[Tried and True] 7 Best Tennis Bags in 2023

Tennis backpacks are just the right size to carry everything you need to practice and are very easy to carry. When we put everything you’d need to play tennis (one racket, one pair of shoes, two cans of four tennis balls each, five 17-ounce water bottles, five towels, and a cap), we found that most tennis backpacks could fit all of it with room to spare.

One of these backpacks can be a lifesaver when you’re practicing somewhere that doesn’t provide basic tennis equipment. In addition, you can keep both your hands free, so if you have something else you need to bring along, you can carry it without trouble.

You may want to consider a tote bag or racket bag, depending on how much you plan to carry. Keep reading to learn about these bags and make the right choice.

We found that tote bags didn’t have enough room to hold everything you need for tennis and got bulky when we tried to put everything in. However, you can carry them with just one hand, so if you practice somewhere that provides basic necessities and only need to bring a racket, shoes, water bottle, and towel, one of these bags could work for you.

As for racket bags, some can be carried on the shoulders just like a backpack, but they cover your racket completely, which is a plus. They have a great deal of space, so they’re a good choice for people who want to carry stuff for work or school with their tennis gear. However, the bags are heavy, so bringing them to practice might be a hassle.

We recommend a backpack with padding on the straps and other parts that come in contact with your body. It should be spongy, and you should be able to make an impression with your finger.

We found that backpacks with spongy padding on the straps didn’t dig into our shoulders even when we put a lot of weight in the bag, reducing the strain. You don’t want to wear yourself out before or after practice, so look for products marked as having padded shoulder straps in our ranking.

If you can adjust the shoulder straps, you can ensure the bag stays snug to your body even when you move abruptly, dispersing the weight and making it stress-free to carry.

If your bag shifts up, down, or to either side on your way to the court, it will feel even heavier and could tire you out.

If the bag opens wide in the front, you can put in and take out your gear smoothly regardless of size, which can help you out if you struggle to get packed. As for the products we tested, the Babolat Team Line Maxi was our favorite in this regard.

If you can open the front of the bag, you can quickly check the contents and keep your equipment neat and organized. On the other hand, bags with a small opening can cause trouble depending on the size of your gear. It’s also hard to look inside, which can lead to your bag being messy and untidy, so we recommend avoiding these products.

If the bag has dividers in the main storage space, you can keep your gear organized and check it easily, so these are great for people who tend to lose things. Among the products tested for this article, the Geau Sport Axiom Racquet Bag 2.0 had dividers we liked.

Some bags have removable dividers that are attached via fasteners. This is very convenient because it allows you to adjust as necessary, so check for dividers when looking for a bag. On the other hand, we found that after putting equipment in a bag without dividers, it got messy and disorganized. This was particularly noticeable in racket bags, as everything shifts toward the bottom when wearing them on your back.

If you’re concerned about putting your dirty shoes in your bag after wearing them outdoors, you need a bag with a vinyl shoe space. The Babolat RH12 Pure Drive is a good example.

You can easily remove any dirt from vinyl with a wet towel or tissue, but dirt can seep into fabric, making it harder to clean. If the bag doesn’t have a dedicated shoe space at all, you’ll have to buy one separately. If this sounds like a hassle, you should make sure the bag has space for shoes before you buy it.

Small pockets are great for carrying other small items in addition to your tennis equipment. Mesh pockets and those that zip shut are particularly convenient. Mesh pockets let you see what’s inside at a glance and take it out quickly whenever you want.

On the flip side, pockets with zippers are better for holding things you don’t want to lose, such as your keys or wallet. If you zip the pockets shut, you don’t have to worry about anything falling out, even if you toss your bag in the car.