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Quick Takeaways
- The best pickleball bag for you depends on how you play: daily drop-ins, weekly league, tournaments or a quick hit before work.
- Backpacks suit most players, tour bags suit tournament players, and slings or totes suit minimalists who carry one or two paddles.
- A ventilated shoe compartment is the feature players miss most once they've owned a bag without one.
- Thermal-lined paddle pockets protect paddles left in a hot car or sitting in direct sun.
- Our top picks range from the $37.99 Franklin Sling Bag to the $150 Gearbox GameDay Bag, and every bag here was in stock at Get2Eleven at the time of writing.
- For gifts, a sling or day backpack under $60 works for newer players, and a thermal tour bag fits the player who's at the courts five days a week.
Most players buy a dedicated bag the week their old gym tote fails them. A paddle face gets scratched, a water bottle leaks onto a phone, or sweaty pickleball shoes ride home next to clean clothes. Picking the best pickleball bags comes down to a few practical questions: how many paddles you carry, whether you bring shoes, and how long you stay at the pickleball courts.
Those are the same questions we ask at the counter in our Encinitas pro shop. Below you'll find a quick answer by player type, a breakdown of the four bag styles we stock, and our favorite picks in each, all built from the pickleball bags and backpacks on our shelves right now. Prices come from our product pages at the time of writing, and we skipped anything that was sold out.
The Best Pickleball Bags by Player Type
Short on time? Start here. Each pick matches a playing habit, not a spec sheet.
| Player Type | Our Pick | Price | Why It Fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily player | Gearbox Ready BackPack | $130 | Thermal paddle pocket, shoe compartment and laptop storage in 37.6 L |
| Tournament player | JOOLA Tour Elite Pro Bag | $139.95 | Two thermal paddle pockets and backpack-to-duffle carry |
| Minimalist | Franklin Pickleball Sling Bag | $37.99 | Holds up to 6 paddles and 6 balls with a fence hook |
| Carries shoes | Gearbox GameDay Bag | $150 | Ventilated shoe tunnel plus a separate laundry bag |
| Budget pick | Selkirk Core Line Day BackPack | $49.99 | Fits up to 6 paddles and a 15" laptop |
| Court to office | CRBN Tote Bag | $109.99 | Insulated sleeve fits a paddle or a laptop |
If we had to name one best overall pickleball bag for most players, it's the Gearbox Ready BackPack. It's a great bag for anyone who plays pickleball regularly. It carries a full day of pickleball gear on your back, keeps shoes separate and protects paddles from heat without the bulk of a tour bag.
Four Pickleball Bag Styles and What Each One Holds
Every bag on our wall falls into one of four styles. Knowing which one fits your routine narrows the choice fast.
Backpack
A pickleball backpack is the everyday workhorse. Most hold two to six paddles with ample room for balls, a water bottle and a change of clothes, and many add a laptop sleeve. Padded straps spread the load, so it's the easiest style to carry from the parking lot to a far court.
Tour Bag
A tour bag is the big, rectangular racquet-style bag you'll see at tournaments. It has large compartments for multiple paddles, a thermal-lined racket compartment, room for extra clothes and usually a shoe pocket. Most convert between backpack straps and duffle handles.
Duffel
A duffle bag carries by hand or shoulder strap and opens wide for easy packing. It's a good fit if you drive to the courts and want one open space for clothes, a towel, snacks and other gear.
Sling or Tote
A sling or tote is the compact option. Slings sit across your back with one strap and hold a paddle or two, balls, your phone and other small items. Totes look more like a carryall and move easily from the court to errands.
Best Pickleball Backpack Picks
Backpacks are the most versatile style, and for good reason. Here are the ones we recommend at each budget.
Selkirk Core Line Day BackPack ($49.99)
This is our favorite budget pickleball bag and the Selkirk bag we recommend most. The main compartment fits up to six paddles, the protected sleeve takes a 15" laptop, and a padded front pocket holds keys and a phone. At 13" wide and 5" deep it stays slim, so it's a lightweight backpack for players who bring paddles, balls and a water bottle and not much else.
JOOLA Vision II Backpack ($59.95)
JOOLA calls the Vision II its most popular bag, and it's easy to see why. You get a padded laptop sleeve, a spacious main compartment and a ventilated shoe partition, which is rare at this price. An adjustable side mesh pocket holds your water bottle.
Gearbox Ready BackPack ($130)
The Ready adds a thermal-lined paddle compartment with a locking zipper, a ventilated shoe and gear compartment, dedicated laptop storage and stowaway fence hooks. It has five main compartments and five accessory pockets in 37.6 L, and it weighs only 2.65 lbs. A padded, ventilated back and a chest strap keep it comfortable when it's full.
CRBN Pro Team 2.0 BackPack ($149.99)
CRBN built this one around small conveniences. A side-mounted magnetic ball garage holds three balls for quick access, the rear compartment protects up to three paddles, and an isolated bottom compartment keeps shoes away from your gear. Dual fence hooks, a felt-lined sunglasses pocket and a trolley sleeve for luggage round it out.
GRUVN Court BackPack ($139)
Need serious capacity? GRUVN says the main compartment fits 11 pickleball paddles, and a foil-lined side pocket holds three more away from the heat. It also has a ventilated shoe compartment with eyelets, a fence hook and carry straps for holding it vertically or horizontally.
Browse every option in our pickleball backpacks collection, including the premium FORWRD Court Caddy at $299.99, which fits four paddles, eight balls, two large bottles and a laptop.
Tour Bags and Duffels for Tournament Day
If you play events or long weekend sessions, a pro tour bag earns its size. These are the ones we'd pack for a tournament day.
JOOLA Tour Elite Pro Bag ($139.95)
This is the bag you'll see JOOLA's own pros carrying, and it's the largest JOOLA Tour Elite bag we stock. It measures 25 x 13.8 x 11.2 in, weighs 3 lbs, and has two thermal-lined paddle pockets that each fit two paddles. A strong fence hook tucks into its own pocket, and the backpack straps hide in a sleeve when you want to carry it as a duffle or take it on a plane as carry-on. Players who like the look can see the rest of the JOOLA Tour Elite bags and gear in one place.
CRBN Pro Team Tour 2.0 Bag (from $139.99)
The Tour 2.0 is a true one bag setup. It has pockets for everything you bring to an out-of-town event, plus a built-in, zip-off sling bag for when you only need a paddle and your phone. It's a smart choice if you want one purchase that covers both tournament weekends and quick sessions.
Six Zero Pro Tour Bag ($149.99)
Six Zero's tour bag carries up to six paddles in twin padded, thermal-lined side pockets that hold three each. It adds a ventilated shoe compartment, a large thermal pocket for drinks, a lower compartment for dirty clothes and built-in hooks. The shoulder straps convert into duffle bag handles, making it the Six Zero bag we'd pick for events.
Head Pro Pickleball Bag M ($109)
Head's Pro Bag M keeps things simpler, with two paddle compartments and an accessory pocket that uses CCT+ climate control technology to keep your valuables safe from extreme temperatures. The opening is designed so nothing falls out when it hangs on the fence.
Diadem Tour Elevate Duffel Bag ($79.95)
For players who prefer a classic duffle, the Diadem Tour Elevate has a U-shaped zipper for easy access to the main compartment and a separate shoe compartment on the side. The reinforced bottom holds up on rough court surfaces.
Our Favorite Pickleball Bag with Shoe Compartment Options
Shoe storage is one of the most common questions in online threads about pickleball bags. A separate shoe compartment keeps court grit and sweat away from clean clothes, and ventilation holes let shoes air out on the drive home. Once you've used one, it's hard to go back to other bags.
Gearbox GameDay Bag ($150)
The GameDay is the most organized bag we carry. It has a ventilated shoe tunnel, a separate laundry and accessory bag, two thermal-lined paddle compartments, six main compartments, three accessory pockets and locking zippers. It holds 44.1 L, weighs 2.9 lbs and converts from duffle to backpack carry, so it covers practice, league play and tournaments.
Six Zero Performance BackPack ($109.99)
Six Zero takes a different approach: a separate ventilated drawstring bag for your shoes clips onto the front, and a thermally insulated cooler box fits inside for lunch and snacks. Two padded sleeves hold paddles or a laptop, and a divided side pocket stores up to six pickleballs. It comes in black, ruby red and pink.
Holbrook Podium Pickleball Bag ($150)
The Podium pairs a dedicated shoe pocket with a cinch laundry bag, so used gear has two places to go. A mesh side pocket holds your water bottle.
Selkirk LABS Project Prestige Pack ($221.99)
Selkirk's premium backpack holds six paddles across padded compartments and adds a mesh shoe pouch, a soft laptop sleeve, a shoulder phone pouch and fence clips in 23 L. It's built for pickleball players who head straight from the office to open play and want premium materials to match.
Slings and Totes for Minimalist Players
Not everyone needs a big bag. If you play an hour at a time and walk in with a paddle, a few balls and your keys, a sling or tote is lighter and faster to grab, and its lightweight design stays comfortable on a long walk to the courts.
- Franklin Pickleball Sling Bag ($37.99): The official bag of the US Open holds six paddles and six X-40 balls, with a felt-lined cell phone pocket and a fence hook.
- JOOLA Everyday Sling Bag ($44.95): Room for two paddles, plenty of balls, a dedicated water bottle pocket and a hideaway carabiner for the fence.
- CRBN Pro Team Sling Bag ($59.99): A thermal-lined main compartment, thermal side pockets for a drink and balls, a water-resistant shell and room for a 14-inch MacBook.
- Luzz Pickleball Paddle Shoulder Bag ($69): Water-repellent canvas and vegan leather in vanilla cream, pink or black, with room for paddles, balls, shoes and clothes.
- CRBN Tote Bag ($109.99): Italian PU leather, an insulated sleeve for a paddle or laptop, magnetic exterior pouches and a trolley sleeve for travel.
Best Pickleball Bags for Ladies and Men
Bags aren't really gendered, but the questions we get often split along style lines. Shoppers looking at women's bags often want a tote, a sling or a backpack in a color they love. Shoppers looking at men's bags often want maximum capacity first.
For the best pickleball bags for ladies, we'd point to the CRBN Tote, the Luzz Paddle Shoulder Bag, the Six Zero Performance BackPack in pink or ruby red, and the Selkirk Core Line Day BackPack in Winter Berry. Each one carries a full session of gear without looking like an equipment bag.
Among the best pickleball bags for men, the GRUVN Court BackPack and Gearbox GameDay Bag lead the list because of how much they hold. The CRBN Pro Team 2.0 BackPack is the pick for a clean look with a separate shoe compartment.
How to Choose the Right Size Pickleball Bag
Expensive bags aren't automatically better. The best bag is the one that matches what you carry, and the perfect pickleball bag for a two-paddle player looks nothing like one for a tournament regular. Use this checklist before you buy.
- Count your paddles. One or two pickleball paddles fit any sling. Three or more points to a backpack or tour bag, and multiple paddles in heat call for thermal lining.
- Decide on shoes. If you change shoes at the court, get a separate shoe compartment with ventilation.
- Plan for sweat. Look for a laundry pouch or a lower compartment that keeps damp clothes and sweaty stuff apart, plus a water resistant bottom that won't soak up puddles.
- Think about valuables. A zippered or felt-lined pocket keeps your phone, wallet and sunglasses separate from balls and grips.
- Check the fence hook. Hanging your bag keeps it off wet pickleball courts and within reach between games.
Most players do well with 20 to 45 liters. Under 20 L suits a sling or day pack, and anything above 40 L is a big bag built for tournament days with extra clothes and other accessories. Leave space for personal items and sun protection too, since a hat, sunscreen and sunglasses add up fast. Whatever you choose, protect your paddle faces inside it with one of our paddle covers.
Pickleball Bags as Holiday Gifts by Budget
A bag is one of the easiest gifts for a pickleball player because it doesn't depend on paddle preferences or how someone plays the pickleball game. Here's how we'd shop by budget this season.
- Under $50: Franklin Pickleball Sling Bag, JOOLA Everyday Sling Bag or Selkirk Core Line Day BackPack.
- $50 to $100: JOOLA Vision II Backpack, CRBN Pro Team Sling Bag, Luzz Paddle Shoulder Bag or Diadem Tour Elevate Duffel Bag.
- $100 to $150: Six Zero Performance BackPack, Gearbox Ready BackPack, JOOLA Tour Elite Pro Bag or Gearbox GameDay Bag.
- Splurge: Selkirk LABS Project Prestige Pack or FORWRD Court Caddy.
Not sure what to pack inside? Our guide on what to carry for league night covers paddles, balls, snacks and the small items players forget. Add sunscreen to the list, since the American Academy of Dermatology recommends reapplying every two hours outdoors and right after sweating.
What to read next:
Ready to upgrade? Shop pickleball bags at Get2Eleven or stop by our Encinitas pro shop to try a few on with your own gear.
Best Pickleball Bags FAQs
What Is the Best Pickleball Bag under $100?
The JOOLA Vision II Backpack at $59.95 is our pick, because it includes a ventilated shoe partition and a padded laptop sleeve. If you don't carry shoes, the Selkirk Core Line Day BackPack at $49.99 fits up to six paddles. The Diadem Tour Elevate Duffel Bag at $79.95 is the best duffle under $100.
What Pickleball Bag Does Ben Johns Use?
Ben Johns is a JOOLA athlete, and JOOLA's pros carry the JOOLA Tour Elite Pro Bag on tour. It has two thermal-lined paddle pockets, a fence hook and convertible backpack straps. Pros generally carry their sponsor's bag, so their choice follows their paddle deal.
What Pickleball Bag Does Anna Leigh Waters Use?
Like most pros, Anna Leigh Waters carries a bag from her current equipment sponsor, and those deals change often. If you want a similar tour-level setup, look for two or more thermal paddle compartments, a shoe pocket and a fence hook, like the Six Zero Pro Tour Bag or CRBN Pro Team Tour 2.0 Bag.
What Is the Ideal Size of a Pickleball Bag?
For most players, 20 to 45 liters is the sweet spot. A day backpack around 20 to 30 L carries paddles, balls, a bottle and a towel. Choose 35 to 45 L if you bring shoes, a spare pair of socks and extra clothes for long sessions.
Do I Need a Bag with a Separate Shoe Compartment?
If you change shoes at the court, yes. A separate shoe compartment keeps dirt and sweat away from clean clothes and your pickleball paddle. Bags like the Gearbox GameDay, JOOLA Vision II and CRBN Pro Team 2.0 BackPack all include one.
