shoe compartment with room to spare and I like the separate compartment for dirty clothes. Though I didn’t use the space regularly, it was very nice to have on tournament days when I was switching out shirts and socks and didn’t have to stuff the dirty clothes with my other things in the main compartment.
The final feature of the bag is that the side of the bag with the accessories pocket can be zipped off and it turns into a sling bag that carries a couple of paddles and your accessories. It’s pretty slick. Great for days when you want to pack lighter. I never found myself using this feature because I am a paddle reviewer and always have several paddles on me and need the entire bag but I can see how many people would like and use this feature.
The bag has backpack style straps that can be strapped together to form grab handles. When actually wearing the bag backpack style, which is how I did it most often, it is semi comfortable but not the most comfortable. It wasn’t a deal breaker, but I do wish the straps had more cushion.
| Pros |
|---|
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Quality and durable material |
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Very protective paddle sleeves that hold up to six paddles |
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Detachable sling bag |
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Attractive design |
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Good fence hooks |
| Cons |
|---|
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Limited space for accessories and smaller items |
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Stiff, low padded backpack straps |
The bottom line:
This is a great bag for players looking for something that will last a long time and will carry and heavily protect a lot of paddles. It holds a lot of paddles and gear but may be overkill if you only carry one or two paddles around.
Aniviia 2-in-1 Duffle Backpack- My Favorite Medium Bag
Category: Medium
Bag name: Aniviia 2-in-1 Duffle Backpack
Dimensions: 24” L x 10” H x 10” W
Price: $69 ($58 with code 15EFFECT)
Link to purchase >>
Overview:
This bag came as a surprise to me and I wasn’t ready for how much I was going to like it. One of my followers on Instagram suggested I try it and I’m glad I did.
It’s a duffle style bag like something you would take to the gym but it has a built-in paddle sleeve in the main compartment that holds up to two paddles. The main compartment also has other smaller pockets on the sides that are easy to access and will hold those smaller items you don’t access as often like Tylenal or something. I know you have that in your bag ;).
There are also two other larger accessory pockets that go the length of the outside that fit a lot of things. Plenty of space in this bag for your smaller items. And since it’s a traditional duffle style bag, it has the two bigger compartments on the ends. One of those compartments is for shoes while the other is perfect for some balls or whatever else. The bag’s 10” height doesn’t slope like many of the tennis style duffle bags you’ll find so I found that I had more space in the main compartment even after I put shoes in there. It felt roomy and nice.
Another highlight of the bag is the strap system. It has the duffle strap, two grab handles, and has two backpack straps that are storable on the bottom. You can carry the bag in a lot of ways. I found myself using the duffle strap the most. It was so convenient to just throw it over my shoulder rather than having to do the backpack straps like every other bag has.
Lastly, I’ll call out that the material felt good. It wasn’t super thin, had a leathery feel, and the zippers were coated. All this is combined with minimal branding that makes the bag look really sharp.
The only complaint I had was that when I had a paddle or two in the paddle sleeve the bag would collapse onto itself which was a little annoying when you wanted to dig around in the main compartment. The CRBN Tour bag and some of the other duffle style bags typically stand up on their own with more structure to them. Additionally, because their was less structure to the bag it didn’t hang well on a fence and was floppy there, it was much better when you just set it on the ground.
| Pros |
|---|
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Great price and value |
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Sophisticated strap system |
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Ample storage for small and larger items despite it only being a medium sized bag |
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Attractive, minimal design and branding |
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Quality, easy to clean material with coated zippers |
| Cons |
|---|
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Not a good option if you carry more than two paddles |
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Less structure to the bag |
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Doesn't hang well on a fence |
The bottom line:
This bag was a personal favorite of mine and is the one I’m using currently after testing all these bags. It also has a very good price and feels like a steal for what you get. I liked the mulitple ways to carry it, the quality, and the good organization. It was big enough to hold the essentials plus some extra space without it being over the top big.
JOOLA Vision II Deluxe Backpack - My Favorite Small Bag
Category: Small
Bag name: JOOLA Vision II Deluxe Backpack
Dimensions: 20” H x 12” L x 8” W
Price: $79.95 ($72 with code 10EFFECT)
Link to purchase >>
Overview:
This bag was simple yet had the right pockets to carry all your essentials. It’s also a great bag for people who want to take their gear with them to work and then hit the courts right after. It has room for your pickleball gear and has a laptop sleeve.
It’s a backpack style bag with a paddle compartment, main compartment, two bigger side pockets and a couple of smaller accessory pockets. With it being a backpack style bag I liked that it has a paddle pocket that sits behind the main compartment and is separate from everything else. It holds two paddles comfortably. Joola actually advertises this pocket as a laptop sleeve but it’s better as a paddle pocket and then there’s a separate sleeve in the main compartment that fits any size laptop.
There are two larger compartments on the sides that stretch the entire length of the bag. I really liked these. You can fit a good size water bottle on one side and then you can use the other side to hold up to four balls perfectly and makes it easy to access the balls when you need them.
For accessories there’s a smaller pocket on the outside near the top that’s big enough to slide your phone and keys in when you play and then there are a few smaller pockets on the back wall in the main compartment. There isn’t a ton of accessories space but there is some.
I think the bag looks nice and has some style to it, and it’s nice that they offer many different colors which isn’t something that’s common. However, the material of the bag does feel a little cheaper. I wouldn’t say it’s terrible but it got scratched up and worn easier than the other two bags I liked above.
It also has a shoe compartment on the bottom of the bag that is ventilated. When you have shoes in the bag there is still room to put things on the side of the shoes in the main compartment as well as on top and I was surprised by how many things I could fit into the larger compartment.
The bag has a fence hook though it’s a single hook right that gets easily stressed when you use it. If your bag is full then the hook looks like it might rip off when you hang it so I ended up never using that feature.
I went on a vacation to Hawaii this year and decided to take this bag because it could carry my laptop, headphones, and other workstation stuff along with my pickleball gear and it worked great for that. I like the layout of the bag and think it’s a great option for those taking their stuff with them to work, work on the go, or just want a well designed, simple, smaller bag.
| Pros |
|---|
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Several color options |
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Simple design that has all the room you need for the essentials |
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Holds a laptop |
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Separate paddle sleeve |
| Cons |
|---|
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More economic materials |
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Weak fence hook |
The bottom line:
This bag is a great option for the person that takes their gear to work, or the person that doesn’t want a large bag. It has a computer sleeve, dedicated paddle sleeve, and enough pockets for the essentials like shoes, balls, a change of clothes and a water bottle.
Summaries of Other Bags I've Tested
JOOLA Tour Elite Pickleball Duffle
Category: Large/Medium
Bag name: JOOLA Tour Elite Pickleball Duffle
Dimensions: 21.1” L x 13” H x 10” W
Price: $109.95 ($98 with code 10EFFECT)
Link to purchase >>
Summary: I was impressed with the bag’s numerous pockets, including four large accessory pockets on the sides and additional pockets inside the main compartment. It made it easy for me to keep my smaller items organized. The double zipper system provided convenient access to the main compartment, and I also appreciated the thermolined paddle sleeves and versatile strapping system that allowed for use as a duffle or backpack. However, the fence hook proved useless and prone to ripping under stress. Furthermore, while the material initially felt nice, it wore down faster compared to bags like the CRBN Tour Bag, which is made of more durable materials. Overall, I loved the bag’s design but wished for better material quality to ensure a longer lifespan, particularly given its price.
I tested out the Tour Elite version which I would say is a medium sized bag, but they offer this same bag design in a larger package called the Tour Elite Pro.
Selkirk Pro Line Team Bag
Category: Large
Bag name: Selkirk Pro Line Team Bag
Dimensions: 20.5” H x 11″ L x 11″ W
Price: $150 (code ADV-BRAYDONU for a gift card with purchase)
Link to purchase >>
Summary: This bag features high-quality material, excellent padding, and an appealing appearance. However, I found several functional aspects to be lacking. The two larger, unsealed pockets on the outside of the bag intrude into the main compartment, reducing its usable space. Additionally, the interior pockets align with the exterior ones, further compromising their functionality. The bag’s small paddle sleeve can barely fit two paddles, forcing any additional paddles to be placed in the main compartment where they run the risk of being scratched or damaged. The deep accessory pockets attached to the paddle sleeve require extensive reaching and feeling around to retrieve items stored at the bottom. Overall, the bag’s pockets were not ideal for keeping smaller items organized, and the main compartment acted as a black hole where things easily got lost. On a positive note, the bag stands upright and boasts a sturdy fence hook. However, considering the higher price point, I don’t recommend this bag and suggest exploring more functional options instead.
Selkirk does offer a larger and smaller version of this bag, but I haven’t tried those so what I said here may not apply to those.
Vatic Pro Pickleball Backpack
Category: Large
Bag name: Vatic Pro Pickleball Backpack
Dimensions: 20” H x 14” H x 10” W
Price: $49.99
Link to purchase >>
Summary: This backpack-style bag offers ample space, including a large main compartment and front accessory pockets. It features a convenient side entrance shoe compartment, a thin laptop sleeve, and a unique paddle compartment at the back. It can accommodate multiple paddles in the main compartment along with smaller items in the front pockets. However, it feels more like a traditional backpack than one specifically designed for pickleball, making it appear clunky and less visually appealing compared to other options. The materials used are thinner, but this is reflected in its lower price. The dedicated paddle sleeve has a small zipper entrance, making it cumbersome to use, and ultimately, I found myself placing the paddles in the main compartment. If affordability is a priority, this bag provides functional space, although it may not offer the same level of style or quality as some alternatives.
Neonic Pickleball Backpack Gen 2
Category: Small
Bag name: Neonic Pickleball Backpack Gen 2
Dimensions: 20” H x 14” H x 10” W
Price: $59.99
Link to purchase >>
Summary: This smaller bag offers a compact and minimalist design. It includes a dedicated paddle pocket, a shoe compartment, an easy-access accessory pocket, a small item pocket in the main compartment, stretchy water bottle pockets, and a laptop sleeve. If you’re someone who carries only the essentials, this bag is a great option for protecting and carrying a few paddles, balls, shoes, and smaller items. The materials used feel cost-effective but the bag still provides padding and demonstrates an effort to maintain quality while keeping the price reasonable. The main drawbacks are the access to the main compartment, which requires reaching into a large space, and the limited space dedicated to smaller items. A traditional backpack-style zipper that goes down the sides would have made it easier to access the contents without the need to rearrange everything inside. Overall, I was a fan of this one and think it fits a need for players who want a nice, compact bag.
Braydon competes at the 5.0 level and plays in 5-10 tournaments a year. He plays/drills 3 to 4 times a week and would play more if time allowed it.
