Stubble & Co. The Kit Bag 38L  Reviewed in 2025

More Than a Gym Bag: The Kit by Stubble & Co

We instantly recognized the signature all-black Stubble & Co during unboxing The Kit bag. Also noteworthy is the potential for organization with this 38-liter bag. That this is a gym bag with a shoe compartment and a laptop sleeve is almost unique.

The sleek, black exterior is very water-resistant and feels durable.

A spacious bag that fully utilizes its multiple pockets, different attachment loops, and carry handles. Its impressive capacity is couched in a compact-looking, carry-on luggage-sized duffel with space for a laptop.

Take the shoulder straps off, and you have a streamlined duffel that can be carried like a sports bag or checked in when flying.

Definitely one of the more versatile gym bags we’ve tested, used and reviewed.

We have been using Stubble & Co’s Roll Top and Adventure Bag for a couple of years already. Those bags set a high standard. Read the details below to see how our expectations were met on the newer Kit Bag.

Details & External Features

The Kit by Stubble & Co has a padded top flap that opens completely, revealing plenty of room in its main compartment.

Padded shoulder straps are attached to the bag with clips and when removed, nothing is left dangling. It transforms into a sleek and compact duffel that can be checked in without fear of having any straps getting snagged on the carousel.

There isn’t a trolley sleeve, but the handles can be used to keep the Kit Bag in place.

The pocket zips are long and easy to grab. There is a plethora of attachment loops all around if you need to carry an extra pair of shoes, a hockey stick, a yoga mat or any other type of gear externally and durable carry handles on all sides allow for multiple carrying styles.

The Stubble & Co logo is reflective, a small but nice security feature for cycling. For additional comfort when cycling or just walking with a bit of weight, there is an adjustable chest strap with a standard buckle clip and its railing makes it easy to pull up and down.

There are loops to hold all the excess straps, so nothing is left dangling and getting in the way of busy commutes or riding a bike.

Construction & Water Resistance

One of the things we like in Stubble & Co bags is the solid and enduring material and thick bottom padding that protects their contents. We worry less when placing the bag on the floor.

The Kit is made with recycled 900D PET fabrics, a 900D TPU base, and a 200D recycled lining. This denier thickness is robust and adds to the product’s longevity, but in the case of this bag, the fabric must not be scrubbed to avoid marks and discoloration of the coating.

The Kit’s fabrics are vegan-friendly and the zippers are water-resistant.

This bag is not built to withstand heavy rains for more than 30 minutes, but the seamed zippers will keep the bag’s contents shielded as good, if not better than any other water-resistant duffel  or backpack. A rain cover or finding a waterproof bag is possible if that’s more relevant.

The main compartment flap has thick padding which rests on the back and shoulders in its backpack configuration. The padding here is not as wholesome and supportive as on other ergonomically designed backpacks, but it is comfortable even when the bag is full.

After initial testing, we quickly can conclude that the shoulder straps and back padding are well designed and provide comfort, even with a laptop loaded and the 38-liter volume filled to capacity.

Capacity, Pockets & Compartments

At 38L, The Kit fits plenty. We can fill it up with a large and a small towel, two bulky yoga blocks, a pair of shoes, a water bottle, and some clothes, and there is room to spare.

There are many pockets, which is a huge plus: a large one at the top for easy access to wallets, phones or earbuds; at the bottom, the shoe compartment is certainly convenient, even if it’s too small to fit footwear in toes first–that ends up being an advantage.  More details on that are in our final section of the review.

Inside the bag, a mesh pocket with a zip and orange lining for better visibility, plus a few smaller pockets for utensils and a narrow but stretchy water bottle pocket with a bright orange attachment loop.

We can fit the 24oz Hydro Cell in there, but the 32oz Nalgene Wide Mouth is too wide, so consider what container you use and if you are willing to downsize.

Finally, the entire top flap is a pocket, inside and out. A large mesh one with a zipper on the inside, great for separating clothes and keeping things tidy. On the outside. The large padded one doubles as a laptop sleeve for a 16’’ device. Overall, it offers great organizing possibilities.

Price & Value: Is The Kit Worth It?

Construction-wise, The Kit is worth the price and its organization and usability add to its value. Its price is what’s expected among top brands and multi-purpose bags. It’s more solid–more material and protection–than Stubble’s The Adventure Bag, which we love and continue to use.

There are some limitations with this versatile gym duffel mentioned in the final section of the review. But in our opinion, Stubble & Co bags are great with useful designs, their quality materials, water protection and aesthetically pleasing look.

Is The Kit Different From Other Gym Bags?

The Kit is different from regular gym bags. As a gym backpack with a larger capacity than most gym duffels, The Kit allows you to carry more gear and clothes.

Take the Rains Trail Gym Bag, for example. Pretty sparse on organizational features, its capacity nonetheless works well as a weekender bag and it has impressive waterproofing. Rains also has a singular style, a chic look that revels when it’s wet. But The Kit allows for better movement, support and comfort when commuting from A to B.

Housing a 16’’ device in The Kit is another plus if you are using it as hand luggage and carry-on or if you have to work in between training sessions.

The Kit bag has a lot of pockets reminiscent of the Peak Design Travel Duffel, which in its 35L capacity, implies similar use and can be used as a gym bag or hand luggage with a carry-on profile. but is designed for tech and compatible with camera cubes.

The PD Travel Duffel is one of the few bags we have reviewed that fits in the duffel backpack category and has detachable shoulder straps and multiple carrying styles. It lacks a separate shoe compartment, though, which makes the Kit very appealing to an urban, sporty professional.

On the other end of the gym bag market is the much cheaper Nike Brasilia 9.0. The Kit holds its shape better, has more suitable waterproofing and is much more comfortable to carry. The Brasilia is a pure gym duffel, with versatility that only stretches as far as being used as an overnight bag or a very spartan carry-on.

Do We Recommend It?

The Kit is a bag that can withstand rough handling to the football field, the track and getting tossed about in the locker room. Additionally, it is a convenient and practical contender for travel backpack.

It will hold its shape and not collapse like other bags, the shoulder straps and carry handles are comfortable and the waterproofing makes it worth the price.

What seemed like a major disappointment was the shoe compartment. It’s too shallow to fit footwear larger than a men’s size 9 when inserting them in toes first. What seemed like something only useful as a laundry compartment has proven itself to be a design winner.

As the image below shows, shoes as big as size 14 can fit sideways, leaving more space in the main compartment for plenty of gear. That’s the advantage of the wider dimensions.

The attachment clips for the shoulder straps need some maneuvering and make sure that the mesh attachment loop doesn’t fold inwards, so just do it patiently and cautiously.

Finally, a little controversy concerns the internal lining. We absolutely love Stubble’s dark-horse contemporary color schemes, blending shiny and matte finishes inside and out.

One of our number suggested to sacrifice this look for a brighter internal lining and better visibility. We honestly can’t decide, so you make the call and let us know in the comments section.

We like it, it is a great, well-designed bag for training with a lot of gear plus any work or study miscellany.