Review VESSEL Baseline Racquet Backpack and Bag

Ryebread

Ryebread

Semi-Pro
I own the Baseline Racquet Bag, which is their full size tennis bag
And
I own the Baseline Backpack
both in black.

EXPENSIVE
SUPER HIGH END
THINK LUXURY
NO ADVERTISEMENTS BLASTED ALL OVER IT, which is what caught my eye originally.

Being a racket-o-holic, I wanted a NON TENNIS brand. b/c that would drive me nuts.
And I wanted a timeless, elegant bag, that I can carry onto a train or plane.
it was an expensive purchase, but I splurged on myself... I deserved them.
I figured, I don't play golf, which costs so much more to play.
Anyhow, I love both bags.

I did a video review of them today, on the court
Here it is:

I ended up getting two of the Racquet Bags, and one Backpack.
But I'm only going to keep one of the Racquet Bag.
I will be posting a classifieds for the Baseline Racquet Bag, today. (edit, I posted the listing in the USA classifieds)

I can't speak highly enough of these bags.
I'm a photographer (stills, not video - hence the iphone video). And so, I'm a bag-o-holic, in that segment (camera bags).
That lent to my obsession for bags in tennis. I had 9 tennis bags until I found these.
I was going to keep a spare of the Racquet Bag for when the original goes bad after several years.
But I have been using it since the summer, 5X a week, and it is still looking like new.
I'm moving (this summer) and downsizing a bit, so I want to sell some gears off.

I use the backpack in this way:
I keep it in my locker at my club, in the winter months. I go from locker to court to locker, and the bag fits easily inside.
I use it with my bicycle in summer months. when I don't play at my club, which is indoors.
For flights, I use it as a carry-on, if I don't want to take any chances with the larger bag.

I use the bigger bag in this way:
I use the big boy for tournaments and longer days, and traveling by car/train on trips.
Or for when I'm demoing a ton of sticks.

Any questions LMK
Thank you

Untitled by ryan mac, on Flickr

Untitled by ryan mac, on Flickr

Untitled by ryan mac, on Flickr

Untitled by ryan mac, on Flickr
 
Last edited by a moderator:
B

BoxbeamsFTW

Semi-Pro
Black definitely looks like their best color option. If the tags or bag had anymore green, it would look like Prince's first generation textreme bags.

Holy cow! Their backpack is the same price as the 6 racquet bag! :oops: I would just find and get the Prince black and green duffle backpack they had. Doubly so if I had any Prince racquets. Which I do... Looks to be really good quality though.
Nollid said:
Hot stuff. The bag looks nice, but the colors on those racquets look good together. Reminds me of a pack of Juicy Fruit gum!
Click to expand...
This is kinda true. :laughing: in a sorta bad but good way. They should make those racquets have a cosmetic baby together. Limited edition lite version.
 
SonRK

SonRK

Semi-Pro
I picked this bag up during Christmas as a self-gift because I too am a racquet-holic now and also apparel agnostic (I was using an Adidas bag for a bit until I bought a whole slew of Nike products). I know I have issues :p

Now, the good is that it definitely feels luxury, material wise. I do think the it could go through a set of improvements as a tennis bag.
  • The pockets could be bigger.... like they have one thermal lined for a (singular) water bottle, but I definitely need something that can fit several bottles because I get thirsty on the court.
  • The compartment for racquets (with the thermal lining interior) could be bigger. I can only fit 2 thicker beamed frames (Clash 100/Beasts) or like 3 thinner ones (Blades). I have to resort to putting the other racquets in the other big compartment. Which isn't an issue necessarily, but I keep a lot of stuff on that side which can scratch frames.
  • One of my zippers just broke off (
    http://imgur.com/a/FHuLHa8
    ). I contacted their support team and they sent me a new one, but I imagine the others might suffer a similar fate.
Would I get it again at the price? I guess I would because I use several frames and I hate how large the logos/branding on other tennis bags are. The Tennis Warehouse one is also too loud for my tastes, but something mid-range pricing ($100-150) for an unbranded decent bag would be my sweetspot.
 
B

BoxbeamsFTW

Semi-Pro
Hm, darn. Those zippers look like they should be much sturdier. Good to know despite the luxury price tag, the zippers are still normal quality. But they replaced the bag for you which is great.

Everyone be careful with the zippers after leaving the bag out in the Sun lol, they're black.
 
Ryebread

Ryebread

Semi-Pro
Looks like the zipper is fine. The yellow pull tab that attaches broke off. Interesting.

never had an issue with my two bags and they get used 5x a week.

I have heard their customer service is legit.

totally in love.
 
B

BoxbeamsFTW

Semi-Pro
Ryebread said:
Looks like the zipper is fine. The yellow pull tab that attaches broke off. Interesting.

never had an issue with my two bags and they get used 5x a week.

I have heard their customer service is legit.

totally in love.
Click to expand...
Huh, hard to be 100% sure from the photo, but I think it's the inner metal that got softened from heat or was always weak, which failed. This happened to me once on a different bag. Just a normal backpack. Even thick zip handles will usually be made of the cheapest metal filling inside.

If it's the connection to the yellow pull tab, that's even worse. With the black enameled metal, you could just say it was a quality control issue or defect from a supplier. If it's the pull tab, it's a design flaw you should have seen or checked out.

Everything else should be fine, I just wouldn't bend or overly force the zipper, but just pull along the zip.
 
SonRK

SonRK

Semi-Pro
BoxbeamsFTW said:
Hm, darn. Those zippers look like they should be much sturdier. Good to know despite the luxury price tag, the zippers are still normal quality. But they replaced the bag for you which is great.

Everyone be careful with the zippers after leaving the bag out in the Sun lol, they're black.
Click to expand...
They replaced the pull tab part, and I had to use pliers to bend the zipper, put it in, and close it again.


Ryebread said:
It’s not the zipper. It’s the yellow pull tab
Click to expand...
Correct, I should have been more clear


I think that part is going to be a weak spot, I'll report back after the summer when it's being tossed around and in the sun a lot.
 
akk

akk

New User
Anyone able to share if the Vessel backpack would hold a 15" Macbook in the main compartment?
 
Ryebread

Ryebread

Semi-Pro
akk said:
Thank you! Would be grateful.
Click to expand...
based on my experience with the bag, you’ll be able to slide it into the main compartment - no problem. Obviously you want to have it in a sleeve or something like that to protect it. I’m also curious if it’ll fit in one of the racket sleeves. But I will test everything out when I get home.
 
akk

akk

New User
Ryebread said:
this is an older 15" MBP
no issue at all.

Untitled by ryan mac, on Flickr

Untitled by ryan mac, on Flickr

Untitled by ryan mac, on Flickr

Untitled by ryan mac, on Flickr
Click to expand...
That is wonderful, thank you Ryan. Looks like more than enough room in the main compartment as well as the racquet compartment, which may make this a perfect office/tennis backpack for quicker sessions. Thank you!!

I will have to head over to your classified section post :)
 
Ryebread

Ryebread

Semi-Pro
akk said:
That is wonderful, thank you Ryan. Looks like more than enough room in the main compartment as well as the racquet compartment, which may make this a perfect office/tennis backpack for quicker sessions. Thank you!!

I will have to head over to your classified section post :)
Click to expand...
I was only selling one of the longer version bags. Which I did, the forum friend here received it yesterday.
I am keeping my backpack, sorry!
 
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