15 Things to Pack in Your Pickleball Bag

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This checklist is for anyone who has arrived at open play without a ball, a towel or sunscreen. Here are the 15 things to pack in your pickleball bag, sorted into three groups. Five are must-haves, six are comfort items, and four are small things you will be glad you brought. Almost everything on the list is cheap. The bag itself deserves a little thought, though. A fence hook and a shoe pocket change how the whole morning goes.

At a glance

Best sling

Selkirk Sling Bag

Padded cross-body strap, water-resistant shell and a fold-out fence hook.

Check price at Selkirk

Best for carrying a lot

Franklin Sports Pickleball Sling Bag

Holds up to six paddles, with a fence hook and a padded phone pocket.

Check price at Franklin

Best budget

Any sling with a fence hook under about $30

Fine for one paddle, two balls and a bottle.

Check price at Amazon

How to choose the bag itself

Start with how you get to the court. If you park beside it and carry one paddle, a sling is plenty. A sling sits across one shoulder and swings to the front so you can reach a pocket. If you walk far, or carry shoes, a jacket and two bottles, a backpack is kinder to a stiff neck.

Then look for four features. A fence hook, so the bag hangs at eye level instead of sitting on a wet court. A shoe compartment, so clean clothes stay away from the soles. An insulated pocket, which keeps a bottle cold and gives an ice pack a home. And a padded phone pocket, because a phone under a pile of balls does not survive long.

Color matters less than the zippers. Big pulls you can grab with sweaty hands are the thing you notice every time.

Selkirk Sling Bag

This is the bag for one or two paddles, a bottle and the small stuff. It stays light on the shoulder. The strap has padding for cross-body carry. The shell resists water, so a damp bench does not soak through. The fence hook folds out at the court and tucks away in the car.

What it is not is a shoe bag. If you change shoes at the court, they go in the main compartment with everything else. Or they ride in a separate drawstring sack.

Buy it if

• you walk from a parking lot with one or two paddles.
• you want the bag off the ground on a wet morning.

Pass if

• you carry shoes, a jacket and two large bottles.
• you share one bag with a partner (the Franklin holds more).

Franklin Sports Pickleball Sling Bag

This is for the player who brings extras. A spare paddle for a friend, a sleeve of balls, a jacket and a towel. Franklin says it holds up to six paddles. In practice that means two paddles and everything else with room to spare. The fence hook sits inside the largest pocket. A padded pocket holds a phone and keys.

It is still a sling, so a full load rides on one shoulder. If that bothers your neck by the time you reach the court, get a backpack instead.

Buy it if

• you carry more than two paddles or a sleeve of balls.
• you want a padded spot for a phone and keys.

Pass if

• a loaded single strap bothers your neck or shoulder.
• you only ever carry one paddle and a bottle.

Budget sling with a fence hook

This is for a first season. It also suits the player who is not sure pickleball will stick. Plenty of plain slings under about $30 hold one paddle, two balls and a bottle. Read the listing for two things. The fence hook should have stitching, not glue. The paddle sleeve should fit a paddle, since some only fit a phone.

Skip anything with a cooler pocket at this price. The insulation is thin and the pocket rarely fits a 32 oz bottle.

Buy it if

• you are in your first season and want to spend on the paddle instead.
• you carry one paddle, two balls and a bottle.

Pass if

• you need a shoe compartment or a real insulated pocket.
• you play four days a week (the zippers will not last the year).

The 15 things to pack in your pickleball bag

The must-haves

1. Paddle. Still choosing? A 16 mm paddle at 7.6 to 8.0 oz with a 4.25-inch grip is the safe first buy. Our paddle comparison walks through it. The cheap version that is fine: a Selkirk SLK or JOOLA Essentials paddle under $100.

2. Two or three outdoor balls. Outdoor balls are harder, with smaller holes, and they crack in cold weather, so carry spares. Franklin X-40 is the ball at most parks, and USA Pickleball lists it as approved. The cheap version: a six-pack of X-40s split with a friend.

3. Court shoes. Not running shoes. A court shoe has a flat, grippy sole and side-to-side support, which keeps an ankle from rolling. Keep them in the bag so the soles stay clean. See our shoe guides for women and men. The ASICS Gel-Rocket line is the cheap version that is fine.

4. Water bottle. An insulated steel bottle, 24 to 32 oz, with a lid that will not leak in the bag. A straw lid lets you sip between points. Our water bottle guide ranks the options. Any insulated 32 oz bottle with a leak-proof lid is the cheap version.

5. Sunscreen. SPF 30 or higher and broad spectrum. Cover the face, neck, ears, arms and the backs of the hands. Add a second coat at the two-hour mark. A stick does not leak on your paddle the way a bottle can. A drugstore mineral stick is fine. Our pickleball skincare guide explains the rest.

The comfort items

6. Towel. A small microfiber towel for your hands and the paddle handle. A sweaty grip becomes a tense grip, and a tense grip becomes a sore elbow. The cheap version: a dish-size microfiber towel from a multipack.

7. Hat or visor. A visor keeps sun out of your eyes and lets heat out the top. A brimmed hat covers the ears and neck too, which matters more after 50. Either one from the bin at a sporting goods store is fine; UPF 50 fabric is a bonus.

8. Sunglasses. Polarized lenses cut the glare off a bright court. More important, wrap-around polycarbonate lenses protect your eye from a ball at the kitchen line. Eye injuries in players over 50 are common enough that our accessories guide covers the numbers. Cheap drugstore lenses are not impact rated.

9. Sun sleeves. UPF 50 arm sleeves mean no reapplying on the arms. They feel cooler than bare skin once damp and save your forearm in a dive. Any lightweight pair in your size works.

10. Overgrip. One spare, wrapped at home or in the car when the old one goes slick. Tourna Grip feels dry and chalky; Wilson Pro Overgrip feels tacky. A three-pack costs very little and lasts a summer.

11. A snack. A banana, a nut bar or a sleeve of crackers. Two hours of doubles burns more than you expect. The shaky, cranky third game is often hunger rather than age. The cheap version is whatever is already in your pantry.

The glad-I-had-it items

12. Small first-aid kit with blister pads. Hydrocolloid blister pads (Band-Aid Hydro Seal or Compeed), a few regular bandages and a roll of athletic tape. The cheap version: a sandwich bag with blister pads and tape, refilled when you use one.

13. Instant ice pack. A squeeze-to-activate cold pack for a rolled ankle or a sore knee. Cold does the most good in the first minutes, so keep it where you can reach it. Buy a two-pack at the pharmacy and keep both in the insulated pocket.

14. Electrolyte packets. Plain water is fine for an hour. For a two-hour session in heat, or if you cramp at night, one packet in the second bottle helps. Liquid I.V., LMNT and Nuun tablets all work; the Nuun tube is the cheap version.

15. Light jacket. A packable windbreaker or a quarter-zip for the cool first game and the walk back to the car. The one you already own is the right one.

Bonus: a paddle cover. It protects the face from the edge of a bag and the heat of a trunk. A neoprene sleeve costs very little, and the sleeve your paddle came in works too.

What to leave at home

Every ball you own. Outdoor balls crack, so carry three and store the rest. A full-size beach towel, a glass bottle and a hard cooler. The second paddle you never use. Lead tape and a knee brace, unless a physical therapist asked for them. And the heavy sunscreen bottle, which leaks onto your paddle face.

How we chose

This list comes from what players over 50 reach for at park and rec courts. We cross-checked it against the specs the brands publish, not our own weigh-ins or tear-downs. We are adding our own court photos and first-hand notes as the season goes. Where a product name appears, we confirmed it exists under that name today. Where a feature was unclear, we told you to read the listing.

Frequently asked questions

How many pickleballs should I pack?

Two or three. Outdoor balls crack, especially on cold mornings, and a group goes through one or two a session. A whole sleeve just adds weight and a ball rolling around the bottom of the bag.

Do I need a special pickleball bag?

No. Any bag with a fence hook, a bottle pocket and a paddle sleeve does the job. Pickleball-specific bags earn their price with a shoe compartment and an insulated pocket. Those matter once you play several days a week.

What should I pack in my pickleball bag for a tournament?

The same 15 things to pack in your pickleball bag, plus a second paddle and a printed schedule. Add a folding chair and a bigger snack. Tournaments mean long waits between matches, so the comfort items matter more than at open play.

Should I leave my pickleball bag in the car?

Not in summer heat. A hot trunk is hard on a paddle core, it ruins sunscreen, and it warms a bottle you wanted cold. Bring the bag inside and keep it by the door, ready for the next morning.

The bottom line

The small items are only half the story. Read our 10 pickleball accessories that make playing more comfortable next. New to the game? The complete beginner’s guide covers the rules and the first month. Our 5 beginner habits post covers what to do on court.