For a lot of us, the hardest part about working out is actually showing up. One thing that makes your chances of getting to the gym on schedule far more likely is being organized. And nothing assists your gym organization more than a quality gym bag. You probably don’t give much thought about your gym bag – until it starts to let you down.
Read on to discover the best bags for your buck that will put you at an organizational advantage while ensuring that your gear is reliably transported to your workout venue.
| Top Gym Bags | Why It Is Best | Our Rating |
| Adidas Defender II | 100% Polyester, Ripstop, Zippered End Pockets, Shoe Tunnel | ★★★★★ |
| NPUSA Military Molle | Plenty of pockets, padded shoulder straps | ★★★★★ |
| Everest Gym duffel bag | Wet pocket, mesh outer pocket | ★★★★★ |
| Weweon Waterproof duffle bag | Double velcro handles | ★★★★★ |
| Under Armour Undeniable 3 | 3 zippered exterior pockets | ★★★★★ |
| Adidas Alliance II Sackpack | Air mesh ventilation | ★★★★★ |
| Puma Men’s Epoch Backpack | Internal and external pockets | ★★★★★ |
Adidas Defender II
The Adidas Defender II is a multi-purpose bag that is made from high-quality polyester by the name of D Hexagon Ripstop. This makes for an extremely durable bag that will stand up to the most rugged treatment.
A great feature of this bag which I absolutely love is its freshPACK pocket technology, which ensures that the rest of the bag stays dry and odor free when your throw your sweat-soaked t-shirt into the pocket. The bag is completely water proof which is extremely handy when you’re heading to the gym in the middle of a thunder storm.
The medium and large versions of this bag provide you with a padded shoulder strap to keep the pressure from bearing down on your shoulder when the bag is loaded up. Another cool feature of this bag is that one of the end pockets features a shoe tunnel so you can easily pack in your shoes without constriction.
The iconic Adidas logo has been embroidered onto the bag, ensuring that it will maintain its as new look for years. The bag also features dual top handles that make it a breeze to carry around. You get a generous amount of size to throw in all of your gym gear, including your change of clothes. The bag can also double as a very handy travel bag.
You get a huge selection of colors when you choose to buy an Adidas Defender II.
Why I love this bag . . .
- D Hexagon Ripstop material
- FreshPACK pocket technology
- Waterproof
- Shoe tunnel
- Great color selection
NPUSA Military Molle
The NPUSA Military Molle makes for a great gym or travel bag. All of the bags that we reviewed, this one has the most pockets, which is great to allow you to compartmentalize your various pieces of gym gear. You get double front buckle straps, a pair of zippered front pockets, two medium zippered side pockets and a pair of large zippered side pockets.
You get a padded shoulder strap along with this bag, along with a pair of D rings. This allows you to customize the positioning of the straps for the most convenient carrying position. A Velcro strap on the handle allows for the best gripping experience.
This bag is made from 600D polyester which makes it hardy but not quite as durable as the Adidas Defender II. You get twelve different color options, which is almost as many as the Defender II offers. The bag also features an interior water prof lining.
The best things about this bag are . . .
- lots of pockets
- interior waterproof lining
- padded shoulder strap
Everest Gym
The Everest Gym duffel bag is not as spacious as the previous two review bags, but it does feature a couple of innovative features. The first of these is a ‘wet’ pocket in which you can throw your towels or sweat soaked t-shirts. You also get a couple of handy mesh outer pockets on the outsides of the two end zippered pockets. There’s another large mesh pocket along the side of the bag.
The Everest Gym bag even comes with a padded water bottle holder. There’s even a zippered clamshell compartment on the top of the bag.
The best things about this bag are . . .
- wet pocket
- mesh outer pockets
- padded water bottle
Weweon Waterproof Dufflebag
The Weweon Waterproof duffle bag comes in the old tube style back pack look. It is made from lightweight waterproof nylon and features a nylon lining. One of the best features of this bag is its double Velcro handle straps. You also get a padded air mesh shoulder strap. The end compartments are spacious enough to fit your shoes and are also odor proof and water proof.
There is another exterior zippered pocket on the side of the bag. However, due to its tube design this pocket is pretty impractical when the inner compartment is full. The bag comes in four different color options.
The best things about this bag are . . .
- lightweight waterproof nylon construction
- comfortable double velcro handles
- Waterproof spacious end compartments
Under Armour Undeniable 3
The Under Armour Undeniable 3 is made from 100% polyester material. It has a water-resistant finish that will keep your gear dry in inclement weather. You get three zippered exterior pockets, with one of them being specifically designed to accommodate your shoes. You also get a handy mesh pocket on one end of the bag. However, it’s big failing is that it has no interior pockets.
We love the ‘HeatGear’ technology featured on the shoulder strap of this bag, which does an effective job or wicking away moisture. The bag comes in either small or large options and features abrasion-resistant sides and bags.
The best things about this bag are . . .
- water resistant
- 3 zippered exterior pockets
- moisture wicking
Adidas Alliance II Sackpack
The Adidas Alliance II Sackpack is the first of our reviewed bags that comes in the backpack style. It is made from 100% 600D polyester. Unlike all of the duffle bags that we have looked at, this is a single compartment bag, which may be a turn off for some people.
The bag does feature a large exterior zippered pocket along with air mesh ventilation and two side mesh pockets which are ideal water bottle compartments. This bag comes in more color options than any of the others in this line-up, providing you with 25 to choose from.
The best things about this bag are . . .
- air mesh ventilation
- 25 color options
- mesh side pockets
Puma Men’s Epoch Backpack
The Puma Men’s Epoch Backpack is made from 100% polyester and comes in you a traditional backpack style. This makes it ideal for use as a travel bag and a gym bag. You get a number of both internal and external pockets an a backpack sleeve lining.
The Puma cat logo features on the front of this bag which looks pretty cool.
The Puma Men’s epoch backpack is available in four different colors.
The best things about this bag are . . .
- Internal and external pockets
- Backpack sleeve lining
Guide to Selecting a Gym Bag
When you’re buying a gym bag you’d better know what you’re looking for. If you don’t, you’re likely to end up with a stinking, soaked and otherwise disgusting bundle in your hands when you come home. That’s not going to make you very popular with the people you live with. Here are the key things to look for when shopping for a new bag . . .
Rigidity
You expect your gym bag to last the distance. The last thing you want is for little holes to appear in corners that your keys could easily slip through. The most likely places where holes are likely to occur are along the seams. For this reason you should pay special attention to the seams of your bag. Ideally the seams should be double stitched.
A bag that is constructed from 100% polyester material will be stronger than a nylon bag, so look out for a full polyester bag with double stitched seams.
Washability
After your workout, you’re likely to throw your sweat-soaked clothing into your gym bag, which is going to make it pretty smelly and gross. That’s why it’s important that the bag you invest in is completely machine washable. Wash the bag on its own and run it through every couple of weeks.
Pockets
You want a bag with lots of pockets, but not too many. Some bags go over the top with tiny zippered outer pockets that can hardly fit a set of keys. these end up being more frustrating than they’re worth. However, you will want a couple of sizable end pockets that are zippered. At least one of them should feature a shoe tunnel so that you can slip your footwear without any hassles.
Mesh pockets that surround the end outer pockets are a nice addition as they make great holders for your water bottle. The bag should feature at last one full-length zippered side pocket. A couple of internal pockets would also be great. The internal space of the bag should be sizeable enough for you to easily fit in your change of clothes, gym belt, training and shower towel and your jacket if you need it.
If you decide to invest in a backpack type gym bag, be wary about the side zipper pockets. When the bag is full these can be notoriously hard to get into, which is probably why most people prefer to go with the duffle bag style of gym bag.
Ventilation
We’ve already mentioned how smelly a gym bag can tend to get, so finding a bag with a good amount of ventilation is critical. Ideally the bag will feature odor wicking technology and will also be able to get rid of moisture. You may be able to tell these features just by looking at the bag, but, rest assured, the seller, will promote these features if they exist.
FAQs About Gym Bags
What’s best for the gym, a duffle bag or a backpack?
It really depends on what your needs are. If you’re just going to the gym to take off your sweater, throw it in your bag, have your workout and then head for home, the backpack, which has fewer compartments will do fine. But, if you’re wanting to pack up the gear to have a shower and change your clothes you’ll benefit from a duffle bag which has more compartments so you can put in your hairbrush and deodorant.
You’ll find that most guys bring a duffle bag style bag to the gym. They tend to more easily fit in a training belt and other larger training accessories that you might bring to the gym.
What’s the important gear that you need to out into your gym bag?
The first thing that you should pack is a gym towel. Many gyms will require you to use a gym towel but even if yours doesn’t, it’s a common courtesy to use one anyway. The second priority is a decently sized water bottle. Make sure that you are sipping from it throughout your workout. You should also pack a good pair of workout gloves, along with a pair of training straps.
You will also want to pack your bag with your post workout formula, which you might wish to have pre-prepared in a blender bottle.
What About Tote Style Bags?
Tote style bags are quite popular for general use, but they’re not really suitable for the gym. The basic problem is that they don’t provide you with enough carrying capacity. You’ll also find that these bags are generally low quality, making them prone to ripping, especially along the seams. These bags usually don’t feature any extra outer compartments, which are very handy for storing the things you want to get to quickly, such as your keys or your workout gloves.
Our Final Recommendation
Having taken a long, hard look at the gym bag market, we have firmly settled on a favorite . . .
The Adidas Defender II
We have ranked this bag as our Number One because it has the highest level of durability we have come across, being made from 100% polyester 3D Ripstop material. It also features FreshPack pocket technology which keeps your gear safe, clean, dry and odorless. It comes in a great range of colors and looks great. You even get a generously sized shoe tunnel.
Bottom Line: When it comes to a quality gum bag, go with Adidas!