I'm not one to write a review immediately after purchasing a product, but I didn't intend to wait two years. However, after two years of abuse through 120-degree summers and, sometimes, 40-degree winter morning and evening matches, this bag has become my tough yet gentle companion and protector of my precious gear.
Despite the abuse of league, tournament, or drop-in matches, my companion has never let me down. I have never had a failed/stuck zipper, never had a tear of any kind, the strong Velcro of the divider shelves has never lost its grip, and the color (blue) has not faded, despite absorbing at least 6 hours of desert heat per week over the last two years (the rest of my play time is in evenings). For clarity, at almost every changeover I put my racquet back into my bag instead of placing it on the hot concrete, and I keep everything zipped up as I don't want the sun overheating my backup racquets. Long story short, I have tested the zippers a LOT.
I usually hang my bag on a fence, but at some tournaments I have had to put it on the ground, where I truly appreciate the standing bag feature with a thick durable base. This is important to me because I had to lay previous bags down much more of the bag surface had to endure the hot concrete which would heat the contents more quickly and ruin the fabric of the bag. I LOVE that this bag base is specifically designed for ground exposure. So, I can also say that the fence hook and self-standing/self-support of the bag has stood up to all the weight I put in my bag (and I put everything in my bag—4 racquets, 4 cans of balls, GoPros, string meter, first aid kit, lotions, overgrips, towels, wristbands, etc. Water and food is carried in a separate cooler).
Everything about this bag is thoughtful, well designed, durable, and I would even say luxurious. My phone, wallet, and key fob are well protected and buffered in comfort (which I greatly appreciate) in the valuables area, the dividers and brilliant and easy access to the main compartment makes grabbing specifically needed items quick and easy (no rummaging for band-aids or balls), and I could go on.
I have only one real complaint. I like to carry 4 racquets. My thin beam Pro Staffs are snug and I do not like scraping racquets against each other. I'm careful, but I still don't like that. I have recently upgraded to thicker 1-inch beam racquets, and the tightness is more severe, and because these racquets are white instead of black, the hoop edges are starting to lose paint as I add/remove racquets so regularly. My ONE AND ONLY wish for this back is an extra 1/4 to 1/2 inch of space in each racquet compartment. It would still (I think) keep racquets from knocking together during transit but allow just enough room to add/remove a little easier. For those that carry two racquets or less, you will never have this issue, and each racquet will be swaddled up like a baby in the gentle protective fabric.
You cannot go wrong with this bag, you will appreciate the design more and more as you use it, and you will get your money's worth out of this DURABLE bag. Thanks Geau Sport!
