The Best Basketball Backpack – Our 6 Picks for 2021

Are you looking for the best basketball backpack on the market?

You’ve picked up your outdoor basketball, and indoor basketball and now you need a bag to carry it with.

Most regular backpacks are too small to fit in a basketball, which is why players look for purpose-made basketball backpacks.

Whether it’s just an option to fit your ball, an extra slot for your laptop for when going to school, or other compartments for your sneakers, towel, or gear, there are tons of options now available.

However, with so many options on the market, how do you determine which is the best backpack for basketball?

In this guide, we will help go through what is essential to look for when looking for the best sports backpack for basketball and go over the best options and the pros and cons of each.

If you want to cut all the fluff, here’s a quick breakdown of our best rated basketball backpacks:

Best overall backpack: Point 3 Road Trip 2.0 Basketball Bag
Best Nike basketball backpack: Nike Elite Pro Basketball Backpack
Best adidas basketball backpack: adidas Unisex Utility Team backpack
Best Wilson basketball backpack: Wilson Evolution backpack
Best underrated basketball backpack: Mier basketball backpack
Best cheap basketball backpack: Kolako Laptop backpack

 

The Best Basketball Backpack

Point 3 Road Trip 2.0 – Best Overall Basketball Backpack

The Road Trip 2.0 basketball backpack from specialist hoops retailer Point 3 is in our opinion the best bag on the market.

The bag has a ball drawstring compartment capable of holding a full-sized basketball, and easy-access compartments for clothes, water, and gear.

One of the compartments is made from ventilated mesh for sweaty gear, whilst the entire backpack is made from durable 100% hydrophobic polyester, making it water resistant for rainy days (as well as your stuff if you get that sweaty!).

It has padded shoulder straps which don’t cut into you if you’re carrying a heavy load, as well as two elasticated side pockets for water – plus tons of other compartments for all your road trip needs; a side storage compartment for your sneakers, and even a top zipper for your phone and smaller items.

If you can only get one bag for your basketball needs, this would be it.

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Nike Elite Pro Basketball Backpack – Best Nike Backpack

The Nike Elite Pro Basketball backpack is probably one of the most commonly seen bags on basketball courts around the world.

Complete with a water-resistant coating to keep your gear dry during those rainy days, it features multiple small-item pockets for stuff like your phone, and wristbands, whilst also having a padded internal sleeve to safely store your laptop.

It also has a separate ventilated compartment for your stinky sweaty basketball shoes, another thermal-lined cooler side compartment to keep drinks or food in and then the main deep compartment which I can confirm has the space to fit in your basketball.

Where this is different to some of the other bags we’ve listed here is the basketball section isn’t separate, so you might put your basketball in the bottom and then have other stuff on top of it, meaning you’ll need to take everything else out to get to your ball.

There’s decent padding on the back and shoulder straps for comfort, and the other thing I like about it is it has a separate hook so that when you are at say an outdoor court with fencing and you want to hang the bag off the fencing instead of sitting it on the floor you can do that.

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Adidas Unisex Utility Team Backpack – Best adidas Basketball Backpack

If you are Team adida, the adidas Unisex Utility Team backpack is their best offering but you should know it is not as basketball specific as the other offerings on this list.

More of a general sports backpack, it lacks a basketball compartment, but does have a zippered pocket for sneaker storage, as well as a thermal lined cooler pocket for your lunch or drinks.

There are also designated compartments for your shoes, laptop and media device such as your phone.

It is made from a wipeable material which is great for spot cleaning with soap and water if you inadvertently get mud splashes or anything like that, and of course has a water resistant base in case you get caught in the rain.

Plenty of space for all your training gear, and maybe at at a push your basketball if you don’t have too much other stuff in there!

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Wilson Evolution Backpack – Best Value for Money Basketball Backpack

Though the Wilson Evolution basketball bag is perhaps not the most aesthetically pleasing, it is extremely practical from a basketball point of view.

The main compartment is extremely large, giving you space for your ball and gear, and also it has a separate mesh compartment for your sneakers.

There is ventilation on the front and sides to ensure there is air flow so that your sweaty stuff doesn’t cause a stink!

Additionally, there is a temperature controlled side pocket to ensure snacks and drinks stay cold, and a phone sleeve in the right shoulder strap for easy access – something none of the other bags on this list have.

The final thing is there is a hidden interior pocket for valuables, such as your wallet and jewellery for whilst you play.

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Mier Basketball Backpack – Best Lesser Known Backpack

Mier is a lesser known brand than the Nike’s, adidas and Wilson’s of the world, but their basketball backpack is a solid offering.

It has what they refer to as a ‘laundry pouch’ which is their big front zipped mesh compartment where you can store your basketball, or if you prefer – as the name suggests – your shoes or dirty gear separate from the rest of the bag.

It doubles up on the laptop compartments with a laptop sleeve along with a tablet pocket, and with a 40 litre main compartment, plenty of space for all your gear.

The padded water resistant bottom provides protection when putting it on the ground outside, while it also has a front detachable hanging carabiner to attach any additional gear or training equipment, though I’m not sure what this could be – let me know if you have any ideas!

There are a ton of pockets, 1 at the top which is small for potentially your sunglasses, 3 side pockets including an elastic mesh pocket, along with 2 more zipper pockets.

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Kolako Laptop Basketball Backpack – Best Cheap Option

Kolako, like Mier, is another lesser known brand, but does have a semi-basketball specific bag offering.

I say semi as it is more sports specific, but with its add ons allows it to be adapted to basketball and is very affordable.

It has a clip on front mesh addition that serves to hold your ball, though the whole bag is 30l which is smaller than some of the other options above that we have listed.

It is made of water-resistant fabric, has an abrasion-resistant padded bottom panel like a lot of the other options, and not only has slots for your laptop, but a ton of other internal pocket sleeves for books, chargers, pens, phones and whatever else.

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Things to Consider When Buying a Basketball Backpack

Before purchasing a basketball backpack, there are multiple things you should consider such as use, storage space, comfort, style, and material.

Below, we will take a deeper dive into what to look for in each of these considerations:

Use

Do you plan to use the backpack just for basketball only, or do you want to be able to double it up for school and college or other trips?

If you want something that is more multi-purpose, you might want to check for what else the bag might offer in terms of compartments and size – some basketball bags are just too big to be used as a regular school bag.

Either way, this could save you money down the line if you can double up

Storage Space

You may have noticed, but most basketball backpacks are pretty big in comparison to regular bags – that is because of the extra space needed for your gear and ball.

Really, you’re after a 30-40 litre bag, minimum.

Outside of the overall size, it then comes down to different compartments you might need. Do you want a specific compartment for your ball, a laptop sleeve, ventilated area for your shoes and gear, or thermal-lined cooling pocket for drinks or food?

Aesthetics

As much as we are all about practicality and functionality here, of course you want your bag to look good.

It’s sad but most people’s choices will ultimately come down to how it looks.

This comes down to individual preference, but think about what you’re after and pick the bag that best fits your style.

Material Quality & Durability

Of course, you want the best quality possible.

Assuming you will be playing outside sometimes, something that is water-resistant is important, as well as good stitching and high quality zipper.

A lot of basketball bags are made from decent material like nylon, polyester or high density canvas.

Comfort

It’s no use spending the money on what you think is the best basketball backpack when it is as uncomfortable as hell to wear.

Make sure there is adequate padding in the back and shoulder straps, as well as look for an additional sternum strap to clip the two shoulder straps together to give you extra support and comfort.

Conclusions

There are a number of different options available on the market for a basketball backpack, and it seems that every year, brands are improving their offerings.

Right now, we think Point 3 has the edge, but has plenty of potential to get upseated by the likes of Nike and Wilson – though Wilson does need to improve its aesthetics!

Anyway, consider your options, and make the choice that is best for you – having a basketball specific bag is a game changer and will improve your hooping experience every day!