Best Bowling Bag Reviews 2021

Bowling bags vary in price from one brand to another and from one design to the next. Two major considerations that affect its price, though, are the type of material and design. Bowling bags made from polyvinyl are usually more expensive than those made from nylon and even leather because they’re extremely durable. Roller bowling bags are definitely costlier, with some costing as much as $300, when compared to the smaller tote bowling bags that you can get for as little as $15 in some cases.

We featured bowling bags of different prices so you can have the opportunity to choose a quality and durable bag that is guaranteed to give you best value for your money.

Although there are cheap bowling bags out there, some of which we encountered while carrying out our research, you should be wary of those, as they’re mostly made from materials that are bound to start ripping even before you’ve really started using them. You will be better off sticking to quality and affordable products such as those featured in our individual product review section.

A good bowling bag must be able to carry the weight of your bowling ball without ripping apart on you. There are several key features you’ll have to look out for to ensure you get the best bowling bag for your needs. These key features include:

• Type of bag
• Material
• Number of compartments
• Type of roller wheel
• Extra features

There are basically two types of bowling bags. Tote bowling bags are compact and extremely portable. They’re designed along the same lines as a traditional tote bag but with padded and reinforced handles, and shoulder straps in some cases so you can carry them comfortably. They’re usually small and made for carrying one or two balls including other accessories like bowling shoes. A roller bowling bag, on the other hand, is made to carry multiple balls at the same time. Because of the large weight of the bowling balls, roller bowling bags are designed with roller wheels attached to their ends and in most cases, a retractable handle so you can pull and roll them behind you effortlessly. This design transfers the weight of the bowling balls to the wheels thus you don’t feel much of the weight when pulling the bag along. They also have reinforced handles for when you need to lift the bag. Roller bowling bags are usually bulky and because they’re usually in contact with the floor, they’re made from water-proof materials.

Bowling bags can be manufactured using different materials like canvas, leather, and polyvinyl. The most popular materials, however, are nylon, polyvinyl and leather. Here's what they entail:

• Leather - This material is associated with classy and stylish products. Leather bowling bags are trendy and often come in retro, vintage or vintage/retro combo looks that are high class and high-end. The disadvantage is that leather is not water-proof and offers no protection to the bowling balls and other accessories in the bag.
• Polyvinyl - This is a synthetic material used in manufacturing bags and other products. It’s composed of a tightly woven rubber thread formed into a semi-solid, cloth-like waterproof material. Its weave form is exceptionally resilient, durable and withstands stress excellently. Its thread count is known as Denier (for example 600D or 1200D) with the latter being twice as strong and durable as the former. These qualities make it an excellent material for making bowling bags, especially the roller bowling bags that carry lots of weight.
• Nylon - This is another good material which is waterproof as well. It’s woven and formed into cloth material that is durable and not prone to degradation. It’s usually more durable and resilient than leather but pales in comparison to polyvinyl.

Most bowling bags have separate compartments for holding your bowling shoes and the main compartment specially designed to hold your bowling ball(s). In addition to these two major compartments, some brands go a step further to equip their bowling bags with extra compartments on the outside or inside the main compartment that can hold other bowling accessories or some personal items like wristwatches and rings for safe keeping. A few of them even have detachable accessory pouches that you can go out with when you do not feel like going out with the whole bag. Just take note of the shoe size capacity of the bowling bag you want as different bags have different sizes of bowling shoes they can accommodate in their shoe compartment.

A bowling bag is as easy to use as other types of bags. They’re also easy to maintain as most of them (except the leather ones) are machine-washable, thus reducing the stress of keeping them clean.

They usually feature zippers instead of buckles and the main compartment that holds your bowling ball often comes with two zippers that can be brought close together thus making it possible to pass a padlock through them and lock it up for securing your balls against theft.

When buying bowling bags on roller wheels, you should endeavor to check out the type and size of wheels that come with it. A good roller should have wheels that are large and tight-fitting with good traction as opposed to wheels that are tiny and prone to tipping over, especially if being pulled down the stairs or on uneven ground.

Another important feature that affects the performance of a bowling bag is the type of strap it has. Most bowling bags have sturdy, well-padded shoulder straps that are detachable, in addition to the easy-grip handles that evenly distribute the weight of the bag’s content and reduce the stress effect on the arm and shoulder of the user.

Some bowling bags come with special features like foam padding, polyurethane cup holders and others that help keep your balls safe. And for multiple ball carriers, they usually have dividers that separate the balls to keep them from rubbing against each other.

If you’re a serious or professional bowler who has several bowling balls, shoes and other bowling accessories, then you should consider getting one of the roller bowling bags to lug your gear more efficiently. But if you’re a recreational or beginner bowler who owns a few bowling balls, then a tote-style bowling bag is what you might need to save costs and space.