Best Gym Bags of 2025

To find the best gym bag, we started with 20 candidate products and tested each by giving them to instructors and trainers. Each bag was used for at least two types of sports or hobbies as well as training at the gym.

While testing these sports bags, we’ve also found most of them make a great travel duffel, too. Take note of the features or featurelessness of some of these products and how we’ve judged them based on their design and intended use.

COMPARE PRICES and read more about how we vetted and graded these products below.

Why Trust These Gym Bags

We’re trying to maintain trust and authority by actually testing these bags and delivering an honest review of them. We didn’t just ask the advice of professional trainers and athletes, we used them to test these bags and recorded what their experiences were with them.

In addition to enlisting a karate teacher, a fitness guru, a yoga instructor, two badminton players and a basketball player, Bradley has used all of these bags for training, playing and traveling for over 3 years. Torben has used these as a travel duffel and Sylvia has used them for swim training.

Each bag has its strengths and weaknesses. Our unbiased assessments of each bag is reflected in the short and in-depth reviews.

Reflections on a Great Gym Bag

What makes a good gym bag? The most basic answer would be its quality. For the most part, the form factor of a sports bag makes it useful for training and popular for overnight stays.

The bags we’ve tested have different features that correspond to price and to their versatility. Compare the Adidas Diablo with the Kit Bag, for example, and we see a price difference of more than $100. This example demonstrates simplicity versus versatility–a cheap, featureless bag measured against a backpack-style sports bag with a laptop sleeve.

Bags By Activities

When the buzzword ‘gym bag’ comes up, it often refers to a variety of bags including an actual gym bag, a duffel bag, and even a gym backpack. They are all valid terms that help to differentiate between sports bags.

To know what type of gym bag to get, I consider the circumstances in which you will be using it. Are you planning on bringing it with you when going to the gym’s pool? Or, are you thinking about using it for doing weightlifting only?

Your choice of a gym bag will differ depending on the activity you intend to do. For a water sport, you might want to look into a gym bag with a waterproof lining, whereas for working out with a personal trainer, your bag can be relatively low-maintenance.

Material

Just as gym bags vary in type, they also vary in the material used for their manufacturing. Polyester, Nylon, and Leather are the most commonly used fabrics that are perceived to have high-quality features and be durable.

Polyester is often water-resistant and easy to clean, which makes it an easy choice for the majority of athletes. Nylon, in contrast, is not as water-resistant but is noticeably lightweight and affordable. Leather, apart from having a high-end look and durable construction, is the most expensive option.

You will also find gym bags built from Canvas and Vinyl, both of which are on the cheaper price spectrum. While Canvas has the advantage of being machine-washable, Vinyl is known for being stain-resistant. That said, Canvas isn’t compatible with moisture, and Vinyl is prone to scratches.

Storage Space

Given the ease of access and durable zippers, another element that makes a good-quality gym bag is its storage space. While the availability of a multitude of compartments that serve different purposes is a nice bonus to have, what ultimately defines a gym bag is the number of things you can fit in it.

The rule of thumb states that the more gym wear and gym accessories you have, the bigger the capacity of your gym bag should be.

On average, a gym bag between 50 and 70 liters works best for the majority of avid gym-goers. This range of volume allows you to fit your spare set of workout clothes, a pair of sneakers, a water bottle, and a few toiletries. It also allows you to store your bag in the gym’s locker without any issues.

If, however, you don’t have enough stuff to fill a 60-liter gym bag with, go for a smaller bag instead.

Functionality 

When it comes to the gym, you want to have every single one of your workout essentials at hand. This has a big influence on getting in the workout mode and achieving your body goals quicker and more efficiently.

Gym bags in the form of sacks with drawstrings are a thing of the past – now they ought to have a pocket for your tech accessories, a separate space for storing your shoes and dirty clothes, and straps that make it easy for you to carry the bag from A to B.

Maintenance 

Taking proper care of your gym bag is your responsibility – at the end of the day, it’s up to you how long your bag will last. You can purchase the most luxurious gym bag and have to throw it away in a few months if you don’t maintain its initial look.

The more durable and the more low-maintenance the gym bag, the easier it will be to look after it. You should ideally be able to wipe it down with a damp cloth and a disinfectant every now and then to maintain its fresh appearance.

If the material allows, you can throw your bag in the washing machine once per month or once in three months depending on how often you use it. This will get rid of any bacteria or dirt that has built up over the weeks of rigorous use.