You know that smell.
The one that hits you when you unzip your volleyball bag three days after a tournament. Sweat, old knee pads, and whatever food wrapper got shoved in there between matches.
Every volleyball player has that bag. The one you dig through frantically looking for your other knee pad. The one your mom refuses to let in the house.
After 30 years of watching volleyball players show up to practice, we've seen it all—from perfectly organized volleyball equipment to complete disasters.
This guide covers what needs to be in your volleyball bag, what most players forget, and how to stay organized so you're never borrowing volleyball gear at tournaments.
What's Really in Your Volleyball Bag Right Now
Let's be honest:
- One knee pad (maybe two if you're lucky)
- Three pairs of volleyball spandex (one clean, two questionable)
- Court shoes you definitely wore outside
- A water bottle you haven't washed in weeks
- Seventeen hair ties at the bottom
- That ankle brace from last season
- Half-eaten protein bar from three weeks ago
- Sand (even though you only play indoor volleyball)
Sound familiar?
Here's what should actually be there.
Must-Have Volleyball Equipment (You Can't Play Without These)
1. Volleyball Court Shoes
Keep them IN your volleyball bag. Not by the door where you'll forget them.
Your volleyball shoes live in your bag. Always. This one habit prevents 90% of forgotten shoe disasters.
Get volleyball-specific shoes with gum rubber soles. Basketball shoes don't work for volleyball. The grip is wrong. The support is wrong.
Top brands: Mizuno volleyball shoes, ASICS volleyball shoes, Nike volleyball shoes, adidas volleyball shoes.
2. Volleyball Knee Pads
Two knee pads. That match. In your size.
Volleyball knee pads are the most forgotten equipment. Keep a backup pair.
Different positions need different knee pads:
- Liberos: reinforced foam for constant diving
- Middles: lighter, flexible for jumping
- All positions: must stay up during play
Popular brands: McDavid knee pads, Mizuno knee pads, Nike knee pads, ASICS knee pads.
3. Ankle Support
If you've rolled an ankle playing volleyball, it happens again.
Keep athletic tape or an ankle brace in your volleyball bag. Prevention is cheaper than treatment.
4. Water Bottle
Dedicated water bottle that lives in your volleyball bag.
Hydration during volleyball practice and tournaments directly impacts performance. Drink consistently between drills.
Essential Volleyball Gear You'll Wish You Had
Extra Socks for Volleyball
Keep two pairs minimum.
- One for when current socks get gross at volleyball practice
- One emergency pair for when someone spills on your bag
Nothing worse than playing volleyball in sweaty socks for three hours at tournaments.
Athletic Tape
For jammed fingers, ankles, wrists.
Jammed fingers happen constantly in volleyball. Being able to tape quickly keeps you in the game.
Setters and outside hitters: Finger tape is mandatory equipment.
Hair Ties and Headbands
Keep at least five in your volleyball bag.
They disappear constantly. Hair in your face during volleyball is a distraction you can't afford.
Extra Volleyball Shirt
For when yours gets soaked during warmups.
Wrong colored shirt when your coach has specific requirements? Keep a backup black or white practice shirt.
Small Towel
For wiping sweat and cleaning volleyball shoes.
Court grip matters. Quick wipe restores traction when shoes pick up dust during volleyball.
Volleyball Compression Sleeves
If you're hitting regularly, your arms take a beating.
Volleyball arm sleeves reduce soreness and keep muscles warm in cold gyms. Prevents stiffness between matches.
Extra Volleyball Spandex
Always have backup volleyball shorts.
They rip during dives. You forget laundry. Tournament weekends mean multiple matches—don't play three games in the same sweaty spandex.
Smart Additions for Volleyball Tournaments
Portable Phone Charger
Tournament days are long. Phones die.
Dead phones = coaches can't reach you, parents can't find you. Keep a charger in your volleyball bag.
Volleyball Tournament Snacks
Real fuel, not junk food.
Pack protein bars, trail mix, fruit, crackers. What you eat between volleyball matches impacts next game performance.
Avoid: Heavy food, sugar crashes. Choose: Protein, healthy fats, complex carbs.
First Aid Supplies
Band-aids, pain reliever, blister prevention.
Blisters end volleyball tournaments. Small blister becomes unbearable after four matches. Prevention is key.
Deodorant
Your volleyball teammates will appreciate it.
Tournament weekends = limited showers. Pack deodorant and wipes.
Hand Sanitizer
Volleyball gyms are gross during tournament season.
Touching floors, nets, volleyballs everyone else touched—hygiene matters. Use sanitizer regularly.
Slides or Extra Shoes
Never wear volleyball court shoes outside.
Destroys gum rubber, kills traction. Keep cheap slides for everything except court time.
Small Pouch for Valuables
Don't lose phone, wallet, keys at volleyball tournaments.
Keep valuables separate from sweaty volleyball gear.
Seasonal Volleyball Equipment
Cold Weather Gear
Hoodies, joggers, long sleeves.
Volleyball gyms freeze in winter. Cold muscles = tight muscles = injuries. Keep warm-up layers in your bag.
Beach Volleyball Essentials
Sunscreen, hat, sunglasses.
Even cloudy days have UV exposure. Sunburns mid-tournament are miserable.
What to Remove from Your Volleyball Bag
Toss these:
- Old backup volleyball shoes (too worn = not backups)
- Broken knee pads with blown-out elastic
- Expired protein bars from last season
- Random tournament brackets and trash
- Seventeen loose hair ties (consolidate them)
How to Keep Your Volleyball Bag Organized
Empty After Every Practice or Tournament
Don't let volleyball gear sit.
Sweaty clothes = bacteria = smell = banned from house.
Take everything out. Air it. Wash gear. Repack what stays.
Use Pouches Inside Your Bag
Organize by category:
- First aid supplies
- Hair ties and small items
- Volleyball snacks
- Valuables
No more digging through chaos.
Keep a Checklist Inside
Laminated list of essentials = never forget critical items.
Check before leaving for volleyball practice or tournaments.
Wash Your Volleyball Bag
Most volleyball bags are machine washable.
Clean bag prevents smell and bacteria.
Replace Worn Equipment Immediately
Knee pads lose elasticity? Replace them.
Don't wait until game day to realize equipment is unusable.
Two-Bag System: Practice vs Tournament
Volleyball Practice Bag
Streamlined basics:
- Shoes
- Knee pads
- Water bottle
- Maybe a snack
Volleyball Tournament Bag
Everything you might need:
- All backups
- All extras
- All items for full day of matches
Competitive players benefit from this system. Practice bag stays light. Tournament bag is comprehensive.
What Prepared Volleyball Players Know
Your bag needs a system. Same pocket for knee pads. Same spot for shoes. Consistency prevents forgotten items.
Backups save tournaments. The one time you don't bring extra socks is when you need them.
Preparation beats panic. Five minutes organizing before leaving = no stress at the gym.
Your bag reflects your mindset. Organized players perform better because they focus on volleyball, not missing equipment.
Complete Volleyball Bag Checklist
Must-Haves:
✓ Volleyball court shoes (gum rubber)
✓ Knee pads (two that match)
✓ Ankle support or athletic tape
✓ Water bottle
Essential Gear:
✓ Extra socks (2 pairs)
✓ Athletic tape
✓ Hair ties (5 minimum)
✓ Extra volleyball shirt
✓ Small towel
✓ Compression sleeves
✓ Extra spandex
Tournament Additions:
✓ Phone charger
✓ Protein bars and snacks
✓ First aid supplies
✓ Deodorant
✓ Hand sanitizer
✓ Slides/extra shoes
✓ Valuables pouch
Seasonal Items:
✓ Cold weather gear (hoodie, joggers)
✓ Sunscreen and hat (beach volleyball)
The Bottom Line
Your volleyball bag isn't just where you throw stuff. It's your preparation hub.
Prepared players perform better. Not because gear makes you talented. Because when you're not worried about missing equipment, you focus completely on playing volleyball.
Build your volleyball bag intentionally. Pack consistently. Maintain regularly.
Then when you step on the court, think about volleyball—not what you forgot at home.
Ready to stock your volleyball bag properly? We've got everything you need—volleyball shoes, knee pads, bags designed for organized players who show up prepared.
Because showing up ready isn't just having gear. It's having the right volleyball equipment, in working condition, exactly when you need it.