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Every sport has different requirements for equipment. For basketball, backpacks are one of the most important sport gears. Whether you’re a professional player or an amateur, you need a spacious gym bag where you can keep your ball, shoes, jersey and more.
Planning to buy one of these handy bags? You can choose from the list of the top-rated basketball backpacks below.
8 Best Basketball Backpacks
1. Nike Hoops Elite Max Backpack
Nike is known for making practical and highly-durable active gear, and their Elite Max Backpack is no exception.
It comes at a steep price, but it offers excellent value for money. The backpack is available in one big size with dimensions: 21 x 13 x 9 inches. The main compartment is roomy enough to fit your basketball, shoes and any other accessories you wish to carry.
One exceptional feature of this backpack is the wet/dry separation. This makes it easy to store your sweaty shoes or jersey from other items.
The backpack comes in a beautiful charcoal-black color with a bit of white on the straps. Even better, the exterior is constructed using a water-resistant material to protect your valuables.
Pros
- Fitted with the high-quality Nike Quad zip system for easy access
- Multiple compartments for increased storage
- Allows for separation of wet and dry gear
Cons
- Expensive
2. Athletico National Backpack for Basketball
Retailing at a cheaper price, Athletico National Backpack has all the features you’d want in a basketball bag.
It has multiple pockets, allowing you to organize your equipment neatly. One of these is a large vented compartment for storing your basketball. There’s also an outer compartment at the bottom designed for storing cleats or shoes.
The rear compartment is pretty spacious and includes a laptop sleeve while the middle compartment is equipped with an organizer.
In addition to its storage capacity, this backpack has plenty of ergonomic features. For one, it’s constructed using a blend of nylon and polyester, making it durable and light. Secondly, the straps are padded and adjustable to provide a comfortable fit.
Pros
- Equipped with a vented compartment to keep your basketball
- Rugged design for durability
- Straps can be adjusted for a snug fitting
- Backed by warranty
Cons
- The interior lining can be improved
3. Nike Club Team Swoosh Backpack
Although the Nike Club Team Swoosh was designed with soccer players in mind, it’s equally good for carrying basketball gear.
Coming from a renowned sports brand, this is a very affordable and compact backpack. It has one main compartment that can fit a basketball. There are also other pockets for storing cleats, a soccer ball and other gears.
This backpack is very easy to carry around. It feels light and is made of waterproof polyester. It also has a chic design and comes in three colors: black, midnight navy, and red.
Pros
- Dual zips on the main compartment
- Adjustable shoulder straps
- Includes a rain flap
Cons
- Looks like it’s made of cheap materials
4. Under Armour Ua Undeniable Backpack
The Ua Undeniable II is a highly-versatile product that can offer many more functions other than a general basketball backpack. So, if you’ve been searching for a bag that you can use for travel and outdoor excursions, this could be the solution.
The exterior is made of polyester while the interior has a nylon lining. Both polyester and nylon are strong materials that make this bag durable. To add to this, the manufacturer has incorporated a foam padding to further protect your personal items.
As for storage, the backpack’s main compartment is big enough to accommodate a size 5 soccer ball and an NBA-sized basketball. It’s also fitted with a laptop sleeve, perfect for keeping a 15-inch MacBook Pro or any other laptop of the same size.
Pros
- Individual compartments dedicated to basketball and laptop
- Wide shoulder straps
- Machine-washable
Cons
- Issues with using the zipper
5. K-Cliffs Baseball Backpack with Basketball Compartment
For the budget-conscious or beginner basketball player, the K-Cliffs Backpack is a superb option. It can be used as an everyday-carry or for sports gear.
The backpack can comfortably fit a large basketball in the bottom compartment. This pocket gives you a quick access to your ball, to help you get started immediately.
Another exciting feature is the removable cellphone holder that it comes with. You can place this pouch anywhere in the backpack or remove it completely. This, coupled with the pen holder makes the backpack ideal for college students.
Pros
- Padded shoulder straps
- Velcro loop on the side to hold a bat
- Includes a detachable phone holder and pen holder
- Affordable
Cons
- Zipper issues
6. Diadora Squadra Backpack
Available in a chic design and a wide range of colors, the Diadora Squadra Backpack is exactly what you need to carry your basketball gear.
The first feature you’ll see in this backpack is the mesh ball compartment. Although the manufacturer has not specified its capacity, this is big enough to fit one basketball and still have room for more.
Better yet, the mesh pockets on the sides can fit your shoes. Thanks to this mesh design, you don’t have to worry about storing your footwear in the main compartment and causing everything else to smell nasty.
The manufacturer uses 400 denier nylon with a PVC backing for the construction. This material is as tough as leather or vinyl, so you can be sure that your backpack will serve you for many years.
Pros
- Constructed using 420D nylon for durability
- Vented compartments on the sides for storing shoes
- Available in different colors
Cons
- Lacks a water bottle pocket
7. MIER Basketball Backpack
Sometimes, you need a sports bag that’s not only functional but also looks good. For these instances, you need the MIER Basketball Backpack.
Measuring 12.6 x 9.9 x 19.7 inches, the backpack has a generous capacity of 40 liters. This is enough space to store your gym clothes, swimwear, hiking and camping gear, and more.
Like the Squadra, this one also comes with a ventilated ball compartment. The dimensions of this pocket are: 9 x 8.7 x 9.4 inches; this space is sufficient to hold a volleyball, basketball, or soccer balls.
The main compartment is equipped with a laptop sleeve that can fit a 17-inch laptop as well as one tablet pouch. On the exterior, one side has a mesh pocket for holding a water bottle while the other side has a zipper pocket to store more items.
Pros
- Includes a laptop compartment
- Very spacious; has a generous 40-liter capacity
- Exterior material is resistant to abrasion
- Top carry handle for easy grip
Cons
- No warranty
8. BeeGreen Drawstring-Backpack
Enter the court in style when you arrive at your next game with this BeeGreen Drawstring Backpack. Though it’s a far cry from the common backpack style, it does a good job of holding your basketball gear.
The bag measures 18 x 21.7 inches, and it has a dozen pockets to help you organize all your sporting equipment.
The main compartment is great for keeping gym clothes, swim gear, a towel and daily supplies. The front pocket is designed to hold a basketball, volleyball, football or golf ball. There’s also a compartment for storing your shoes.
If you want to store smaller items like your keys, wallet or phone, you can use either one of the zipper pockets found inside the main compartment and the front.
Another thing that sets this backpack apart is the material. Unlike most backpacks that are made of polyester, this one uses Ripstop Oxford. This is a unique type of woven fabric that’s made using a reinforcing method. This type of construction makes the material tear and wear-resistant.
Pros
- Available in a big size
- Has multiple compartments
- Comfortable and adjustable straps
- It’s machine washable
- Comes with 1-year no-rip warranty
Cons
- Adjusting the straps is difficult
- Only available in a grey color
What Features Should You Look For When Buying a Basketball Backpack?
Build
The material used in making the backpack is what determines its durability. Most of these bags are made of heavy nylons so that they can support all the weight of your basketball gear.
However, there are other backpacks made of polyester. Polyester is not as tough as nylon but it boasts a higher resistance to UV rays. This is an important factor to consider, especially if you’ll be using the backpack in an outdoor setting.
Number of Compartments
For the most part, this will determine just how well you can organize your sports gear. One key section that the backpack should have is a ball compartment. You’ll find that most manufacturers add this compartment to the rear so that it’s easy to carry.
It’s important that you check the size of this compartment. The best models are those that can fit differently-sized basketballs.
Capacity
Before buying this bag, ask yourself: what size of backpack do I really need? If you want to be carrying all kinds of items including your books, laptop, swimwear and more, then look for a large backpack, preferably one with a 40-liter capacity or more.
However, if you’ll be using it to carry your basketball and shoes, then there’s no need to get such a big backpack.
Loading Style
Basketball backpacks can be classified into two styles: top loaders and front loaders.
A top-loading bag is one that opens at the top while the front/panel loading opens the same way a suitcase does. The benefit of top-loading models is that they fit more snugly and are easier to carry. However, they make accessing items more difficult.
If you don’t want to start digging deep into your pack to get your ball, then a panel loading bag is a better option. Such backpacks have several compartments, and this makes it easy to access each item.
Other Factors to Consider
Wet/Dry Compartments
Being able to separate your wet and dry sports gear is vital. It means that you can put your sweaty jersey in one compartment and clean clothes in another. It also means that you can store any sweat-soaked clothes separately from delicate items like electronics and books.
Shoe Compartment
A quality basketball backpack ought to have a specific shoe compartment. This saves you from having to mix your dirty shoes with clothes and possibly electronics.
But more importantly, it keeps your footwear aired. If you’re keen, you’ll notice that the shoe compartments of most backpacks have a mesh design. The purpose of this mesh is to facilitate proper air circulation, allowing your shoes to dry overtime. This ventilation is vital to extend the life of your footwear.
Insulated Pocket
When you finish playing in the sweltering heat of summer, the one thing you’ll want to do is quench your thirst. This is where a backpack with an insulated pocket comes in handy. The insulation feature keeps your water cool until you’re ready to drink it.
Laptop/Tablet Sleeve
If you usually head straight to work after your basketball game, then you’ll need a multipurpose backpack. In particular, you’ll want to get a bag that has a special laptop sleeve.
When looking for this feature, remember to check the size of the sleeve. The compartment will be no good if your 17-inch laptop can’t fit.
Mesh Design
If you plan to use the backpack to carry many other items, then look for one where the ball pocket is located on the exterior. This helps to free up the interior, and use it for more storage.
Water-resistant Features
Most basketball backpacks are designed with durability in mind. However, some manufacturers take things up a notch by providing a water-resistant exterior. Others will even provide special waterproofed pockets for keeping personal items – like phones, wallets, and watches – dry.
Summary
If you’ve been shopping for a basketball backpack, we recommend the Hoops Elite Max Backpack by Nike. Although it’s pricey, this backpack has advanced features meaning that it’s worth the investment.
For instance, it has a feature to help you separate your dry from wet gear. It’s spacious enough to fit all the accessories you need to carry for your game. And, it has tons of compartments to help you organize these items neatly.