NOT EVERY backpack or duffle bag is qualified to be a gym bag, let’s get that straight. Hitting the gym—as a seasoned fitness junkie or self-proclaimed gym rat like yourself has learned—is a gear-driven activity that requires more than just packing a bottle of water and deodorant. Your most foolproof bet for preparing daily fitness routines requires a carryall that can hold all your gear. Which is why a supermarket tote or JanSport backpack won’t do.
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So what qualities as a gym bag? A carryall designed with fitness and exercising in mind, basically, like backpacks with roomy and odor-concealing properties for sweaty gym clothes, or duffels with multiple large compartments to organize your gear. An ideal gym bag, thus, should be able to keep your dirty running sneakers separate from your button-downs and workout headphones—because let’s face it, that’s just gnarly.
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Hence, when it comes to gym bags, utility wins over “your gym bag looks great” sort of compliments. But that doesn’t mean the best gym bag can’t look easy on the eyes while you carry it out and about. Our picks of the 16 best gym bags below testify to that. They’re the perfect fitness carryalls that all look stylish as hell for you to work on your gym gains with all the gadgets and gear you’ll need—no sweat.
Best overall gym bag
Mack Weldon
Atlas Duffle
best convertible gym bag
The North Face
Base Camp Duffel—M
Best lululemon gym bag
Lululemon
Wunderlust Large Duffle Bag 40L
Most stylish gym bag
Fred Perry
Classic Barrel Bag
Most versatile gym bag
Herschel
Novel Duffel Bag
Best gym backpack
Troubadour
Aero Backpack
Best gym bag for packing light
Everlane
The ReNew Transit Backpack
Best lightweight gym bag
Dagne Rover
Landon Carryall Bag
Best Waterproof Gym Bag
Rains
Gym Bag
Best gym bag design
Nike
Utility Power Training Duffel Bag
Best value gym bag
Adidas
Team Issue 2 Duffel Bag
Best high-end gym bag
Nobull
Waxed Canvas Duffle
Most durable gym bag
Goruck
GR11000D Slick 26L Bag
The no-brainer gym bag
Gymshark
Bold Gym Bag
Best gym bag alternative
Aer
Travel Pack 3
Type: Backpacks and duffle bags are the most basic types of carry options gym bags derive from. Even weekenders can work as a gym bag if they come with neat qualities like a compartment to keep filthy stuff away from clean stuff, or an abrasion-resistant sleeve for your electronic devices.
Size: It depends on what you’ll bring to your daily session. Packing light with clothes to change into and out of along with some other small bits and bobs? Then 30 liters or below in capacity—mostly in the form of versatile backpacks—will do you just fine. If you’re packing heavy with shoes, water bottles, resistance bands as well as work stuff—i.e., using your gym bag as a work bag too—then a roomy duffle is what the doctor ordered.
Compartments: Carryalls dedicated to workout activities often come with a separate shoe compartment, an insulated/waterproof pocket for sweaty stuff, protective sleeves for fitness gadgets, and, of course, pockets for protein shakes or water bottles.
Fabric: The exterior is just as important. Your gym bag should be made with durable fabric that can handle the heaviest load or water-resistant/waterproof fabric for unpredictable weather. Either way, the fabric should be tough enough to protect the workout clothes and gear within.
Versatility: Some gym bags, especially those made with separate compartments for shoes, insulation, and even ventilation, are dedicated to a life at the gym. But for those that aren’t so exclusive, they should have a stylish, easy look to double as a weekender or duffle bag that you can bring to the office.
For the past two years, Men’s Health style editors and fitness editors have been trying and testing hundreds of gym bags. To narrow down our favorites, we evaluated gym bags based on their durability, design, price point, and style. We also considered the materials used in each gym bag, as some are crafted with more waterproof and tear-resistant fabrics than others.
Maverick Li
Style and Commerce Editor
Maverick Li is the Style & Commerce Editor of Men’s Health, where he covers clothing, footwear, watches, and grooming.
Christian Gollayan
Deputy Editor, Commerce
As Men’s Health’s Deputy Editor, Commerce, Christian Gollayan oversees all shopping content on menshealth.com.