12 Best gym bags of 2025, tested and reviewed

Dimensions: 20″ x 12.6″ x 12.6″ | Materials: Nylon body with PVC backing, ripstop nylon lining and nylon webbing | Capacity: 51L | Colors: Desert, black, green, natty | Special features: Internal laptop sleeve, external weight belt attachment, shoe compartment, two external bottle compartments, 25-year warranty on materials and workmanship

If you’re looking for a bag that could last a lifetime (or at least as long as its 25-year warranty), the KNKG Core Duffel is hard to beat. The large-capacity size holds 51 liters of gym supplies — we were able to fill it up with two changes of clothes, a small foam roller, a percussion massager, a cosmetics bag, a pair of shoes (in the internal shoe compartment), a jump rope, resistance bands, muscle relief creams, various pre- and post-workout supplements and a 15-inch laptop (in the bag’s padded compartment) too. There’s even an external carry loop where you can attach your weightlifting belt. The two external bottle compartments also come in handy — they expand sufficiently to hold larger water bottles and shaker bottles for all your pre- and post-workout hydration and supplementation needs.

The material of the Core Duffel is sturdy — heavy nylon with PVC backing, ripstop nylon lining and nylon webbing, all designed to withstand heavy use without stretching or tearing. The buckles are powder-coated steel and the zippers are YKK — known to be the best in the business. That said, this bag isn’t light. At a not-insignificant 2.2 pounds, once it’s filled with all your gym supplies, it can be hefty to carry around, so just keep that in mind.

One thing to keep in mind is that if you want the product’s organization sleeves (handy if you want to keep your clothes separate from your shower supplies and your shower supplies separate from your supplements or snacks), you have to buy them separately, which adds $40 to the purchase price. We found it came in handy to have the dividers, but the bag’s capacity remains the same whether you add them or not.

Dimensions: 20″x11″x10.5″ | Materials: Canvas, polyester | Capacity: 20L | Colors: Black, silver, blue, charcoal, green, red, teal | Special features: Water bottle holders, wet pockets, separate shoe compartment

Focus Gear proves you don’t have to spend a fortune to get a quality bag. For less than $30 (and often for sale), the Ultimate Gym Bag 2.0 features 10 compartments, including a separate space for keys and phone. 

The tunnel pocket keeps your clothes separate from your dirty gym shoes, and a hidden water-resistant pocket keeps the rest of your stuff dry so you can stash your swimsuit or sweaty items without worry. Reinforced stitching holds everything together for one durable bag. “It’s great quality. Large enough to be an over the weekend bag too. Good carry on. Plenty of extra pockets. Shoe portion is perfect for dirty clothes too!” said one reviewer.

Need hydration on the go? The bag comes with two water bottle compartments, so you’ll never be without a drink. However, some reviewers report that the zippers come off their tracks. This isn’t a problem I experienced, but something to keep in mind. 

Dimensions: 8.4”x 6.6”x 2” | Materials: Polyester/recycled polyester | Capacity: Not indicated | Colors: Black, primrose, elm | Special features: Water-repellent, detachable strap

When you need nothing more than a bag to carry small toiletries, your wallet, phone and keys, there’s no need to lug a big duffel around. To be honest, choosing the best minimalist bag was a toss-up, but this vertical crossbody from Athleta won out against the competition (Lululemon’s Everywhere Crossbody Bag 2L came in a very close second). 

We love that it has a slightly larger capacity that allows you to throw a small makeup or cosmetics bag inside. The fabric is water-repellent, and the strap is removable. This offers additional functionality, allowing you to use it as a toiletry tote on days when you need a bigger gym bag — just throw this bag inside (sans strap) and it’ll do the trick. It also features a small, exterior zippable pocket that’s ideal for storing your wallet, while an interior pocket provides additional organization. 

Another Athleta bag (the Reflective All About Crossbody Belt Bag) that was a close contender stood out for its fully reflective exterior, making it a great choice for anyone walking or biking to the gym in the dark. We wish this vertical option had the same, reflective exterior, which is our main complaint when testing this bag. 

Dimensions: 20.1″x13″x8.7″ | Materials: 500D nylon with PVC backing, ripstop nylon lining, nylon webbing | Capacity: 38L | Colors: Black, green, natty, desert | Special features: Internal dividers for organization, two external bottle compartments, dedicated laptop sleeve, external attachment straps for a weightlifting belt

You can fit a lot inside this 38-liter backpack, and thanks to its numerous pockets and included internal dividers, you can keep everything well-organized. While there’s no external shoe compartment, the internal (removable) dividers make it easy to keep your sneakers separate from your toiletries and clean clothes. The external water bottle holders are sized well for 24-32 ounce water bottles or shakers. We also appreciate that there’s a dedicated laptop sleeve and an additional “hidden” pocket at the back where you can stash your phone, earbuds and wallet. You can even use the external buckles to attach your weightlifting belt — no need to cram it inside with the rest of your stuff.

Like our “best overall” pick — another KNKG bag — this backpack is covered by a 25-year warranty. It’s made from high-quality materials and is durable. Of course, like its counterpart, it’s heavy, clocking in at 5 pounds before you fill it with stuff. And, of course, you can’t ignore the fact that it’s expensive. We appreciate that this bag comes with its internal dividers included in the price, but the price also reflects the cost of this additional accessory.

Dimensions: 20.1″x 9.8″x 9.4″ | Materials: Recycled polyester | Capacity: 33L | Colors: Black, stone/black | Special features: Backpack straps can be hidden away, dedicated shoe compartment, dedicated laptop sleeve, water-resistant

Sometimes you want a duffel bag. Sometimes you want a backpack. With this handy, convertible number from Under Armour, you don’t have to choose between the two — you get both in a single bag, thanks to the hidden backpack straps that you can unzip when you want to put them to use.

While the 33-liter capacity is smaller than some of the bags on this list, it’s sufficient for most needs. You can fit a change of clothes, basic toiletries and your shoes (in their own compartment). Unfortunately, there’s no dedicated water bottle sleeve, so you’ll want to ensure your preferred bottle is leak-proof before throwing it in with your clean clothes.

We also appreciate that the bag is water-resistant, so if you get caught in the rain, your things will be protected. This is especially important for your electronics, which you can also safely store inside the bag’s dedicated laptop sleeve.

We were a bit surprised the bag doesn’t come with a detachable shoulder strap — a common add-on for most duffel bags. This seems like an oversight, but a relatively minor one in light of the bag’s other benefits.

Dimensions: 16″x6.5″x13″ | Materials: 420D laminated nylon | Capacity: 22L | Colors: Black | Special features: 100% waterproof, dedicated shoe compartment, dedicated laptop sleeve, internal bottle compartment

To be fair, a number of the bags on this list have a dedicated shoe compartment, but what makes this one stand out is that you don’t expect a dedicated shoe compartment to be included in what, at face value, looks like a fairly standard gym tote. However, we can assure you that this isn’t a standard gym tote. This is a seriously tricked-out tote that works well for gym days and travel, particularly when you only need the basics.

For starters, the laminated nylon material (specifically, VX-42 made from sailcloth) is 100% waterproof and resistant to rips and tears. The bag also includes all the dedicated compartments you need from a gym bag — an internal shoe compartment, an internal water bottle sleeve, and an internal padded laptop or tablet sleeve. There are also lots of internal and external zippered pockets to provide more organization for necessary supplies (we fit in resistance bands, a change of clothes, a small tub of creatine, a muscle relief cream and a cosmetics bag … and still had room to spare). There’s even an external luggage handle pass-through strap and a hidden compartment for a smart tracker.

All in all, this is a pretty sweet option if you don’t need a lot of added room (the 22-liter capacity is generous, but not huge), particularly if you’re looking for a gym bag that doesn’t look like one.

Dimensions: 19.7″x11.6″x 6.7″ (expands to 8.3″ deep) | Materials: Polyester, polyurethane, rubber, elastane | Capacity: 28L (expands to 35L) | Colors: Black, nu blue/black, white, jasper blue, racer red | Special features: Water resistant, expandable, two external bottle compartments, dedicated laptop sleeve, ventilated straps designed to adjust for even weight distribution

For anyone who regularly exercises outside and needs a bag designed to withstand the elements (and that’s easy to tote around), Under Armour’s No Weigh Backpack is a good selection. It expands to hold a 35-liter internal cpacity, sufficient for shoes, changes of clothes and essential toiletries. The external bottle compartments hold bottles up to 32-ounces and the separate laptop sleeve keeps your laptop safe. There’s even a separate internal pocket to store your gym shoes or sweaty clothes, although it doesn’t zip, so the items on the other side of the bag could still come in contact with your sweaty or dirty items.

We especially appreciate the design of the straps on this backpack. They’re specifically designed to make it easy to adjust them evenly so you don’t end up with an unbalanced load (all too common with standard backpacks). And even if they’re not perfectly aligned, the brand’s “suspension” strap system helps distribute the load more evenly. These features are particularly handy if part of your workout is walking or biking with your backpack to a park, track or other facility — they make carrying your goods with you a little easier to manage.

Dimensions: 18.13”x 7.88”x 15.75” | Materials: 100% nylon exterior | Capacity: 36L | Colors: Black, mahogany rose, matcha, sunkissed, vanilla creme | Special features: Zippered shoes compartment, 2 included accessory bags, dedicated laptop compartment, dedicated bottle compartments, removable shoulder strap

If you travel frequently for work, pleasure or sporting events, this spacious weekender bag is all you’ll ever need. With a 36-liter capacity, it can easily carry a couple sets of clothes, a couple pairs of shoes (in the bottom zippered compartment), travel-sized toiletries and cosmetics and lightweight fitness gear like resistance bands, jump ropes and a travel-friendly massage gun or foam roller. It also comes with two color-matched accessory bags (one that’s ideal for sweaty or dirty clothes and the other for your toiletries). The external elastic side pockets easily hold 32-ounce water bottles and there’s also an internal padded sleeve for your laptop or tablet. The bag is also sized as a carry-on, so you don’t have to worry about whether it’ll meet TSA standards when you get to the airport.

We also love the bag’s bright color options and the fact that it doesn’t scream “gym bag,” making it a good multi-use tote, whether you’re enjoying a weekend with friends or you’re packing a bag for a day at the beach. It’s worth noting, though, that this one isn’t water resistant, and when compared to the thick, extra-heavy nylon exteriors of some of the other bags on our list, the one’s not quite as durable.

Dimensions: 18″x11.5″x7.0″ | Materials: Ripstop nylon | Capacity: 20L | Colors: Black, cobalt | Special features: Duffel bag opening, laptop compartment

If you’re the type of gym-goer who goes straight from the office to the gym (or vice versa), chances are you need a bag that can hold your laptop, tablet and extraneous work files along with clothes and toiletries, without risking the two touching each other. While there are a few totes on this list that can do the trick, they’re not going to be very functional on days you want to bike or walk to your daily commitments. 

We found the Fuse Backpack 20 from Ogio to be incredibly functional for this purpose. It’s a small backpack with a duffel-bag vertical zipper opening so you can throw all your gym clothes or supplies inside and access them easily when you’re ready to hit the showers. The fabric is water-resistant ripstop Cordura, making it super lightweight and durable, and there’s a sort of half-sleeve protector on the bottom half of the backpack so if the zipper were to unzip while you’re wearing it (unlikely, but just in case), it’s less likely that anything would fall out. 

Most important, there’s a separate, padded compartment that fits up to a 17-inch laptop comfortably, and an interior tablet sleeve that’s also padded to help protect your electronics. 

The most glaring problem we noticed was the lack of an exterior water bottle pocket — it seems like it would be an easy addition that would turn this already-functional gym bag into an even better product. It also lacked a separate pocket to store wet or sweaty items, and while it features a few reflective tags, it would be nice if there were more reflective strips across the back. Truly, though, for $50? You’re getting a lot of bang for your buck with this duffel backpack. 

Dimensions: 20″x 17″ | Materials: Polyester | Capacity: 35L | Colors: Black, electric blue, nautical navy, navy/red, sapphire, yellow | Special features: Water- and abrasion-resistant

A good bag can make or break a swimming practice. And because Speedo is synonymous with aquatics, it makes sense that the brand makes one of the best swim bags on the market. 

Hidden ventilation ensures your wet clothes can breathe and not go moldy, even if you forget them for a day or two (although we’d suggest not doing that). The water-resistant bottom means you can place it on the changing room floor without worrying about water seeping through. A dedicated, elevated laptop sleeve keeps electronics dry and cushioned from bumps or drops — which is pretty much unheard of in a bag for swimming gear. The generous side pockets keep all your smaller or important items (like your cell phone or keys) within reach for easy access. And you can store additional swimming gear, like googles and caps, in a ventilated front pocket.

“This is the best backpack ever. The double zippers that open like a hood rather than the crosswise one way or even double zip zippers. Holds a lot extremely roomy and has waist straps and wide shoulder straps that quite comfortable,” says one satisfied reviewer.

Dimensions: 13″x19.5″x8″ | Materials: Aluminum hardware, eco-friendly fabrics | Capacity: 24L | Colors: Carbon, steel | Special features: Water bottle and ball canister pockets

It’s safe to say that pickleball isn’t just a fad. The paddle-centric sport is here to stay. And if you play the game, you know the right bag is essential. Meet the Doubletake NYC Backpack, which also doubles as a tennis bag. 

This bag has room for three standard tennis rackets or two pairs of pickleball paddles, plus outer pockets for water bottles or ball canisters. A fuzzy sunglasses compartment, wet pocket and plush phone compartment round out the offerings. You can also carry it as a backpack or a tote.

Dimensions: 30”x7”x8.25” | Materials: Polyester | Capacity: not indicated | Colors: Black | Special features: Ventilated mat pocket, additional interior and exterior pockets for props, adjutable strap

If your gym trips include yoga classes, chances are you’ll be hauling a yoga mat with you (check out our favorite mats) … which isn’t the most compact item you could carry around. If you’re a serious yogi, it’s nice to have a bag that keeps your mat protected from the elements. 

This bag from Manduka is water-resistant and well-made and includes just about everything you could want in a mat bag. In addition to the storage space for your mat itself (which is sizable enough even for oversized mats), there’s a large secondary zippered compartment for clothes, a yoga towel or straps, and hidden interior pockets that are great for tucking away your phone, keys or wallet. When compared with a similar mat bag from Alo (see our notes below), we found this mat’s space for storing yoga accessories like blocks was more substantial — you can even store two mats or a couple yoga blocks in the double compartments if you’re so inclined. 

There were a few standout features the Alo bag offered (like an exterior mesh pocket that’s appropriate for wet clothes or a water bottle), but ultimately when we compared prices, the Manduka option won out — this bag costs $70 (or less when on sale) versus the $128 for the Alo bag. We just weren’t sure the extra features the Alo bag offered were worth compromising the extra space and better price of the Go Steady 4.0 Mat Carrier.