Let’s Speak Operate
The Melbourne’s strongest go well with is its means to maintain all the things you would presumably need to deliver to a tennis recreation, follow, or lesson extremely organized and inside fast attain. There is a water bottle pocket on the skin of the bag, and the highest zip unfurls to disclose a further array of pockets sized for all the things from ball cans to sunscreen to Chapstick. Two pockets are lined with a luxurious, fuzzy material to guard your outsized Givenchy sun shades (JK, mine are $15 dupes from Amazon) and long-cracked iPhone 13 Professional, and there is a carabiner to carry your keys. I additionally introduced face and physique sunscreen, an additional pair of sneakers, and my Aphex Twin hat and nonetheless had loads of room to spare. Have to throw your sweaty tank prime in your bag after a match? The moist/dry “stinkproof” compartment will hold it separated from the remainder of your stuff. (That is what I am advised, however I have not been sweating that a lot as a result of my tennis teacher remains to be desperately making an attempt to repair my serve, so I spend quite a lot of time standing in a single place.) The bag additionally has a tip-proof design, which suggests it is good at remaining upright, even when it is totally packed.
In case you’re feeling beneficiant and prepared to haul round your accomplice’s gear, this bag has room for 2 rackets in addition to two ball cans or full-size water bottles. Since my teacher brings the balls and we’re going by means of a warmth wave the place I dwell, I prefer to pack two water bottles—one within the easy-access exterior sleeve and one other within the inside. (It is waterproof, too, which means that spills or surprising thunderstorms are NBD.)
Most tennis baggage zip all the way in which round your racket(s), leading to a form that, in my view, has an excessive amount of in widespread with a physique bag. I like that the Melbourne bag protects the pinnacle of your racket whereas liberating the shaft and deal with; this makes it tremendous straightforward to seize your racket with one fast unzip.
My Favourite Function
The convertible straps go a great distance for me. Sporting the Melbourne as a backpack is clearly the handy alternative in case you have your palms full with, say, flowers out of your adoring followers or double-fisted boba for you and your tennis accomplice, however if you happen to’re simply making a fast journey out of your automotive to the courtroom, the longer tote strap completely is useful. I discover the tip-proof design to be one other enormous plus, since who desires their lovely backpack to only splay on the bottom like a discarded teddy bear? It is a lot extra stylish to have it perched and alert, ready for when it’s worthwhile to jog over and seize a fast sip of ice water and spritz of sunscreen.
The Verdict: Is It Definitely worth the Funding?
There isn’t any query that Doubletake put tons of thought into making this bag as practical as attainable with out sacrificing fashion. With tennis having a serious second proper now, it is solely logical {that a} model would step up and make a yassified racket tote, and the Melbourne protects and organizes all of your private articles whereas wanting rattling good doing it. At $184 to $204, relying on coloration, this bag is priced for individuals who do not thoughts throwing a little bit extra cash for a bag with a sleeker, extra kitted-out design than the everyday racket sack.
Is it serving to my backhand? In all probability not, however I am gonna look good exhibiting up whereas I work my manner towards lastly ruling the courtroom.