The Best Gym Bags for Carrying Fitness Gear With Ease

The Terra Thread Aarde Gym Bag incorporates sustainability into each part of the product. Fair Trade organic cotton canvas is used for the majority of the bag, with lead-free YKK metal fasteners and zippers. The bags are also manufactured in a fair trade-certified factory and are GOTS certified, meaning there are no toxic chemicals used in production and workers are protected under strong labor provisions. Finally, a portion of each purchase is donated to Feeding America’s campaign to end hunger, so shoppers can feel confident they are making the ethical choice when they buy the Aarde bag. While these are valuable qualities, shoppers will also be thrilled to find that this is simply a well-performing bag that is durable and sizable; the inner compartment fits up to 32 liters. It comes in seven stylish colors, with an emphasis on neutrals and green shades, and yet is still only priced at just under $60, making this a great-value pick.

The new Herschel Novel Duffle Bag is large and sleek, with a simple silhouette that would look as appropriate in the office or airport as it does in the gym. This is also a sustainable choice: Both the exterior and interior are made from 100% recycled plastic bottles, treated to be waterproof, while the leather accents are vegan. Although the outside look is very simple, it is still very attractive, with 19 different colors to choose from. The interior of the Novel Duffle features a shoe compartment and a zippered mesh pocket to hold your valuables. With 43L of volume to fill, this is a bag that could comfortably fit belongings for a weekend trip as well as your gym gear. I appreciate that this duffel is suitable for many different purposes, but doesn’t compromise on performance in order to be versatile—shoppers can expect that this purchase will be for life, thanks to the limited lifetime warranty. Shopping tip: If you’re a fan of this style, check out our lists for the best duffel bags and best rolling duffel bags.

If you travel directly between the gym and home, you may arrive and leave wearing your gym clothes. Without bulky shoes and clothes to pack, your gym bag doesn’t need to be as large and bulky as people taking their equipment on their commute. For just the essentials, I love the GymShark Everyday Mini Gym Bag. The truly small dimensions make this a lightweight, portable option that still accommodates a water bottle, a sweat towel and some basic toiletries. You won’t find interior storage pockets but there are several thoughtful details, such as adjustable straps and a rope loop to attach keys or a keychain. The compact design and fun color options also makes this an easy bag to bring with you to the office or even out on the town afterwards, without feeling like you’re bringing the whole gym with you. Another perk of the small size? The price. This bag costs just $34, although it looks more expensive.

While most gym bags are classically unisex, there are some features that women may appreciate more than men. Specifically, the Ceneda Gym Duffle Bag is a spacious bag that fits volumes up to 41 liters and comes with a color-matched toiletry bag, making it easy to bring your makeup, skincare, and shower supplies for after your workout. The shoe compartment and separate waterproof wet bag are storage details that anyone would appreciate, but especially swimmers or anyone who sweats a lot when they exercise. You’ll also find elastic loops that can be used for a water bottle or umbrella holder, and multiple pockets for smaller items, such as glasses or a phone. The Ceneda Duffle includes a strap to accommodate a yoga mat, as well as an adjustable, detachable strap that can convert this bag from a shoulder bag, to a tote, or to a crossbody as desired. You can get this duffle in four pastel shades, as well as khaki or black

As with the women’s bags, duffel bags for men aren’t notably different from other styles; this is a unisex product. However, I like the Nike Brasilia 9.5 for its spacious interior that fits up to 60 liters, its multiple pockets and its affordable price of just $42. This is a no-nonsense choice that’s ideal for anyone who doesn’t care about frills and just wants a bag that will hold all their gear and keep it organized. The material includes at least 65% recycled polyester and although it’s not fully waterproof, the base of the duffel has been coated with a water-resistant material so you can trust your stuff will stay dry. Although the color range is limited, the four options are classic shades that should appeal to most shoppers. I also like that the shoulder strap and handle are padded, so heavier loads are still comfortable to carry.

If you’re a serious athlete or consistent gym goer, then you know how much impact a few thoughtful details can have on your workout experience. The Small Haven X Crossfit Organized Backpack features a patented internal organization system, inside a structured main compartment that can stand upright on its own for easy packing. The different compartments are varied in size to better accommodate your gear and get the most out of the 26 liters of volume. Because it’s slightly smaller than some of the other bags on this list, this is a more portable and agile option without sacrificing on storage.

Other storage details include a vented shoe compartment that can fit up to a men’s size 14, as well as a dedicated laptop sleeve for anyone who is traveling to or from work and doesn’t want to use a laptop backpack. Athletes will also appreciate the high-quality materials and added features, like the expandable water bottle pocket. Unfortunately, this quality comes at a high price: $329. This likely won’t be within everyone’s budget, so I’d recommend this backpack for serious athletes who will get consistent use out of it.

We often turn to Amazon for low-priced options, but that doesn’t need to mean a dip in quality. The FocusGear Ultimate Gym Bag 2.0 is frequently on sale for under $30 and yet offers many of the storage features of more expensive bags. With this duffel, you’ll get a shoe compartment, phone pocket, two water bottle holders, a wet pocket — and several other storage areas. The main compartment also fully unzips into a wide-mouth opening, so that you can easily pack or unpack your gym gear. While the aesthetic is a little blocky and basic, you can still choose from 8 different colors and choose between the handles or shoulder strap for different carrying styles. FocusGear doesn’t list the material used for the bag and we don’t believe it’s waterproof, but the base has been reinforced with a water-resistant panel to protect your bag from any wet surfaces. This isn’t the most elevated bag, but it’s incredibly practical and organized — even more so when you consider the price.

Speedo is a go-to brand for many swimmers and their gym bags are no exception. The Speedo Large Teamster Backpack has been updated with a sleeker silhouette that can stand upright when empty, while still accommodating a spacious 35 liters of volume. Swimmers often carry more gear than other athletes, thanks to goggles, swim caps and space-stealing towels. With this Speedo backpack, swimmers can comfortably store dry items in the large interior pocket, while the ventilated front pocket is ideal for wet swimsuits, caps or goggles. As you’d expect from swim-related equipment, the exterior shell is fully waterproof (most bags on our list are water-resistant, at best) so you can comfortably bring this bag around any body of water and keep your gear dry. Non-swimmers may not get as much use out of this bag, but for the right audience this is the ideal gym bag that will last you for years.

Yoga practices can require a lot of extra props, from mats and blocks to blankets and bolsters. While many studios will provide these items, it’s no surprise that frequent yogis often like to bring their own—but this can be bulky to carry. The PopFlex Delilah Duffle looks like a classic gym bag in many ways, but also features a few key details that will particularly benefit yoga goers. The spacious interior can accommodate classic yoga props, while the exterior features both front and back yoga mat holders with seatbelt straps for greater security. The separate shoe compartment with waterproof lining makes this a useful bag for other sports too, but would be as good to store a wet towel after hot yoga. Then there are the various inner and outer pockets for maximum storage organization, including water bottle pockets and an inner key ring clip. If you’re someone who loves to practice yoga while they travel—or even travels to yoga retreats—then you’ll particularly appreciate the Delilah’s travel details, such as criss-cross trolley straps and a laptop sleeve.

If you’re anything like me, sometimes you have to fit in a workout in between other errands and activities. In these situations, I don’t want to drag around an oversized gym bag that stands out in the office or grocery store. Enter: The Nike One Tote Bag. The sleek and stylish design won’t look out of place around town, but the materials are sturdy and water-resistant — not to mention partially made from recycled plastic bottles. Nike has also included several useful details to keep your gym kit organized, from the inner zipped pocket for valuables, to the inner laptop sleep, inside water bottle holder and two outer pockets. If you often need to bring a yoga mat or bulky cover up with you, you’re also in luck as the One Tote Bag features an elastic bungee that can easily accommodate those accessories. The 18L capacity is on the lower end of the storage spectrum so you won’t have the extra room for a shoe compartment or wet pocket, but this means the bag is actually convenient and comfortable enough to be toted around on one shoulder. For a double-duty bag that you can take with you from the office, to the gym, to the park and beyond, the Nike One Tote Bag is my favorite option.

If you know you’re going to be loading up your bag or simply value having something lightweight and easy to carry, the Bellroy Lite Duffel is a great choice. Made of 100% recycled nylon, the ripstop material is three times lighter than Bellroy’s other fabrics and the entire bag weighs just over 1 pound. Not only is it lightweight, the bag can be folded or rolled up so you can pack it in a larger bag for use while traveling. Once unrolled, the Lite Duffel fits 30 liters and features several interior and exterior pockets, including a quick-access pocket on the front for frequently used items. The lightweight nature of the bag means you do sacrifice extra features like a shoe compartment or a wet bag, yet you’ll still pay over $100 for this bag. However, the durable fabric means this is a bag you can take with you on your adventures for years, without ever needing to strain to carry your items.

If you live somewhere low on closet space or need to be able to bring your bag inside of another bag, then a gym bag that folds up is a huge space saver. Not only can the Vorspack Duffel Bag fold up, but it folds up so small that it fits neatly inside one of the bag’s interior pockets for easy transportation. The nylon material is water-resistant and durable, but lighter in weight than polyester products. The Vorspack Duffel is rounded, as opposed to a classic block shape, which does reduce some of the available storage space; this bag caps out at 23 liters of volume. Because of this, you won’t find a dedicated shoe pocket or wet bag. However, Vorspack does feature a quick-access outer pocket and secure inner pocket for more valuable items. The handles are reinforced and the shoulder strap is detachable for added convenience, plus you can choose from six colors. The best part? This bag retails for under $20.

Value means a lot of things to different people, but ultimately it’s about good quality for a good price. The Under Armour Undeniable 5.0 Duffle is under $40 yet fits 58 liters inside its large interior. Made of durable UA Storm fabric, the material has been treated for water-resistance while the bottom and side panels have been coated with TPU and foam for added structure. The bag features a vented interior pocket for either shoes or dirty laundry, as well as a dual water bottle slip pocket, although it has minimal additional storage compartments. Instead, the main compartment is nice and empty to accommodate bulkier equipment like gym gloves or yoga blocks. UA makes its Undeniable 5.0 Duffle in an incredible range of 45 different colors, although not every color is available in every size. Overall, I found that this bag perfectly balances affordability with performance and spaciousness, for truly great value.

Keeping your gym gear organized can make your workouts that much more seamless, thanks to easy to find equipment and safely stored items. The ICEIVY Gym Duffle Bag has all the storage features you could need: a spacious wet compartment, a vented shoe pocket, a large main interior and an easy-access front pocket. There’s even a yoga mat strap that locks your mat in place for secure transportation. The duffel bag is made of water-resistant material, although it can look a bit inexpensive. You’re able to choose from several colors, but be warned that these skew pastel—if your taste is more neutral or unisex, you might be stuck with black. However, the bag costs under $30 and includes thoughtful details like a padded shoulder strap and thick handles, for more comfortable carrying. I also like that ICEIVY hasn’t stuffed this bag with unnecessary storage details, so you can truly maximize the interior capacity.

One of the most important qualities of a gym bag is that it should be durable, ready to keep up with daily workouts year after year. With KNKG’s Plus Duffel, you can be confident that you’re paying for a lifetime product thanks to its high quality 1000D nylon exterior and ripstop nylon interior. Should there be a defect in materials or workmanship, KNKG will repair or replace your bag for free, including free shipping. This duffel is a new iteration on a beloved classic, with optimized storage organization and even more durable construction. The bag fits 33 liters of volume and features a dual internal shoe zone, dual water bottle holders and multiple exterior pockets for quick access to your most used gear. You’ll be able to pack all of your sports equipment with no issue—and with no fear of tearing or stretching, thanks to the nylon fabric. While you’ll pay a little more upfront for this duffel, you’ll have a lifetime of high-quality storage.

If you prefer to carry your gear on your back, then the Nike Utility Speed Backpack is an ideal choice that balances ample storage with a streamlined silhouette. This backpack is only available in black and uses a durable material that holds up against daily use, without any signs of wear. I appreciated the double water bottle holders on either side of the backpack, as well as the two zippered front pockets, which allow for more segmented organization than you get with most backpacks. The main interior section doesn’t feature a shoe compartment or a wet pocket, like many of the other bags on this list, but fits a lot of gym equipment if your priority is storage. If you like a backpack for the gym, you likely prioritize portability and compactness over maximum storage, in which case I think you’ll love this one. The padded and adjustable shoulder straps are also great.