Doubletake Tennis Bag Review: Tried & Tested

Depending on how you look at it, I either jumped on the “tennis is actually cool” bandwagon extremely early (taking tennis lessons when I was in middle school) or embarrassingly late (only picking the racket back up circa the release of Challengers). By now, you've likely noticed that tennis is no longer just “back”—it's straight-up the cool sport du jour. If your bougie friends weren't texting you real-time gossip from their celeb sightings at this year's U.S. Open, are you even a self-loathing millennial?

For all the discourse surrounding the tennis revival, there's also the plethora of retro-cool merch to match. Truth be told, tennis is a sport with very chic clothing and accessory options, and perhaps that's a major part of its enduring appeal. That being said, it's still very much a sport, and therefore an activity that necessitates lugging around a racket, sweaty clothes, a water bottle, and a number of other accoutrements for optimal performance and comfort. That's why having a great tennis bag is such a crucial asset: Do you want to be one of those jabronis showing up to the court with your racket in a tote bag emblazoned with the logo of a fourth-wave coffee shop?

As far as proper tennis bags go, Doubletake's backpacks, totes, and duffels have been getting ample attention as of late from tennis and pickleball enthusiasts looking for a fully loaded racket transportation experience. Best known for its popular Melbourne backpack and London duffel, the brand has made a name for itself by combining appealing aesthetics with a bona fide smorgasbord of pockets, flourishes, and features. I recently got my hands on the Melbourne backpack, and for the past month, I've been taking it to my tennis lessons to see whether it is, in fact, worth the (relatively modest!) $184 price tag. Here's my honest review.

Doubletake Melbourne Tennis Backpack / Tote

I was immediately drawn to the clean, minimalist design of this bag, with its neutral heather grey exterior and subtle pops of color in the blue zipper and pink interior. It feels lightweight but extremely well-constructed; while it may have a visual lightness to it, it also has a palpable durability. It has a modern look that has undeniable court appeal, and its clever strap design instantly converts it from a backpack to a tote, so you can quickly swing it over your shoulder. It feels like a sartorially versatile bag, one that can just as easily be worn with a band tee and mesh shorts as with a full head-to-toe white Wilson getup. Upon opening the bag, you'll find a wealth of compartments and thoughtful details. I'll dig into those below.

Tested & Reviewed by Hilary Pollack Hilary Pollack

The Melbourne's strongest suit is its ability to keep everything you could possibly want to bring to a tennis game, practice, or lesson highly organized and within quick reach. There's a water bottle pocket on the outside of the bag, and the top zip unfurls to reveal an additional array of pockets sized for everything from ball cans to sunscreen to Chapstick. Two pockets are lined with a plush, fuzzy fabric to protect your oversized Givenchy sunglasses (JK, mine are $15 dupes from Amazon) and long-cracked iPhone 13 Pro, and there's a carabiner to hold your keys. I also brought face and body sunscreen, an extra pair of shoes, and my Aphex Twin hat and still had plenty of room to spare. Need to throw your sweaty tank top in your bag after a match? The wet/dry "stinkproof" compartment will keep it separated from the rest of your stuff. (That's what I'm told, but I haven't been sweating that much because my tennis instructor is still desperately trying to fix my serve, so I spend a lot of time standing in one place.) The bag also has a tip-proof design, which means it's good at remaining upright, even when it's fully packed.

If you're feeling generous and willing to haul around your partner's gear, this bag has room for two rackets as well as two ball cans or full-size water bottles. Since my instructor brings the balls and we're going through a heat wave where I live, I like to pack two water bottles—one in the easy-access outside sleeve and another in the interior. (It's water-resistant, too, meaning that spills or unexpected thunderstorms are NBD.)

Most tennis bags zip all the way around your racket(s), resulting in a shape that, in my opinion, has too much in common with a body bag. I love that the Melbourne bag protects the head of your racket while freeing the shaft and handle; this makes it super easy to grab your racket with one quick unzip.

The convertible straps go a long way for me. Wearing the Melbourne as a backpack is obviously the convenient choice if you have your hands full with, say, flowers from your adoring fans or double-fisted boba for you and your tennis partner, but if you're just making a quick trip from your car to the court, the longer tote strap absolutely comes in handy. I find the tip-proof design to be another huge plus, since who wants their beautiful backpack to just splay on the ground like a discarded teddy bear? It's so much more chic to have it perched and alert, waiting for when you need to jog over and grab a quick sip of ice water and spritz of sunscreen.

There's no question that Doubletake put tons of thought into making this bag as functional as possible without sacrificing style. With tennis having a major moment right now, it's only logical that a brand would step up and make a yassified racket tote, and the Melbourne protects and organizes all your personal articles while looking damn good doing it. At $184 to $204, depending on color, this bag is priced for those who don't mind throwing a little more cash for a bag with a sleeker, more kitted-out design than the typical racket sack.

Is it helping my backhand? Probably not, but I'm gonna look good showing up while I work my way toward finally ruling the court.