If you carry one racket and a few essentials, a padel backpack is enough. If you carry two or more rackets, a change of kit and separate shoes, you want a racket bag. How many rackets you carry decides it, not how much you spend.
This guide compares the two, explains what to check before you buy either, and shows why we designed The Padelsmith Bag as a backpack.
Padel backpack or racket bag: the difference in practice
The two are built for different loads. A backpack is compact, carried on both shoulders and suits the commute to the court. A racket bag is larger, usually built around a dedicated racket section, and suits long sessions and tournaments. Padel Point draws the same line, describing backpacks as the compact option for commuting and racket bags as the choice when you want to carry everything and keep wet and dirty items apart.
| Padel backpack | Racket bag | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | One racket plus a few essentials | Two or more rackets, shoes and a change of clothes |
| Capacity | Compact | Larger, built around a racket section |
| Carrying | Two straps, hands free | Handle and shoulder strap, often backpack straps too |
| Shoes and wet kit | Usually shares space | Often a separate shoe pocket |
| Heat protection | Varies, check the spec | More often a thermally lined section |
The Padelsmith Bag: an everyday backpack with a racket in the front pouch
How many rackets do you carry?
This settles most decisions. Most recreational players carry one racket, balls, shoes and a change of clothes. Tournament players often carry two to four rackets. Padel Browser makes the point that the gap between a budget bag and a tournament bag is mostly about how many rackets you carry.
For a sense of scale, the Babolat RH Pro is listed at 62 litres and the adidas Multigame at 58 litres (56 x 35 x 29 cm). A backpack will not match that, and it does not need to if you only ever carry one racket.
Side view: carry handle, bottle pocket and the racket pouch at the front
Why we designed The Padelsmith Bag as a backpack
We wanted one bag that goes to work and to the court. The Padelsmith Bag is made from 56 pieces of hand-cut Italian leather, crafted over 9 hours by 8 pairs of hands in a workshop just outside Madrid. A tailored racket pouch with a zip sits at the front and fits any standard padel racket, round, teardrop or diamond. Behind it sit a fully lined main compartment, an inner pocket for a laptop up to 13 inches and a zipped inner pocket for valuables.
Two side pockets take bottles, two padded adjustable shoulder straps keep the load comfortable, and a luggage strap slides over a suitcase handle. It measures 32 x 37 x 13 cm and weighs about 1 kg.
Padded, adjustable shoulder straps and a luggage strap on the back
It is deliberately a one-racket bag. If you carry three rackets and a full change to tournaments, a racket bag is the better tool, and we would tell you so.
The racket pouch, close up: the racket rides at the front, away from your laptop
Five questions to ask before you buy
- How many rackets? One points to a backpack. Two or more points to a racket bag.
- Do your shoes travel with you? A separate shoe compartment keeps court dirt away from your kit. If shoes come with you, make sure there is somewhere for them.
- Is it also your everyday bag? If you carry a laptop to work, a backpack with a padded sleeve means one bag for the office and the court.
- Does it protect the racket from heat? Not all backpacks have a thermal compartment, so check before you buy. Our guide to padel racket covers explains what insulation can and cannot do.
- What is it made of? Materials and finish decide how a bag looks after a year of use. See real leather versus faux leather padel bags.
Black YKK zips with stitched coral accents on the pulls
Common mistakes
- Buying for the tournament you will never play. A 60 litre bag for one racket is just more to carry.
- Carrying the racket loose. A racket thrown in a gym bag with keys and a bottle picks up scuffs and dents. Use a proper pouch or a cover.
- Choosing on looks alone. Check the pouch, the zips and the straps, not just the finish.
- Ignoring how you travel. Public transport and walking favour a backpack. Driving to the club makes a racket bag easier.
The finished bag on the workbench before it is packed in its dust bag
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a padel bag?
You do not strictly need one, but carrying a racket loose exposes it to scratches, knocks and temperature swings. A bag, backpack or cover protects it and keeps your kit together.
Can I use a normal backpack for padel?
Yes for the commute, but a standard backpack has no pouch for the racket, so the frame can be crushed or scuffed. A padel backpack has a dedicated racket compartment.
How many rackets fit in a padel backpack?
Backpacks usually take one. Racket bags typically take two to four, depending on the size.
Is a padel backpack big enough for shoes and a change of clothes?
Some are, but it is a squeeze. If you carry shoes, a towel and a full change every session, a racket bag with a shoe compartment is easier to live with.
Which Padelsmith product is a padel backpack?
The Padelsmith Bag, our handcrafted leather everyday backpack with a front racket pouch and a 13 inch laptop sleeve. 32 x 37 x 13 cm. £220. Launching Monday 2 November.
Written by Souhaib Benmaou
Founder & Director, Padelsmith Ltd. London-based, Padelsmith designs premium padel rackets and accessories in Britain, handcrafted in Andalucía. Souhaib writes about racket construction, materials, and the craft behind serious play.