Equipment Bags: Wheeled vs. carried

[zhughes 0]

I need to buy a new player bag and I'm debating wheeled vs. carried. I was totally set on wheeled until one of the guys at the rink was telling me that they're heavy and the wheels can be a pain in the ass. I'm I 36 year old guy looking to play in beer leagues, so I probably won't need to carry my bag far or often, but I also don't want to feel like it's a lot of work just getting to and from the rink.

Pros and cons for either?

[jsmart 0]

Love the wheels eventhough the younger guys make fun of me.

Mine is no heavier to lift in and out of the car (with ot without wheels) than my old Labatt bag and it is so easy to drop and drag it in to the rink.

Just my .02

[cptjeff 0]

They may be somewhat heavier, but that's why they have wheels.

A wheel bag is less work, but there are a lot of tough guys who'll give you shit about it.

[KryptOng 9]

Wheeled bags have their pros and cons and the weight is one of the issues. I prefer to carry my bag since I have to haul it in and out of the trunk - If you're gonna wheel it, you'll have to pick it up and put it in your trunk either way. Wheeled bags are probably a preferred choice for older guys (easier on the back, shoulder, hip) and for goalies with the huge gear they gotta haul around.

[sitzlejd 0]

Getting in doors is a million times easier with wheeled bags. I love when someone gives me shit for rolling and then gets stuck in the door, which has happened more than a few times. Which one looks lamer?

[porky45 1]

the only wheeled bag that is significantly heavier is the shockdoctor wheeled bags that are all leather. those things weight a good 20lbs without equipment in there. it's ridiculous...other than that...if you play beer league you will get shit from the younger guys... and then you talk a little back to them. it's all locker room talk. fun and games.

[yrhmblnr8r 69]

Does your rink have a lot of stairs? Wheeled bags look like a pain in the arse on stairs. I've always carried.

[Cove 39]

Be a man and carry your hockey bag.

[Brian Harte 1]

If your equipment doesn't weigh much, I'd just go for the standard bag.

If you need to travel long distances with it, the wheels might be better.

[AHF 1]

Wheels for me, as I live in a condo. Much easier to navigate in tight quarters, and a lot easier on the walls. If I was to carry it, my door/walls would be all scratched up.

I pick it up as soon as I'm out the door though. The extra weight from the wheels is not an issue for me.

[number18 0]

i prefer bags on wheels for the reasons meantioned above. the only thing i dont like is in the winter when theres snow. i carry it from my car till i get inside the rink and vice versa. wheeling it through the slush on my way back to the car after the game just makes it all wet when i put it inside my trunk

and its all the older guys that make fun of me for having it. (i'm only22) i usally get the "what has the new generation of the youth of hockey come to?......bags on wheels....."

but watching them bump into walls and people gives me chuckle

[SirJW 207]

Backpack w/ wheels works for me!

[starsfan71 9]

Everyone on my team calls the guys with wheel bags pussies, but I think it's fine for a wheeled. I carry but then I am young have a lot of strength in my shoulders as well.

[IniNew 53]

I love my backpack style bag. Its a bit of pain getting everything in, but getting through doors is a joke easy and no one says anything about not carrying your stuff.

[larrivee 3]

Be a man and carry your hockey bag.

Word.

[chk hrd 164]

I'm to damn old to give a crap if someone wants to call me a pussie if my bag had wheels, they are sure easy to get from point A to point B with. That said I use an Easton back pack (my kid didn't want it and I'm to cheap to buy a new bag). It works great for, easy to get in and out of doors and if you are carrying anything else or pulling a cooler.

[Jarick 5]

I had a Gear bag that was pretty small and light weight, sold it in favor of an older Shock Doctor power bag. I don't get any crap from anyone about it having wheels, but I always have them ask if the bags "work" or not (my answer, kind of). It is easier to roll it to and from the rink if it's a large parking lot, and it is easier getting through doors, but stairs are a bit of a pain.

[zhughes 0]

Does your rink have a lot of stairs? Wheeled bags look like a pain in the arse on stairs. I've always carried.

Nah. It's pretty level. The parking lot is huge though and it can get packed at times. But probably not at the times I'm going to end up playing.

[starsfan71 9]

When I was younger and had a wheeled bag it got holes where it would sometimes drag across the floor. Just kind of another thing to think about =).

[zhughes 0]

Thanks for all the fast and informative feedback!

I'm still leaning towards wheeled, but not completely sold yet. If the wheels don't add that much weight, and the bag still has a shoulder strap, it sounds like a handy bonus when you need it. On the flip side, they tend to cost about 25 more bills, so it's debatable whether or not I really "need" that option.

So much to think about when you're buying gear for the first time. Great to have a place like this to hear opinions from like minded players. Thanks again!

[epstud74 24]

The wheeled bags today are much better made than past bags. I've seen some with roller hockey type wheels and bearings...I've seen a few guys use the backpack type bag with the wheels and pull them around like luggage at the airport. To me, that makes a lot of sense. Most rec level guys I play with are professional businessmen, so a wheeled bag is not a big deal considering a few of them are lawyers and lug around wheeled attache cases/briefcases quite often.

[Leafsrule16 5]

Does your rink have a lot of stairs? Wheeled bags look like a pain in the arse on stairs. I've always carried.

There really not, theres stairs in almost every rink ive played in and i cannot tell you how much i love wheeled bags. There easy to carry even, i had the warrior bag with a fan in it, just got a new itech one on sale and its way lighter. I always used to carry tell i seen a lot of guys with wheeled bags and i never plan on going back. Who cares if guys give you shit, its just simply so much easier to drag when your tired coming out of a game instead of carrying a bag and then holding your sticks.

[kevineleven 0]

I have to say - I'm really liking the looks of this Grit Hockey Tower. I like that it has a place for everything, while my current bag everything is just shoved in. If you have nice gear, this looks like a good way to take good care of it.

http://demonxtreme.com/extra%20pages/kitbag_grittower_1000x800.html

K

[Ahriman 1]

A wheeled back can break. Sure its like an broken escalator, its still a staircase but thats not the point is it?

[kredmore 2]

Carry your bag...it's just simpler.