Introduction
Squash bags have changed a great deal since the sport's popularity surged in the 1970s, going from simple carry-alls to well-organised gear carriers as materials, manufacturing, and player needs evolved. This article traces squash bag design from the 1970s to today, covering features, materials, and the influence of player preferences and professional endorsements.
1970s: Leather, Canvas, and Basic Utility
In the 1970s squash bags, which often doubled as general sports holdalls, were typically heavy canvas or leather, carrying one or two rackets and a few personal items in a single large compartment with maybe one small pocket, function over style.
Wooden racquets were prone to warping from moisture and pressure; many players used wooden presses, but most amateurs simply put the racket in with damp clothing. This spurred an early change: around the late 1970s and into the 1980s, some bags added a lined racquet section, in some cases with a reflective foil lining to shield the racket from moisture and heat. In the seventies, though, such features were rare, and the typical bag was a no-frills, sturdy gym bag with little padding.
Style and culture: Squash was growing, especially in Britain and the Commonwealth, but gear was not yet a fashion statement; bags were plain or carried simple logos, and professional endorsement of bags was virtually nonexistent.
1980s: Emergence of Specialized Designs
The 1980s brought the transition from heavy wooden racquets to lighter metal and graphite frames, and players began carrying multiple rackets for tournaments, driving demand for better bags. Designs became more specialised: larger, sturdier, purpose-built racket bags with multiple compartments (a section fitting two or three racquets, plus pockets for balls or personal items). Synthetic nylon and vinyl replaced canvas, offering lighter weight, better weather resistance, and brighter colours.
New features: By the late 1980s some higher-end bags had padded liners or dividers to protect rackets, plus shoulder straps in addition to handles. The dedicated shoe pocket was just starting to appear, though ventilation was still rudimentary or absent.
Style and culture: Bright colours and prominent logos appeared as brands sought to stand out. Prince, a major racket brand, released a gold-and-black quilted tote-style racket bag reflecting the decade's flashy trends, though closer to a handbag than a practical carrier. Squash was popular as an executive and club sport, and a sleek branded bag became a bit of a status symbol.
Player preferences and endorsements: Pakistani great Jahangir Khan, who dominated the 1980s, used gear from Unsquashable, having joined the brand in the late 1970s; the company launched a Jahangir Khan signature racket in the early 1980s. Bags were not yet marketed under player names, but top players' brand loyalty (Jahangir with Unsquashable, others with Dunlop and Prince) began the practice of branding bags as professional-quality gear.
1990s: Increasing Capacity and Brand Identity
In the 1990s professional players carried half a dozen rackets or more, multiple pairs of shoes, and accessories to tournaments, and bags expanded to suit. 6-racket and 9-racket bags (naming borrowed from tennis) became common, typically with two or three main compartments (one or two racket sections and one for apparel), plus a separate zippered compartment for shoes or wet clothes and external pockets for balls, water bottles, and valuables.
Materials and durability: Heavy-duty polyester became standard, with reinforced stitching and sturdy zippers; some bags added protective piping or rubberised bottoms against wear and water.
Ergonomics: Heavier loads brought wider, padded shoulder straps, and many bags introduced dual carrying options, including a pair of straps worn like a backpack, though true backpack designs were not yet universal.
Branding and style: Brand identity became central, with Dunlop, Prince, and Head prominently featuring logos and colours, the age of the logo-covered tour bag modelled on tennis. Styling was more understated than the neon 80s, with navy, black, and red base colours and bold but simple graphics.
Player endorsements: Signature equipment began. Canadian star Jonathan Power, who rose in the mid-to-late 1990s, had a Dunlop ICE line including a Dunlop ICE Tour racket bag marketed as his signature model, an early player-endorsed squash bag that pointed to a trend that grew in the 2000s.
2000s: Technology, Comfort, and Performance Utility
By the 2000s squash bags were well-engineered, borrowing from tennis. A notable development was wider use of thermal lining (climate-control technology): an insulated racket pocket lined with reflective thermal material (often silver) to shield rackets from extreme temperatures and moisture and keep string tension more stable.
Compartmentalisation expanded:
- Ventilated shoe compartments: a separate vented section (mesh panels or vent holes) for shoes or sweaty clothes to isolate odour and moisture.
- Multiple gear pockets: zippered pockets for balls, grips, snacks, and valuables, some fleece- or cloth-lined for a phone, eyewear, or music player.
- Hydration storage: an exterior or insulated pocket for a drink bottle.
- Organised interiors: subdivided main compartments or removable dividers to separate clean and used kit.
Ergonomics: Padded, adjustable backpack straps became common, often configurable as a backpack, over the shoulder, or hand-carry, with shaped, mesh-padded back panels, so even a fully loaded 12-racket tournament bag was easy to carry.
Materials and durability: Tough yet lightweight polyester or nylon weaves such as 600D or 1680D polyester, often with water- or wear-resistant coatings, plus reinforced seams, heavy-duty zippers, and sometimes plastic feet or rigid inner panels to hold shape.
Style: Two directions, the coordinated professional look (sleek black, red, or blue with bold logos, often matching racket colours) and more lifestyle-oriented, understated designs for younger, style-conscious players, with growing personalisation.
Professional influence: Sponsored pros carried their sponsor's latest bags, with a trickle-down effect to club players. Dunlop produced signature editions of its Performance series, including an 8-racket Ali Farag signature bag with thermal racket pockets.
2010s: Player-Centric Innovations and Modern Aesthetics
The 2010s added player-centric design, with manufacturers consulting pros and coaches to fine-tune features.
Refined features: Thermal racket compartments became more effective and reached mid-range bags; shoe-pocket ventilation improved (sometimes removable, washable vented pouches); many bags added a waterproof-lined wet-gear compartment; and some used U-shaped zippers to open wide like a suitcase. Specialty pockets recognised squash needs: hard-shell or felt-lined sleeves for goggles (as protective eyewear became mandatory in many youth and amateur leagues), and interior mesh pockets for replacement strings, grips, and tape.
Ergonomics and mobility: As players commuted by bike or transit, squash backpacks rose, compact bags with a sleeve for one or two racquets plus shoes and clothes, often with a padded laptop pocket. Larger bags added chest or sternum straps to stabilise the load, and a few brands made wheeled rolling duffels for coaches and travelling pros. Sizes ranged from single-rucksack carriers to large 12-racquet tournament bags.
Style and personalisation: Seasonal colourways and limited editions became common. Many top players had signature or co-designed bags: Dunlop offered an Ali Farag signature 8-racket bag with his logo and design input, and pros such as Nour El Sherbini (Tecnifibre) and Miguel Angel Rodriguez (Eye Rackets) were associated with their brands' gear. Some newer brands offered lifestyle bags, leather racket totes or sleek backpacks, that did not obviously look like sports bags.
2020s: Modern Trends and Sustainability
In the 2020s the core features (thermal protection, ventilation, ergonomic straps, ample capacity) are standard, so a newer area of change is materials and sustainability. Head, for example, introduced racket bags made from recycled PET polyester (repurposed plastic bottles), and even hangtags and packaging now use recycled paper and hemp.
Style continues to diversify, from minimalist low-logo designs to bold graphics for younger players, with customisation such as adding a name or flag.
Technology integration: Still uncommon, but concepts like built-in USB charging ports, LED lights, and smart tracking tags have been floated, following travel-backpack trends.
Player preferences: Lineups span compact backpacks to oversized 12-racket holdalls and hybrid wheeled bags; top pros still favour the largest bags on tour while club players opt for medium 6-racket bags or backpacks, with advanced features now scaled down even into small backpacks. The Professional Squash Association has partnered with Dunlop on co-branded (PSA-branded) bags for a unified professional look.
Conclusion
From the leather and canvas holdalls of the 1970s to today's well-equipped carriers, squash bags have steadily improved in functionality, racquet protection, use of space, ergonomics, and durability, as materials shifted from canvas and leather to advanced synthetics. The modern bag is effectively a mobile locker that protects racquets, preserves string tension with thermal lining, keeps shoes dry, and organises kit, while reflecting each era's style, from the flashy 1980s to the sleek 2000s and the personalised, eco-conscious designs of today. Players themselves, Jahangir Khan in the 80s, Jonathan Power in the 90s, and contemporary stars such as Ali Farag, have shaped bag development through endorsements and co-design, making the bag an integral piece of kit alongside the racquet and shoes.
