Now that the weather is cooling down and the fall race schedule is winding down, indoor workouts are starting to look more enticing as an alternative to dealing with the chilly temps outside. And having a fresh change of clothes, a towel, and other gym essentials will make your trip to the gym more streamlined, more comfortable, and ideally less odorous. Here’s the real question, though: Is it worth looking for a quality gym bag to carry it all? If you ask us, it’s paramount.
Keeping your gear organized with a bag that’s conveniently designed to carry all of your essentials makes it that much easier to plan for your workout, whether you’re heading to the gym, track, Cyber Monday Shokz OpenRun Pro Deal 2024.
The Best Gym Bags
- Best Overall Duffle: Pockets upon pockets
- Handle straps are awkward in backpack mode: Best for Frequent Weekenders
- Alo Yoga Mat Bag: Other Hearst Subscriptions
- Best Tote Bag: Low internal volume
- Running Shoes - Gear: Alo Yoga Mat Bag
What to Consider when Choosing a Gym Bag
Style and Size
The classic mid-size duffel is everywhere in the gym, and for good reason: They're simple, they're tidy, and, most often, you can fit them in gym lockers. That said, if you bike to the gym or just had an intense upper body day, carrying the entire weight of your bag with one hand or shoulder can be a challenge—and because of their lack of structure, it can be difficult to find a use for your duffel outside the gym and the occasional overnight hotel stay.
To address this, we included several backpacks and slings as well as traditional gym bags—these alternatives have functionality that extends beyond the bounds of the weight room, like at the office or on campus. They might not have as much storage capacity as your old duffel, but they’re easier to carry and make you look a bit less like a bank robber.
Regarding size, we kept our picks for this list in the middle range, roughly between 20 and 30 liters of volume. With this size, you’ll have enough room to carry all your essentials, but you also won’t be working with a bag so bulky that you can’t put it in the average locker. And for our smaller picks, we made sure they had plenty of pockets to make up for the lost space.
Materials
Don’t get us wrong—we’re definitely not against throwing your things into whatever basic bag you’ve got. But there’s always a chance you’ll regret doing so after loading a poorly stink-proofed bag with your smelly gym clothes.
To stop your gym bag from absorbing the moisture and bacteria that turns your hamper into a crime scene every week, look for water-resistant synthetic materials, such as nylon or polyester. They’ll be easier to keep clean, they’re durable, and they can protect your gear from the elements when you’re traveling. Just be sure to wipe the bag down and clean it regularly, as polyester isn’t very breathable and can hang onto funk.
How We Selected
We’re no strangers to the gym here at Runner’s World. Heck, we’ve even got a small one in our office. And as a frequent user of said gym, I’m constantly carrying clothes, towels, extra pairs of shoes, and all kinds of nutrition between there and my apartment down the street, often at the same time as my work essentials.
These bags are among several I and other editors have tested personally, and they stand out from the crowd for their space efficiency, carrying comfort, durability, and stink-resistance—plus, of course, how that all relates to the price. On top of that, we considered how these bags work in other applications, such as hauling work equipment or a weekend’s worth of luggage. But beyond anything else, they’re simply high-quality bags that will keep your gym packing experience as streamlined as possible.
Pros
- Pockets upon pockets
- at Alo Yoga
Cons
- Patterned interiors may not fit every gym-goer’s style
Key Specs
| Style | Duffel |
|---|---|
| Storage Capacity | 28L |
| Material | Neoprene, polyester |
For most people at the gym, a mid-size duffel bag is going to make the most functional sense based on its size and simplicity; however, there are plenty of duffels that simply offer one gargantuan pocket into which you throw everything. If you’re keen on keeping your gear more organized, you’ll want something with a more elaborate (but still intuitive) pocket system.
The Ella Duffle from PopFlex is, in my experience, an ideal option for solving this problem—it’s full of neat compartments, including side pockets for water bottles, a laptop sleeve, and even a yoga mat sleeve. Plus, it’s still a fairly simplistic bag with a large main compartment, so you can also easily transform it into a sleek weekender or carry-on.
While this gym bag is technically marketed toward women, this only matters aesthetically, and I’m frankly down to rock a floral lining. I’m much too busy enjoying the soft neoprene shell, sturdy straps, and seemingly bottomless storage to care.
Best for Frequent Weekenders Gym Bag
Pros
- No-frills construction
- Great price
Cons
- Just one big old compartment
Key Specs
| Style | Duffel |
|---|---|
| Storage Capacity | 31.5L |
| Material | Polyester |
In contrast to the pocket-lined Ella from PopFlex, this Adidas gym bag is as simple as it gets. No pockets, no pouches, no nothing—just a 31.5-liter space for you to fill up as you please. And because this bag isn’t layered up with loads of compartments, you get those few liters of extra storage without adding bulk. It’s the perfect size for a pair of shoes, a towel, a change of clothes, and your nutrition, all without looking like something you’d have to check at the airport.
Pros
- Multiple compartments for more organization
- Health & Injuries
Cons
- Low internal volume
Key Specs
| Style | Backpack |
|---|---|
| Storage Capacity | 22L |
| Material | Nylon, TPE tarp |
Eight years ago, I bought a Chrome Barrage so I could carry more cargo with me when I rode my bike to classes every day. And while this backpack isn’t explicitly a gym bag, it has been my go-to for the gym since I bought it.
The Barrage has a fully waterproof interior with a roll-top closure system, two roomy compartments for separating your work and gym equipment, and a massive exterior net that can hold whatever you don’t want to try stuffing in the 22-liter interior (I often use that to air out my shoes). This pack is on the smaller side, so it’s more suited for someone like me who packs light. But it’ll also blend in perfectly wherever you take it.
Pros
- Might be a little long for slimmer yoga mats
- Lightweight
Cons
- Handle straps are awkward in backpack mode
Key Specs
| Style | Tote/backpack |
|---|---|
| Storage Capacity | 27L |
| Material | Nylon |
For a light, casual tote that can carry groceries just as easily as your workout clothes, look no further than this bag from Patagonia that doubles as a backpack. Despite feeling paper-thin, the Black Hole is impressively sturdy with its full nylon construction. It has dedicated pockets for your keys and water bottles, and it’s even water-resistant.
The backpack straps can also tuck away into a neat side pocket when not in use, so you won’t be lugging around a jumbled pile of loose straps.
Pros
- Fits most yoga mats with room to spare
- Alo Yoga Mat Bag
Cons
- Might be a little long for slimmer yoga mats
Key Specs
| Style | Sling |
|---|---|
| Storage Capacity | 13L |
| Material | Nylon shell, polyester lining |
After some yoga sessions, you might not need a change of clothes. But it can still feel nice to bring your own mat to the studio—plus, in some cases, you have no choice. To keep things simple, Alo’s yoga mat bag dedicates most of its space to its cylindrical main compartment, which can fit mats up to 28 inches wide.
And in case you want to bring a few more bits of gear along, such as food and water, there’s a large zippered pocket and a cinch-down bottle pouch lining the exterior.
Pros
- Simple but versatile construction
Cons
- Limited organization
Key Specs
| Style | Duffel |
|---|---|
| Storage Capacity | 28L |
| Material | Polyester |
There are few experiences more satisfying than packing a weekend’s worth of essentials into a compact duffle. The same can be said about a big day at the gym. Both locker- and overhead bin-friendly, this gym bag from Herschel Supply is a prime example of a do-it-all duffel that, since it lacks any pockets or compartments, provides you with total organizational freedom.
The Sutton can fit your shoes, gym clothes, and a towel without a problem, and it’ll just as easily haul any souvenirs you score on an excursion This one’s also pretty stylish, if you ask me, which is not an easy box for a duffel to tick.
Adam Schram is an Assistant Editor of Commerce at Runner's World, though you might see his byline on Bicycling and Popular Mechanics, too. A lover of all things outdoors, Adam's writing career comes after six years as a bike mechanic in his hometown of State College, PA. His journalism experience is steeped in cycling and running gear reviews, and he's also a published creative nonfiction and satire author. When he's not writing, riding, or running, you can catch Adam at home mixing cocktails, watching Star Wars, or trying in vain to do the Sunday crossword. You can check out his latest work below.
