I have been through my fair share of pickleball bags and backpacks and when I was making each choice I was going through list after list of the best pickleball bags before realizing I needed to figure it out on my own.
This list is going to be a breakdown of the best pickleball team and tour large backs, the best pickleball backpacks, the best pickleball dufflebags, and the best pickleball slings.
I'll start with my all time favorite pickleball bag that hits all the marks from backpack to duffle while having fence hooks, shoe compartments, space for everything you can think of, and a great price point.
I will also be making sure I mark all of the rest of the bags for those markers and give a comment on each of them so you know why they're being placed where they are.
So be aware that there will be four total categories, one of which is just the number one best option and then another three that have three bags in each category.
I'm curious: which pickleball bag did you start with?
What pickleball bag are you currently using?
Top Ten Pickleball Backpacks and Bags
SECTION ONE: THE BEST OF ALL CATEGORIES
The Best Of All Categories is the pickleball bag that I think is the best value, size, quality and option among every bag on this list. This category has only one bag in it.
The Top Ten Pickleball Backpacks and Bags
Number One: JOOLA Tour Elite Bag
The Best Overall For Price, Size, and Overall Quality
BAG SPEC COMPARISON:
Type of Bag: Tour Bag
Note from The Slice: The best of all worlds. Best space, functionality & hands down winner.
Functionality: Backpack and/or Duffle
Size (Based on This List): Large
Fence Hook: Yes
Shoe Compartment: Yes
# of Paddles: 4+
Price Point: $95-$99
Check on Amazon: Click Here
SECTION TWO: THE BEST PICKLEBALL DUFFLE BAGS
Pickleball Tour/Team Bags are larger than typical backpacks or slings and usually have room for 4+ paddles, gear and a shoe compartment and can be used as a backpack or duffle bag. This category has three bags in it.
The Top Ten Pickleball Bags and Backpacks
Number Two: Franklin Pickleball Bag
The Best Pickleball Duffle Bag (Other Than The Joola)
BAG SPEC COMPARISON:
Type of Bag: Tour/Team Bag
Note from The Slice: Spacious, decent looking and converts from duffle to backpack.
Functionality: Backpack and/or Duffle
Size (Based on This List): Large
Fence Hook: Yes
Shoe Compartment: Yes
# of Paddles: 4+
Price Point: $99
Check on Amazon: Click Here
The Top Ten Pickleball Bags and Backpacks
Number Three: Vulcan Duffle Bag
The Most Inexpensive and Simple Pickleball Duffle Bag
BAG SPEC COMPARISON:
Type of Bag: Duffle Bag
Note from The Slice: Inexpensive basic duffle made for pickleball with Vulcan pickleball branding on it while still minimalistic.
Functionality: Duffle Bag
Size (Based on This List): Medium
Fence Hook: No
Shoe Compartment: No
# of Paddles: 4+
Price Point: $49
Check on Amazon: Click Here
The Top Ten Pickleball Bags and Backpacks
Number Four: Bago Waterproof Duffle Backpack
The Best Minimalistic Dual Use Pickleball Duffle Bag/Backpack
BAG SPEC COMPARISON:
Type of Bag: Tour Bag
Note from The Slice: Great inexpensive duffle/backpack combo with minimalistic labeling/branding that can be used for more than just pickleball.
Functionality: Backpack and/or Duffle
Size (Based on This List): Medium/Large
Fence Hook: No
Shoe Compartment: No
# of Paddles: 4+
Price Point: $50-60
Check on Amazon: Click Here
SECTION THREE: THE BEST PICKLEBALL BACKPACKS
Pickleball Backpacks are usually slightly smaller than Pickleball Tour Bags and Team Bags, but can still fit 4+ paddles and other gear. This category has three bags in it. This list will not retouch on bags that were listed above such as The Joola Tour Bag and Franklin Pickleball bag - which are both great options here.
The Top Ten Pickleball Bags and Backpacks
Number Five: Takeya Pickleball Bag
The Largest and Best Looking Backpack Option
BAG SPEC COMPARISON:
Type of Bag: Large Backpack
Note from The Slice: Very big like the team bags on this list, great looking option, but loses versatility of duffle feature and comes in a bit pricey.
Functionality: Backpack
Size (Based on This List): Large
Fence Hook: Yes
Shoe Compartment: Yes
# of Paddles: 4+
Price Point: $125
Check on Amazon: Click Here
The Top Ten Pickleball Bags and Backpacks
Number Six: ONIX Pickleball Backpack
The Most Well-Rounded Pickleball Backpack Option
BAG SPEC COMPARISON:
Type of Bag: Backpack
Note from The Slice: Great functionality with a great pickleball company branding and good price.
Functionality: Backpack
Size (Based on This List): Medium
Fence Hook: No
Shoe Compartment: No
# of Paddles: 3+
Price Point: $59
Check on Amazon: Click Here
The Top Ten Pickleball Bags and Backpacks
Number Seven: Northwest Coast PB Backpack
The Best Minimalistic Dual Functionality Option
BAG SPEC COMPARISON:
Type of Bag: Backpack
Note from The Slice: Minimalistic branding while still being specifically designed for pickleball.
Functionality: Backpack
Size (Based on This List): Medium
Fence Hook: Yes
Shoe Compartment: No
# of Paddles: 2+
Price Point: $49
Check on Amazon: Click Here
SECTION FOUR: THE BEST PICKLEBALL SLINGS AND SMALLER BAGS
Pickleball Slings are even smaller than backpacks, though most function as backpacks as well. You can usually comfortably fit 2+ paddles and some gear. This category has three bags in it.
The Top Ten Pickleball Bags and Backpacks
Number Eight: A11N Pickleball Bag
The Best Generic Sling At A Good Price That Gets The Job Done
BAG SPEC COMPARISON:
Type of Bag: Sling
Note from The Slice: Simple and generic but priced right. I used this bag for nearly 6 months when I first started playing.
Functionality: Sling or Backpack
Size (Based on This List): Small
Fence Hook: Yes
Shoe Compartment: No
# of Paddles: 2+
Price Point: $25
Check on Amazon: Click Here
The Top Ten Pickleball Bags and Backpacks
Number Nine: Joola Pickleball Bag
Small Inexpensive Simple Option With Pickleball Team Branding
BAG SPEC COMPARISON:
Type of Bag: Sling
Note from The Slice: Small Joola Bag that gets the job done at a low price for those of you who like being able to rep a big name pickleball company.
Functionality: Sling
Size (Based on This List): Very Small
Fence Hook: Yes
Shoe Compartment: No
# of Paddles: 2
Price Point: $29
Check on Amazon: Click Here
The Top Ten Pickleball Bags and Backpacks
Number Ten: LOB Pickleball Bag
The Best Small Duffle Style Option
BAG SPEC COMPARISON:
Type of Bag: Sling
Note from The Slice: Great "small" bag that fits enough to put it into a medium size bag category for this list, while still having a decent price point.
Functionality: Duffle
Size (Based on This List): Small - Medium
Fence Hook: No
Shoe Compartment: No
# of Paddles: 2+
Price Point: $59
Check on Amazon: Click Here
The Top Ten Pickleball Backpacks and Bags
The Top Ten Pickleball Backpacks and Bags:
- Joola Tour Elite Bag
- Franklin Pickleball Bag
- Vulcan Duffle Bag
- Bago Waterproof Duffle Backpack
- Takeya Pickleball Bag
- ONIX Pickleball Backpack
- Northwest Coast Pickleball Backpack
- A11N Pickleball Bag
- Joola Pickleball Sling
- LOB Pickleball Bag
These best pickleball bags and backpacks are bags I have either personally used or have friends that have used (or are currently using) - most of which were considerations during my own choice in bags.
They make the list for specific reasons that I acknowledge above and I wanted to add them to each category because although I may not have chosen all of these bags, they were frontrunners when I was making the choice, and ultimately lost out to one of the other great bag options.
Do you have a favorite/go-to bag to recommend? What is your favorite pickleball backpack or bag? Which did you start with when you were a beginner?
