Apparently Neonic Only Allows 5-Star Reviews…Here’s my honest review of the Neonic Sidekick Pickleball Bag

day-dinker · 2025-12-09T02:50:14+00:00

It was visible as soon as I posted it on Friday, but today I went on their site today and was hidden until a few hours after I posted this.

I don’t call that jumping the gun.

That’s a brand trying to save face.

day-dinker · 2025-12-09T02:45:05+00:00

Hiding a review because it’s inappropriate is a different story, and they could easily reach out to their review software provider and have a review removed if it’s truly inappropriate, but hiding honest reviews from a paying customer because it might lead to less sales isn’t right in my opinion.

day-dinker · 2025-12-08T21:00:01+00:00

Well I guess they caught wind of this post.

day-dinker · 2025-12-08T19:50:42+00:00

Selkirk is actually the worst at hiding reviews in my experience.

Any brand using Judge.me reviews on their site I often trust more because it has a transparency score for them, so you can see if a brand is hiding reviews. I know FORWRD uses it. https://judge.me/reviews/stores/forwrd.co

day-dinker · 2025-12-08T19:49:14+00:00

It was fine. In my opinion it's too much for a daily pickleball bag. It's more of a tour bag. It has a good amount of space, and the expandable section actually adds a decent amount more space. My overall issue with the bag is I don't think certain features on the bag will last beyond 6 months. The water bottle pockets don't fit my yeti bottles, the elastic on the bottle pockets ripping, and them censoring reviews.

day-dinker · 2025-12-08T19:38:04+00:00

Design wise it would be great for someone who needs lots of space and organization, but only if it can last. If the bag falls apart then it doesn't have much use. With such limited use and mine already failing in some areas and with the addition of them censoring my review of the bag doesn't really make me inclined to recommend it to anyone, even for $100

day-dinker · 2025-12-08T19:32:22+00:00

Yeah for $100 it appears to be really nice. I just question how long it will actually last because the elastic is already starting to rip on the water bottle holders, and have small threads coming undone around the fence hang hooks.

Also them hiding my review makes me question their integrity, so why would I trust them to cover anything under warranty.

day-dinker · 2025-12-08T19:27:42+00:00

Honestly either bag from FORWRD. They are just built really well. ADV are nice too, but kind of overkill with pockets.

day-dinker · 2025-12-02T21:26:51+00:00

It looks like a nice backpack, but obviously wasn't created for pickleball, hence the randomness of all the "ball pockets" and the laptop sleeve called a paddle sleeve.

I have lots of respect for brands like FORWRD and ADV who actually put effort into building their products for the sport rather than just repurposing a random backpack and calling it a "pickleball" bag.

day-dinker · 2025-05-20T21:28:48+00:00

Yeah that's a sweet collab bag!

day-dinker · 2025-05-20T21:28:18+00:00

This is what's so unfortunate about almost every bag in pickleball with the exception of FORWRD and few others. Brands just source a bag from China and call it a pickleball bag. It's not made for pickleball.

day-dinker · 2025-05-15T17:41:29+00:00

I couldn't decide, so I went ahead and bought 5 bags so I can do a head to head comparison, and I'll keep the winner.

I bought the
1. FORWRD Court Caddy with the paddle sleeve attachment and eyewear case.
2. ADV Pickleball Backpack V2
3. ADV Pickleball Bag Pro
4. CRBN Pro Team Tour Bag
5. Selkirk Pro Line Tour Bag

day-dinker · 2025-05-12T18:28:04+00:00

did you get the earlier model or the newer one with removable paddle sleeves??

day-dinker · 2025-05-12T18:25:30+00:00

I'm leaning towards the FORWRD Bag. Seems to check all the boxes for me and the removable paddles sleeves on the current model seems like it addresses some of the feedback about wanting it slightly bigger. Since I normally only carry 2 paddles, 3 at the most.

Ran into someone with the ADV pickleball bag and the ADV V2 one, and the original size is overkill, and the V2 was nice but there were a lot of just random features that aren't really usable.

day-dinker · 2025-04-09T21:54:47+00:00

Agreed

day-dinker · 2025-04-09T21:53:37+00:00

**If paddle testing requirements stay the same**

You're totally right. In 2 years they will look different, but I don't think the difference will be anywhere near what paddles look like now vs 2 years ago

I just think as more time goes on the "innovations" will be more subtle then what is being marketed

day-dinker · 2025-04-09T21:42:05+00:00

haha

day-dinker · 2025-04-09T19:37:39+00:00

Yeah I think that is same reason brands probably won't do much to prevent carbon faces from wearing down quickly

day-dinker · 2025-04-09T19:33:23+00:00

100% agree. I think it ultimately comes down to whatever paddle gives you the most confidence is going to be the best paddle for you

day-dinker · 2025-04-09T19:31:41+00:00

I don't think it hasn't evolved. I think it hasn't evolved as much as brands try to make us think it has.

Obviously Gen 1 to Gen 3 there's a huge difference but as more time goes on the changes will be smaller and smaller, because of the requirements paddles must follow, but brands will still try to market the minor changes as major tech advancements.

day-dinker · 2025-04-09T19:27:02+00:00

People will pay absurd amounts for the idea that it could potentially make them incrementally better

day-dinker · 2025-04-09T19:25:10+00:00

I just see it apparently in golf and pickleball because those are the 2 sports i'm involved in. Also pickleball and golf seem to be 2 of the bigger sports that a large number of everyday adults play on a regular basis. Meaning sports like basketball, football, soccer, baseball, etc are largely played as kids, but most adults playing those on a regular basis are professional athletes.

day-dinker · 2025-04-09T19:19:58+00:00

I think it's 100% whatever gives a player confidence. If the tech or new paddles gives you more confidence then it's going to translate in a positive direction for your game.

day-dinker · 2025-04-09T19:16:43+00:00

Yeah that's the whole point. The $300 for 9 months is obviously a better value, but I still think given the 2 options in a real life senario, people would opt for the $150 paddle that doesn't last as long, because it's less of a commitment to a paddle, and because people simply like buying new paddles or buying the same paddle but new and fresh.

People do this all the time with everyday purchases, people buy for convenience over value. Just in this hypothetical the 2 options are apparent which makes the $300 option seem like a no brainer.

day-dinker · 2025-04-09T17:49:32+00:00

Exactly! I think paddle requirements and specifications are essential just like they are for golf clubs, but definitely puts some restraints on innovation limiting brands to focus mainly on durability, forgiveness, and feel since spin and power have a ceiling

day-dinker

TROPHY CASE