The 11 Best Tennis Bags for Travel

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Keep all your gear protected and collected with these durable and stylish tennis bags.

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Travel + Leisure

For tennis lovers who want to travel with their gear, or those who plan to hit the courts after a long day at work, finding the right bag can be a challenge. Rackets aren't shaped like the items you’d normally pack for the average business trip or vacation, and they’re sadly not foldable like a sweater.

Joey Hanf, director of marketing and events at Cliff Drysdale Tennis and Peter Burwash International, shared some tips on finding the right tennis bag. “This really depends on each person's level of play, the purpose and goal of their trip, and the surface they are going to play on," Hanf says. "If you ask yourself those questions before packing, the rest should come pretty naturally.”

So whether you’re a competitive athlete or a casual player who just wants to be able to take your favorite racket with you wherever you go, we’ve selected the 11 best tennis bags on the market.

The bag is expandable, so you can pack for a minimalist day out or a weekend tournament.

The all-black design isn’t the most stylish option.

Whether you’re looking for a daily bag to tote to the courts or you plan to sneak away for some exercise on your next vacation, this hardcore bag is a great choice. It can fit up to 12 rackets when expanded and collapses to be more manageable for daily use. It also features a padded media pocket, key leash, and compact accessory pockets, so you can easily use this as a commuter bag, ready to blow off steam after a day at the office.

When it comes to travel, this tennis bag has an adjustable shoulder strap as well as a trolley sleeve, so you can slip it over your luggage handle for easier transport through the airport. It also features a vented zip pocket that is waterproof, so you can store any sweaty gear in a separate area, keeping your other gear clean and fresh.

The Details: 14 x 29.5 x 8.3 inches | 5.3 pounds | Ballistic nylon

The Raffia screams tennis vacation, the best kind of vacation there is.

The top only snaps closed, so your items are more or less exposed.

If you’re heading for a tennis vacation, and you want a tennis bag that matches your vacation aesthetic, this stylish tote is perfect. The racket pouch is a bit small, it can only fit one racket, but the linen-lined main compartment is ready to hold all of your necessities in its various pockets. But let’s face it: you’re getting this tennis bag for the stylish design that can even be monogrammed. The racket pocket also fits both standard and small sizes, so you could use this bag for your pickleball and racquetball adventures as well.

The Details: 18.75 x 5 x 14.5 inches | Cotton, polypropylene, linen, and vegan leather

It’s at once roomy and compact.

There’s no water bottle pocket.

We love this backpack because it is both sturdy and flexible. The lightweight, coated polyester and insulated racket compartment are great for protecting gear, especially when using this bag as a personal item on planes. It’s big enough for two rackets, a laptop, notebooks, and even a small toiletry kit, making it a perfect weekender bag in addition to a daily court bag.

As a bonus: the top part of the bag can extend to cover your entire racket. When there are no rackets packed, you can fold it down, and it looks like a regular backpack.

The Details: 30 x 13 x 8 inches | 2.3 pounds | Polyester

There are six pockets and storage compartments.

The soft exterior may not be as protective as other models.

This super stylish duffel-style tote can fit two tennis rackets in a dedicated compartment, which makes this a real tennis player’s bag. There are also two separate pockets perfect for storing water bottles or cans of tennis balls. The main section of the bag is large enough to fit everything you may need for a few hours on the court. In fact, there’s even a novelty zip-around pocket where you can stuff at least one ball plus a separate shoe bag.

The Details: Nylon and vegan leather

It’s a straightforward sling bag with space for additional gear.

It can only fit one tennis racket.

If you don’t need to carry much, this lightweight crossbody bag is a great option. In addition to the zippered slot for your racket, the main compartment is large enough to hold a change of clothes, a can of tennis balls, and your personal items. There’s an exterior bottle holder, too, so you can really take advantage of being hands-free.

The Details: 11.8 x 3.9 x 18.1 inches | 1.1 pounds | Polyester

You can remove the racket slot when you’re not using it.

It’s fairly minimalist without many pockets.

A tennis tote serves such a specific purpose that if you’re not going to play tennis, it seems silly to carry it, but this convertible option from Tory Burch is versatile enough you can use it anywhere. Simply snap the racket pouch off, and use this very roomy bag as a regular travel tote. And when you’re ready to hit the court, that pouch can fit two of your favorite rackets. The main compartment of the bag is spacious enough for a change of clothes, sneakers, grips, tennis balls, and more essential items to ensure a pleasant day on the court.

The Details: 12.5 x 15 x 7.75 inches | Coated canvas, nylon, and faux leather trim

The ballistic nylon is super durable.

It may feel cumbersome if you pack the bag full.

This good-looking duffel bag is big enough to fit three tennis rackets and it comes with so many different compartments and pockets, you may actually struggle to find things to put in some of them. Of course, there’s a separate slot for shoes to keep everything clean and fresh, but I love the two elastic water bottle pockets in the front. Each can fit up to a 32-ounce bottle or your cans of tennis balls. Plus, thanks to the fun color blocking, you’ll be the most stylish tennis player on the courts.

The Details: 28.5 x 12 x 12 inches | Ballistic nylon

It doesn't look like a tennis bag, so you can easily use it for everyday activities and trips to the gym.

The soft polyester may not be as durable as other options.

I love the striking look of the metallic sheen on this bag — you’re sure to stand out in a crowd. And I like that the separate racket pocket, while big enough for two, doesn’t obviously look like it’s for tennis rackets, so you can easily use this bag for day to day activities and trips to the gym. It comes with a ton of interior and exterior pockets and the ones on the side are perfect for water bottles and tennis ball cans. This will also double as a fantastic carry-on bag for your travels — with or without the tennis gear.

The Details: 22 x 12 x 5 inches | Polyester

There are multiple compartments to keep you organized.

It’s not the most stylish tennis bag out there.

This hardcore tennis bag from Head is made for serious players, which is why a lot of competitive athletes use it. While it’s a great size to tote everything you need for a day on the court, do note that this is too large to use as a carry-on on most planes. The good news is, there are a lot of protective details like reinforced edges, so you can check the bag knowing your gear will arrive intact.

The bottom compartment is big enough to fit full-size tennis rackets, and the two smaller, upper compartments can actually be combined to make one large section. The best thing about this though is that it comes with wheels, a rarity in the world of tennis bags.

The Details: 31 x 17 x 16 inches | Polyester

It can fit up to 15 rackets.

We wish the carrying straps had a bit more padding as this bag can get quite heavy.

For tennis players who can’t imagine traveling without their full inventory of favorite rackets, or those traveling with friends or family members, this 15-pack bag is one of the biggest you can find. There are three compartments specifically designed for rackets, and two of them are thermo-regulated for added protection. There are also additional sections for other tennis equipment, like a dedicated shoe compartment, and, of course, if you’re not planning to pack 15 rackets, you can use the extra space for other gear. You can really fit your whole tennis life in this bag; you just need to figure out how to carry it on your back.

The Details: 29 x 16 x 13 inches | 3.8 pounds | Polyester

It comes with a lot of design features meant to accommodate your tennis-loving needs.

The front pockets are a bit too small for gear.

At first glance, you may think this backpack isn’t that big, but it’s surprisingly roomy. The stash pocket is big enough for two full-size tennis rackets (with the handles sticking out), but there are plenty of other compartments throughout. There’s a shoe slot, mesh elastic pockets for bottles, and zippered pocket for loose tennis balls — spacious enough for 10. The fabric is water-resistant, too, making this a durable pack sure to protect your gear.

The Details: 15.9 x 7.8 x 20.8 inches | 1.68 pounds | Polyester

According to Hanf, when determining the durability of a tennis bag, look at the zippers and straps very closely. “They tend to break or rip the fastest, so that's where you want to see quality materials used,” he says. “Check the ends of the carrying straps to see how secure they are. Every strap will perform well with nothing inside so make sure you test the bag with lots of weight first.”

The best tennis bag should be designed with optimal organization in mind: think lots of pockets. This is especially important if you’re using your tennis bag for more than just essential gear. You’ll want to be able to separate your equipment from clothes, and you definitely want to be able to stuff your sneakers into its own compartment if that’s available.

An adult tennis racket is usually 27 inches long. From there, you get more variety so make sure you’re familiar with the size and dimension of your preferred racket when selecting a tennis bag. Most are designed to fit standard rackets, but it’s always good to be sure.

There are so many options out there, so start by thinking about the amount of tennis equipment you want to pack. “The biggest factor should be desired size,” Hanf advises. “If you like your existing roller suitcase for all non-tennis gear, then I think a good tennis backpack is enough. If you want something bigger, then you can start considering the racket bags or duffle options.” From there, you can filter through aesthetics and budget, and still be left with plenty to choose from. While you can use some tennis bags to hold a pickleball racket, it's smarter to invest in proper pickleball gear if you're a serious pickleballer.

This really depends on a number of factors, primarily size of your bag. The standard tennis racket is 27 inches long and carry-on bags are usually up to 22 inches long. A bag long enough to fully cover a tennis racket will technically not meet carry-on size requirements. But some airlines will let you board with a reasonably-sized tennis bag. And if you are trying to use a tennis bag as carry-on, pick one shaped like typical luggage. “The best way for a tennis bag to be used as a carry-on is for it to be a square or tube-shaped duffle bag,” Hanf says. “These fit rackets comfortably while still fitting in overhead bins.”

Yes, a tennis racket can go through TSA both as a carry-on and check-in item as long as the items you’ve packed also meet TSA requirements, so be sure your water bottles are empty and any afterplay toiletries are appropriate sizes.

“I always start by packing tennis shoes first and then my rackets, as this will dictate how much space I have for everything else,” Hanf says. “If you are using the bag as a carry-on like I do, I recommend packing socks and underwear in a side pocket or separate compartment. Final tip would be to not put your rackets in a lay flat position at the very top or bottom of your bag as it will be uncomfortable to carry, and there's a slight risk of damage.”

Writer Chadner Navarro has been playing tennis for over 25 years, and he used all of his experience to gather the products featured in this article. He also consulted with Joey Hanf, director of marketing and events at Cliff Drysdale Tennis and Peter Burwash International.

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