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04Gear

The best pickleball bags & backpacks

From a cheap grab-and-go sling to a do-everything tour bag — the pickleball bags worth owning, ranked with live prices and an honest 'skip this if…' on every pick.

By Stephen V.Editor, Post & PaddleUpdated

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Most players need one of two things: a cheap sling to grab a couple of paddles and go, or a real two-strap backpack to carry a full kit. Our all-round pick is the Selkirk Day Backpack — comfortable straps, sensible pockets and a build a clear step above generic bags, at a fair price.

A bag is the one piece of gear here that never really wears out its welcome, so it's worth buying once and buying right. The picks below run from a budget sling to a do-everything tour bag, and each card lists who it's wrong for. If you're still assembling your kit, start with what you need to start playing.

01The short answer

Quick picks

#ProductBest forScorePrice
01
Selkirk Selkirk Day Backpack
Selkirk Day Backpack

A premium-brand backpack at a sensible price — organized, comfortable, and built to last a few seasons.

Best all-round backpack
8.3
$48.98Amazon
02
Franklin Sports Franklin Sling Bag
Franklin Sling Bag

The cheap, grab-and-go answer: a single-strap sling that holds paddles, balls and a water bottle.

Best budget carry
7.3
$28.98Amazon
03
HEAD HEAD Tour Backpack 22L
HEAD Tour Backpack 22L

A roomy, well-organized 22-liter backpack from a racquet-sports brand that knows how to build a bag.

Organization and capacity
8.0
$55.03Amazon
04
JOOLA JOOLA Tour Elite Pro Bag
JOOLA Tour Elite Pro Bag

The do-everything tour bag: backpack and duffle in one, with fleece-lined paddle protection.

The player who carries everything
8.3
$86.97Amazon
05
Mangrove Mangrove Pickleball Backpack
Mangrove Pickleball Backpack

The lowest-price real backpack here — surprisingly well-featured for the money.

Cheapest two-strap option
7.3
$18.89Amazon

#ad · Live prices from the Amazon Product API, as of Jul 22, 2026. Where we have no verified live price, we show none — we would rather leave a gap than print a number that has rotted.

02In detail

The picks, in full

01
Selkirk Selkirk Day Backpack

Best all-round backpack

Selkirk Day Backpack

Backpack strapsHolds 2 paddlesVented shoe/pocketSelkirk build
8.3/10

A premium-brand backpack at a sensible price — organized, comfortable, and built to last a few seasons.

Capacity
8
Build
9
Comfort
8
Value
8

Pros

  • Proper two-strap comfort for carrying a full kit any distance
  • Thoughtful pockets, including a vented compartment for damp shoes
  • Selkirk's build quality is a clear step above generic bags

Cons

  • Costs more than a basic sling
  • Mid-size — dedicated players with lots of gear may want the larger tour bags

Don't buy this if…

…you only ever carry one paddle and a sleeve of balls. That's a sling's job — this is more bag than you need.

$48.98View on Amazon

Price as of Jul 22, 2026. Prices change — Amazon's is the one that counts.

#ad · we may earn a commission from this link to Selkirk Day Backpack

02
Franklin Sports Franklin Sling Bag

Best budget carry

Franklin Sling Bag

Sling strapHolds 2+ paddlesBall + bottle pocketsLightweight
7.3/10

The cheap, grab-and-go answer: a single-strap sling that holds paddles, balls and a water bottle.

Capacity
6
Build
7
Comfort
7
Value
9

Pros

  • About as cheap as a purpose-made pickleball bag gets
  • Sling design is quick to swing on and off between games
  • Enough room for the essentials without being bulky

Cons

  • A single strap gets uncomfortable if you load it heavy
  • No dedicated shoe or valuables compartment

Don't buy this if…

…you carry a full kit — shoes, extra paddles, layers. A two-strap backpack spreads that load far better.

$28.98View on Amazon

$37.9924% off

Price as of Jul 22, 2026. Prices change — Amazon's is the one that counts.

#ad · we may earn a commission from this link to Franklin Sling Bag

03
HEAD HEAD Tour Backpack 22L

Organization and capacity

HEAD Tour Backpack 22L

22L capacityBackpack strapsMultiple compartmentsHEAD build
8.0/10

A roomy, well-organized 22-liter backpack from a racquet-sports brand that knows how to build a bag.

Capacity
9
Build
8
Comfort
8
Value
7

Pros

  • 22 liters swallows paddles, balls, shoes, water and a layer with room to spare
  • Separate compartments keep sweaty gear away from the clean stuff
  • HEAD's bag construction is durable and well finished

Cons

  • Bigger than a casual once-a-week player needs
  • The extra size adds a little weight when empty

Don't buy this if…

…you like to travel light. A 22L pack is a lot of bag — a slimmer backpack or sling is easier for a quick session.

$55.03View on Amazon

$59.007% off

Price as of Jul 22, 2026. Prices change — Amazon's is the one that counts.

#ad · we may earn a commission from this link to HEAD Tour Backpack 22L

04
JOOLA JOOLA Tour Elite Pro Bag

The player who carries everything

JOOLA Tour Elite Pro Bag

Backpack + duffleFleece-lined paddle pocketInsulated pocketLarge capacity
8.3/10

The do-everything tour bag: backpack and duffle in one, with fleece-lined paddle protection.

Capacity
10
Build
9
Comfort
8
Value
6

Pros

  • Carries as a backpack or a duffle depending on the day
  • Fleece-lined pocket actually protects paddle faces from scratches
  • Insulated pocket keeps a drink cold through a long session

Cons

  • The most expensive bag here
  • Overkill for anyone with a single paddle

Don't buy this if…

…you're a casual player. This is a serious kit-hauler; a sling or mid-size backpack is plenty for a couple of paddles.

$86.97View on Amazon

$139.9538% off

Price as of Jul 22, 2026. Prices change — Amazon's is the one that counts.

#ad · we may earn a commission from this link to JOOLA Tour Elite Pro Bag

05
Mangrove Mangrove Pickleball Backpack

Cheapest two-strap option

Mangrove Pickleball Backpack

Backpack/slingPaddle holdersMultiple pocketsBudget price
7.3/10

The lowest-price real backpack here — surprisingly well-featured for the money.

Capacity
7
Build
6
Comfort
7
Value
9

Pros

  • A genuine backpack at close to sling money
  • External paddle straps and a fan pocket for damp gear
  • Light and easy to live with

Cons

  • Materials feel their price — this won't outlast a premium bag
  • A lesser-known brand with less support behind it

Don't buy this if…

…you want a bag that lasts many seasons. Budget materials wear; a Selkirk or HEAD pack is the longer-term buy.

$18.89View on Amazon

$22.9918% off

Price as of Jul 22, 2026. Prices change — Amazon's is the one that counts.

#ad · we may earn a commission from this link to Mangrove Pickleball Backpack

03The buyer's guide

Sling or backpack? Start here

A sling baghas a single strap you wear across your body. It's the cheapest, lightest option and it's quick to swing on and off between games — perfect if you carry one or two paddles, a sleeve of balls and a water bottle. A backpack has two straps that spread the load across both shoulders, so it stays comfortable when you pack shoes, extra paddles and a layer. Rule of thumb: light kit, get a sling; full kit or any real walk to the court, get a backpack.

Capacity: buy for the kit you actually carry

Bag size is usually given in liters. A slim pack around 20 liters holds two paddles, balls, shoes, water and a jacket for most players. A big tour bag swallows several paddles plus everything else — genuinely useful for someone playing several times a week, overkill for a once-a-week game. Don't buy more bag than you'll fill; the empty weight and bulk are a small daily tax you pay every time you carry it.

Features that actually matter

  • A vented shoe pocket.A separate, ventilated compartment keeps sweaty, gritty shoes away from your clean gear and lets damp things breathe. Once you've had one you won't go back.
  • Paddle protection. A dedicated, ideally fleece-lined paddle pocket keeps your paddle faces from being scratched by keys, zippers and everything else rattling around in the bag.
  • An insulated pocket. A nice-to-have on bigger bags — it keeps a drink cold through a long outdoor session.
  • Comfortable straps. Padded, adjustable straps are the difference between a bag you actually wear and one you leave in the car.

What you pay up for

The cheapest bags carry your gear just fine; what more money buys is durability and organization — tougher fabric and zippers, better straps, a vented shoe area, fleece paddle protection, and a brand that will actually replace a failed seam. If you play weekly, a mid-priced backpack from a real brand is the buy-once choice. If you play only now and then, a budget sling is honestly enough.

How we picked

We do not run a testing lab

Everyone in this category says they tested twenty paddles. We haven't tested these in a lab, and we say so. Instead we compile the published manufacturer specs, do the math, weight everything toward what a beginner actually needs — forgiveness, a large sweet spot, sane weight and a fair price — and score each product against a published rubric. The scores are judgments from that research, not measurements we took. Where a fact came from someone else, we name it in Sources.

04Questions

Frequently asked

Do I really need a special pickleball bag?

No — any bag that fits your paddles and balls will get you to the court. A purpose-made pickleball bag just does it better: dedicated paddle protection, a vented shoe pocket, and straps sized for the load. If you play regularly, it's a small, one-time upgrade that makes every session easier.

Should I get a sling bag or a backpack for pickleball?

Get a sling if you travel light — one or two paddles, balls and a bottle — and want the cheapest, quickest grab-and-go option. Get a backpack if you carry a full kit including shoes and layers, or if you walk any distance to the court; two straps spread the weight far more comfortably.

What size pickleball bag do I need?

For most players a slim backpack around 20 liters is plenty — it holds two paddles, balls, shoes, water and a jacket. Only buy a large tour bag if you regularly carry several paddles and gear for a full day; otherwise the extra size is empty weight you haul around for nothing.

Will a pickleball bag protect my paddles?

The better ones will. Look for a dedicated paddle compartment, ideally fleece-lined, that keeps the faces away from keys and zippers. A basic bag will carry your paddles but won't stop surface scratches — worth knowing if you own a textured carbon paddle whose grit you want to preserve.

06Read next

Keep going

05Sources

Where our facts come from