STX Sidewinder Backpack
Best lacrosse bag — fits all your gear, organized pockets, carries like a normal backpack.
Check Price on Amazon →Top Pick: STX Sidewinder Backpack
★★★★½
Best lacrosse bag overall. Built-in stick holder, ventilated compartment, and comfortable carry — everything a player needs in one bag.
In This Guide
Best Lacrosse Bags 2026: Backpacks and Equipment Bags Ranked
Last Updated: June 2026 | By LPT
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Quick Answer: The STX Sidewinder Backpack is the best all-around lacrosse bag for most players — it fits a full stick, helmet, pads, and cleats without being too bulky for school. For players who drive to games and need max storage, the Maverik Tricolor Bag holds everything. Budget pick: the Under Armour Lacrosse Backpack at under $60.
Quick Picks: Best Lacrosse Bags 2026
| Bag | Type | Sticks | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| STX Sidewinder Backpack | Backpack | 2–3 | Check Price → |
| Maverik Tricolor Bag | Equipment Bag | 4+ | Check Price → |
| Under Armour Lacrosse Backpack | Backpack | 2 | Check Price → |
| Nike Hoops Elite Lacrosse Bag | Duffle | 3 | Check Price → |
| Warrior Lacrosse Equipment Bag | Equipment Bag | 4 | Check Price → |
Backpack vs. Equipment Bag: Which Do You Need?
🎒 The Quick Decision
Get a backpack if: You walk or take transit to practice, you need to bring it to school, or you’re a younger player whose parents handle transportation. Backpacks with stick holders let you carry 2–3 sticks hands-free.
Get an equipment bag if: You drive to games, you’re in high school and have a lot of gear, you play multiple positions and need to bring extra equipment, or you just hate cramming everything into a small space.
STX Sidewinder Backpack — Best Overall
Price: ~$65–80 | Best For: Most players — daily carry to practice and games
The Sidewinder earns its top spot through smart design rather than brute size. The external stick holder straps 2–3 sticks to the back without them bouncing around or catching on things. The main compartment fits a helmet, shoulder pads, arm pads, and gloves, while a separate vented bottom compartment isolates sweaty gear from your water bottle and phone. The zippers are reinforced, the straps are padded, and the material holds up to daily use. Players regularly get 2–3 seasons out of the same Sidewinder — which is more than can be said for cheaper bags that blow a zipper after six months.
Pros
- External stick holder fits 2–3 shafts securely
- Ventilated compartment isolates wet/sweaty gear
- Padded shoulder straps for all-day carry
- Durable zippers and reinforced seams
Cons
- Tight fit when loaded with full equipment + helmet
- Premium price vs. budget alternatives
Bottom line: The best lacrosse backpack. Worth every cent if you carry your gear daily.
Maverik Tricolor Bag — Best for Max Storage
Price: ~$80–100 | Best For: Varsity players, coaches, anyone who needs to bring everything
The Maverik Tricolor is a full equipment bag for players who refuse to leave anything at home. It’s genuinely large — the main compartment fits a helmet, full shoulder pads, two pairs of gloves, arm pads, four sticks, and still has room for a change of clothes. There are ventilation panels on both ends and a separate exterior pocket for valuables. This bag is for varsity players, coaches who carry multiple sticks, or anyone who drives to games and wants everything in one trip. It’s not comfortable to carry for more than a few hundred feet, but it slides perfectly into a car trunk or onto a bleacher.
Pros
- Largest main compartment in this price range
- Fits full gear including shoulder pads and multiple sticks
- Ventilation panels on both ends
- Durable material that handles turf grit
Cons
- Bulky when fully loaded — not for carrying long distances
- No dedicated stick holder (sticks go inside)
Bottom line: The best lacrosse equipment bag for players who need everything with them.
Under Armour Lacrosse Backpack — Best Budget
Price: ~$45–60 | Best For: Youth players, first-year high schoolers, budget-conscious buyers
At $45–60, the Under Armour Lacrosse Backpack is the best affordable option. It’s smaller than the STX Sidewinder and the construction isn’t quite as robust, but it does everything a casual-to-moderate player needs: sticks fit on the side or back with external straps, the main compartment holds pads and helmet, and a separate pocket handles shoes or cleats. The UA branding is clean and it doesn’t look out of place as a school bag. For youth players or first-year high schoolers who aren’t sure how serious they’re going to get, this is the right move. Don’t spend $80 on a bag until you know you’ll need it.
Pros
- Best price-to-capacity ratio in the category
- Slim enough for bus and van trips
- Clean design works as a school bag
- Durable material for the cost
Cons
- Fewer organizational pockets than the Sidewinder
- No dedicated ventilated helmet compartment
Bottom line: Best budget lacrosse backpack. The right first bag for new players.
What to Look for in a Lacrosse Bag
- Stick storage: Look for dedicated external stick straps (backpacks) or a wide enough main compartment to fit sticks flat (equipment bags). Sticks that aren’t secured will bounce and poke people.
- Ventilation: Lacrosse gear gets sweaty. A bag without ventilation turns into a bacteria issue fast. Look for mesh panels or vented compartments for pads and gloves.
- Helmet compartment: Some bags have a separate top compartment sized for a helmet, which keeps it from crushing everything else inside. This feature is worth seeking out.
- Zipper quality: Cheap zippers fail first. Look for YKK zippers on anything you plan to use for more than one season.
- Size: Measure your gear before buying. A bag that’s slightly too small is more frustrating than one that’s slightly too big.
FAQ: Lacrosse Bags
What size lacrosse bag do I need?
It depends on how much gear you carry. A backpack-style bag works for players who carry sticks, helmet, pads, gloves, and cleats. If you carry two or more sticks, full goalie gear, or extra layers, go with a large equipment duffel. Most players do well with a mid-size bag in the 28–36 inch range.
Can I fit a goalie chest pad in a standard lacrosse bag?
Most standard lacrosse duffels won’t fit a goalie chest pad comfortably. Goalies need a large-capacity duffel (36+ inches) or a dedicated goalie bag with extra volume. If you’re a field player, a standard bag is fine.
How do I keep my bag from smelling?
Air out your gear immediately after practice — don’t leave it zipped in your bag. Toss a few cedar blocks or a dryer sheet inside. For serious odor, use a gear-specific deodorizer spray on pads and gloves. Wash your gloves and arm pads every 1–2 weeks to prevent buildup.
Are lacrosse backpacks good for travel?
For getting to and from practice, yes. For tournament travel, most backpacks don’t accommodate stick lengths exceeding 40 inches well. For tournaments, a full duffel with a separate stick tube or a travel-specific lacrosse bag is a better option.
How long should a lacrosse bag last?
A quality bag from STX, Maverik, or Under Armour should last 2–4 seasons with regular use. Signs it’s time to replace: broken zippers, fraying shoulder straps, holes in the bottom, or stick pockets that no longer close. A good zipper repair at a tailor or shoe shop can extend bag life for another season.
Can I use a regular backpack for lacrosse?
For carrying non-stick gear (helmet, pads, cleats), a regular backpack works fine. The problem is sticks — a lacrosse stick is 30–42 inches long and won’t fit inside most regular backpacks. You’d have to carry the stick separately. A lacrosse-specific backpack with stick straps solves this cleanly.
Key Takeaways
📋 Key Takeaways
- The STX Sidewinder is the best all-around choice. Stick holder, ventilated compartment, padded straps, durable build. Worth the $65–80 for any regular player.
- If you drive to games, consider an equipment bag. The Maverik Tricolor holds everything in one trip without the organizational constraints of a backpack.
- New players: start with the Under Armour Lacrosse Backpack. Half the price of the Sidewinder, does the job for year one, and you won’t regret not overspending if the sport doesn’t stick.
- Ventilation is not optional. Lacrosse gear smells. Any bag you use regularly needs mesh panels or a vented compartment — especially if you’re stuffing wet gloves and arm pads in after practice.
- Check zipper quality before buying. Cheap zippers are the first thing to fail on budget bags. It’s the most frustrating thing to deal with in the middle of a season.
