Sports Sling Bag Review: A Compact Racket Carrier

Not every trip to the sports hall needs a full backpack. If you play once or twice a week and carry a single racket with a change of kit, a six racket bag is more than you will ever fill. This cross-body sling aims at the lighter carry: one strap, worn over a shoulder or across the body. It costs £11.78 in black or £11.77 in grey.

The size, and what it means for your racket

The listing gives the dimensions as 48cm tall, 24cm wide and 12cm deep, with a nylon mesh body. That height is the number to hold on to, because a full-size badminton or tennis racket is around 68cm long. At 48cm the bag is shorter than the racket, so a racket cannot sit fully enclosed inside it: the head will extend past the top opening. If you want a racket zipped away from the weather end to end, a longer thermal racket bag is the tool for that. If you are fine with the frame showing above the bag, this carries the racket and your kit together.

How it carries

The strap is a single adjustable one, so you can wear it high on a shoulder or slung across the body and set the length to suit your height. The design is unisex, and the listing rates it for badminton, tennis and general sports use, so it is not tied to one kit. As a rule a cross-body position spreads a load across your torso better than a single shoulder does, which is worth keeping in mind once the bag is full. The listing also describes a durable body with comfortable padding.

What fits inside

On capacity, the listing calls it a large capacity design that fits rackets, shoes and accessories, with mesh side pockets on the outside. Set your expectations by the dimensions though: 48 by 24 by 12cm is a carrier for one session's worth of gear, a change of kit and the small things you want to hand, rather than a store-everything kit bag. If you regularly carry shoes, spare shirts and more than one racket, this is the wrong size for the job and a larger bag will suit you better.

Who it suits

This sling suits the player who wants to travel light: one racket, a change of kit, out the door. Juniors heading to coaching, anyone dropping in on a casual session, or a second bag for the days you leave the big pack at home. If you carry two or three rackets, spare kit and shoes to every session, or you play tournaments, a structured backpack or a larger kit bag will serve you better. It is worth weighing this against the rest of the Setra Sports bags before you choose. You will find both colours, black at £11.78 and grey at £11.77, on the product page.

Related reading: Victor Portable Badminton String Cutter (Pink) Review and Victor Gold No.3 Duck Feather Shuttlecocks Review