For the sessions when travelling light just won’t cut it, our pick of the best gym bags will have your back…
Do you spend hours on end searching for the latest gym shoes or best dumbbells, only to carry your shiny new kit in a plastic carrier bag? If this sounds familiar, it might be time to invest in a high quality gym bag or backpack. Combining style with practicality, we’ve rounded up the best gym bags for 2023…
RELATED CONTENT:
- Best Men’s Short Sleeved Gym Tops
- Healthy Protein Powders: 9 Best Clean Alternatives
- Best Men’s Training Shorts 2022
Best gym bags in 2023
- Built For Athletes Large Gym Hero 2.0 Backpack ($125 / £79.99)
- Castore Protek Holdall ($54 / £45)
- UA Own the Gym Duffle Bag (£74.95 / worldwide shipping available)
- Salomon Trailblazer 30 ($80 / £60)
- Kooples x Sport (£75 / not available in the US)
- Domyos Fold-Down Cardio Fitness Bag ($12.99 / £5.99)
- adidas Linear Core Duffle Bag (£24.95) / adidas Santiago Duffel Bag ($50)
Built For Athletes Large Gym Hero 2.0 Backpack
BUY IT NOW:
$125 / £89.99, builtforathletes.com
Style: 3.5/5
Storage: 5/5
Comfort: 5/5
Overall: 4.5/5
Features: Adjustable waist and sternum straps; Laser Cut Molle construction for improved strength and aesthetics; multiple compartments and zip pockets; dedicated laptop compartment; water-resistant and rip-proof fabric; 2 side bottle holders; | Capacity: 45L | Dimensions: 48cm x 34cm x 29cm | Colour: Various
Built for athletes and also built to withstand just about anything you throw at it, the Hero Backpack is made from high-density polyester, waterproof and rip-proof fabric.
It’s huge, too, with a 45L capacity more than enough for holding two pairs of shoes, a towel, gym clothes, meal prep and any other training accessories. The toughest, most functional sports bag we tested, earning it top place in our roundup of the best sports backpacks and gym kit bags for men.
Castore Kendrick Bag
BUY IT NOW:
£145, prodirecttennis.com
Style: 4.5/5
Storage: 4.5/5
Comfort: 4/5
Overall: 4.5/5
Materials: Polyester | Features: Anti-odor fabric; 2 external zip pockets; large main compartment with mesh zip pockets; adjustable and removeable shoulder strap; durable and weather-resistant | Dimensions: 54cm x 30cm x 25cm | Colour: Black or navy
Castore has been making its mark with its range of high-end premium sportswear and a high-profile ambassador in the form of Sir Andy Murray.
With the anti-odour Kendrick Bag, you get exactly the sort of quality you would expect from a premium sports kit bag: the outer layer is made from a highly durable, weather-protective graphene fabric, complemented by a soft tissue inner designed with specialist compartments to organise everything you need.
Note: The Kendrick Bag has now been discontinued. Check out the new Castore Protek Holdall ($54 / £45).
UA Own the Gym Duffle Bag
BUY IT NOW:
£74.95, excellent-sports.com (worldwide shipping available)
Style: 4/5
Storage: 4/5
Comfort: 4.5/5
Overall: 4/5
Features: Highly water-resistant finish; large main compartment with zippered closure; removable dopp kit with moulded internal organisation; soft-lined laptop sleeve; foam padded back panel and ergonomic shoulder straps for comfort; large, gusseted front laundry/shoe pocket placed at bottom of bag | Colour: Black or grey
A gym/work crossover capable of fitting training kit, a change of clothes and a pair of trainers with room to spare.
When it’s not full to capacity the top compartment sags down slightly. However, it’s a minor gripe for a sports bag with a number of compartments and several practical additions like a water-resistant finish, laptop sleeve and side water pocket – it’s more than worthy of a spot on our roundup of the best gym bags.
Salomon Trailblazer 30
BUY IT NOW:
$80 / £60, salomon.com
Style: 3.5/5
Storage: 3.5/5
Comfort: 5/5
Overall: 4/5
Materials: Polyester, polyamide and polyethylene | Features: Space for hydration bladder; computer hanging sleeve; adjustable elastic sternum strap; compression straps and load lifter straps for stability; 3D comfort harness and belt with padded and vented foam for maximum comfort; extra loops for hooking or securing items | Capacity: 30L | Dimensions: 52 x 28 x 22 cm | Colour: Various
If you’re after a reliable sports backpack that does all the basics well, you’ll love this 30L Trailblazer Bag from Salomon. Designed with long-day hikes in mind, the adjustable waist belt keeps excessive weight off your shoulders and ‘load lifter straps’ distribute the weight further.
The main compartment is complemented by an external top pocket, two side pockets for bottles and a front-zipped pocket for anything else you can cram in.
Kooples x Sport
BUY IT NOW:
£75, endource.com (not available in the US)
Style: 3.5/5
Storage: 4/5
Comfort: 4/5
Overall: 4/5
Materials: Polyester | Features: large main compartment; spacious side pockets; detachable shoulder strap | Colour: Khaki, red or black
With looks like these, who needs other bags? The Kooples X Sport is stylish enough to be used as an everyday or travel bag, but functional enough for fitting in all your kit, making it one of the best gym bags we could find.
The large main compartment is accompanied by spacious pockets at either end and the shoulder strap detaches to allow the sports backpack to be carried by hand when packing light.
Domyos Fold-Down Cardio Fitness Bag
BUY IT NOW:
$12.99 / £5.99, decathlon.com
Style: 3/5
Storage: 3/5
Comfort: 3.5/5
Overall: 3.5/5
Materials: Polyurethane and polyester (including 70% recycled polyester) | Features: lightweight; folds down into a small pouch; multiple compartments including inner zip-up pocket | Capacity: 30L | Dimensions: 48 x 30 x 25 cm | Colour: Various
Decathlon’s budget-friendly sports gear can lack the style and added extras of pricier products. But, don’t make the mistake of thinking low cost means poorly made.
This budget gym kit bag is light as a feather and the fact it folds down to almost nothing makes it perfect for anyone who needs a simple but effective sports bag that won’t take up any space when not in use.
adidas Linear Core Duffle Bag
BUY IT NOW:
£24.95, amazon.co.uk
Style: 3.5/5
Storage: 2/5
Comfort: 3/5
Overall: 3/5
Materials: 100% recycled polyester plain weave | Features: Dirt- and water-resistant material; inner shoe compartment and pockets; padded shoulder strap | Capacity: 25L | Dimensions: 45.5 cm x 23 cm x 20 cm | Colour: Black or blue
First things first: this bag is towards the smaller end of the spectrum compared to the other best sports backpacks and gym kit bags on the list – with a 25L capacity – but if you know what you’re getting (as many angry online reviewers clearly didn’t) it’s perfectly suited for quick trips to the gym or field when not much kit’s required, earning it a sport on our list of the best sports backpacks and gym kit bags for men.
Void of any bells or whistles, what you see is what you get with this kit bag: a main compartment and a padded shoulder strap.
