Hey, I’m Kayla. I play pickleball four mornings a week in Austin. My car trunk looks like a gear closet. Balls roll out when I pop it open. Sunscreen leaks sometimes. It’s a scene.
For a jolt of smart gear ideas and feel-good motivation, I always skim HowMuchJoy before hitting checkout.
So I started testing bags. Not just “cute.” Not just “sporty.” I took them to real courts with real sweat and red dust. I biked with them. I stuffed them under a metal bench and on the fence. Some won me over. Some bugged me. Need even more options? Good Housekeeping’s rundown of the best pickleball bags highlights favorites for every budget and style.
Here’s the thing: the right bag saves time and saves your mood. Let me explain. If you want the photo-packed version of my rankings, you can skim it right here.
My Week With Six Bags (and a Few Blisters)
1) Athletico Pickleball Sling Bag — Light, cheap, easy
I grabbed the black sling on a Tuesday before open play. I packed two paddles, six balls, a small towel, and sunscreen. It all fit. The front pocket has padding, so my carbon paddle face didn’t get scuffed by keys. The water bottle pocket has a drawstring that held my 24 oz bottle snug. I biked to the courts, and the bag didn’t bounce.
- What I loved: It weighs almost nothing. The back panel has just enough cushion. The top loop hangs fine on the fence.
- What bugged me: The zipper snagged once on the inner seam. Also, the strap rubbed my collarbone when I wore a tank. I moved the strap to the other side, and it helped.
- Who it fits: New players or folks who want a simple bag under 40 bucks. Quick games. Not a big hauler.
Real moment: I spilled a bit of banana gel inside. Wiped clean with a wet wipe. No stain. Small win.
2) Selkirk Day Backpack — “I carry my life” bag
I used this bag for league night at Austin Pickle Ranch. It swallowed a hoodie, four paddles, a 32 oz bottle, tape, rosin, and a hair clip stash. It has structure, so it stands up when you set it down. The zippers are smooth and don’t chatter.
- What I loved: It feels premium without being stiff. Two big side pockets for bottles. Padded straps stayed comfy on my shoulders during a long walk from parking.
- What bugged me: No separate shoe pocket. After a dusty match, my shoes mixed with my clean shirt, and I made a face. Also, the light color shows court dirt fast.
- Who it fits: League players who bring extra paddles and a jacket. Sleek, but still sporty.
Real moment: I found my ChapStick right away because the small top pocket is actually useful, not a black hole.
3) JOOLA Vision II Backpack — The shoe saver
I took this to an indoor tourney at a high school gym. The bottom shoe tunnel is vented, which is huge when your socks are swampy. I slid in my court shoes after warm-up and kept the rest of my stuff stink-free. The back panel breathes, too.
- What I loved: Shoe compartment. Done. Also, the chest strap kept it stable while I jogged across the lot in the rain.
- What bugged me: It’s long on my 5'4" frame. The side pockets were tight with my 40 oz bottle; a 24 oz fits great. When overloaded, the straps squeaked a little.
- Who it fits: Players who always carry shoes or switch between indoor and outdoor courts.
Real moment: I shoved a wet towel in the shoe tunnel by mistake after my second match. It dried fast. Crisis dodged.
4) Recess Pickleball Court Bag (Tote) — Cute meets court
Recess is Austin-based, and the prints get me every time. I took the canvas tote to a Saturday “play then brunch” morning. It’s a zip-top with inner pockets, and it fits two paddles, a cardigan, and the little things you always lose—hair ties, hand sanitizer, mints. It looked good leaning on the bench. It just did.
- What I loved: It’s stylish. It works with a sundress or leggings. The paddle divider helps.
- What bugged me: No fence hook. I set it on the ground and got ants once. Also, canvas soaks up drizzle. After a light rain, it felt damp for a bit. The handles dig if you pack a lot.
- Who it fits: Social play. Brunch play. Anyone who says, “I want it cute, not clunky.”
Real moment: A stranger asked, “Where’d you get that bag?” We talked paddles and coffee recs. That’s half the fun.
5) Franklin Sports Pickleball Sling — Fence-friendly and tough
I’ve used this sling since last fall for open play at Mueller. It has a built-in fence hook that actually holds. I like the phone pocket that zips across the chest when you wear it. It fits two paddles and the basics without bulge.
- What I loved: The fence hook kept the bag off wet grass after sprinklers ran too long. The strap flips left/right, which helps.
- What bugged me: After eight months, the strap edge started to fuzz. I singed the fray with a lighter and it stopped. DIY fix, sure, but still.
- Who it fits: Minimalists who want a hook and go.
Real moment: I dropped a set of keys. They slid into the grass. Found them fast because the outer pocket is shallow and easy to check.
6) Lululemon City Adventurer 17L — Not a pickleball bag, but it works
This is a gym backpack. I tested it on a weekday when I had work, a lunch hit, then evening matches. It has a stretchy bottom pocket for sweaty gear or shoes. I put my shoes there and my paddles in the main area, sideways. It looked sleek with a blazer in the morning and still did the job at night.
- What I loved: The separate “sweaty stuff” pocket is gold. The fabric wipes clean fast. It doesn’t scream “sports bag.”
- What bugged me: No fence hook. No big bottle pocket. I had to tuck my 32 oz bottle inside the main area and it stole space.
- Who it fits: Commuters, coaches, or anyone going straight from office to court.
Real moment: I spilled SPF. It wiped right off. No smell left behind, which shocked me.
Which Bag Should You Pick?
- You bike or walk to the courts: Athletico Sling
- You bring extra paddles and layers: Selkirk Day Backpack
- You carry court shoes every time: JOOLA Vision II
- You want style with function: Recess Court Tote
- You need a fence hook and simple setup: Franklin Sling
- You’re going from desk to dinks: Lululemon City Adventurer
You know what? None of these are perfect. But each one shines for a different day.
Pro tip: If you eventually want to swap out a bag that no longer fits your routine, hopping onto a local marketplace like OneBackPage can help you sell it fast—or snag a gently-used upgrade at a fraction of retail—thanks to its city-specific listings and no-middleman chats.
If you’d rather skip the resale shuffle and simply pad your “new gear” budget, some players explore side hustles ranging from tutoring to consulting—or even arrangements that blend travel, dinners, and generous monthly stipends. Curious how that last option works overseas? This overview of the sugar-daddy scene in Holland maps out the expectations, safety tips, and financial perks, showing how a well-negotiated allowance can turn a dream paddle or premium bag into an easy “add to cart” moment.
What I Pack (and What I Learned the Hard Way)
Here’s my standard loadout:
- Two paddles (one control, one power)
- 4–6 balls in a mesh bag
- 24–32 oz water bottle
- Small towel
- Sunscreen stick
- Hair ties and a clip
- Bandaids and blister pads
- Granola bar or honey packet
- Mini deodorant
- Keys on a carabiner
Quick tips:
- Keep a spare pair of socks in a zip bag. Dry feet change your mood.
- Toss in a Sharpie. Mark your balls so they come back to you.
- Store a trash bag. If it rains, wrap your bag and keep playing.
Tiny Gripes That Bugged Me (But Didn’t Break the Deal)
- Zippers that bite the liner. I learned to pinch the fabric as I zip.
- Bottle pockets that won’t fit a big bottle. I downsized to 24 oz on sling days.
- Light colors look sharp but show dust fast. I keep a damp cloth in the car.
- Straps that rub. Swap sides or add a soft strap cover. Easy fix.
Final Take
If I had to keep two, I’d keep