It doesn’t matter if you’re a hardcore fitness junkie, a twice a week type of gym rat, or even a once a month kind of workout person. If you go to the gym, you need a gym bag. Sure you can throw your stuff in any old duffel bag, but that’s like saying you can use any old pair of sneakers to run a half-marathon. Yes, it will work, but it won’t be the most efficient.
Need a great gym bag? We’ve got you covered. Whether you’re at the gym five days a week or lucky to get there once a month, we’ve got the best gym bag for you.
Editor’s Choice: UA Hustle 3.0 Backpack
If you’re looking for a versatile, durable, comfortable workout bag that you can take on a hike as well as to a yoga class, check out Under Armour’s Hustle 3.0 Backpack. Made of 100% polyester, the bag comes in 8 different colors, has multiple compartments, and is even water-resistant.
Pros
Durability: Bag is waterproof and has an abrasion-resistant bottom panel
Comfort: Padded straps ensure your shoulders won’t cramp under the weight of this bag
Price: Bag is affordably priced
Cons
Structure: Bag cannot stand up on its own, making it harder to pack and unpack
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Best Value: Adidas Alliance II Sackpack
If you’re looking for an affordable gym bag that is lightweight, can hold your gear, and won’t break the bank, check out the Alliance II Sackpack from Adidas. Made of 100% polyester, it has three different compartments, is durable, and perfect for everything from light hikes to yoga classes.
Pros
Lightweight: Bag weights just 7.8 ounces
Breathable: Bag has air mesh ventilation
Compartments: Sackpack has a front zippered valuables pocket and two side mesh pockets.
Cons
Aesthetics: While bag isn’t stylish, it’s functional
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Best Stylish: Longchamp Le Pliage Tote
Sometimes you need a super functional gym bag that has compartments for your wet clothes and a separate area for your shoes, and other times you just want a stylish tote that can double as a gym bag. If you fall into the latter category and want a gym bag that prioritizes fashion to function, consider a Longchamp Le Pliage Large Shoulder Tote.
These nylon bags are not only stylish, but they have a comfortable shoulder strap and can actually hold a lot: shoes, clothes, gear… the tote measures 13 x 13 x 7.5 so you won’t have to sacrifice much due to space constraints. It’s also water resistant and features an interior wall pocket so you can keep your keys, headphones, and other small items in an easy-to-grab place. Plus it comes in a variety of colors (be forewarned, colors change seasonally, so if you see a color you just can’t live without, grab it now).
Pros
Stylish: This isn’t your typical gym bag
Water resistant: Don’t worry about getting sweat or water on your bag – it won’t ruin the bag nor the contents inside!
Size: The large tote measures 13 x 13 x 7.5
Versatility: Bag can be used for the gym, but also for travel, work, and any other occasion you require a duffle or tote bag.
Cons
Price: Bag is more expensive than competing gym bags
Compartments: Bag features a small side pocket, but does not have different compartments for shoes, wet clothes, etc.
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Best Small-Sized: Apera Studio Tote
If you’re looking for a smaller gym bag, check out Apera’s Studio Tote. Comprised of polyester, it features a ventilation and sanitized-infused product protection to protect it from odors. It even has a large side pocket where you can store your shoes!
Pros
Breathable: Bag features laser-cut ventilation for breathability
Exterior pockets: Bag features exterior pockets where you can store your shoes
Strap: Bag features a comfortable shoulder strap
Cons
Price: Bag is more expensive than others on our list
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Best With Shoe Compartment: Nike Brasilia Training Duffel Bag (Small)
Nike makes a lot of great products so we weren’t surprised when we fell in love with their gym bags. Nike makes two Brasilia gym bags, a large and a small. We prefer the small. Comprised of 100% polyester, it measures 20″ L X 10″ W X 11″ H and features several compartments: including a separate one just for shoes.
Pros
Size: The small version has more than enough space for your fitness gear and can easily fit into most gym lockers
Compartments: Bag features one main compartment with an interior pocket (perfect for your keys and smaller items), as well as a shoe compartment so you can separate your dirty or wet shoes from the rest of your gym clothes.
Handle: Bag features an adjustable padded shoulder strap
Cons
Variety: Bag only comes in one version, black and white
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Types of Gym Bags
When looking to invest in a new gym bag, think about why you’ll need it. What type of fitness do you partake in most often? Will you need certain gear aside from your gym clothes such as boxing gloves, a racquet, balls, or cycling shoes?
Make sure to also take into consideration when you’ll be going to the gym: will you go before work and need to pack your work clothes (as well as all of your toiletries)? Or, will you go straight from the office and don’t mind cramming all of your gym clothes into one bag, in one compartment?
These questions will help you determine the best gym bag for you. There are several types of different gym bags; the below are the most popular.
Backpack: backpacks are perfect for people on the go. They’re easy to carry, can hold a laptop as well as your gym attire needs, have multiple compartments, and typically even have a special pocket for your water so you won’t have to worry about it spilling inside your bag.
Duffel: Duffel bags were pretty much designed for the gym. Like backpacks they’re easy to carry, have thick straps that fit comfortably over your shoulders, and (sometimes) have mesh air vents so your sweaty clothes won’t get moldy (or too stinky).
Holdall: A holdall can also be called a weekender bag. Holdalls are typically the more stylish of gym bags and are akin to a more upscale duffel bag.
Rucksack: Is most of your fitness done outdoors? If so, a rucksack may be the best gym bag for you. Rucksacks are typically comprised of durable, waterproof materials and made to last. If holdalls are the most stylish gym bag, then rucksacks are typically the least.
Sackpack: Never heard of a Sackpack? Think of the bag you sometimes receive from the Apple store. A sackpack is a lightweight drawstring bag that can hold a small number of items in one large compartment.
Tote: Tote bags are shoulder bags. They can be made of pretty much any type of material you can imagine, and have two straps that you over your shoulder. Sometimes they have multiple compartments, sometimes they have only one.
Gym Bag Buyer’s Guide
Now that you know the different types of gym bags, let’s take a look at the qualities of a good gum bag. Again – the best gym bag for you may not be the best gym bag for everyone, so make sure to think about when, why, and where you’ll be using it.
Size
No matter what type of bag you’re looking for – an everyday purse, a reusable grocery tote, or a gym bag – size matters. When looking at gym bags, you’ll want to find a bag that can fit your fitness necessities: your attire (including shoes), your toiletries (if necessary), and any applicable fitness great. Make sure you can comfortably fit your wellness into the bag without having to cram them.
You also want to make you don’t get a bag that is too big; you want your items to comfortably fit, but a gym bag isn’t like a carry-on travel bag where you want to leave extra space so you can take souvenirs home with you. A gym bag will need to fit inside your gym locker, so if you don’t need a massive one, why do it?
Compartments
Are you a trail runner? If so, the best gym bag for you likely has a few different compartments so your dirty shoes don’t stain the rest of your running clothes.
Are you a swimmer? Then you’ll likely want to have a separate compartment to put your goggles in so they don’t scratch, as well as your wet swimming suit so it doesn’t chlorinate or wet whatever else you may throw in your fitness bag.
Most people like to have a few compartments in their gym bags so they can separate their wet clothes, their dirty clothes, and more.
Functionality
If you’re a woman, you likely have more than one purse: you have your everyday purse (which may vary by season), you have your fancy-night-out bag, and you have a cute little clutch you may wear for your GNO’s. Each purse has a different functionality and you select your purse based on the function you need it to serve. A gym bag is no different.
The best gym bags cater to your needs. They vary based on what activities you participate in. While a duffel bag or a tote bag may work for yoga, it’s not going to be the best gym bag if you’re going on a hike (we recommend a backpack or a sackpack for that). Thus, make sure to think about what function your need your gym bag to serve before you purchase it.
Durability
While you may like the idea of purchasing a new gym bag every year (who doesn’t love a new bag?) you shouldn’t have to. A gym bag should be durable. The straps should be able to handle whatever weight you add to your bag, and the material of the bag should hold up as well.
Materials
There are a lot of different gym bags out there… We told you that durability is an important factor in gym bags, and one of the key factors to durability is material. While you may like the look of a leather gym bag, that’s not going to hold up if your key fitness activity is hiking (especially if there’s the chance of hiking in inclement weather). Likewise, a canvas gym bag probably isn’t the best gym bag for swimmers and those around water as the water can stain the canvas. Therefore, when looking at gym bags, make sure you find a bag in a material that complements your workout. The most common types of material for gym bags include polyester, nylon, leather, canvas, and vinyl.
Polyester: Polyester is water-resistant, easy to clean, and durable – three reasons that make it one of the most common gym bag materials. It’s great for outdoor activities as well as watersports. Keep in mind, however, that polyester isn’t as breathable as other fabrics, making it more prone to mold and bacteria.
Nylon: Nylon is lightweight, making it perfect for commuters and others that need to carry their gym bags long distances. Nylon is also a cheap fabric, so nylon bags are typically the most-affordable gym bag fabric. Unfortunately, it stains easily and is not as durable as other material, so if you’re looking for a gym bag that will last a few years, we recommend staying away from Nylon.
Leather: We love a good leather bag: they’re sleek, they’re stylish, and they’re durable. Unfortunately, they’re also expensive, stain easily, and can hold odor. If you don’t sweat very much and won’t be putting your gym bag down near water (or other people’s sweat drippings) you could invest in a full leather gym bag, but for most people, they’re not the most practical. If you love the look at leather, consider looking at gym bags with leather finishings.
Canvas: Canvas bags are great: they’re lightweight, they’re affordable, and you can even throw most in the washing machine. They’re also super durable. We love canvas gym bags, but keep in mind they can stain easily – even just with water stains.
Vinyl: Does vinyl remind you of old fashioned diner seats? Us too. It’s not what most people think of when they think of gym bags, but vinyl is actually a great material as it looks like leather but is more affordable and more stain resistant. It does scratch easily though, so if you do decide to invest in a vinyl gym bag make sure you take care of it.
A good gym bag is an essential part of your fitness routine; it not only carries your gear, but it can make you feel stylish as well. When looking for the best gym bag, remember to focus on why you need it, and what activities you’ll be doing with it. The best gym bag one person isn’t necessrily the best gym bag for everyone.
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