Did you know that there are over 10 million people worldwide that play baseball, apart from the USA? Some of the countries that love baseball are Australia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Mexico, and South Korea. As it’s getting more and more popular in Australia and the leagues are getting stronger, people are starting to show more interest in baseball.
But to get started, you’ll need to get the basic equipment you can’t play without. Aside from the bat, ball, gloves, and helmet, you’ll also need the right baseball backpack to carry all your equipment.
Contents
Types of Baseball Backpacks
Bat Pack
The bat pack is a relatively new fashion trend. A young player might prefer it because it will feel natural to them considering it’s made to look like a school backpack. Experienced players can also enjoy it since it evenly distributes the weight across the back. Because it’s constructed differently, it restricts the bats to the side mesh sleeves.
This is an advantage considering it frees up space in the central compartment. Here you can store your helmet, gloves, and anything else you want. These types of modern baseball backpacks are very popular at the moment because of their adaptability to people of all ages.
Handheld Bat Bag
The handheld bag is a traditional duffle bag with short handles that make it look like a tote bag. It’s long and lean in shape. Depending on the size you choose, you can fit a different number of bats and balls inside. These bags come in many styles and can have a lot of different pockets for the rest of the equipment. The biggest disadvantage is that, because of the tiny carry straps, it limits you to one type of carrying, by hand. This method may become problematic if you’re small or carrying several bats that weigh a lot.
Shoulder Strap
This one is similar to a duffel bag, but with a longer shoulder strap, making it easy and quick to use. Most models of shoulder strap design have a short and long handle so you can combine the carrying method, plus an additional long one for more support. Also, some of them have a protective slip-on bag. This means that your belongings will be free of dirt and moisture. This is the perfect choice if you have to carry a lot of equipment or have to walk a lot from your home to the field and back.
Wheeled Bag
Baseball equipment is heavy and this can be an issue for some players. They’ll be tired even before the game starts. This is where the wheeled bag comes to aid. Since wheels make it easier to transport the bag, the wheeled ones are typically even larger than the conventional carry bat bags. These bags come in two different designs, inline and tank.
Always go for the bag with metal runner that extends over the entire length of the bag. This will give it more stability. Some of these bags have plastic wheel plates that protect the bag from wear and tear and provide support. Because you’ll be carrying a lot of equipment, wheeled bags have a lot of pockets where you can carry the gloves, a bottle or your baseball cleats. With recent wheel technology, some bags can carry up to 200kg of equipment.
How to Choose a Baseball Backpack
Quality
One of the most crucial factors to take into account when looking for a baseball bag is quality. Investing in sturdy, high-quality baseball backpacks is essential if you want them to last for a long time. Although there are different quality levels at various price points, in general, a backpack that costs more will be of higher quality than one that’s cheaper.
Durability
Any product isn’t going to survive for long if it isn’t durable enough. This means you’ll need to replace it sooner than you anticipate. If you stumble upon a product like that, don’t even think about buying it. The manufacturer doesn’t care about their customers. The only thing they think about is profit and not having long-term customers by their side.
Features
The features the baseball bag possesses should be next in line for consideration. Do they offer all the features you require? Do you have any extras that would be useful? Only you know the answers to these questions, so before buying, give your priorities some serious thought. Not every player has the same needs, which is why not every bag is built the same. If you find it easier, you can even make a list of the things you need and follow it through.
Cushioning
For some people, cushioning may be a luxury, but that shouldn’t be the case. If you care about this, straps are an important part of the cushioning. Always choose large cushioned straps as they protect your shoulders from the strain of carrying heavy equipment. High-quality cushioning with a good design will evenly distribute the weight on your back.
A cushioned inner surface layer is also welcomed to further protect the equipment. Padding around your baseball bat helps keep it in pristine condition. Otherwise, damage minimises the equipment’s value and you’ll have to replace it very soon.
Compartments
You might already have a bag where you keep your equipment. If so, a simple bag with fewer compartments would be a better choice, than a more expensive, larger, multi-compartment one. Think about the items you’ll be packing. Do you need compartments? Does the main compartment include a partition to keep items apart? Do you need outdoor storage for bottles, mobile phones, and other accessories? Very often modern baseball backpacks include a breathable compartment where you can keep your dirty cleats or clothes or a safe pocket for your valuables.
Material
These bags come in different materials as well. Polyester is one of the most common ones. It’s very strong and durable. It’s cheap but holds well against wear and tear. Nylon is also something to consider. It’s very high-quality and will last for a long time. Of course, there are blends that’ll keep your equipment safe from rain, water, wind, and snow while still holding on to the shape.