The best gym bags work overtime. If it’s not comfortable to carry, can’t keep my gear organized and fresh, or makes my commute difficult, then it’s not doing its job. Sure, you can throw your workout gear in a spare bag or shopping bag. Technically, anything can be a gym bag if you’re determined enough. But the best ones are built with features that gym-goers need, from removable yoga straps to ventilation panels to prevent odor.
After testing 20-plus gym bags for a full year, we’ve narrowed down our best picks, whether you’re a bodybuilder, yogi, powerlifter, or just someone who needs a small gym bag for everyday use. For more bag recommendations, check out our guides to the Best Laptop Totes, Best Travel Totes, and Best Messenger Bags and Body Bags.
Multiple Categories
The Best Gym Bag
Lululemon
3-in-1 30L Gym Duffle Bag
DETAILS
- Designed with a removable shoulder strap to carry a yoga mat or as an easy belt
- Different parts of shoes and sweat clothes
- Waterproof fabric
YOU ARE TIRED
- Limited colors
- The dark interior makes it difficult to retrieve items
Don’t let the compact appearance of this bag fool you—it holds more than meets the eye. You can throw in shoes, clothes, and toiletries and still have plenty of room left over. Waterproof fabric is an important feature when traveling in unpredictable weather (hello, Midwest winters). True to its name, it can be carried in three ways: by the top handles, crossbody with a removable strap, or—my favorite—the strap itself doubles as a yoga strap if you just need to pull the mat. It is very stretchy and cushiony, making it comfortable to use for stretching as well.
The storage is well designed, too. There is a dedicated sneaker compartment that fits sizes up to 14, but I prefer to hide my gym shoes in the bottom compartment so I don’t lose any of the main interior space. You also get a drawstring bag for your post-workout clothes, a side zipper for 24-ounce bottles, and interior pockets to hold keys, cards, and other essentials.
Best Gym Backpack
Troubadour’s Pioneer Backpack is great, I would recommend it as a work bag, but it has all the makings of a great gym bag. FortiWeave’s high-quality shell, made from recycled plastic bottles, is waterproof, tear-resistant, and fluorocarbon-free, so it can handle accidental spills and unpredictable weather. Sculpted, padded straps and a breathable pocket panel can be game-changers for long trips, and the trolley sleeve is key to travel.
I love the clamshell design, which gives you a full view of your workout gear. There’s a ventilated shoe area, so your sneakers don’t smell like the office when you go from work to the gym (or vice versa). You get not one but two packs of water bottles. Inside, there are enough pockets to keep even the most type A in the gym satisfied: a small pocket with shoulder straps for keys, slots for pens, a key lanyard, and a lockable main compartment, just to name a few. There’s also a padded NanoCushion laptop compartment to protect your electronics.
The best Tote bag
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DETAILS
- Made of ripstop fabric and nylon base
- Designed with compression straps to tighten and adjust
- It’s very simple
YOU ARE TIRED
- It lacks structure and feels somewhat fragile
- Designed with ventilation holes that are easy to tear
This is Hellen Obiri’s favorite travel bag, and after a month of hauling it to Pilates, I’m getting a complaint. It weighs just over a pound, but somehow fits all the gym essentials without feeling bulky. The detachable shoulder strap is very comfortable, and the Swiss-made rope-like handles make it easy to carry by hand. Compression straps allow you to reduce everything if needed. Inside, you find bottle pockets, two exterior zippered pockets, and an interior mesh compartment for small items.
The reflective detailing on the logo and zipper is a small but smart safety feature. The bag is made of ripstop fabric with a nylon base, though I’m looking for long-term durability. One month in, it’s still holding up well, but I’ll report back if that changes.
