My son will be on the varsity baseball team as a freshman (according to coach) and most likely will catch.
I was wondering what high school catchers use for bags?
Right now he has a Reebok catchers bag that holds up well over a years worth of games but needs replaced.
I was thinking about a hockey goalie bag for durability: http://www.hockeymonkey.com/cc...lus-cs-wheel-40.html.
Even though he knows most of his future team mates I am wanting him to make a good impression.
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My son has used All Star bags for his last two. From a functional standpoint it is his preference to have a non roller bag.
I found them to be very price competitive and is on his second. The first one lasted 18 months which is as long as more expensive bags he has had.
Rawlings makes a nice bag my kid used. Got two good years out of it and it probably could go one more. Nice and big.
Just bought a new catchers bag for son's birthday gift during fall season based on recommendation from others @ http://www.maxballbags.com/. Sturdy, durable, cost effective and can be personalized. We think he will get a lot of miles out of it.
..From a functional standpoint it is his preference to have a non roller bag.
...BackstopDad32,
I'm curious.. can you elaborate? thanks.
..From a functional standpoint it is his preference to have a non roller bag.
...BackstopDad32,
I'm curious.. can you elaborate? thanks.
He says his gear is easier to access with this style vs. other roller bags he has had. Sits flush with ground so everything is nice and level. Stays where he put it as well as the bag is not tilted when rolling on the ground. Top loading so easy to get in and out of.
This is just personal observation, but I think his gear stays cleaner with a carry bag. Not nearly as much dust in his bag that I used to recall with his roller bags. Probably two fold. One that he is older and takes better care of his gear, but I have to think that it is is also due to him not dragging his bag through the dirt as well.
We have also found the carry bag to be great with airline travel. One less thing to damage. 
No Errors catcher bag. It's pretty sturdy, but expensive.
http://www.no-errors.com/The_N..._Bag_p/ggbnoe210.htm
something without wheels.
We didn't have great success with the No errors bag. Too small for gear as they get bigger. Son split out the zippers in multiple spots. For the cost was disappointed
We didn't have great success with the No errors bag. Too small for gear as they get bigger. Son split out the zippers in multiple spots. For the cost was disappointed
For the price, that is very disappointing.
My son like's the Wilson Pudge Wheeled Catchers bag with one modification. Near the wheels the frame is covered in fabric and that fabric will wear when the bag is rolled. On my son's second bag (Wilson replaced the first), I cut out a piece of plastic (bag framing from the first bag) and rivited it to the area near the wheels (width of bag and probably 10" long). This protects the fabric and takes the wear. The bag is darn near perfect now, not too big, not too small, and quite sturdy with room for all his catchers gear. He still brings a small bag to games to hold his other gloves (he's a utility player).
Long hikes are the norm from parking to the field for our home field (on game days anyway) as well as many schools in our league so our catchers almost always choose wheels. BackstopDad gave some excellent points against wheels. Each situation is different. Hockey bags are great from a size/capacity standpoint. Some are even overkill. The only thing it may not provide is bat slots if he carries any.
I wouldn't worry so much about the "good impression" aspect. HS baseball players ride each other about everything... and a new freshman makes a great target. If it's not the bag, it will be something else. Usually, the more they ride him, the more they like him. Just make sure he has the heads up and is prepared to take it. You will need to be more concerned with the other things 18 yo's talk about at practice every day 
Thanks everyone for the advice.
I asked my son and he said that after catching a game he's tired and likes the wheels to ease the load.
Also we live across the street from the high school ballfield so I'm sure he will be carrying his bag from the game to home so the wheels will come in handy.
I will let him choose between the choices given above and below. 
BTW, I'm not reading a lot into my son making Varsity as a freshman since we are at a small school. There were only 13 Varsity players on the team last year. The JV had about 12 but 8 of their games were forfeited due to other teams not wanting to play.
No wrong choices just preferences.
Good luck to your son. Freshman time on varsity is something to be treasured. As a parent sit back and enjoy any time he can earn there.
My son uses a Mizuno MX equipment bag. ( NOT A CATCHERS BAG ) $100 bucks but holds everything ...
4 bats,catchers equipment w/mask,cheats,reg glove,batting helmet and a change of clothes for practice.
It has wheels and they have held up good ... the handle is great with a 2 post slide system.
You are able to lock it with a small combo lock ( made 3 trips to PG events and held up thru air port )
I had a Nike Hockey bag when I was in high school. We had found it at Sports Authority on sale one year. It held all of my catcher's gear, two catchers mitts, three other gloves, two bats, two pairs of shoes, and assorted clothes. It didn't have wheels, but it was cheap (like $30-40).
Got the No Errors catchers bag for son a couple years ago. Appeared to be a great design. And it was. PROBLEM WAS WITH CONSTRUCTION QUALITY. SEEMS BLEW AND ZIPPERS HAD ISSUES within a month. Too bad, was a great idea just poorly executed. Sent it back to company and got refund.
Maybe in past two years they've corrected? Good luck.
Happy New Year!
Our son has tried a few:
A C carry bag looks cool/good,
but after getting beat up by a HS pitcher throwing too many bouncers you may like rolling a wheeled bag.
No Errors- looks tough but ripped right away along zipper
(and IMO, a freshman may not want a bag that has large letters saying "No Errors', have seen C's with that bag (not our son) get razzed for passed balls and throwing balls in CF, a freshman does not need the hassle.
Rawlings is ok,
Louisville Slugger makes a catcher's bag that is is a big as a hockey bag (son plays hockey too)- gear slides around & ends up by wheels as it is one big open area inside.
Nike was too small for extra mitts, etc
We've found that the best C bag is Under Armour rolling Catcher's bag, very durable.
Large center area holds all gear & has four inside pockets along the side for tape, pre-wrap, extra shin guard straps, towel, batting gloves, etc.
Holds 2 bats well, can hold 3 if you head/toe them.
That is the best C bag our son has had.
We have thought about this topic recently as he has to change to sponsor's bag this summer & hopes they make a comparable bag to the UA.
The inside pockets are a great idea.
http://www.slugger.com/gear/eq...14-ca-catch-all.aspx
This bag looked interesting. I like the larger wheels and the reinforced area between the wheels.
