When it comes to pickleball, the right gear can make all the difference—and that includes your bag. 

Whether you’re a casual weekend player or competing in tournaments, a good pickleball bag keeps your paddles, balls, and essentials organized, protected, and ready for action. 

But with so many options on the market, how do you choose the one that’s right for you?

This buyer’s guide looked at more than 20 of today’s top pickleball bags, comparing key features like price, size, durability, and overall value:

• Types of Pickleball Bags
• Pickleball Bags by Size
• The Best Bag Materials
• The Best Bags with Zippers
• The Best Bags by Compartments
• Pickleball Bags for Multiple Paddles
• Pickleball Bags by Color
• Overall Value Bags

Types of Pickleball Bags

Pickleball bags tend to come in a few standard styles: Tour bags, backpacks, or a hybrid. There are also sling bags, tote bags and duffle bags. There are some key differences between styles, including how paddles are stored, the orientation of pockets, and the different ways the bag can be carried. 

The most important characteristic of a bag to consider before making a purchase is its size. If you bring a paddle, a water bottle, and a pair of shoes to the court for two hours, your optimal bag size will differ from someone who frequently spends full days at tournaments, hopping from court to court. 

Pickleball Bags by Size

Everyone’s perspective is different, but here’s a general size breakdown of the bags we looked at:

Small Bags

Medium Bags:

Large Bags: 

Pickleball Bag Materials

Many of these bags are made of polyester or something similar. For anyone trekking to their local courts a couple of times per week, this material should be plenty capable. 

For those who demand a little more, though, there are a few brands that are taking their bag materials to the next level. 

• ADV: The Pickleball Backpack V2 features military-grade Kodra nylon, which is highly durable and weather-resistant, fitting for this tank of a bag.
• CRBN: The new Tour Bag features a double-stripe leather exterior that feels both luxurious and durable to the touch. It looks super sleek, too.
• KTCHN: The Court Caddy is the Cadillac of pickleball bags: sleek, high-performance, and with plenty of bells and whistles. It’s made of highly durable and weather-resistant PU leather that will perform just as well as it looks. 
• Six Zero: The new Performance Backpack boasts a 1000D Cordura exterior, a favorite material in the bag industry for its aesthetic, performance, and durability. The Pro Tour Bag features supple vegan leather throughout, which helps set it apart from other options in the market. 
• Team Pickleball: Both their tote and backpack options are made of more than 30 recycled plastic bottles each. The resulting material feels both supple and substantial and has a matte sheen that’s unique and appealing. (Other brands using recycled materials in their bags include Head and 11Six24.)

Pickleball Zips

When it comes to zippers, there is one undeniable gold standard: YKK. This doesn’t mean other zipper brands can’t or won’t perform admirably, but with YKK you know exactly what you’re getting. 

Below are the bags from the list that opted for YKK zippers throughout: 

• 11Six24 Essentials Bag
• ADV Pickleball Backpack V2
• CRBN Pro Team Tour Bag 2.0, Pro Team Backpack and Pro Team Sling Bag
• KTCHN Court Caddy
• Six Zero Performance Backpack
• Team Pickleball RePlay Backpack and RePlay Tote Bag

Pickleball Bag Compartments

You never know what might happen on a pickleball court, and it always helps to come prepared. Extra overgrips? Check. Bandaids? Check. Leftover Halloween candy? Double check.

For some, having a pocket for everything is the hallmark of a great bag. The options below won't disappoint. 

• CRBN Pro Team Tour Bag 2.0: Highlights include insulated pockets for drinks as well as paddles, plus a shoe compartment and even a special hidden pocket for dirty clothes. 
• Gearbox Core Collection Backpack: A pocket for everything, and then some. This bag also features a unique and convenient side-access shoe compartment.
• Holbrook Podium Bag: Very smart pocket organization–including plush side pockets for up to four paddles–utilizes every inch of space in this bag. 
• Ogio Equipment Pack: A huge main compartment surrounded by smaller pockets for everything else you need. 
• Paddletek Tour Bag: Lots of different sizes and shapes of pockets make this bag a go-to for all types of situations. 
• Six Zero Pro Tour Bag: If you’re spending a full day on the court and need lots of pockets for lots of stuff, this is the bag you take.

Paddle Stowage

If you only carry two paddles at a time, any of the bags on this list will work. If you need space for more, plus your other court essentials, you'll have to be a bit more discerning. 

Here are a few bags that prioritize storage for multiple paddles at a time:

• Franklin Elite Duffle: The only duffle on the list, this bag has padded paddle pockets on both sides of the interior, plus a ton of smaller pockets for other accessories. 
• Head Pro X Backpack: One of the largest bags we looked at, this backpack has three individual sleeves on one side just for paddles. You can also fit many more in the cavernous main pocket. 
• Ronbus Tour Bag: The exterior material feels robust and durable, and you won’t be wanting for additional pockets. Two side paddle pockets–including one that’s fully insulated for protection from the heat–allow space for multiple options come game day.
• Team Pickleball RePlay Tote Bag: This bag has some of the best pockets on the list, including a nice sleek internal sleeve with padded protection for two paddles. The internal cavity is large enough for several more, with plenty of leftover space for shoes, water bottles and other essentials. 
• CRBN Pro Team Tour Bag 2.0: Side paddle pockets, including one that’s fully insulated, can easily fit four or more paddles. The exterior material will keep them safe from whatever, including an unexpected rain storm. 

Pickleball Bag Colors

Sometimes, how fun a bag looks is just as important as what it's made of or how many pickleball pockets it has. In a sea of black and grey, there are some brands who have opted to brighten things up. 

The brands below offer a range of great bags in a variety of fun colors, perfect for the player who wants to dial the style points up to 11.

• Friday Equipment Backpack: Friday Pickleball offers one bag … and it’s a banger. Stark white with blue and red accents, it’s unlike any other bag on the market. 
• Joola: You know the paddles, but did you know Joola also offers a bunch of bags in all sorts of vibrant color combinations? 
• Ogio Pickleball Collection: Ogio offers a range of bag styles in fun color combinations that’ll be sure to get you noticed. 
• Selkirk: From lipstick red to a more refined dusty tan, Selkirk’s line of backpacks has just the color for anyone looking to stand out. 
• Six Zero: New to the bag game, Six Zero has come out of the gate strong with standout colors including pink and Ruby Red.
• Volair: The Paddle Bag comes in a couple bold variations of bright blue, shock pink and inky black. 

Overall Value Bags

From quality materials and zippers to smart pocket organization and paddle storage, there are a few bags we reviewed that give you a lot for the money.

If you’re still unsure which pickleball bag is right for you, you won’t go wrong with any of these options (pictured below).

• 11Six24 Essentials Bag: This is one of the few unstructured bags on the list, giving it the ability to ebb and flow depending on what you’re packing for the day. Minimal but effective pocketing, YKK zippers and dedicated pockets for paddles and shoes–all for $99– make it a solid option for players at any level.
• ADV Pickleball Backpack V2: ADV is one of the few brands in the space dedicated to only producing high-quality paddle bags, and it shows. The materials, zippers and organization here are top-notch. It’s also big enough to carry you through any situation. And don’t balk at the price tag – the quality is more than worth it and the lifetime guarantee should help further soften the blow. 
• CRBN Pro Team Backpack: All the bags from CRBN are excellent, but there’s a reason this one has become a fan-favorite. It’s perfectly sized and organized for all types of playing environments, and its color scheme is classy AF. The 1-Year Warranty is a nice touch, but given the quality, we doubt you’ll need it. 
• KTCHN Court Caddy: KTCHN makes pickleball bags, and that’s it. The Court Caddy continues to sell out for a reason: It’s made of superior materials and was clearly designed with input from thousands of hours of real-world player feedback. Complete with a lifetime guarantee, it could easily be the last bag you ever need. 
• Six Zero Performance Backpack: A cordura exterior with YKK zippers and pockets galore, this is a lot of bag for just north of $100. The fun colors and limited warranty–plus a size we really like–put it over the top.
• Team Pickleball RePlay Backpack: Another brand focused on pickleball bags, Team Pickleball delivers with this backpack. Minimalist pockets keep you organized, YKK zippers, magnetic closures and a durable recycled exterior fabric round it out. For $160–that’s less than most paddles, mind you–you won’t be disappointed.