Best gym bags of 2024: We put 22 options through the paces, from duffels to totes

Dimensions: 15"x10"x9" | Materials: Cotton, canvas | Capacity: 22L | Colors: Beige, black | Special features: Lightweight, shoe tunnel, adjustable straps

Adidas is one of the most recognizable names in the fitness realm, with equipment and bags covering almost every sport and activity imaginable. If you're looking for style, affordability and functionality, the Adidas Original Canvas Duffel fills the bill. 

With a separate shoe tunnel and multiple compartments, it'll hold all your gym essentials and then some. The canvas and cotton materials are sturdy enough to withstand whatever you put it through, whether tossing it on the court or shoving it into a locket.

The adjustable strap allows you to carry the bag multiple ways, or you can detach it and use the handles instead. Coming in at $80, it's not the least expensive option on our list, but it's far from the most expensive too. If you're looking for a solid choice and you need a general bag that checks almost all of the boxes, this Adidas duffel should do the trick. 

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, 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: 18.5" x 7.9" x 8.7" | Materials: Polyester, PVC outer | Capacity: 34L | Colors: Black, fresh blue, pebble gray, silver lilac, depth purple, autumn brown | Special features: Shoe tunnel, wet pocket, padded straps

At 34L, the Gymshark Everday Gym bag fits all your essentials and then some. Elastic mesh pockets keep things organized and secure, while the shoe tunnel and wet pocket help keep things hygienic and dry. If you commute from the office to the gym or vice versa, the padded shoulder strap and handles make commuting more comfortable.

Bonus: The Everyday Gym Bag is stylish with a debossed logo design, six modern color options and rubberized zipper pulls. One 5-star Amazon reviewer said, "This is a really good bag! I use it for my cycling gear and it fits my cleats, helmet, water bottles, accessories and enough room for a change of clothes. It’s durable and the zippers are pretty sturdy. Highly recommend if you want a small bag to dedicate to a particular sport or hobby."

Dimensions: 21"x15"x12" | Materials: Recycled polyester | Capacity: 35L | Colors: Woods, chestnut, black, tempest, desert | Special features: Outer carrying straps, made from recycled materials, wet pocket, luggage handle pass-through

The Cotopaxi Viaje Weekender Bag is great for gym-goers who need extra space to accommodate lots of gear. This is especially true if you do weekend events — think CrossFit competitions or races — where you want to be able to travel with your workout items but also have enough space for toiletries and extra changes of clothes. With accessory pockets and substantial room for towels, clothes and equipment, the Viaje Weekender is ready for your gym journey. 

Users happily reported that it doubles as an overnight bag or carry-on. One Amazon reviewer said, "There is nothing that I don’t like about this bag. It is colorful, has an outside pocket for your phone and a strap to attach it to a rolling suitcase. The pocket on the bottom is super for dirty clothes, as it goes up into the bag — as you use your clothes, put it in the bottom and it uses up the space in the bag itself. So clever!"

You can also feel good about this purchase: Cotopaxi is committed to sustainability by using eco-friendly materials like recycled polyester, maintaining low-emission practices and upholding fair labor standards. Plus, the brand backs its products with a lifetime warranty and offer repairs, reinforcing its dedication to sustainable, responsible production.

Dimensions: 20.1"x5.9"x13.8" | Materials: Recycled nylon, polyester | Capacity: 20L | Colors: Garnet/black, peach bellini/white opal, pow pink tone/bone, gray eucalyptus, legacy green, black, fawn brown/black | Special features: Water-resistant material, stand-alone design

There's a reason Lululemon continues to be a favorite among gym and exercise enthusiasts. The company combines style and function into quality bags, just like this Daily Multi-Pocket Tote, which retails for just under $70. 

The tote shape makes it outstanding for slinging over your shoulder, and the hard-surface bottom enables it to stand independently. Exterior drop pockets and internal zipped pockets keep your personal items secure.

Trendy colors and water-resistant fabric make this one of Lululemon's most durable totes. "Absolutely love this bag! I use it for the gym, when I’m on the go, etc! It fits so much and is so easy to clean," says one review on the Lululemon site.

Dimensions: 14"x21.5"x8" | Materials: Recycled nylon | Capacity: 30L | Colors: Black, ivory | Special features: Removable backpack straps, separate shoe compartment, exterior yoga bag strap, antimicrobial interior liner

If cost is no object, consider the Caraa Sport Yoga Tote. With detachable backpack straps, the bag easily transforms from a backpack to a tote. An expandable, zipped bottom is superb for dirty clothes, shoes or anything else you want to keep separated from the rest of your stuff. Seven total compartments and pockets, a yoga bag strap and a luggage sleeve make this bag versatile in every way.

However, the best feature has to be the water-resistant, antimicrobial interior. This means that bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites are stopped from growing and spreading on contact, a definite bonus considering how germy gyms can be.

Dimensions: 11"x19"x9" | Materials: Recycled polyester | Capacity: 32L | Colors: Lime green and orange on the Nike site; more options available on Amazon | Special features: Chest strap, ball compartment

Plan on hitting the court for your next workout? Consider the Nike Hoops Elite, made specifically for professional and amateur ballers alike. 

With a large main compartment plus separate space for your ball, shoes and odds and ends, this bag has room for large and small items. And because Nike knows you'll be heating things up on the court, the straps are made with patented air units that help filter air to keep you cool and dry after working up a sweat (or, you know, just wearing the backpack around on a hot day).

A stabilizing chest strap helps distribute the weight of your pack, and a hauling loop gives you an alternative option for carrying it. "Great space. Bag has some different kind of zippers and pockets. Just gets getting used to the new set up," said one Amazon reviewer.

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. 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.

"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: 8.4”x 6.6”x 2” | Materials: Polyester/recycled polyester | Capacity: Not indicated | Colors: Perennial olive, black, coastal | 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 has a small, exterior, zippable pocket that's excellent for storing your wallet, while an interior pocket allows for more 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: 18"x11.5"x7.0" | Materials: Ripstop Cordura | 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 $40? You're getting a lot of bang for your buck with this duffel backpack. 

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. While a few of the other bags on our list include exterior straps to carry a mat, 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 versus the $128 for the Alo bag (although it's currently on sale for a much more reasonable $89). 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 3.0 Mat Carrier. 

Dimensions: 16"x12.75"x7.75 | Materials: 600D polyester/recycled nylon | Capacity: 32L | Colors: Black | Special features: Locker "door," interior shelves, lots of options for interior and exterior organization, vented shoe compartment

You won't need to rent a locker at your gym if you have Ogio's Locker Bag at your side. We could have also given this product the "most innovative" superlative because we were truly impressed by its functionality and how it works just like a locker. 

Unlike most gym bags that open at the top or across the back, this structured Locker Bag fully unzips at the side, opening up like a locker door. Inside there's a divider that works as a shelf, allowing you to fold and place your clothes on top and keep your shoes (up to size 14) in the vented section on the bottom. The "door" of the locker has multiple mesh pockets just right for organizing deodorant, small toiletries or even supplement powders or pills. 

Then on the outside of the bag, there's a large mesh zippered pocket for wet items and additional zippered pockets that are ideal for storing small gym equipment (like jump ropes or resistance bands) and your personal necessities, like cell phone, wallet and keys. 

You can carry the bag with a handle on the top or you can use the adjustable shoulder strap to make it easier to haul. There were just two things that struck us as areas for improvement: the addition of backpack straps to make this a bag you could take with you on a bike and a water bottle pocket.

At $140, this Ogio bag isn't cheap, but it's a pretty sweet addition to your gym routine if you're a stickler for organization.