Let’s Talk Function
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.
My Favorite Feature
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.
The Verdict: Is It Worth the Investment?
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.
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