The best padel bags: which size you need, what a thermal sleeve does and our three bags
By the Lobwell Padel team. Updated 1 November 2026.
Short answer: The best padel bag depends on what you carry. One or two rackets and a tube of balls fit a slim sling bag; commuters who carry shoes and a laptop suit a backpack with a racket sleeve and a separate shoe pocket; players with three or four rackets need a full racket bag with two thermal compartments. In our range those are the Sling (£29), the Daypack (£49) and the Tour (£69).
What to look for in a padel bag
Padel bags have three jobs: protect the racket, keep sandy shoes and sweaty kit away from everything else, and be easy to carry to and from the court. A thermal lined racket sleeve matters more than it sounds, because a padel racket's EVA core reacts to heat and cold. A car boot on a sunny day can soften it; a frosty one stiffens it.
The other big question is capacity. Padel bags are often sold by how many rackets they take, but think about the rest of your kit too.
| Feature | Why it matters | Who needs it |
|---|---|---|
| Thermal racket sleeve | Buffers the core from heat and cold | Anyone who drives to court |
| Separate shoe pocket | Keeps sand and damp off clothes and laptops | Commuters, regular players |
| Valuables pocket | Soft lined space for phone, keys and cards | Everyone |
| Racket capacity | One to four rackets | More if you carry a spare or share with a partner |
| Carry style | Shoulder, backpack or both | Cyclists and commuters prefer backpacks |
| Size | Fits a locker, bike basket or car boot | Check dimensions against where it lives |
Size guide
| Bag | Price | Rackets | Size | Key features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sling | £29 | 2 | 50 x 30 x 9 cm | Racket sleeve, zip pocket, light |
| Daypack | £49 | 2 | 48 x 31 x 18 cm | Thermal sleeve, vented shoe pocket, laptop sleeve |
| Tour | £69 | 3 to 4 | 60 x 34 x 30 cm | Two thermal compartments, shoe tunnel, valuables pocket |
Best for travelling light: Sling
The Sling (£29) is a slim shoulder bag for players who go straight from work to the court. It takes two rackets in a sleeve, a couple of ball tubes, a towel and your phone in the zip pocket, and it is light enough to carry on a bike. It does not have a shoe pocket or thermal lining, so it suits players who wear their court shoes or keep them in the car, and who do not leave their racket in a hot car.
Best for commuters: Daypack
The Daypack (£49) looks like a normal backpack but has a thermal lined sleeve for two rackets, a vented shoe pocket that keeps court shoes away from everything else, and a laptop sleeve. It is the bag we would choose for anyone who goes from desk to court on public transport or a bike. At 48 x 31 x 18 cm it fits under most office desks and in standard lockers.
Lobwell Daypack Padel Backpack
Backpack with a racket sleeve and a separate shoe pocket
- Lobwell
- 2 colours
Best for regular players and pairs: Tour
The Tour (£69) is a full size padel bag with two thermal compartments for three to four rackets, a shoe tunnel and a soft lined valuables pocket. It suits players with a main and a spare racket, doubles partners who share a boot, and anyone heading to a long americano with a change of kit. It is part of the Upgrade Kit with the Arc racket and two tubes of HEAD Pro+ balls.
Lobwell Tour Racket Bag
Full size racket bag for three rackets and a change of kit
- Lobwell
- 2 colours
Already have a bag? Add a cover
If you already carry your racket in a gym bag or backpack, a padded thermal cover gives most of the protection of a racket bag for less. Our Thermal Racket Cover (£12.99) is foil lined, padded against knocks and closes with a zip. It is included in the Starter Kit. More on why heat matters for the core is in the padel racket care guide.
Lobwell Thermal Racket Cover
Padded cover that keeps the racket out of the heat and cold
- Lobwell
- 2 colours
Looking after the bag itself
Sand is the enemy of zips. After outdoor sessions, shake the shoe pocket out over a bin and run a damp cloth along the zip teeth every few weeks so grit does not wear them. Leave the shoe pocket open overnight at home so it dries; the vented pocket on the Daypack and the shoe tunnel on the Tour help, but damp shoes zipped in for days will still smell.
Do not store the bag in the car boot between sessions with the racket inside, even with a thermal sleeve. The lining slows temperature change on a journey, but it cannot hold back a full afternoon of summer sun or a night below freezing. Bring the bag indoors with the racket in it.
Packing list for a padel bag
Browse the full padel bags range, or put a bag, racket and balls together in the kit builder. For what to wear on court, see what to wear for padel.
- Racket, with protector tape and a fresh overgrip.
- A tube of balls, plus an older tube for the warm up.
- Spare overgrip.
- Court shoes in the shoe pocket.
- Water bottle and a small towel.
- A light layer for outdoor courts.
- Wristband if you sweat on the handle.
Questions people ask
Do I need a padel bag?
Not for your first sessions. Once you own a racket, a bag or at least a thermal cover protects it from knocks and from heat in the car.
What size padel bag do I need?
A two racket bag suits most players. Choose a three to four racket bag if you carry a spare or share with a partner.
What is a thermal padel bag?
A bag with foil lined racket compartments that slow temperature changes, which helps protect the racket's foam core from heat and cold.
Can I use a tennis bag for padel?
Yes. Padel rackets are shorter than tennis rackets, so they fit tennis bags easily. A padel bag is simply sized and lined for padel kit.
Sources
Keep reading
GuidePadel racket care: how to make a racket last, and what can be repairedMost padel racket damage comes from three things: scraping the top of the frame on the glass or turf, heat from a car boot, and hard knocks between rackets.
Buying guidePadel gifts: useful ideas for every budget, for him, for her and for juniorsThe best padel gifts are things players use up or replace often: overgrips (£5.99 for three), tubes of balls (£4.49 to £5.49), a ball pressuriser (£14.99), a thermal racket cover (£12.99) or a bag (£29 to £69).
Buying guideThe best padel starter kits: one player, two players, a family or an upgradeA good padel starter kit contains a round, soft cored racket of about 340 to 365 g, at least one tube of pressurised balls and a few overgrips; a thermal cover is a useful extra.
GuideWhat to wear for padel: outfits for indoor courts, cold outdoor courts and club nightsWear breathable sportswear you can lunge and reach in: a technical t-shirt or polo, shorts, a skort or leggings, cushioned sports socks and court shoes with a herringbone sole.
GuidePadel racket cores: what is inside your racket and why it decides the feelThe core is the foam slab inside a padel racket, usually EVA rubber, sitting between the two faces in a racket no thicker than 38 mm.