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Best gym bags for boxing, mma, bjj and muay thai - pretty woman kicking martial arts bag

Best Gym Bags For Boxing, MMA, BJJ, And Muay Thai In 2025

There’s a ton of gym bags available for MMA and all have different features, colors, and sizes. So choosing the one that fits your needs can get tricky. Fortunately, after a tremendous amount of research and testing, we’ve put together a list of the 12 best gym bags for boxing, MMA, BJJ, and Muay Thai. No matter what style of martial art you do or how much gear you have, there’s a bag here that you’ll love.

Let’s get to it…

Our Top Picks


1. Ogio Endurance Duffel Bag – Best Overall 


The Ogio Endurance Duffel Bag is easily one of the best bags you can buy for mma, the gym, or even camping. It has tons of pockets for as many items as you can think of and you can wear it like a backpack or carry it like a duffel. The design is well thought out and versatile enough for basically anything you want to do.

It’s offered in two sizes – 37L and 58L. The 58L is ideal for larger items like gloves, shin guards, etc. While 58L sounds huge, it’s not overwhelming and it still fits in a locker. 

Some of the most impressive features of the bag (besides the fact that it’s a backpack and duffel) is that it has a dedicated shoe compartment and a crush-proof compartment for valuables like sunglasses, phone, etc that you don’t want to be smashed. The crush-proof compartment also has a spot for a travel lock to keep your valuables safe which is nice if you don’t have a locker. 

Other notable features are that it’s covered in highly reflective material, has a water bottle pocket, and it’s vented to keep your gear fresh. 

While this is a bit pricey, it’s worth the price. It comes with a lifetime warranty, the design is ideal, and it even comes with a 100-day trial period and a 100% money-back guarantee. You can’t lose on this one. 

Pros: 

  • Lifetime warranty 
  • Crush-resistant tech vault for delicate stuff like sunglasses and electronics
  • Different sizes are available 
  • Tons of pockets and compartments 
  • Separate pouch for water bottles 
  • Well ventilated 

Cons: 

  • It’s pricey 

2. Cobra Grips Sport Bag – Best Backpack & Duffel Combo


Cobra Grips bags are known for their durability, quality, and versatility that works for the gym, MMA, trekking, and hiking. The Cobra grips bag has a complete sporty look with two colors black and red. It’s made of high-quality polyester with water-resistant PVC coating and has a main compartment with U-shaped openings and durable zipper pulls. 

This is actually a bag designed for weightlifting and bodybuilding but this also makes it an exceptional bag for martial arts. There’s a shoe compartment on the one side for dirty shoes or wet clothing. On the other end there’s a smaller pocket for dry clothing or similarly sized items. And then you have a large zippered pocket on the front for your phone, wallet, keys, etc. 

One of our favorite features about the bag is that it converts from a backpack to duffel. The backpack straps simply zip into the special compartment when not in use so they’re out of sight and the bottom of the duffel is totally flat. It’s ideal if you bike to and from class. 

Every part of this bag was built for durability and functionality. From the reinforced handles to the generous storage space. It’s an excellent choice for any martial artist. 

Pros:

  • Very durable 
  • Converts to a duffel or backpack 
  • The wet/dry compartment is completely water-resistant and is ventilated
  • Straps are padded and comfortable
  • Reinforced handles & great zippers 

Cons: 

  • Lacks a dedicated water bottle holder 

3. Mier 20 Inch – Best Budget Choice


The Mier large Duffle bag is a large, affordable duffel with all kinds of convenient features. The side shoe compartment is large enough to fit your shoes and your wet clothes without the struggle of cramming it all in. Within the main compartment, you have 18.5” L X 12.5” W X 12” H of space which can fit shin guards, gloves, dry clothes, gloves, and several other items. It’s also offered in 40L, 50L, and 60L sizes. The main compartment measurements above are for the 60L bag. 

As far as pockets go, you have plenty. On the front, you have a long zippered pocket, then another on the side, and a smaller one inside of the main compartment. The material itself is polyester with a padded bottom, and it has 4 rubber pads to help prevent abrasion. Overall, it’s a solid large bag with a 2-year warranty.  

 Pros:

  • 2-year warranty 
  • Several sizes and colors
  • Large compartment for shoe and wet clothing
  • Plenty of storage compartments 
  • Lightweight 
  • Detachable shoulder strap 

Cons:

  • Many people complained about bad zipper quality
  • Does not have backpack straps 

4. Meister Classic Breathable Chain Mesh Duffle Gym Bag


The Meister Classic duffle bag is a breathable gym bag that’s great for everyday use or lightweight travel. It’s made of unique, high-quality porous material that allows the bag to breathe fresh air so it doesn’t hold any odor from your sweaty clothes. Handles are strong and sturdy. They’re made from a canvas, almost seatbelt-like material that wraps around the whole bag so you never have to worry about them breaking down. 

It’s available in 2 sizes, classic (22x13x13 inch) and X-large (28x15x15 inch). The main compartment is big enough to fit your clothes, towel, boxing gloves, water bottle, Thai pads, rope, shoes, and headgear. You’ll have some room to spare too. 

With the XL bag, you can fit all kinds of stuff including a tennis racket (not that you will but that’s to give you perspective on the size). 

It has small compartments on both sides to store smaller items like your wallet, cards, and snacks. The one thing we don’t love about it is the giant logo on the side. One guy said he was able to peel it off super easy but that’s on you. If you try and only peel half of it off, you’ll end up with a bunch of logo pieces all over your bag which will definitely look worse. 

Overall, this is a great, albeit simple bag for any martial artist and it works well as a lightweight travel duffel. 

Pros:

  • Breathable and doesn’t hold odors
  • Large size 
  • Lightweight 
  • Wide opening for easy access to your gear
  • Smaller pockets on the eds for quick access to smaller items

Cons:

  • It does not have a shoulder strap
  • Large logo on the side of the bag 
  • The bottom is not firm so it loses shape 

5. Elite Sports Mesh Duffel Gym Bag


The Elite Sports boxing duffel is a unique bag. Most of it (around 50%) is covered by a ventilated mesh. When you’re putting sweaty clothes in your bag, you need a bag that smells fresh all time. The Elite Sports bag delivers. 

The main compartment is roomy enough to fit all your gloves, clothes, etc. It has two front pockets, one small for your cell phone, wallet, or other small items and a bigger pocket where you can store your supplements or wrist wraps. Then on the ends, you have a shoe compartment (vented) on one side and another zippered end pocket on the other. 

It’s made of a heavy-duty Cordura fabric, has double carry handles and an adjustable, detachable padded shoulder strap. It’s currently available in two sizes, medium and large. The medium is actually a little too small. For whatever reason, the shoe compartment is also a little small. If you’re over a size 9, the medium bag won’t fit your shoes. The larger might. 

Other than that, if you don’t mind the small shoe compartment, it’s a solid bag that’s machine washable and doesn’t hold odors. 

Pros:

  • Mesh design makes it totally breathable
  • Machine washable 
  • Lots of pockets 
  • Shoe compartment 

Cons:

  • The medium runs a little small
  • The shoe compartment runs small 

6. Hayabusa Ryoko Mesh Bag


The Hayabusa is a large bag made of high-quality tear-resistant mesh that helps your gear and clothes dry faster. 

The main compartment is very large (70L) so you can fit whatever gear you have including your boxing gloves, pads, shin guards, etc. 

As far as organization goes, it has two zippered pockets on the front for smaller items, two bottle holders that can accommodate up to a 32 oz bottle, and a mesh pocket on the end for your keys or gym card. 

The only complaint about this bag is that a few people have had issues with the mesh material starting to tear after a few months. It’s not common but does happen.

Overall, if you need a very large bag, this is a solid option. Hayabusa is a company known for making high-quality materials so it’s unlikely you’ll have any issues with the bag. 

Pros:

  • Lots of space
  • Breathable mesh
  • Two water bottle holders 
  • Looks stylish 

Cons:

  • No separate compartment for shoes 
  • Some people have reported the material tearing after only a few months
  • No support structure so the bag loses shape when you carry it

7. Venum Trainer Lite Sport Bag


The Venum Trainer Lite sports bag is large enough to fit your BJJ Gi, towel, change of clothes, and all of your pads, gloves, etc. It’s one of the more stylish-looking bags on the list and if you use Venum mma gear, then this bag will match your other stuff as well. 

The outside of the bag is made from water-resistant fabric and has multiple vents to help your gear dry faster without holding stinky odors or growing mildew. 

At 63L, you have one large main compartment with a small zipper pocket inside, a vented side pocket for shoes, another side pocket for wet clothes, and a large front zipper pocket that runs the length of the bag. Needless to say, you have plenty of room for all of your gear and enough pockets to keep things separate. 

Another well-thought-out feature is the base of the bag. It’s made with reinforced plastic that helps the bag keep its shape. This isn’t necessarily a requirement but if you’re carrying it with the shoulder strap, it doesn’t fold in on itself and makes for a better experience. 

Pros:

  • Very large main compartment 
  • Lots of storage pockets including a wet clothes compartment and a separate shoe compartment 
  • Mesh panels on both sides keep it ventilated
  • Made of breathable fabric that’s also water-resistant
  • Reinforced bottom to help the bag keep its shape 

Cons:

  • Pricey 
  • Doesn’t have a dedicated water bottle holder 

8. UNK Martial Arts Bag


The UNK new martial arts bag is a great quality bag at an affordable price. It has a main compartment with a mesh top that keeps odors out and helps your clothing dry faster. The main compartment is spacious enough to fit your change of clothes, pads, shin guards, headgear, etc. with room to spare. Then you have three other compartments for smaller essentials. 

An interesting feature of this bag is the two shoe compartments – one for each shoe. On the one end, there are two side-by-side mesh pockets so you can put one shoe in each one. The idea is great but the compartments are a little small. A size 11 shoe wouldn’t fit. However, a small water bottle does so you can get away with putting two water bottles in there. 

The bag is a little basic but does have some unique design features (namely the shoe pockets and Chinese lettering on the front). It’s also spacious, affordable, and durable making it a great bag for MMA, BJJ, and Muay Thai.

Pros:

  • large zippered main compartment
  • Mesh fabric for ventilation 
  • Small mesh shoe compartments 

Cons:

  • Only one color and size option at the time of writing
  • The shoe compartments are a little small 

9. Puma Evercat Contender 3.0


Puma is a household name for good reason. Their Contender bag is perfect if you want a more compact mma bag. It has enough room for your clothing, towel, wrist wraps, and some gloves in the main compartment. But if you’re bringing shin guards, headgear, and mitts, then you probably want a larger bag. This ones designed for the martial arts minimalist. 

A few great things are, first, the dedicated shoe compartment on the side. If you bring separate shoes to your class, this is a must-have. On the other side there’s another zippered compartment for your water bottle and other smaller items like snacks, keys, etc. 

If you don’t bring a whole lot, you’ll enjoy using this one. It’s designed for sweaty gear and shoes so it’s well-vented and it has a padded shoulder strap as well as duffel-style handles for easy transport. 

Pros:

  • Compact design 
  • Padded shoulder straps
  • Affordable price

Cons:

  • The material feels a little too lightweight 

10. Gold BJJ Randori Duffel Bag


Gold BJJ is known for its performance and quality. This Randori Duffel Bag comes in two different models; 

  • Backpack bag, which is a 25L small and compact version that is great for your gi and a few small items. 
  • Handheld shoulder duffle (44L) which is medium-sized and good for most of the stuff you would need to carry. 

The quick highlights are that it’s made of durable two-tone polyester fabric with double stitching, zippers are very high quality and durable, and it’s lightweight. It comes with an adjustable shoulder strap and padded carry handles. It has multiple pockets including a “gi pocket” on the side, main compartment, a large pocket on the front and a belt pocket on the inside. 

The only complaint we have here is that the gi pocket is actually quite small. If you wear an A1 or smaller gi, then this will probably work. But if you’re any bigger, you’ll have trouble fitting your whole gi in there. That being said, you could fit your outfits in the main compartment but it kind of defeats the purpose of the side pocket. 

The main compartment is a decent size though. At 44L you can fit your gloves, towel, etc. with room to spare. Other nice features are that the bag comes with a 1-year guarantee and it’s made in the USA. This is a great bag for the light packer and works perfectly for beach and outdoor trips as well.

Pros:

  • Several sizes available 
  • Comes in either a smaller backpack or larger duffel 
  • Separate gi compartment on the side 
  • Water-resistant 
  • Plenty of pockets 
  • Has detachable padded shoulder strap 

Cons: 

  • The backpack bag size is small 
  • Duffle bag model can not be made into a backpack 
  • GI pockets extend in the main compartment and the gi pocket is small 

11. Adidas Diablo


While the Diablo isn’t designed for martial arts, it works just fine. It comes in tons of colors, it has a lifetime warranty and has an adjustable shoulder strap for easy carrying. While it lacks pockets and a compartment for wet clothes, if you’re just bringing your change of clothes and a few other items, it works as an affordable MMA gym bag.  

To give you an idea on size, within the bag you can fit a pair of gloves, clothes, towel, and water bottle. 

Pros:

  • Handy, sturdy, and compact size
  • Tons of colors available 
  • Durable zippers
  • Adjustable padded shoulder strap 
  • Suitable for the gym and office 

Cons:

  • Has no exterior pockets

12. Under Armour Undeniable 3.0


The Under Armour Undeniable 3.0 is a great bag and we’ve recommended it for all types of activities. It’s lightweight, durable, abrasion resistant, and highly water-resistant so you can basically put anything in it and take it anywhere. 

It’s offered in several sizes as well so you can get one for any amount of MMA gear you need to carry. Regardless of the size you choose, every Undeniable 3.0 has a shoe compartment on one side, another zippered compartment on the other, mesh pocket on the outside of that pocket, and a large compartment on the front. You have lots of storage is what I’m saying. 

Additionally, the bag’s machine washable and has a padded carrying strap. Whether you need a bag for your own stuff or you’re teaching the class and need a bag big enough for several peoples gear there’s a size and style that’s just right. 

Pros:

  • Multiple sizes available 
  • Durable & lightweight 
  • Machine washable
  • Shoe compartment 

Cons:

  • The shoulder strap isn’t removable 

Qualities of A Good Gym Bag for MMA

Best gym bags for boxing, mma, bjj and muay thai - pretty woman kicking martial arts bag

When you’re shopping for MMA bags, there are so many options that it can be a bit overwhelming. However, there are only a few key points to focus on. Nail these and you can be sure you’ll like your bag. 

Breathability

A breathable bag is essential. Your bag will be exposed to sweat and dirt. If it’s not vented, this will result in a smelly bag and mildew. Make sure your bag has ventilation – at bare minimum, you want a shoe pocket that’s vented because you can put shoes or wet clothing in there. 

Durability 

If you’re carrying heavy stuff, you need a rugged bag that can hold up. Polyester and canvas are commonly used and are durable. Mesh is another common material that’s used on these bags but it’s vulnerable to tears and holes. Ideally, you want a bag that doesn’t have a mesh bottom. The bottom of your bag is the part that’s regularly put on the ground and gets the most wear. 

Size

The size of your bag depends on your gear set up. If you are carrying boxing gloves, shin guards, helmets, and other stuff, you need a spacious bag. But, if your gym essentials are minimal, then opt for a smaller bag. A bag that’s bigger than what you need will usually become cumbersome and fold in on itself making it hard to carry. 

Price

You already know the budget you have in mind. However, we suggest you buy on value, not price. The OGIO bag above, for example, is more expensive – but it has a lifetime warranty. 

Other features:

A gym bag without enough compartments can leave you searching for your stuff. Having a dedicated pocket for your dirty shoes and wet clothes and a quick access pouch is essential. You may also want a pouch for your water bottles and shakers. 

And whether you need a backpack, or duffle, or both depends on your preference. Some bags can be both duffle and backpack so have a closer look before you choose.

Sturdy zippers, water-resistant, and hassle-free cleaning are a few other features you want to keep in mind. 

Frequently Asked Questions

martial arts headgear and gloves on table

Why do you need a gym/training bag when you do MMA?

You may have to carry rashguards, cups, gloves, headgear, and many other gym types of equipment for your MMA training.  A gym bag can keep your gear/equipment all in one place so you don’t lose it. And makes it much easier to carry all of the items. 

For MMA, do you go for a Duffel Bag or a Backpack?

It depends on your preference, but we like bags that convert between a duffel and a backpack. Backpacks are easier to carry but the large opening on a duffel provides you easy access to your stuff.

Can my gym bag be machine washed?

Most gym bags can be machine washed unless it is mentioned not to. Just use a delicate wash option with cold water and hang dry.

Final Words

When you’re searching for the best mixed martial arts gym bag, it’s easy to see you have plenty of options. However,