Factor in dealing with all this while wearing about ten pounds of protective equipment, standing right behind someone swinging a three-pound bat as hard as he can. It’s no wonder “Muddy” Ruel called catcher’s equipment the tools of ignorance.
Our Personal Best Choice
As we noted, with all the specialized equipment that is needed, a catcher must have the capability to move his gear to and from the baseball park easily. A catcher’s gear bag meets that requirement. We have identified ten notable bags, and, in this section, will review them at a fairly high level.
In the next section, we’ll take a look at the ten best catcher’s equipment bags.
Comparison Table
We’ll identify some of their best features, sizes, ratings, price range, and customer reviews.
Product | Best Features | LxWxH | Rating (Reviews) | Price Range | View on Amazon |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
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14.2 x 14.8 x 40.8 inches |
5 out of 5 |
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18 x 10.5 x 39 inches |
4.6 out of 5 |
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16 x 14 x 36 inches |
4.5 out of 5 |
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9 x 9.5 x 36 inches |
4.4 out of 5 |
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15 x 13 x 37 inches |
4.3 out of 5 |
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12 x 15 x 39 inches |
4.3 out of 5 |
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16 x 7 x 36 inches |
4.2 out of 5 |
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12 x 13 x 36 inches |
4.3 out of 5 |
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12 x 12 x 36 inches |
3.7 out of 5 |
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11 x 10.5 x 36 inches |
3.3 out of 5 |
Pre-History of Catcher’s Wheeled Bag Development
We’ll spend a little time here looking at the development of this specialized equipment.
It’s hard to imagine, but in the early days of baseball, catchers did not have the benefit of all this protection. Early catchers played a few steps behind the batter, catching the ball of the bounce rather than directly. This bit of self-protection ended in the early 1900s when rules were changed to make the catcher play immediately behind the home plate. Even though they were available much earlier, this rule change pretty much dictated the use of a catcher’s mask.
The first mask was developed in 1876, made from a fencing mask. This development caught on quickly and was widely used by the 1880s.Several design improvements were made, with the aim of added protection while increasing visibility for the catcher. In the 1970s, a hanging strap was added to the masks to protect the catcher’s throat from being hit by the ball. Interestingly, this strap was offered as an option to a 1903 mask but never caught on.
Let’s take a quick look at the next major piece of catcher’s equipment – the catcher’s mitt. Hand protection for a catcher seems like a logical extension to face protection, and the early versions of catcher’s mitts were routinely seen in the 1870s. The earliest mitts were basically round pads to cover the hand.
The pillow-shaped mitt came out at the turn of the century and remained in use until the 1920s. A hand and finger -designed mitt by Rawlings Company (you’ll see that name later in this review) became the new standard, but it still required catching with two hands to the ball did not pop out of the mitt.The result, as expected, was a lot of bruised, jammed, and broken fingers. To solve this problem, the hinged mitt was developed and became popular in the late 1960s. This solution allowed the catcher to use one hand to catch the pitch and keep the other hand safely protected behind his back. Except for specialty mitts like those used to catch knuckleballers, these gloves are still in use today as the catcher’s standard.
Next up is the start of the catcher’s armor – the chest protector. Chest protection also goes back to the early days of baseball, but, unlike other catcher’s equipment, has not really evolved to the same extent. The early protectors were bladders filled with air, but soon foam padding replaced the air padding.While the types of foam used today have become much lighter while affording additional protection, the original design is still much the same. The only major modification is the extension of the padding to cover and protect the shoulder areas.
The last equipment we will take a look at is the shin guards worn by catchers. These, much like the chest protector, have not changed much during their evolution. Originally made of light cane, they were first seen in the 1890s. Leather replaced the cane, and fiberboard later replaced the leather as the primary material of construction and was featured in an early Rawlings catalog from 1916.The shin guards are designed to protect the kneecaps, ankles, and insteps, with hinges at the knee joint, to ease movement and flexibility. In the 1960s, engineered plastics became the choice material of construction, offering solid protection, while lightweight and flexible.
So, there’s a quick summary of the additional equipment catcher’s need to not only wear but also to carry. They also need the standard equipment of other position players, including bats, helmets, spikes or cleats, batting gloves, and hats. And, obviously, they need some way to transport this paraphernalia to and from the baseball diamond. On the right side is a picture of a fully geared-up catcher. And this, of course, leads right into our review of the best catcher’s gear bags. But first, let’s switch gears really quick, and take a look at the development of suitcases. Early suitcases were along the lines of steamer trunks; large, heavy, and difficult to carry and transport. In the early 1970s, horizontal wheeled suitcases were invented, using a cord to pull them.The introduction of the wheeled suitcases we are used to seeing today came in 1987 when a Delta pilot developed the vertically oriented roller suitcases for use by flight crews. They were subsequently commercialized, and are now the standard in air travel globally.
So, how did we get from the catcher’s equipment to suitcases?
The catcher’s equipment bag is basically a modified suitcase, with specialized compartments to hold the various tools of the trade.
Buying Guide
Materials of constructions might be a good example. We recommend you look at these bags from three different perspectives – what do I absolutely need, what would be nice to have, and what are the “bells and whistles” that I don’t need and would not even use?
The idea is not to go into tons of detail here, but to give you a high-level look at some of the key information about equipment bags. If you need more specific information, you can review the data at the Amazon or manufacturer’s web sites.
This wraps up the Buying Guide portion of the review, so it’s time to move on to da detailed review of each of the ten bags. As noted earlier, this will consist of general impressions, features and specifications, and the pros and cons of each bag. We’ll wrap up with a few “best of” picks from the ten equipment bags.
Product Reviews – Catcher’s Wheeled Bag
Rawlings R1502 Wheeled Catchers Bag
This is one of the larger bags on the list, with storage capacity for up to four bats. While suitable for youth equipment, this bag will easily carrier adult sizes. It comes with a five- star review, but caveat emptor; that review is based on only one review. We checked a couple of other sites, and there are no reviews available there either, so this is most likely a fairly new introduction.
Pros
- Large bag size, suitable for adults
- Manufactured by Rawlings, who has made baseball equipment for over 100 years
- Heavy-duty rail and wheel system for durability
Cons
- Only one customer review, limited purchase information since introduced in this year
Bownet -The Commander
Fairly large, multi-compartmented bag offering 14 separate compartments – a lot of storage area for various equipment. It is available in seven different colors and designs and comes with a solid 4.6 rating. It has a personalization panel for a team logo, player name, and number, etc. This is a top ten seller in Amazon baseball equipment bags.
Pros
- Solid quality rating for this bag
- Well-organized storage with multiple compartments; users call it a “hanging locker.”
- Compartments can be moved and repositioned to meet personal needs
Cons
- One strongly negative review about customer service
- Not especially well balanced when loaded, so (integral to bag) hooks need to be used
Easton E900c Wheeled Catchers Bag
This is another 4.5 rated bag, but comes in a little cheaper than the Bownet, at $170. It has wide-set wheels for stability and durability and weighs in at just under ten pounds. There is a zippered three-bat external compartment, multiple pockets, and heavy-duty construction. Based on consumer feedback, it is built to last.
Pros
- 95% of customer ratings are eight 4- or 5-star
- Constructed of 600 Denier polyester fibers for anti-rip strength
- Insulated water bottle holder
Cons
- Complaints all related to broken zippers
Athletico Rolling Baseball Bag
This bag is versatile enough for baseball, t-ball, or softball equipment. It’s constructed from 600 Denier polyester fabric and can store up to four bats with all the other ancillary equipment, yet weighs only 3 pounds net. With several pockets for personal items, plus all the baseball equipment, it has a good rating and very attractive pricing.
Pros
- Price
- Good ratings for value and durability
Cons
- Very narrow at 9 inches; will not hold larger youth or adult equipment
- User complaints around zippers, stability, wheel width
EASTON E700W Bat & Equipment Wheeled Bag
EASTON E700W
Bat & Equipment
Wheeled Bag
Features and specifications:
- 600 Denier polyester fabric
- just over six pounds weight, large main compartment, insulated water bottle compartment, and separate valuables pocket
- removable panel for customization with team logo, player name, etc.
Another Easton bag, much the same size as the previous one, but with a slightly different configuration. It has a four-bat capacity, and multiple compartments, including a vented one for cleats. Wide-set wheels with a full axle and bottom rails give the bag good stability and structure.
Pros
- 90% 4- and 5-star ratings
- Good price to rating ratio
- 4300 cubic inch main storage compartment
Cons
- Complaints are about durability and functionality of zippers
- The tendency to tip over, but has fence hooks integrated into the design
DeMarini Special OPS Wheeled Bag
This is the first of two DeMarini bags in this review, and the number four seller equipment bag on Amazon. It has an armored compartment for bat storage and will hold up to four bats in individual sleeves, and seven overall. It has a removable, customizable decoration panel, and a separate pocket for valuables storage.
Pros
- Solid construction, with full features
- Breathable and washable shoe compartment
- Large enough for youth and adult equipment
Cons
- The bag has an even lower 3.4 rating (120 reviews) on the manufacturer’s website
- Virtually every complaint has to do with zipper quality and zipped pulls breaking off
No Errors NO E2 Wheeled Catchers Gear Bag
No Errors NO E2
Wheeled Catchers
Gear Bag
Features and specifications:
- extra-wide wheels with heavy tread pattern
- heavy-duty materials with reinforced stitching
- four hooks to hang gear such as masks and helmets outside the bag, plus fence hook
- shelf system for customizable storage area
This bag is available in eight different colors and designs. While the Amazon specs show it as 6 inches deep, the manufacturer shows 12 inches, which appears to be more in line with the photos. We’ve taken the manufacturer’s numbers in the comparison table, which makes it one of the bigger bags. It has nine total pockets, with three ventilated, and a three-bat capacity.
Pros
- 8 rating for durability, 4.6 for value
- 5-star review on manufacturer’s site, 4.7 on another site
Cons
- Complaints about stability when rolling the bag
- Zipper quality and fabric strength are recurring complaints
- Highest priced bag in this review
Mizuno Classic Wheel Bag
This Mizuno product also comes in highly rated, with a 4.3 customer review. It’s fairly lightweight at just over six pounds but has some heavyweight features. It has separate pockets for storage and heavy-duty wheels for durability over any surface.
Pros
- Good value based on price and quality rating
- Dual hooks for fence hanging
- 5-star rating on a different site (8 reviews)
Cons
- The bag may be too small for gear for an older, larger player
- Some complaints about the durability of the bag, showing premature wear, and zipper failure
Easton E510W Team Wheeled Bag
Easton E510W
Team Wheeled Bag
Features and specifications:
- shoe panel that can be removed
- reinforced bottom to deal with bulging and premature wearing
- bracketed inline wheels on the bottom of the bag for stability and durability
- reverse coil #8 zippers for coils protection and against blowouts
New Easton’s new E510W wheeled bag is even more versatile than it has been before. There are new rubberized pullers and a fence hook added to increase the functionality. The vented pockets will eliminate any odor, and they will also allow the bag dry faster. Heavy-duty bracketed inline wheels are designed for stability and durability. There is also a removable shoe panel that will be highly appreciated by the players. Basically, it a good bag for any player.
Pros
- Large bat storage capability, with removable sleeve
- Retractable handle, plus padded top handle for carrying
Cons
- No bottom rail between wheels so has a tendency to bow out when loaded heavily
DeMarini Momentum Wheeled Bag
This is another bag from the DeMarini line, but, as evidenced by the rating (and price), from the lower end of their catalog. It has a pretty small storage area and is really not suitable for catcher’s equipment other than for the youngest and smallest players. It does feature a padded, separated four bat storage area, with an interior shelf to separate gloves from other equipment in the bag.
Pros
- The second lowest price of all the bags in this review
Cons
- Lowest overall rating of all bags in this review
- 7 rating on the manufacturer’s web site
Conclusion
So, that marks the end of the detailed review of each of our ten wheeled catcher’s equipment bags. Let’s summarize the “best of” from the analysis; in the interest of fairness for comparison, I’ve split the ten bags into two groups of five bags each. The first group is those priced under $100, and the second group those between $100 and $200. Here are the results:
The Mizuno hit the top end of the scale for the overall bag and best value. It costs $100, a very solid 4.3 rating, and an even higher rating on a different site. I also liked the Easton E700W as the best value choice, but it had constant criticisms for the same problem, which I would think would be adjusted in the design phase. Honorable mention goes to the Easton E510W.
For the bags priced under $200, I chose:
The Bownet bag had a high rating, large size, flexible storage, and a molded storage section. The only real scathing complaint was not about the bag, but about customer service. The Easton bag also had a good 4.5 rating and was the second cheapest bag in this category.
The rating and price factored in with the wide variety of features and specs, give it the best value award. I was also impressed with the Rawlings R1502 bag; nice features, reasonably priced, but put this one back to honorable mention because of the single rating applied to the bag. Check it next year, and I think you will see a very high overall rating.
We hope this information has been helpful to you in making your decision on a catcher’s equipment bag.