When it comes to carrying your disc golf discs around on the course, there are a lot of bags, backpacks, and carts to choose from. The trend has generally turned away from the old-fashioned shoulder-strap bags and toward the backpacks and carts (see the 2018 State of Disc Golf survey results here). But the downside of that trend is that the cost for those backpacks and carts is generally much higher than the old shoulder-strap bags. Not everybody feels like they can afford $100 – $200 and more for a nice backpack, or $300 for a nice cart. But the disc golf market has recognized the need for more affordable backpack options and brands are responding.
While less expensive backpacks do not include all of the frills and creature comforts of the higher-end, more expensive bags, they still give players a chance to affordably carry their discs around how they want– on their backs. Let’s take look at some of the affordable backpacks now on the market.
PRODIGY BP-3
One of the first economy backpacks to appear on the market was the Prodigy BP-3 which has a price-point just above $30. The market responded quickly and sales spiked faster than what Prodigy might have expected, causing supplies to diminish after a few months and Prodigy had to rush to fill demand.
Though the BP-3 is low on extra frills and lacks some of the size and extra comfort that is found in more expensive bags, it does the job for which it is intended– it acts as a perfect entry-level backpack option that carries sixteen or seventeen discs. It has a putter pocket, a water bottle holder, and has an extra accessory pocket on the side, plus a nice top handle that allows the user to pick it up and carry it in their hand, if desired. The straps and material durability may not be high-end, but again, much of those features were sacrificed in the effort to lower the cost and bring backpacks to a more frugal side of the market.
Dynamic Discs Trooper Backpack
The Trooper Backpack by Dynamic Discs has many of the same features as the BP-3, with a good disc capacity, a water bottle holder, and a large accessory pocket, but with a larger putter pocket on the top of the bag. At about a $40 price point, it is still very affordable and became a very popular seller upon release. The materials and construction of the Trooper tend to feel a bit more sturdy than you’d expect from an inexpensive offering, and that had been a big bonus for players who want a nice combination of price and quality. Yet again, this isn’t a premium backpack, so don’t expect a lot of extras in terms of capacity, comfort, or extra frills.
For a step up in price, you may want to check out the boxier Sniper Backpack from Dynamic Discs which has a moderate price tag around $70. It features reinforced straps and a more firm construction and design.
Infinite Stealth Bag
For a more unique design approach and lightweight construction, you might want to consider the Stealth Bag from Infinite Discs. Though this bag holds fewer discs, it was designed to be an easy bag to use for quick rounds, on-the-go, and rugged courses where hiking or distance walking might be involved. Aside from the water bottle holder, it also comes with an option to include a two liter water bladder that fits into the structure of the bag itself via a zipper on the side of the bag. The Infinite Stealth Bag has only four elastic pockets on the back which easily carry two discs each, plus possibly a third in the top pocket for 8-9 discs. It has an accessory pocket on one side, another on the lower back, and another on the top of the bag, plus has two locations on which to clip towels (high and low). It also features a handle on top to pick up the backpack and carry it by hand if the player doesn’t want to put it on. It can be worn comfortably on the player’s back with clips to secure it around the chest and waist for longer walks. The Infinite Stealth Bag sells for about $30 without a water bladder, or for $40 with the extra water bladder. At that price point, you can expect a nice starter bag with unique features that might fit specific playing conditions or styles, but again, it is an economy bag, so it may lack the kind of material sturdiness that can be found above the $100 price range.
Three other bags that push upwards to about $80 but that have a lot of nice features and solid construction for disc golfers are the Innova Heropack which is very popular as a sturdy backpack, the Fossa Tana which has great features with large accessory pockets and sturdy design, and the Discraft Tournament Backpack.
Undoubtedly other affordable backpacks will continue to enter the market as the sport of disc golf continues to grow and expand internationally. All of the available economy backpacks have not been covered here, but these are some of the popular choices that can get you started at a low cost.
Have fun playing your game and carrying your discs around the course, and don’t let the high prices of larger, more luxurious offerings hold you back. Once you feel like you can afford something bigger and better, then go for it. But disc golf is meant to be affordable and accessible for players of all types with a variety of income levels– it should not be a sport that excludes players because of high costs.
