Best Pickleball Bags and Backpacks
Four pickleball bags compared on paddle capacity, shoe compartment and listed size from each listing, plus a five-question picker that matches one to your kit.
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Quick answer
Pick a pickleball bag by what you carry, not by brand. CRBN lists its Pro Team Tour at 23 by 12 by 14 inches with room for six paddles and a shoe compartment, so it suits full kits. For a paddle or two plus a bottle, a sling or compact backpack is enough.
- Paddles. All four bags here list room for up to six paddles, so count shoes and clothes, not paddles, when you choose.
- Shoes. Only the CRBN Pro Team Tour names a shoe compartment on its listing.
- Carry. Athletico converts between sling and backpack, and the CRBN has a zip-off sling bag built in.
Find your bag in five questions
Say how many paddles and balls you carry, whether shoes go in, what else you pack and how you carry. You get one bag from this page.
This is guidance built from the listing text and maker pages on this page, not a test result. Listings give outside sizes, so usable space is lower.
Four bags matched to how you carry
Details below come from each Amazon listing or maker page, read for this update. Each button opens the current listing because prices change. Paddlory earns a commission on qualifying purchases through these links, at no extra cost to you.
CRBN Pro Team Tour
The listing names space for up to 6 paddles, a shoe compartment, a compartment underneath for used clothes and a built-in zip-off sling. It measures 23 by 12 by 14 in and weighs 3 lb.
Selkirk Sport Day Backpack
The listing gives 13 by 5 by 16 in and 1 lb, with a 15 inch laptop sleeve, a padded front pocket and a side mesh pocket. It says the bag holds up to 6 paddles and lists no shoe compartment.
Athletico Sling Bag
The maker says the padded main compartment fits up to 6 paddles, with a second compartment for balls and towels, a bottle holder and a fence hook. It converts between sling and backpack.
Franklin Sports Pickleball Sling Bag Backpack
The listing says it holds up to 6 paddles and X-40 balls, with a padded phone and key pocket and a fence hook. It measures 18.5 by 13 by 8 in and lists no shoe compartment.
Video: what goes in each pocket
This six-minute bag check shows how one player splits paddles, clothes, snacks, grips and small gear across the pockets of a bag.
Compare the four on the listings
| Bag | Type | Paddles | Shoe compartment | Listed size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CRBN Pro Team Tour | Backpack or duffle with zip-off sling | Up to 6 | Yes | 23 by 12 by 14 in, 3 lb, 30 L listed | Amazon listing and CRBN product page |
| Selkirk Sport Day Backpack | Backpack | Up to 6 | Not listed | 13 by 5 by 16 in, 1 lb | Amazon listing |
| Athletico Sling Bag | Sling or backpack | Up to 6 | Not listed | 14 by 6 by 20 in | Amazon listing |
| Franklin Sports Sling Bag Backpack | Sling | Up to 6 | Not listed | 18.5 by 13 by 8 in | Amazon listing |
What the listed sizes tell you
Listings give outside dimensions, not usable space. Multiply the CRBN’s 23 by 12 by 14 inches and you get about 63 liters, yet the same listing gives a capacity of 30 liters.
Treat the dimensions as an upper bound and compare bags on what they name: sleeves, a shoe compartment, a laptop sleeve, a bottle holder.
Shoe compartment: when it matters
Only the CRBN Pro Team Tour names one among these four. If you carry a second pair of shoes, that decides it, and the picker above sends you there.
If you wear your court shoes in, a shoe compartment is wasted bulk. See the best pickleball shoes guide if the shoes themselves are the question.
Sling or backpack
A sling keeps the bag within reach and suits one or two paddles with a bottle. A backpack puts the load on both shoulders, which matters once shoes and clothes join the kit.
Two of the four bags give you both, because Athletico converts between sling and backpack and the CRBN has a zip-off sling. The longer comparison is in backpack versus sling bag, and the capacity versus bulk article covers capacity for bigger kits.
The women’s bag guide looks at fit and weight, and the cooler pocket roundup lists bags with an insulated pocket.
Protecting the paddles inside
Paddle maker Revolin warns that prolonged heat, such as a paddle left in a hot car, can make the composite break down faster. A bag helps only if it stays out of the car and out of the sun between games.
A cover adds a layer inside the bag, and the paddle cover article explains when it is worth it. If a paddle already feels flat, run the dead spot test.
For how many paddles to plan for, read how many paddles your bag should hold. The paddle rankings are in the best pickleball paddle guide.
Packing a bag you will carry
Count your paddles honestly before you buy for four or six. Space you never use is weight you carry on every trip.
Empty the bag after a wet session so a damp towel does not sit in it overnight.
How we sourced these figures
We did not test these bags. Paddle counts, compartments and sizes are what each Amazon listing or maker page says, and we left out reviewer claims.
Makers do not print usable volume or load limits for every bag, and the listed capacities can disagree with the dimensions. We show no prices because they change daily.
Frequently Asked Questions
Match the bag to what you carry. All four bags here list room for up to six paddles, so size is really about shoes, clothes and balls. One or two paddles, balls and a bottle fit a sling, and shoes call for a bag whose listing names a shoe compartment.
Only if you carry a second pair of shoes. The CRBN Pro Team Tour lists a shoe compartment, and the other three bags on this page do not name one. If you wear your court shoes in, skip the feature and choose a smaller bag.
A sling is quick to reach and suits one or two paddles, while a backpack spreads weight across both shoulders on longer carries. Athletico's bag converts between sling and backpack, and the CRBN Pro Team Tour has a built-in zip-off sling, so two of these four give you both.
Each of the four listings on this page says up to six paddles. The CRBN Pro Team Tour lists padded space for six, and the Selkirk, Athletico and Franklin listings state six in their text. Check how many you really carry before you pay for space you will not use.
Yes. Paddle maker Revolin warns that prolonged heat, such as a paddle left in a hot car or in direct sun, can make the composite break down faster. A bag only helps if you keep it out of the car and out of the sun between games.
They give outside dimensions, not usable space. The CRBN listing gives 23 by 12 by 14 inches, which multiplies to about 63 liters, yet its capacity line says 30 liters. Treat the dimensions as an upper bound and compare bags on the compartments they name.
Keep reading
Last updated: November 1, 2026