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The FORWRD (formerly known as KTCHN) Court Caddy claims to break the mold of pickleball bags as we know them, promising a purpose-built design with premium materials and clever functionality. Over the past 30 days, I put it to the test to see if it lives up to the hype.
From first impressions to daily use, here’s what I discovered—the good, the bad, and everything in between. But before we dive into the review, I need to get one thing out of the way.
If the idea of dropping $300 on a pickleball bag makes you clench your fist like Arthur, then let’s save ourselves some time—you can stop reading now. Seriously, this review is not for you, and that’s totally fine.
If you are in the market for a new bag – or teetering on whether or not you want to buy a Court Caddy, then keep reading. Let’s speak pickleball.
Disclaimer: This bag was provided to me by FORWRD in exchange for an honest review. However, FORWRD has had no input or influence on the content of this review. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. I take pride in providing unbiased, objective assessments, and no brand can ever pay for a review on this platform.
I’m starting this review pretty skeptical. A $300 price tag means it should be open to more scrutiny.
At first glance, the Court Caddy is bulky, rigid, and tall—but also techy, sleek, and nothing like a typical pickleball bag. Most pickleball bags are thinner and more flexible, while this one stands out with its minimalist design. It comes in black, gray, and green; I tested the gray colorway, and while I’d personally prefer the black, the gray still looks really sharp.
Once you put your hand on the material, it’s immediately clear that it’s durable and premium. It also feels deceptively light considering how good quality the materials are. But when I first pulled this out of the box, my concern was whether its rigid structure would be flexible enough to fit everything I needed.
The bag itself looks a bit bigger than what it can actually hold, and the structured, sturdy build means it doesn’t compress to fit into tight spaces, like under a plane seat. But that rigidity has its advantages. It stands up straight and doesn't fall over very easily. It holds its shape no matter how much or how little you pack, which adds to its practicality.
It looks like the tradeoff is that it’s less flexible than most other bags. If you’re a heavy packer, my first impression doesn’t seem like there will be enough room to stretch this bag beyond its rigid shape.
Most bags on the market right now are downsized tennis bags or look suspiciously similar to hiking bags. The only other bags with a similarly distinguished look are the CRBN Pro Team Bag or ADV’s tennis bag, which are great options too. I’ve never seen a sports bag designed this way, which I personally think is a really good look.
The Court Caddy feels like combination of a hybrid of a camera bag, tech backpack, and pickleball bag in one. It’s minimalist, without any loud logos or colors. It feels modern and functional. The materials are both tough and soft, scratch-resistant, and water-resistant, too. And the more time I spent with it, the more I noticed the small details that made it stand out—details that genuinely improved my experience and made me proud to carry it.
What does that mean in the real world, though? Well, if I’m spending $300 on a bag, the last thing I want to do is treat it like a designer bag. I want it to last without me babying it, or worrying about scuff marks. Now, I kind of just throw it on the bench or on the floor, without worrying about it ripping at all.
The bottom uses Textured TPU-coated Nylon Boot, a lightweight, but tough material that can handle courts, gravel, or concrete without a scratch. It looks a bit like the rubber flooring at kids’ playgrounds.
If you don’t feel like leaving it on the ground, there are two metal hooks, well-hidden on your arm straps, that let you hang it on a fence.
It’s hard not to compare it to the 30L Peak Design Everyday Backpack—a $299 staple in the camera bag world. Both are in the same price range, built with premium materials, and designed to be tough and practical. Like the Court Caddy, the Peak Design bag also offers separate, modular attachments, which I’ll touch on later.
But overall, this bag is new, refreshing, and honestly really, really good.
At the end of the day, this is just a bag, so storage is what matters most. After a month of use, I’ve settled on what works as my daily carry—though whether or not I pack my laptop depends on how busy my day looks.
Here's what's depicted:
This bag is built for daily use, not for gear hoarders like me with over 20 paddles at home. If I weren’t testing paddles, I’d probably carry 3–4 at most, which is already more than I actually need. Similarly, 8 balls is more than enough, as I usually only go through 1–2 per session. It’s practical without going overboard. I didn't include my phone, wallet, and keys in the photo but they comfortably fit in here, too.
Another noticeable omission from my setup is shoes. The bag doesn’t include space for them, but you can purchase a separate attachment that latches to the front straps (more on that later).
This bag has a few features that stood out to me during my time using it. From the magnetic ball pockets to the paddle slots that make covers unnecessary, there were small design choices that genuinely made it more functional for daily use. Here’s a breakdown of what I personally appreciated.
The standout feature, hands down, is the magnetic ball pockets. The flaps have a satisfying, tactile feel—you pull the tabs, and the magnets click and unclick softly, making it easy to grab a ball in seconds. Granted it feels a little bit like a party trick, but it’s still really useful. It’s a massive upgrade from my old Franklin X-40 tube, which I carried in my water bottle pocket until I inevitably lost the lid and gave up, stuffing balls into my duffle instead.
The smoothly padded separators inside the bag mean I can skip the paddle covers entirely. Sliding paddles in and out is quick and easy, and it saves a few seconds every time I pack or unpack. For the 2025 model, these paddle separators are velcro'd to the sides, allowing you to pull them off if you want more miscellaneous space.
The reinforced bottom is very sturdy, making it ideal for outdoor parks with rough benches and uneven floors. I can leave the bag on the ground without worrying about it tipping over, getting dirty, or showing wear.
Even though the bag’s bottom is tough enough to handle being on the ground, the hidden fence hooks add extra convenience. They make it easy to hang the bag up so I can quickly swap paddles or grab a ball.
On days when I go straight from work to the court, it easily holds my laptop, charger, and notebook alongside my pickleball essentials. For someone who works in tech and loves pickleball, it feels like it was made for me.
While the bag has plenty of strengths, there are a few areas where it fell short for me. From the cost of add-ons to limited paddle capacity, some design choices might not work for everyone. Here’s a look at the features I found less practical.
The modular design of the bag is undeniably clever and adds a layer of versatility that’s both fun and practical. You can adjust it depending on what you’re doing that day…but the price point of the add-ons feels steep. For instance, the shoe attachment costs an additional $50 on top of an already premium $300 bag. Personally, it feels like more of an upsell rather than upgrade.
Shoes are inherently bulky and take up a lot of space, so while this isn’t a deal-breaker for me personally, I can see how it could be a sticking point for others. It’s one of those situations where, after spending so much on the bag, you’d think adding the attachments would feel like an easier decision—but the price makes it difficult to.
If they lowered the cost of the attachments by $10-$15, it would feel much more reasonable and in line with the premium experience the bag promises. As it stands, it’s a balance that may leave people second-guessing.
This is a bit nitpicky, but once you’ve loaded the essentials—paddles, water bottle, and balls—there is not a lot of room left. The bag’s rigid structure doesn’t offer much flexibility to squeeze in extras, so you’re trading its sturdiness for a lack of stretch when you might need it. The bag maxes out at holding four paddles. This is enough for most players and makes it a solid daily driver, but if you’re someone who needs to carry more gear for tournaments—like snacks, extra clothes, or multiple paddles—you might find the space lacking.
The hidden pockets are a great feature for keeping small items secure, like an AirTag or keys, but they require some mental organization. If you’re forgetful (like me with ADHD), you may find yourself searching through the bag trying to remember where you put something. While this is more user error than a design flaw—and is probably the case with any bag with multiple zippers—it’s worth mentioning.
If you’re tired of bags that wear out after a year or two, this one’s materials—scratch-resistant, water-resistant, and heavy-duty—are a big selling point. It’s for people who want a bag they can use for the long haul without worrying about it falling apart. The Court Caddy is also for hobbyists who care about the finer details of the things they own, like the gear nerds who value products with unique R&D, backed by well-sourced materials. This is a bag for people who see function, durability, and design as equally important.
The structured design makes this bag a good fit for players who like to keep their gear organized and accessible. If you prefer bags that stand upright and have designated compartments for everything, this one works well.
For someone who typically brings a couple of paddles, some balls, and a few small items to the court, this bag fits perfectly into their routine. It’s meant for everyday use without being oversized.
The magnetic ball pockets, fence hooks, and well-sourced materials will appeal to players who want their bag to feel like it was actually designed for pickleball players.
If you often need to carry more than four paddles, multiple outfits, shoes, snacks, and extra gear for long days at tournaments, this bag’s size will likely fall short. The capacity is designed for daily essentials, not for cramming in a lot of extras. Sorry to say, If you bring a pack of muffins to your tournaments or tend to dump everything into your bag, you might find this one limiting.
At $300, this bag is the most premium option in pickleball right now. If price is a primary factor in your decision, there are cheaper bags on the market that may better fit your needs.
This bag has a minimalist aesthetic with no bold branding or colors. If you’re looking for something brighter, with the branding of your favorite paddle brand, you’re not going to like this bag.
I’m not here to convince you that spending $300 on a bag is the right move. Value is personal—some people splurge on their morning coffee, others on mechanical keyboards, and unfortunately I do both.
But let’s reframe this to pickleball paddles. One player might advocate for the Paddletek Bantams, justifying its $250 price tag with its innovation, performance, and warranty. Another might prefer the Chorus Fire, a fantastic $150 power paddle, backed by a 120-day warranty.
Both paddles are fantastic options for power players, but they offer different promises. It’s not about which is better—it’s about what you prioritize: long-term reliability or budget-friendly performance. The same logic applies here.
Speaking of warranty, FORWRD’s lifetime warranty covers all the usual failure points—broken zippers, torn seams, busted buttons, and track issues. So far, I’ve only heard good things from customers
These are the things that typically ruin a bag’s functionality over time. Pair that with scratch-resistant and water-resistant materials, and you’ve got a bag that’s built to last and stay looking good for years. For me, it’s the ultimate "buy-it-for-life" kind of purchase.
Personally, FORWRD Court Caddy bag is worth the price, but only because I love pickleball, play regularly, and want a bag that makes me feel good and last me a long time. It’s durable, got great features, and designed in a way that I can take anywhere without it looking out of place with it.
If I were still unsure about my commitment to pickleball, this would be a much tougher sell. Dropping $300 on a bag doesn’t make sense if you’re only dabbling in the sport or don’t see it being a long-term part of your life. Beginners who buy the most expensive gear—I call them "buy-hards." Someone who’s all-in, it’s a buy-it-once investment that feels justified.
But this bag isn’t perfect. Like I mentioned previously, I do find the price of the attachments harder to swallow. If I were buying this bag for myself, I’d start with the bag alone and consider the add-ons later—maybe during a sale or once I was sure I needed them.
Ultimately, the key here is that there’s nothing else like this bag on the market right now. Its premium design, long-lasting materials, and practicality as a daily driver make it a standout option for players who care about quality and functionality. I can easily see myself using this bag for years to come, and to me, that makes it worth every penny.
If you want to try the bag for yourself, use code SPEAK at checkout to let them know we helped you (we get a small kickback if you wish to support our magazine.)
The FORWRD Court Caddy stands out for its sleek design, durable materials, and thoughtful features like magnetic ball pockets and padded paddle slots that eliminate the need for covers. While it excels as a daily-use bag, its rigid structure and limited storage capacity may not meet the needs of heavy packers or tournament players. At $300, it’s an investment best suited for serious players who value quality, functionality, and long-term durability.