When you’re heading to the gym, you need gear. Whether it’s a change of clothes and protein shaker or a set of gloves and lifting straps, you need a gym bag. So, if you’re buying a bag, you might as well get the best gym bag for your money.
Below we review the top gym bags in all categories – whether you’re a navy seal, swimmer, or an average joe looking to shed some pounds.
Many of the bags below can also double as travel packs, are nice enough to bring to the office, and you can use them for school. Whatever tickles your fancy.
With that said, let’s get right to the reviews…
Our Top Picks
- Best Overall: Under Armour 3.0 Duffle Gym Bag
- Best Large Gym Bag: WolfWarriorX Gym Bag for Men
- Best Women’s Gym Bag: Adidas Women’s Sport To Street Tote Bag
- Best Gym Backpack: Under Armour Adult SC30 Gym Backpack
- Best Gym Bag For Swimmers: Speedo Unisex-Adult Large Teamster
- Best Gym Bag For Bodybuilders: Cobra Grips Backpack
- The Best Rolling Gym Bag: Olympia 8 Pocket Rolling Duffel Bag
- Cutest Gym Bag: Travel Duffel Bag for Women
- The Best Budget Bag: Everest Gym Bag
- The Best Leather Bag: Polare Full Grain Leather Duffel Bag
- Best Bag For Outdoors Activities: OGIO Endurance Duffle Bag
- Best Medium Bag: King Kong PLUS45 Duffel
- Best Small Bag: Adidas Team Issue Duffel Bag
- Top Crossbody Gym Bag: Waterfly Crossbody Sling Bag
- Best For CrossFit: King Kong Junior Gym Bag
Under Armour 3.0 Duffle Gym Bag
Best Overall
The Under Armour duffle bag is a tough, water-resistant, abrasion-resistant gym bag that comes in sizes ranging from x-small to x-large. No matter how much you have to carry and what your style preference is, they have a bag for you.
Its 100% polyester material with heavy-duty stitching for long-lasting durability. You can toss it around and cram it in a locker a thousand times with no issues. It also has an adjustable padded shoulder strap or you can carry it with the shorter handles if that’s your preference.
The Under Armour 3.0 also has a mesh pocket on the side, a shoe pocket on the other side, and ample storage in the main compartment. In short, no matter what you need to carry, it can accommodate.
However, there are some things to be aware of. The small is the perfect size for a gym bag. But with the small, the largest shoe you can cram in there is a size 10. If you wear larger sneakers and the compartment is important to you, then you’ll want to opt for the medium where you can fit a men’s size 12 with room to spare.
Pros:
- Tough water-resistant material
- Multiple sizes & colors available
- Padded shoulder straps
- Lots of pockets
- Side pocket for dirty shoes & wet clothing
Cons:
- Does not have a dedicated water bottle holder
- The shoe compartment on the small bag can only fit a men’s size 10
WolfWarriorX Gym Bag for Men
Best Large Gym Bag
A perfect gym bag to pack everything you need, the WolfWarrior is a sizable multi-compartment bag with plenty of storage for a variety of venues.
It has a huge 68 L capacity with 4 main loading spaces. Separate side compartments that expand are designed to store your wet clothes and shoes. Zippered pockets can be used to store your iPad and other electronics, and it has a mesh pocket to keep your small items like keys, cards, and other accessories safe and accessible.
The WolfWarrior is also water-resistant so if you do pack an iPad or simply want to keep your clothes dry, you won’t have to worry about minor spills. And when it does get dirty, a gentle wash or just wiping it with a wet cloth is enough to clean it up.
It’s available in a wide variety of colors and styles with our favorite being the tan and camo versions because they look badass.
As far as durability goes, it has reinforced handles, the material is tough, and it’s easy to clean. That being said, the zippers could be improved. They’re not terrible but we would love to see some beefy zippers on a bag that’s designed to be rugged.
Being so large, it’s probably too big if you’re only bringing the normal items to the gym (shoes, clothes, straps, gloves, water, etc.). This is a great bag for sports events, packing items for several people (like kids if you bring them to the gym), and even for travel. If it’s just you and you specifically want it for the gym, it might be too large for everyday items.
Pros:
- Huge bag with 4 main zippered sections
- It has self-healing zippers
- Easy to carry with an adjustable reinforced shoulder strap
- Has an independent shoe compartment that fits almost all size shoes
- Water-resistant and safe to carry your electronics
Cons:
- A few users reported the shoe compartment material tearing after just a few months
- Zippers could be better
Adidas Women’s Sport To Street Tote Bag
Best Women’s Gym Bag
The Adidas Sport To Street has been around and updated for years. At first glance, it looks smaller. But once you open it up, you have a generous main compartment with a variety of smaller pockets to store everything from your keys and phone to makeup and hair products.
It’s designed for the fashion-forward woman who wants a gym bag that doesn’t necessarily look like a gym bag. This could just as easily be a beach bag or an overnight bag.
But it really shines for the fit woman at the gym. On the sides, you have two bottle holders for your protein and water. Inside the bag, you can fit a change of clothes, gloves, belt, etc. then within the compartments you can store all of your smaller items.
There are two things to be aware of though. First, there’s no shoe compartment. Second, it’s a tote so there’s no crossbody strap. These aren’t a big deal if you’re driving to the gym and simply transporting the bag from your trunk to your workout but if you’re riding a bike or running to the gym, then you’ll want a crossbody or backpack style bag.
For more womens bags, check out our post on the best gym bags for women.
Pros:
- Lifetime warranty
- Good zippers
- Lots of pockets
- Roomy interior
- Doesn’t look like your typical gym bag
- The polyester fabric stays clean longer
- Lightweight
Cons:
- No crossbody/shoulder strap
- No separate compartment to keep dirty shoes
Under Armour Adult SC30 Gym Backpack
Best Gym Backpack
Stephen Curry’s SC30 gym backpack is a high-quality water-resistant bag that’s durable in every way. The main compartment is spacious enough to fit in a size 5 soccer ball or an NBA-size basketball and your gym gear.
Adjustable shoulder straps and foam reinforced panels make it easier to carry even with heavier loads over longer distances. It also has an abrasion-resistant bottom and durable water-resistant fabric so you can toss it around without breaking your stuff or tearing your bag.
If you take your bag to the office and workout after work, you’ll be happy to know it has a padded 15” laptop sleeve, room for gym clothing, and it can fit your gym shoes (the front zipper pocket can hold up to a size 12 shoe). If you’re the type of person who goes to the gym, the park to play basketball, and school or work and you want a bag for all of these, the SC30 is top-notch.
For more backpacks, check out our post on the best gym backpacks for men and women.
Pros:
- Comfortable shoulder straps and foam reinforced panels make it easy to carry and reduce strain on your back
- Made of strong, durable material
- Water-resistant
- Spacious main compartment that can easily fit a basketball and gym gear
- Has two side pockets for water bottles
Cons:
- Has fewer small compartments
- The shoe compartment will only fit up to about a size 12 and it will be snug
Speedo Unisex-Adult Large Teamster
Best Gym Bag For Swimmers
With water-repellent bottom and dedicated wet pocket, the Speedo swim backpack is specially designed for swimmers – but don’t let that deter you. The Teamster works very well as both a workout and work backpack. There’s a padded laptop compartment that can fit a 15” laptop and the bottom of the bag is water repelling so your stuff’s protected even when you set it down next to the pool.
Within the bag, you have a large, 35L storage compartment with a removable wet bag where you can store your trunks after the swim meet. The best feature? There’s a removable bleacher seat from behind the laptop compartment so you never have to sit on hard wet bleachers again.
If you’re a water athlete, whether it’s surfing or swim meets, this is the ideal backpack for you.
For more swim bags, check out our post on the best swim gym bags.
Pros:
- Rubber coated bottom prevents water from being absorbed into your bag
- A removable wet bag that can fit several bathing suits
- High-quality zippers
- It has a removable stadium seat pad that can be used as a cushion for watching swim meets
- Shoulder straps are padded and comfortable
- Lots of colors and patterns available
- 15” padded & raised laptop sleeve
Cons:
- You may find it a bit small for fins, floats, board, and larger items like these
- No dedicated shoe compartment
Cobra Grips Backpack
Best Gym Bag For Bodybuilders
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