Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links to Pickleball Central for the Selkirk LABS bag. If you click and buy, we earn a small commission at no added cost to you. Our Court Caddy links go directly to FORWRD.co. All opinions are based on our own testing and player feedback — nobody paid us to say anything here.
At a Glance
| FORWRD Court Caddy | Selkirk LABS Project Prestige | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $325 | $222 |
| Paddle capacity | 1–5 (modular) | Up to 6 |
| Laptop sleeve | Fits up to 15" | Yes (size unspecified) |
| Zipper type | YKK AquaGuard (waterproof) | Not specified |
| Warranty | Lifetime (all hardware) | Limited Lifetime |
| Weight | Not specified | Not specified |
| Best for | Serious players who want lifetime durability | Style-first players who want max paddle space at lower cost |
Quick Verdict
If you play 3+ times a week and want a bag that'll outlast your next four paddles, the Court Caddy is the call — better zippers, more volume, waterproof base, and a full lifetime warranty. If you prioritize budget, want a bag that looks sharp in a meeting room, or regularly carry six paddles for a group lesson, the Selkirk LABS Project Prestige is a genuinely strong pick at $103 less.
Last Updated: June 2026
Why This Comparison Is Different
Most bag comparisons read like manufacturer spec sheets stitched together. This one doesn't.
We've put the Court Caddy through 40+ hours of real use — outdoor concrete courts in Utah summer heat, tournament-day hauls through parking lots, and the daily grind of the commute-to-court lifestyle that we designed the bag around. We know exactly where the YKK zippers hold up when cheaper bags fail. We know what "modular paddle capacity" actually means when you're packing for a clinic with a spare paddle and running late.
The Selkirk LABS Project Prestige is newer to our radar, but we've tracked community feedback, dug into the construction specs, and — critically — been honest about where it's the smarter purchase. There are real use cases where $222 beats $325. We'll tell you exactly which ones.
One caveat upfront: we don't have a Selkirk LABS Prestige in our bag library for side-by-side destructive testing. Where specs aren't verified by our own hands, we say so. Everything about the Court Caddy is first-hand.
The Quick Verdict in Detail: Who Should Buy What
Buy the Court Caddy if: you play 3–5 days a week, carry a laptop or larger gear load, play in weather, or want a bag you can legitimately use for 5+ years without zipper creep or fabric degradation. Also if you care about that specific waterproof base — outdoor courts destroy bag bottoms, and the TPU-coated base on the Court Caddy is the clearest edge it has over almost everything in this price tier.
Buy the Selkirk LABS Project Prestige if: you're playing 2–3 days a week, prefer a cleaner office-friendly aesthetic, need to carry six paddles (teaching pros, group play organizers), or simply have a $225 ceiling on bag spend right now. It's a well-made bag. The PU leather exterior has a premium look that the ballistic nylon Court Caddy doesn't try to match.
Neither bag is a bad choice. The question is which set of priorities matches yours.
Selkirk LABS Project Prestige: What You're Getting at $222
Selkirk's LABS line is their "we went all-in on this" sub-brand — think of it as Selkirk's version of a premium limited-run product. The Project Prestige Pack carries that DNA. It's not cheap-feeling at $222, and it's not supposed to be.
The standout feature is paddle capacity. Six paddles. Two dedicated compartments — one exterior zippered, one interior — both padded for protection. If you're a teaching pro who travels with a quiver of demo paddles, or if you're running a doubles group where you bring backup gear, the Prestige holds more paddles than any other bag in this price tier we've seen. The Court Caddy maxes out at five with all inserts deployed. That extra paddle slot is real and matters for specific players.
The exterior is Performance Luxe PU Leather — Selkirk's term for their abrasion-resistant synthetic leather. It resists surface scuffs well and has a polished, structured look that reads as professional in non-court settings. The EVA molded back panel is a genuine comfort feature: it creates airflow between the bag and your back, which matters after a two-hour session in July heat. A lot of bags in this price range skip EVA foam entirely.
Other practical features: dedicated ventilated shoe compartment built-in (you don't need an add-on), shoulder strap phone pocket (zippered, easy to access mid-match), fence clips for hanging on court, and a mesh drink pouch. The included shoe compartment alone saves you $49.99 if you were going to buy the Court Caddy Shoe Cube add-on.
What I can't tell you — because Selkirk doesn't specify — is what zipper brand they use. On a bag at this price, that matters. YKK AquaGuard is the industry benchmark. If Selkirk is using generic zippers, that's where you'll feel the difference in year three. Something to ask about before you buy.
Dimensions: 20"H × 13"W × 7"D, 23 liters. Colors: Red and Black. 30-day free returns on unused items.
Check current price at Pickleball Central →
FORWRD Court Caddy: What You're Getting at $325
The Court Caddy is the bag we designed after talking to 500+ real players about what their current bags got wrong. Not marketing-speak — we mean we collected specific complaints and built solutions into the spec sheet. The magnetic ball pockets came from players describing how awkward it is to dig for balls mid-drill. The modular paddle system came from the player who carries two paddles on Monday, four on Wednesday for clinic day, and one on Saturday when she just wants to hit. The YKK AquaGuard zippers on every single compartment came from too many stories about zipper sliders failing after a season of outdoor use.
At 30 liters, it's meaningfully larger than the Selkirk's 23L — about 25% more internal volume. That shows up in practice as room for a towel, a full-size water bottle in each of the two magnetic side pockets, a change of clothes, and a 15" laptop with room to spare. The dimensions are 8"D × 12"W × 20"H. Slightly narrower face than the Selkirk but deeper front-to-back, which is why the volume gap is bigger than the dimensional comparison suggests.
The exterior is 840D ballistic nylon with a polycarbonate coating. Ballistic nylon was developed for abrasion resistance — it's the material in bulletproof vests, which tells you something about its durability credentials. The base is textured TPU-coated nylon: waterproof, scuff-resistant, designed to sit on wet court surfaces without soaking through. If you play outdoor courts where puddles and morning dew are a regular thing, this matters more than you'd think.
The zippers are YKK AquaGuard on every compartment — not just the main body, every compartment. If you've had a cheap zipper fail mid-season on a $150 bag, you understand why this line item matters. AquaGuard is the waterproof version of YKK's already-best-in-class zipper spec. Combined with Hypalon zipper pulls (tear-proof, non-slip grip), this is a zipper system built to last years of daily use.
The paddle capacity is 1–5 via a modular velcro system. One insert = one paddle slot. Stack inserts = up to five. It doesn't go to six like the Selkirk does, but the configuration flexibility means the bag doesn't feel half-empty when you're carrying two paddles on a light day. The full-width opening is designed for fast one-handed access — you're not fighting a narrow slot to get your paddle out between games.
Lifetime warranty covers everything: all zippers, seams, hardware. Not "limited." If a zipper fails in year four, FORWRD covers it. Five colors: Wasatch Green, Slate Gray, Bone White, Black, and Nordic Blue.
See full specs and order the Court Caddy at FORWRD →
Head-to-Head: Full Spec Comparison
| Spec | FORWRD Court Caddy | Selkirk LABS Project Prestige |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $325 | $222 |
| Dimensions | 8"D × 12"W × 20"H | 7"D × 13"W × 20"H |
| Volume | 30 liters | 23 liters |
| Paddle capacity | 1–5 (modular velcro inserts) | Up to 6 (two fixed zones) |
| Laptop sleeve | Padded, fits 15" | Padded (size not specified) |
| Exterior material | 840D ballistic nylon (poly carbonate coated) | Performance Luxe PU Leather |
| Base material | TPU-coated nylon (waterproof) | Not specified |
| Zipper type | YKK AquaGuard (waterproof, all compartments) | Not specified |
| Water bottle pockets | 2 magnetic side pockets (fits 40oz+) | 1 mesh drink pouch |
| Ball storage | 6–8 balls (magnetic side pockets) | Not specified |
| Shoe compartment | Via Shoe Cube add-on ($49.99) | Built-in ventilated mesh compartment |
| Phone pocket | Fleece-lined top pocket | Zippered pocket on shoulder strap |
| Fence attachment | Dual metal G-hooks | Fence clips |
| Back panel | Spandura athletic panel | EVA molded (airflow) |
| Warranty | Lifetime (all zippers, seams, hardware) | Limited Lifetime |
| Colors | 5 (Wasatch Green, Slate Gray, Bone White, Black, Nordic Blue) | 2 (Red, Black) |
| Available at PBC | No (direct at FORWRD.co) | Yes |
Where Selkirk LABS Project Prestige Wins
The $103 gap is real, and it's not trivial. At $222, the Selkirk is a solid bag at a meaningfully lower price point. For players who are newer to the sport, play two days a week, or just don't want to spend $325 on a bag right now — the Prestige delivers a quality product without requiring a premium commitment. Not every player needs the Court Caddy's spec sheet, and Selkirk knows that.
Six paddle capacity is legitimately useful for certain players. Teaching pros. Players who travel with demo paddles. Household accounts where three different family members' paddles need to fit in one bag for the weekend trip. The Prestige's dual-zone design holds six paddles across exterior and interior compartments. The Court Caddy tops out at five. For that specific use case, the Selkirk wins outright.
The built-in shoe compartment saves you $49.99. If you carry court shoes separately from your gear — which most players who've developed any level of foot care do — the Prestige has a ventilated mesh shoe compartment already in the bag. The Court Caddy doesn't include shoe storage natively; the Shoe Cube is a $49.99 add-on. Add that to the Court Caddy's price and the gap closes to $54. Worth knowing before you do the math.
The PU leather aesthetic stands alone. There's a specific player who shows up to Monday morning rec play directly from work — laptop bag, business-casual, not trying to announce "pickleball gear" to the whole office lobby. The Selkirk's Performance Luxe PU Leather exterior looks like an elevated everyday bag. The Court Caddy's 840D ballistic nylon is functional and premium, but it reads as sports equipment. Neither is wrong. They're just different aesthetic choices for different contexts.
Where FORWRD Court Caddy Wins
YKK AquaGuard zippers on every compartment. This is the spec that ages best. YKK is the global standard for zipper quality — they supply the aerospace, military, and outdoor gear industries. The AquaGuard version adds a waterproof backing that keeps moisture out even under pressure. The Selkirk LABS Prestige doesn't specify its zipper brand anywhere on its product page. That omission tells you something. At $222, they may be using perfectly adequate zippers — but if you've watched a bag's main compartment zipper fail after two seasons of outdoor courts, you know why this line item matters.
30 liters vs 23 liters — the volume difference is felt every day. Seven liters sounds abstract. In practice, it's the difference between being able to pack a change of clothes and not. Or fitting two 40oz water bottles in the side pockets vs one. Or having enough main compartment room for your laptop, a full-size towel, and court shoes without playing Tetris. The Court Caddy was designed for players who go directly from court to office, airport, or dinner — and 30 liters is what that lifestyle requires.
The waterproof TPU base is a real durability advantage. Courts — especially outdoor courts — are rough on bag bottoms. Morning dew. Puddles from the previous night's rain. The gritty concrete surface that scuffs through fabric over time. The Court Caddy's textured TPU base is designed specifically for this. Set it down on a wet court and nothing soaks through. The Selkirk's base material isn't specified, so we can't compare directly — but if you play outdoor courts regularly, this is worth asking Selkirk about directly before buying.
Magnetic ball pockets with one-hand access. Two side pockets with magnetic closures, each holding 3–4 pickleballs. Open with one hand while walking between courts, no zipper fumbling. The balls stay put in transit — no rattling, no falling out when you set the bag down on its side. It's a small thing until you're mid-drill and need a fresh ball quickly. The Selkirk doesn't have a dedicated ball storage system that we can find specified.
The modular paddle system is genuinely different. The velcro insert system means you're not choosing between "tight space for one paddle" or "loose space for five." Each insert creates a padded slot. Two inserts = two snug slots. Five inserts = five slots. Take all inserts out for maximum volume on non-court days. The Selkirk's dual fixed zones are fine, but they don't adapt — you're always carrying the full paddle structure whether you need it or not.
The warranty is "lifetime" — period, no "limited." Court Caddy covers all zippers, seams, and hardware for the lifetime of the bag. Not "limited lifetime" with exclusions buried in terms of service. If anything covered by the warranty fails — a zipper slider, a seam, a G-hook — FORWRD replaces it. For a $325 bag you plan to use for five-plus years, that full coverage matters at the margin.
"We spec'd YKK AquaGuard on every compartment because we'd watched players go through two or three cheap bags while we were building the Caddy. Zipper failure is the number one way a bag dies early. We just decided that wasn't happening on our watch."
— Topher Lake, FORWRD co-founder
Real-World Use Cases: Which Bag Fits Your Game?
The Tournament Player
You're showing up on Saturday with two paddles, a full water kit, backup grip tape, court shoes, and enough snacks to survive a three-hour bracket. You play outdoor courts in variable weather. Court Caddy. The waterproof base, AquaGuard zippers, 30L volume, and dual water bottle pockets were built for exactly this scenario. The lifetime warranty means you're not buying a second bag at year three when a zipper creeps.
The Teaching Pro or Group Organizer
You're consistently carrying four to six paddles — demo paddles, loaners, student equipment. Capacity is the priority, and you're buying a second bag anyway, so you're not spending $325. Selkirk LABS Project Prestige. Six paddle slots, built-in shoe compartment, $222. It's the right call for your use case.
The Commute-to-Court Player
You're office-to-court, laptop in the bag, care about how it looks in a lobby. Close call. The Selkirk's PU leather reads more office-appropriate aesthetically. The Court Caddy's verified 15" laptop sleeve, 30L volume, and lifetime warranty argue the other way for players who do this every day. If you commute daily and care more about durability than aesthetics: Court Caddy. If you need the bag to pass the office dress code: Selkirk.
The Recreational Player (2x per Week)
You play Tuesday/Thursday evenings at the indoor rec center. Two paddles, one water bottle, minimal kit. Selkirk at $222 is the honest recommendation. You don't need 30 liters. You don't need a waterproof base for an indoor court. The Court Caddy will hold up better over a decade, but if you're playing twice a week recreationally, the Selkirk will last you plenty long enough at $103 less.
Pricing & Where to Buy
FORWRD Court Caddy — $325
Available exclusively direct. No retailer markup, no middle margin. Ships from the FORWRD warehouse with free returns within 30 days.
Order the Court Caddy at FORWRD.co →
Selkirk LABS Project Prestige — $221.99
Available at Pickleball Central with fast, free shipping. Also available directly at selkirk.com.
Check price and availability at Pickleball Central →
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Court Caddy worth the extra $103 over the Selkirk LABS Prestige?
For players who use their bag multiple times a week and care about long-term durability, yes — the YKK AquaGuard zippers, waterproof base, and full lifetime warranty represent real value over years of use. For casual players or those with a firm budget ceiling, the Selkirk is a quality bag at the lower price and doesn't require the premium.
Does the Selkirk LABS Project Prestige fit a 15-inch laptop?
Selkirk includes a padded laptop sleeve but doesn't specify the exact size on their product page. The Court Caddy explicitly fits up to 15" laptops. If you're carrying a 15" MacBook Pro daily, verify the Selkirk's sleeve dimensions directly with Selkirk or your retailer before purchasing.
Which bag is better for outdoor courts?
Court Caddy, clearly. The TPU-coated waterproof base, YKK AquaGuard zippers on every compartment, and 840D ballistic nylon exterior are all specified for outdoor/weather performance. The Selkirk LABS Prestige doesn't specify its base material or zipper waterproofing — it may perform fine, but the Court Caddy has documented outdoor-ready construction.
Which bag holds more paddles?
The Selkirk LABS Project Prestige holds up to 6 paddles across its two zones. The Court Caddy holds up to 5 with full inserts deployed. For teaching pros or players who regularly carry a quiver, the Selkirk wins on paddle capacity.
Does the Court Caddy come with a shoe compartment?
Not standard — the Court Caddy Shoe Cube is a $49.99 accessory that adds a separate shoe compartment. The Selkirk LABS Project Prestige includes a built-in ventilated shoe compartment. If you always carry court shoes, factor that $49.99 into your comparison math.
How do the warranties compare?
The Court Caddy carries a full lifetime warranty on all zippers, seams, and hardware — no exclusions we're aware of. Selkirk advertises a "limited lifetime warranty," which typically has coverage exclusions. Read Selkirk's specific warranty terms before purchasing if this matters to your buying decision.
Final Verdict
These are two genuinely different bags solving slightly different problems. The Selkirk LABS Project Prestige is a premium-feeling bag at a real-world price point — $222, built-in shoe compartment, six paddle slots, and a polished PU leather aesthetic that stands on its own in a lineup of nylon competitors.
The Court Caddy is a durability-first, capacity-first bag designed for players who live inside their gear. Bigger volume, better zippers, waterproof base, full lifetime warranty, more configurable. It costs $103 more. Over five years of 4x-per-week use, that math holds up.
If you're playing seriously and buying once: Court Caddy.
If you're playing recreationally, managing a tight budget, or need six paddle slots: Selkirk LABS Project Prestige at PBC.
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