Whether it’s for sporting action or a weekend away, here’s my five of the best retro sports holdalls.
Everyone needs a decent-sized sports bag. You might want one for the gym, football, any other sport, or packing all your essentials for a couple of days away. A suitcase is just a touch too formal.
Of course, you want it to look good, too. So, with that in mind, I’ve pulled together five options for all occasions. Some are limited editions, though, so don’t hang around if something catches your eye.
Puma Archive 30L grip bag
A limited edition and available in small numbers. So get on this if you like it.
I love it. It reminds me of a bag I saw Bob in the 1970s sitcom The Likely Lads taking with him on holiday—and it does scream the 1970s. This is typical of sports bags of that era.
Available in three colours (brown is my favourite), it features the classic Puma logo along with retro shades, plus some modern additions like a padded laptop sleeve, an adjustable shoulder strap, and an internal zip pocket. £75, you get one.
Find out more at the Puma website
Note also that Puma also makes this archive 1976 grip bag if you want something more glossy. It’s available in two colours and costs £120. It’s also on the Puma website.
Fred Perry classic barrel bag
You can get various colours from Fred Perry, but if you want some exclusivity, have a look at the one above.
A sporting classic from the Fred Perry archive, it’s also a very cool and practical weekend bag. This colour, described as tartan green, is exclusive to Stuarts of London, and as a bonus, there’s a discount code on that site to get it 15 per cent cheaper too.
A good-sized barrel bag, it has vintage Fred Perry branding, sturdy handles, a detachable strap, a double zip closure, an outer slip pocket, an inner zip pocket, and a zip compartment. Officially priced at £75, you’ll get 15 per cent off if you use the code on the product page.
Find out more at the Stuarts of London website
Adidas Originals Boston Bag
Strangely, this one was originally designed for golf, but it is flexible enough to be used for anything.
Adidas is quite selective about reissuing bags (I’ll add to that later), so it’s nice to see something inspired by the archive back on the shelves. This one is described as having a ‘legacy style’ and certainly takes cues from classics of a bygone era.
Available in two colours, it has handles and a shoulder strap, studs on the bottom, some wonderful textured branding on the outside, a two-way zip closure, and a zipped compartment at the rear. It’s not cheap, though, at £180.
Find out more at the Adidas website
Note that Adidas has also brought back the original (OG) airliner bag in various colours. Great if you want something a little smaller but equally eye-catching. £55 for one of those at the Adidas website.
Gola Classics Reynolds holdall
Worth checking this one out at the retailer’s site, as it’s available in two colours and with different (classic) logos on either side.
But regardless of that, it’s a solid option for a weekend bag. It’s a replica of a 1970s original, produced from recycled PU with a ‘soft touch’, and featuring both a shoulder strap and a hand carry handle.
Choose between the blue here or a black finish, with both selling directly from the maker for £75.
Find out more at the Gola website
Vintage Adidas Peter Black sports holdall
I did ponder a few options for a fifth choice, but in the end, I decided to go vintage because there are so many good vintage options out there.
With the price of Adidas reissues being pretty high, the vintage market suddenly seems more appealing. And this classic Peter Black sports holdall, a school bag option of days gone by, might prove a shrewd investment.
Very practical, great looking and seen less and less these days. Especially in very good condition, as this one is. Some minor markings around the base, but nothing more. A great option for a weekender, and although £182 is pricey, these bags tend to hold their value in light of Adidas not reissuing the look. Plenty of other vintage bags for sale on eBay, too.
