If you're hunting for one of the best gym bags on the market, we can help you choose the right one for your lifestyle and workout needs. We've got our hands on the best brands in the market and personally tested them over several months and years to ensure we only recommend the best.
At Tom's Guide, our writers live and breathe training, and some of us are also personal trainers, which means we know what to look for and avoid when testing gym bags. We've included leading brands, and to help you find the best gym bag for you, we've considered various budgets, workout styles and desirables like waterproof lining, pockets, or extra storage space.
Before we get stuck in, we pride ourselves on testing as many of our products as we can, and when we can't, we'll always be transparent about it, listing what we've learned from extensive research.
Our favorite is the Built for Athletes bag, a top choice for anyone who likes to carry their lives on their backs.
The quick list
Here are the best gym bags you can buy right now based on our testing. Scroll down for in-depth reviews.
There is no question it's an investment. But the MZ Wallace gym bag is a top choice amongst New Yorkers and is flying off the shelves at upscale gym boutiques. This bag has all the bells and whistles, or at least all the pockets.
This bag is the least expensive bag on the list, but also one of the best. Considering the minimal price tag, it’s amazing how many top-end features this bag manages to squeeze in.
The simple Adidas tote-style bag gets the job done. There is nothing super fancy about it, but it's sleek and sporty with a mesh overlay to add texture to the exterior.
Best gym bag overall
There is no question this bag is an investment. However, there is also a reason why it’s a top choice among New York gym-goers and is flying off the shelves at upscale gym boutiques. This bag has all the bells and whistles, or at least all the pockets!
With seven exterior and nine interior pockets (10 if you count the business card/credit card holder as a pocket), this bag gives you lots of places to stash your stuff. It comes with a separate detachable pouch as well, attached to an interior key strap. There is also a padded slot secured by a snappable leather strap that will fit a 16-inch computer (when testing, a MacBook Air slid in there with ease), along with whatever paperwork/folders/magazines you’re lugging with you.
The exterior pockets are also ingenious. Not only are there two open side pockets perfect for water bottles, two spacious zippered pockets for valuables, and two phone-sized slots, but there is a large pocket with a zipper on the bottom. Though this was ostensibly created so you could securely slip it on the handle of a rolling suitcase if you were traveling with this bag (it’s called a “luggage sleeve”), it took only a minute to realize you could also slide a yoga mat through there. The versatility here is just fantastic.
The exterior material is REC Oxford, which is a sustainable “recreational” water-resistant nylon fabric that feels sort of like a parachute.
Best budget gym bag
This bag was an absolute surprise. It’s the least expensive bag on the list, but also one of the best.
Considering the minimal price tag, it’s amazing how many top-end features this bag manages to squeeze into its construction. Built a little like a cross between a bucket bag and a tote, it’s spacious while still managing to be compact.
Made of super lightweight polyester, this bag still has structure even though it’s simultaneously collapsible down to nothing (i.e. shoves in any size locker with ease). The only downside of the exterior material is that it feels a little cheap. However, the black camo also reads urban sexy in an almost latex way.
If that’s not your thing, however, there are several other colors, including gray, orange, and a flat black, which may have a different texture. It also apparently comes in large (we ordered a medium and it was perfect for everyday gym use, but for those who need to cart more gear, there is an even bigger option available).
Overall, the bag could do with a few more pockets that zip. There is one pocket inside that zips shut, but it’s a wet/dry pouch, which is great, but the whole bag is wet/dry as it’s waterproof! Point being, you could use the wet/dry pocket for valuables and such, but the other two interior pockets are small and only good for dropping in a lipstick or smartphone.
A “built-in” elastic yoga strap is the finishing touch to the whole thing. This bag offers a lot of bang for the buck and at this inexpensive price point, you could afford to wear it out and then just buy a new one. But, if it happens within a year, there is even a one-year warranty. Like we said, this was the surprise bag of the bunch.
Best tote style gym bag
If you’re not looking for a bag that will hold everything but the kitchen sink, this simple Adidas tote-style bag gets it done. There is nothing super fancy about this bag and yet at the same time, it looks sleek and sporty. A mesh overlay adds texture to the exterior, and the subtle Adidas logo lets people know you’re serious about your gym game without blatantly advertising your after-work plans.
The downside to this is that it’s not a dual-purpose bag. Meaning, it will happily house your gym gear, or perhaps some books and an iPad, but it’s not set up to do both at the same time.
However, if you’re looking for a bag just to take to the gym, you can easily get a pair of shoes, a water bottle and some workout gloves in this tote, with room to spare. There aren’t a lot of separate pockets, though, and the ones that are inside are deep, so you’ll likely be digging to find stuff.
The open-mouthed tote design and long top zipper (which is super solid hardware and zips in both directions) make it easier to get in this bag if you do find yourself in a frantic search for your phone, AirPods, or keys that you dropped down within its depths.
The polyester material makes this bag very easy to spot clean, but at the same time makes it more likely that anything you spill on it will just roll right off (unless you dump your afternoon latte on it and then we can’t help you).
All-in-all, this is a cute, functional gym tote for a great price.
Best hardy gym bag
Unless you’ve been living under one, you’ve probably heard of “The Rock” (aka movie star and hard-body Dwayne Johnson). This bag is part of his “Project Rock” line for Under Armour, and it is as serious about your workout as you are. But it also assumes you’re carrying your equipment…or lots of gear!
This bag will hold a ton of stuff and yet, interestingly, it doesn’t feel as big or bulky as some other bags that are almost the same size. But part of the reason may be that this bag also doesn’t sport a lot of special features. It’s a hardcore bag — you could easily put a soccer or basketball in there, maybe both, as well as some workout wear and possibly a pair of shoes. Plus, you could carry a yoga mat or foam roller at the same time as all of that, thanks to the external elastic straps (which work great).
But what’s missing? Pockets. There are two pockets inside (that thankfully have zippers or your stuff would be all over the interior of the bag), and an unzipped slip pocket on the outside of the bag, but that’s about it. Yes, there are four mesh pockets on each side, but those only seem appropriate for holding water bottles, sports drinks, and maybe chalk or athletic tape.
That being said, the women’s bag does have a very pleasing color scheme—it’s stone and khaki gray (though that might get quite dirty with use, it’s very pretty when brand new). And the material feels expensive and smooth, though it’s supposedly 100% polyester.
One of the best kitschy features about this bag is that the zipper pulls are also hair ties — for someone who consistently forgets to bring those to the gym, this was an awesome touch!
Best gym bag for athletes and travel
The brand promises that this backpack is 'built by athletes, for athletes,' and we believe them. This is one of the comfiest and most convenient gym bags around, made for everyday and elite athletes to power workouts, travel and day-to-day life.
I've been testing this gym bag for months, and it has fast become one of the best gym bags I've used. It's made from premium, durable and waterproof materials and adjustable sternum and waist straps, which are ideal for runners, hikers and long haul trips.
I tested the 45L bag, but there's a small (25L) option to choose from. I could easily pack gym essentials, water bottles, work equipment, sneakers and food with space to spare, and it's incredibly spacious and convenient, unfolding to 180 degrees for easy storage when you don't need it.
Despite its bulk, the bag is super comfortable and doesn't rub or wear on the shoulders or hips. It's easy to adjust, with laser cut Molle construction for a cleaner aesthetic and YKK Japanese zips and extra-durable plastic hardware. You've also got multiple compartments, zip pockets and pouches to play with, two side bottle holders and the bag can carry up to 15kg/ 33lb loads.
It's like Transformers for gym bags; you've got two-way openings, storm flaps, pull tabs, changeable patches and more, becoming whatever you need it to be. The Hero 2.0 backpack will see you through any challenge and adventure and it has already accompanied me on plenty of mine.
How to buy the best gym bag
When deciding what kind of bag you want, here are some things you might wish to think about:
What activities will you be using this bag for? In other words, are you going to take it to the swimming pool? Or are you using this for cross training? Will you be carrying it to work first? This might change the requirements of the bag.
How much room do you need? Are you carrying shoes? Actual sport equipment? Just a change of clothes? Toiletries? All of this adds up to what size bag you should choose.
What special features would you like? Do you want a separate shoe compartment? How about a waterproof pouch? Do you want lots of pockets? Does it need a shoulder strap? How about a secret zippered compartment?
What kind of materials and colors do you prefer? Are you into black? Something wild? Something girlie but tough? Nylon? Leather? Canvas?
How much are you willing to spend? Are you fine with cheap and expendable? Are you willing to spend more for a name brand?
Once you know what your “must-haves” are, you can start narrowing down the field.
How we test the best gym bags
To find the best gym bags on the market, we put them through their paces going back and forth to the gym. We’d carry different equipment, wet kit, shoes, and a change of clothes to see how each bag performed, and how easy it was to use on the go. We’d look for extras such as waterproof compartments for sweaty kit, tech compartments, pockets to keep us organized, and straps to hold yoga mats, water bottles, and more.
FAQ
What's the best backpack for gym and work?
You'll want to choose a gym bag based on the available room and what equipment you will take with you.
If you carry equipment like resistance bands or an ab wheel roller, you'll need a functional bag with a bit more space and a handy ziplock to keep your belongings secure. You might also want to consider separate compartments for sweaty workout gear post-sweat and enough room for a spare change of clothes.
However, you might need to fit your bag in a locker depending on the gym, so make sure your bag is flexible and can not too big for the changing room lockers.
How much should a gym bag cost?
You can pick up a gym bag for under $30 but you might not find durability with it, depending on the brand you choose. For a more premium model, you could be looking upward of $50 to $100.
What are the essentials for a gym bag?:
Essentials include:
- Workout clothes
- The best workout headphones
- A towel
- Change of clothes
- Deodorant and shower essentials
- A pair of the best running shoes or cross training shoes
