Basketball players need to feel ready and prepared. Whether you are the parent of a teen player or you’re a player yourself—professional or recreational—we know all about the importance of the necessary basketball equipment.
Yes, the ball and the hoop are the basics and the bare minimum you need to play ball. But what about getting to and from the court and having to carry your ball around with you? It does get in the way, especially if you don't have a good basketball backpack.
Many players tend to carry a duffel bag, a travel tote, or a suitcase around to store their ball, socks, shoes, and gym clothes. But how comfortable is that? We guess it's not ideal.
So, how do you find the best and most efficient backpack for your basketball and other necessities you take to the gym or the court with you? And what do you need to look for when shopping for the perfect backpack?
We've done some research for you, and we've summarized our findings in this article. Read on to find out the best basketball backpacks currently on the market and take a peek at our top recommendations.
- Our Top Pick
- Padded straps and handles
- Versatile and durable
- Best Value
- Ventilated ball compartment
- Multiple pockets for many uses
- Best Budget
- Oxford fabric and a hidden ball compartment
- USB and earphone ports
- Most Popular
- Convenient and stylish drawstring ball compartment
- 100% hydrophobic polyester
- Best for Professionals
- Professional design for professional sports players
- Ventilated shoe compartment for up to 15 shoe size
- Best for Teens
- Lightweight and comfortable
- Oversized and durable
Best Basketball Backpacks
To help you out on your endeavor to find the best basketball backpack for yourself or your basketball-oriented young athlete at home, we've looked at the best basketball backpacks out there and narrowed the overwhelming number of choices down to six exceptional products available to you.
An excellent choice and our top pick is the Acrodo sports bag.
You can choose to use this product as a duffel bag or a ball backpack. Its adjustable and detachable ergonomic padded straps ensure you can carry it comfortably whichever way you choose. On top of that, it has a modern, stylish look.
To use it as a backpack, all you have to do is remove the shoulder straps from the secret compartment at the bottom of the duffle bag, attach each strap to the appropriate top and bottom buckles, and the magic transformation is complete.
The backpack is spacious and lightweight, as is the duffel bag, and the product's overall versatility makes it perfect for both adults and children.
But there is more. The Acrodo bag brings a lot of value to the table—it comes with a ball holder, a shoe compartment, and an insulated food and beverage storage. It even has a separate shoe bag for you to ensure your sweaty or dirty clothes, shoes, and items are away from everything else.
The unisex sports bag is outstanding for players of all kinds of sports, not just basketball. Volleyball and soccer balls fit perfectly in it, and you have all the extra space you need to store all your necessities.
Having made its debut in July of 2019, the Acrodo sports bag comes highly recommended by an overwhelming majority of its buyers. Its durability and ability to hold all the essentials are its most notable features, and we are confident you won't be disappointed if you decide to give it a try.
The MIER Basketball Backpack is our best-value pick. It's remarkably reliable and durable, and it features multiple compartments and pockets.
The ball compartment on the bottom is ventilated and extremely spacious, with a size of 9 x 8.7 x 9.4 in inches. It's also great for storage of sweaty or dirty items so that they're adequately ventilated and tucked safely away from electronics or other dry items.
The interior of the main compartment has a laptop pocket that fits a seventeen-inch laptop. It also has a pouch for your tablet, a side mesh pocket, and two open side pockets.
The product's exterior features multiple compartments on the top, front, and sides.
The bag weighs 2.64 lbs., its capacity is 40L, and its measurements in inches are 12.6 in length, 9.8 in width, and 19.7 in height. As you can see, it's big enough and quite perfect for multiple purposes—a trip to the gym, the beach, or even out of town. And the possibilities don't stop there. It's also excellent for hiking, school, and so on.
The manufacturer makes this sports bag using tough, water-resistant fabric and ensures the padding on the bottom panel is proofed against abrasions, which is a massive plus for demanding athletes.
The shoulder straps are incredibly comfortable—MIER guarantees their padding with sternum straps to better distribute weight and reduce the pressure on your back. The contact areas on the back have ventilated mesh padding designed to ensure maximum comfort.
The MIER Basketball Backpack is an excellent seller for a reason, and we urge you to check it out, as it may very well be the right sports bag for your needs. It has certainly proven to be perfect for so many others.
Because it comes with useful features and is relatively easy on the pocket, the Basketball Backpack with USB Charging Port is our best-budget pick.
A mesh net hidden at the bottom zipper of the product pulls out and turns into a ball compartment. The bag also features myriads of other pockets and compartments for your laptop (up to 15.6 inches), keys, wallet, phone, books, and so on, which makes it an excellent multipurpose bag for sport or business trips, school, recreational outings, work, or outdoor activities.
The manufacturer first released this exceptional backpack in August of 2020, so it's one of the newest and most efficient bags currently out there.
It's durable and made from eco-friendly materials, which is a feature that recent buyers are incredibly pleased with. Oxford fabric is the principal material making up the bag. The elastic sponge on the back of the product and the breathable mesh in the widened, padded shoulder straps relieve pressure and ensure maximum comfort.
But wait, we saved the coolest feature for last—the bag comes with a USB charging port and an earphone port. You can charge your electronic devices on the go, and you can jam to your favorite music without having even to open your backpack.
Are you sold yet? We encourage you to be among the first users to try this new product first released in August of 2020. By the sound of it, it's highly improbable for you to be left disappointed.
The Point 3 Road Trip 2.0 Basketball Backpack with Ball & Shoe Storage is a best seller and the most popular choice on the market right now.
Eighty-six percent of reviewers gave this basketball backpack a five-star rating, and 10% gave it four stars.
Committed to the manufacture and delivery of top-quality products for basketball players, Point 3 reinvented the design of their Road Trip mesh bag and equipped their 2.0 sports basketball backpack with a front pocket featuring a drawstring closure made to fit a basketball.
The product also has ventilated compartments for easy access of clothes and other necessary gear, and there are pockets on each side of the bag designated for water storage. There's even a pocket with a zipper at the top—perfect for your phone and other small items.
Large shoe size? No problem—the side compartment stores shoes up to size 14.
This durable product's material is 100% hydrophobic polyester, which ensures the bag is completely water-resistant, and you can rest assured sweaty gear or rain never get in the way of keeping your items safe and dry.
We urge you to check out and consider the Point 3 Road Trip 2.0 Basketball Backpack with so many happy customers' opinions backing us. Something tells us you won't regret it.
Our choice for pros is the Nike Hoops Elite Pro Backpack BA5554-022. The name itself hints at the backpack's essential purpose and lets us know Nike designed it with professional athletes in mind. After all, professionals expect and deserve the best, and the manufacturer did not fail to deliver in this case.
The sports basketball backpack is 100% polyester. It has a thirteen-inch shoulder drop and features a ventilated shoe compartment that can hold shoes up to size 15. Nice!
The Nike Hoops Elite Pro Backpack is very spacious. Your NBA or standard-size basketball will fit perfectly inside, along with your shoes, clothes, phone, and even your laptop. The large main compartments all have zippers and ensure plenty of space for gear storage. There is also a special foil-lined pocket for your beverage.
You even have an alternative carrying option because of the haul loop at the top. The product is unquestionably outstanding and perfect for a home game trip or a one- or two-day trip to play out of town.
An excellent choice for a professional, just like the name says.
Last but certainly not least is the Nike Unisex Hoops Elite Pro Basketball Backpack. We've rated this product as the best choice for teens because it's oversized and extremely durable.
The basketball backpack is water-resistant and 100% polyester. The interior lining is also polyester. There is a spacious main compartment for storing all the gear you need and a mesh sleeve that stores up to a 15-size shoe.
Nike designed this bag for maximum performance on the court or in the classroom. It's super lightweight and comes in various colors.
A whopping 91% of users have given this excellent unisex product a five-star rating, which says a lot about its popularity, durability, and effectiveness.
Many purchasers are incredibly impressed with the backpack's size —21 inches in height, 13 inches in width, and 9 inches in depth. These dimensions make it roomy and perfect for all your sports gear and classroom essentials, and the unique Nike zipper system ensures easy access to your items from any angle.
Undoubtedly, this product is another outstanding choice.
A Buying Guide for the Best Basketball Backpack
When looking for the right basketball backpack, you first have to consider and assess your basic needs. Then start factoring in extra features that may turn out relatively beneficial.
Overall Purpose
Do you play recreationally or professionally? Will you use the backpack only to transport your basketball, or could you benefit from a multipurpose backpack?
Many sports backpacks on the market have multiple uses. Even though they are designated for use with a specific sport and have a primary purpose, most people use them for various pastimes.
Any extra-roomy bag can efficiently serve as a basketball backpack. And a good basketball backpack can undoubtedly accommodate your soccer ball or volleyball—sometimes even both at once.
Size and Capacity
Do you travel out of town for games, or do you play somewhere close to home? What kind of gear do you want to make sure you have space for in your backpack?
In most cases, being able to only store and carry your ball with you and nothing else is far from enough, especially if you are an active, serious player who is always on the move.
Having a basketball backpack with multiple pockets and extra space for your clothes and shoes is extra useful. If you can also store snacks and refreshments, it's even better.
Material
Consider the backpack's material, and check out the quality of the stitching and the zippers. You don't want a product that can come apart right away or annoying zippers that get stuck and don't work correctly. Most of the time, you can quickly tell if the seams are well-stitched and the zippers are sturdy and open smoothly and easily.
You may also want a waterproof backpack. After all, you can't control the weather, and it's a good idea to ensure your gear won't get wet no matter what.
Usually, the best material for a basketball backpack would be polyester, nylon, or canvas that is high in density.
Durability
Durability is essential to most people. You'd probably prefer to end up with a backpack that will last you for a long time rather than having to buy a new one every few months.
It shouldn't matter if you use your backpack daily or every once in a while. A quality backpack made from high-caliber material will last for years regardless how often you use it.
Brand
Would particular brands play a role in your choice, and if so, which ones and why?
Usually, generic brands won't offer the same level of quality as non-generic, designer ones. It's not always the case, though, so we advise you to remain open-minded.
Final Thoughts
We hope we've provided some enlightenment on the subject of basketball backpacks and taken you a step closer to your final goal.
Now that you know what to pay attention to when looking for the perfect backpack for yourself or your young athlete at home, you can ensure you make the best possible investment.
