My Alliance Sackpack – Drawstring Backpack for Sports, Small Gym Bag Review — The Problem

Okay, so here's the deal. I'm super active — volleyball practice twice a week, soccer on weekends, and I bike to school most days. My regular backpack is way too bulky for sports stuff, and those cheap drawstring bags from the dollar store? They rip after like two weeks.

I've been through four different sports bags this year. The first one had straps that dug into my shoulders during my 20-minute bike ride home. The second one was so thin that my water bottle poked through the bottom after a month. My mom got me this fancy one from a sporting goods store, but it was $35 and honestly wasn't much better than the cheap ones.

The worst part is when you're carrying cleats, a water bottle, and extra clothes — most drawstring bags just can't handle the weight. The strings either snap or the bag gets all stretched out and weird-looking. Plus, half of them don't have any pockets, so your phone and keys just bounce around with your sweaty clothes.

I needed something that could actually survive being stuffed in my locker, thrown in the back of my mom's car, and dragged across soccer fields without falling apart. So I tested Alliance Sackpack – Drawstring Backpack for Sports, Small Gym Bag to see if it actually delivers.

First Impressions & Unboxing

The Alliance Sackpack arrived in a simple plastic bag — nothing fancy, but it didn't need to be. Right away, I could tell this wasn't going to be like those flimsy bags I'd tried before. The material feels thick and sturdy, kind of like what my regular Jansport backpack is made of.

It's bigger than I expected — 18 inches tall and 13 inches wide when laid flat. The navy blue color looks way better than the bright neon ones most sports bags come in. I can actually use this without looking like a walking highlighter.

The coolest part is it has a front zippered pocket, which most drawstring bags totally skip. That's where I can put my phone, keys, and earbuds without them getting mixed up with my gross gym clothes. The drawstrings are thick rope-style cords, not those thin shoelace-type strings that always break.

No setup required — just stuff your things in and go. The whole thing weighs almost nothing when empty, maybe half a pound. I could tell just from holding it that this was going to be different from the cheap bags I'd been using.

Key Features That Actually Matter

The reinforced bottom is the game-changer here. It's made with this thick, almost rubbery material that doesn't tear when you drop it or drag it across concrete. I've had drawstring bags where the bottom wore through in spots after just a few weeks, but this one still looks brand new after a month of heavy use.

That front zippered pocket I mentioned? It's 8 inches wide and 6 inches tall — big enough for my phone, a granola bar, and my house keys. Most sports bags make you dig through all your stuff to find anything, but having that separate pocket is so much more convenient.

The drawstring system uses these thick rope cords that go through metal grommets instead of cheap plastic holes. The grommets are what keep the bag from tearing where the strings pull — I learned this the hard way with my previous bags. These cords are also way easier to grab when your hands are sweaty or you're wearing gloves.

The capacity is perfect for what I need. I can fit my soccer cleats, shin guards, water bottle, extra shirt, and snacks without the bag looking stuffed or weird. It holds way more than those basic string bags but isn't so big that it's awkward to carry.

Check current price on Amazon

Jessie's Hands-On Testing

I've been using this Alliance Sackpack – Drawstring Backpack for Sports, Small Gym Bag for four weeks straight, and it's been through everything I could throw at it. Volleyball practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays, soccer games on Saturdays, plus random trips to the park with friends.

The first real test was soccer practice in the rain. I had to set my bag down on wet grass for two hours, and when I picked it up, the bottom was completely dry inside. My old bags would have been soaked through, but this one actually kept my extra clothes dry. The water just rolled right off.

Week two was when I really put it through its paces. I packed it with my heaviest stuff — soccer cleats, two water bottles, and a sweatshirt — and biked 15 minutes to practice. The straps didn't cut into my shoulders at all, and nothing shifted around or felt unbalanced. I've done this same ride with other bags and always arrived with sore shoulders.

By week three, I was using it for everything, not just sports. I took it on a camping trip with my Girl Scout troop, and it was perfect for carrying my sleeping bag, extra clothes, and snacks. One girl's bag ripped on day two from being overstuffed, but mine held up perfectly.

The zipper pocket has been clutch. I keep my phone in there during practice, and it stays put even when I'm running around or diving for volleyballs. With my old bags, I'd always worry about my phone falling out or getting crushed by my water bottle.

After four weeks, the only sign of wear is some dirt on the bottom, which washes right off. No tears, no stretched-out drawstrings, no broken zippers. I actually forgot it was outside overnight once during a rainstorm, and everything inside stayed completely dry.

You can grab the Alliance Sackpack – Drawstring Backpack for Sports, Small Gym Bag on Amazon here.

Alliance Sackpack – Drawstring Backpack for Sports, Small Gym Bag vs The Competition

I compared this to the Under Armour Ozsee Sackpack ($19.99 at the time of this review) and the Nike Brasilia Gymsack ($18.00). Here's how they actually stack up after real use.

The Under Armour bag looks cooler and has more color options, but the material feels thinner. When I loaded it with the same stuff I put in the Alliance bag, you could see the outline of everything through the fabric. The Alliance bag keeps its shape better and doesn't look lumpy when packed. However, the Under Armour bag does have a side mesh pocket for water bottles, which is pretty convenient.

The Nike Brasilia costs more but doesn't have a front pocket at all — everything just goes in one big compartment. It's made well and the Nike logo is obviously cooler, but for actual functionality, I'd rather have the zippered pocket. The Nike bag is slightly smaller too, so my soccer cleats fit but just barely.

Price-wise, the Alliance Sackpack gives you the most features for the least money. If you care more about brand names and looking cool, go with Nike or Under Armour. But if you want something that works really well and saves you a few bucks, the Alliance bag is the better choice.

Who Should Buy Alliance Sackpack – Drawstring Backpack for Sports, Small Gym Bag (And Who Shouldn't)

This bag is perfect if you play sports regularly and need something reliable that won't break after a month. If you're like me and bike or walk to practice, the comfortable straps make a huge difference. It's also great if you want a separate pocket for your phone and keys — that feature alone makes it worth it.

You should definitely get this if you've gone through multiple cheap drawstring bags already. The reinforced bottom and thick cords mean you won't be replacing it every few months like those dollar store bags.

Skip this if you need something huge for overnight trips or if you want lots of different pockets and compartments. It's a simple design — one main compartment and one front pocket. Also skip it if brand names are super important to you. There's no big logo or anything flashy about it.

If you mostly just need something for carrying books to school, a regular backpack would be better. This is really designed for sports and activities where you want something lightweight and easy to grab.

The Verdict: Is Alliance Sackpack – Drawstring Backpack for Sports, Small Gym Bag Worth $14.98?

Yes, absolutely worth it. After four weeks of testing the Alliance Sackpack – Drawstring Backpack for Sports, Small Gym Bag, it's proven to be way more durable than anything else I've tried in this price range. It's perfect for kids and teens who are hard on their gear and need something that can handle daily sports activities without falling apart.

The combination of the reinforced bottom, quality zippers, and that super useful front pocket makes this a no-brainer for anyone who's tired of constantly replacing cheap sports bags.

Jessie's recommendation: Buy it if you play sports regularly or need a reliable bag for outdoor activities. At $14.98, it's the best value I've found, and you won't need to replace it every few months like the cheaper alternatives. Get yours on Amazon here.

For more of my gear reviews, check out all of Jessie's tested products. You can also browse our complete sports equipment reviews to see what else our family has tested.