The ventilated ball compartment is a lifesaver — my kid's muddy cleats go in one side and the ball in the other, so nothing else in the bag gets wrecked. Seventeen inches fits his school stuff and a change of clothes with room to spare.
Bought this for my son's soccer season and the separate shoe compartment is a lifesaver, no more mud smell mixing with his school books. The 17-inch size swallows his cleats, ball and gear with room to spare.
The ventilated ball compartment is the detail I didn't know I needed — my cleats and ball go in separate zip sections and the bag doesn't smell like a locker room anymore. The 17-inch size swallows shin guards, a water bottle, and a change of clothes without bulging.