If you’re looking for the best gym bags then you have come across the right page, we’ve got you covered. Believe it or not, your gym bag says something about you. After awhile, your gym bag hits the point of no return, and then it’s time for a change. Perhaps your bag was a freebie bag because you signed up for some magazine (there’s a reason it was free). Maybe it’s old and smells like a pair of old socks sitting in your trunk for a few weeks. Maybe you just don’t have one at all (garbage bags don’t count).
The truth is, if you go to the gym to actually get some results, then you need a bag that will help you help you instead of hinder you. Gym bags have come a long way since the days of old school duffle bags and backpacks. Many come with compartments that keep your sweaty clothes separated from the rest of your belongings so you can smell nice and fresh when your done. Many even have a place for your shoes and the gym accessories you use almost daily.
The problem, of course, is knowing which bags are the best, as there are so many choices out there. Who really has the time and money to try a bunch of bags out to see if you like them? To make your life easier, we have put together a chart of the best bags, so you can see which bag will work for you. The bags in our review are the best of the best and we’ve put them through the ringer to really see which ones hold up best. Check it out below!
Ultimate Guide To The Best Gym Bag
| Picture | Name | Compartments | Durability | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orca Gym Bag | 5 | 5 | 5 | |
| Ogio Endurance 5.0 Fitness Athlete Bag | 4 | 4.8 | 4.8 | |
| Ogio Crunch Duffle Bag | 4 | 4.6 | 4.7 | |
| Nike Team Training Max Air Large Duffel | 4 | 4.6 | 4.7 | |
| Helly Hansen Duffel Bag | 3 | 4.6 | 4.5 |
The Best Gym Bags For Women vs The Best Gym Bags For Men: Is There A Difference?
When it comes to gym bags for men compared to what women want usually the only real difference is looks. Many companies will offer a women’s version of a bag but the only change they will make is to the color scheme, which can be important for some. As far as functionality goes there won’t be anything different as the needs between a gym bag for men and women are not much different.
When choosing a gym bag it’s wise to choose one that is going to provide the function and storage that you need. Many have bought a gym bag because they liked the way it looked but eventually the looks give way if there is not optimal functionality for what you need in a gym bag. Obviously each person can choose what is best for them but in our experience choosing a bag for performance or function ends up being the wiser move.
Fashion vs Functionality
Most of us want something that looks good and is functional at the same time. We shouldn’t have to compromise one for the other. So why should you have to compromise when trying to find a bag that suits your needs? We kept that in mind when ranking all the top gym bags out there today, both functionality and style. This is important because many people may use their gym bag for school, travel and general use, as well as in the gym. It just makes sense to find a bag that can meet all these demands and look good while doing it.
It’s also important to know what you want a bag to do and perhaps just as important know what you don’t need a bag to do. There are lots of bags out there that are loaded with features like shoe storage, food compartments and more but if you don’t have any use for those things then you would just be spending more money for something you’ll never use. Knowing what you need a bag to do can go a long ways in your ultimate satisfaction and it can save you some money as well.
Quality Materials
Have you ever gotten one of those free gym bags when you signed up for something? Maybe you got it and it’s 3 times smaller than what was pictured? Maybe you manage to use it for a month before it rips in several places. Needless to say, that’s not a gym bag that we want around. We rated all the gym bags on quality materials and build as much as we did functionality and looks.
The best gym bag for you is something that should be able take a beating. It should represent strength and durability just like you do. We baby our smartphones, our cars, and well, babies, but you shouldn’t have to concern yourself with being gentle with your gym bag. That’s a long way of saying that if it isn’t durable, then we didn’t put it on our list, even if it was the coolest looking bag out there.
Features In A Bag
It’s important when looking for the best gym bag that it has features which are helpful to you. Some common features of the top bags and the popular bags are things like:
- Additional Compartments – This is a must have if you take your bag from work to the gym or vice versa, because when your done working out, you don’t want to stuff those nasty workout clothes right in there with your work clothes.
- Ventilation – There is nothing more raunchy than a pair of workout shoes (or anything else workout related) that have been in your bag for a week or so. You’ll open that up to a real nice surprise. Ventilation helps air those things out and keep your clothes and your bag smelling fresh.
- Key/Wallet Storage – It never fails that if you drop your keys or wallet into your bag, that you’ll have to empty the whole thing out to find them again. It’s just the law of nature I suppose. Having a place to keep these where you can easily get to them is something you may not think about now, but you will love every time you leave the gym.
- Water Bottle Storage – It’s a nice feature to have a place where you can put a water bottle in your bag and not have to worry about it jostling around and perhaps spilling everywhere.
- Water Resistant – Life is the way it is and eventually you’ll find yourself in a rainstorm, spilling your drink, or any number of things involving liquids. If you’re anything like me, it’ll end up right on your gym bag. Keeping your things safe and dry is a great benefit and one less thing you have to worry about.
Best Gym Bag Reviews
Helly Hansen Duffel Bag
The Helley Hansen duffel bag is a new take on a classic gym bag and it’s also the most stylish and versatile bag in our review. This is the only true duffel bag in our review and is easily the best duffel bag out there today. This thing not only looks cool, it’s a little bit of a throwback to the way bags used to look like and it’s an overall great bag. It resists abrasion (keeping it looking sharp), it’s water resistant, zippered side pocket, zippered inner pocket for valuables, a wide mouthed opening to get to your gear and it can be used as an over the shoulder bag or converted to a backpack with tuck away shoulder straps. It lacks many of the additional compartments that many bags have, so if you just want a versatile bag that you can use for the gym and for travel, this bag is great. It’s also available in 10 different colors.
Nike Team Training Max Air Large Duffel
If you’re after a bag that looks great, has plenty of room to store your stuff and is durable enough to withstand a beating, then the Team Training Max Air from Nike is a solid choice. One thing that most of us want out of a gym bag is durability as it’s not something we are going to baby a lot. Gym bags are going to be tossed around and thrown in corners so it should be able to withstand that sort of wear and tear. Some of the advantages of this bag is that it has a polyester coating which makes it 100% waterproof (including the bottom of the bag too), has dedicated and ventilated shoe pocket, 2 zippered side pockets, 1 mesh pocket on the side for easy access to needed items, and plenty of room in the main compartment.
Ogio Crunch Duffle Bag
The Ogio Crunch bag is one of the most economical bags out there that also rated very well. It’s one of the smaller bags in our review at 13 inches high, 24 inches across and 12 inches deep, but it’s very versatile. It may be a bit smaller than some other models but it has a big U shaped zipper up top that makes it easy to access items in your bag, dedicated shoe compartment, and 2 additional side compartments which includes a dedicated valuables zippered compartment. It’s also a bag that will last you many years as it’s made of solid materials and is designed to take a beating. It also has a nice handle, a comfortable shoulder strap, and comes in 4 colors. It’s a very solid bag at a very solid price of around $37.
Ogio Endurance 5.0 Fitness Athlete Bag
One thing is for sure and that is Ogio makes some quality bags. This bag is designed with athletes in mind as it is highly functional and also is pretty slick looking. It was designed with biking in mind as it has a specific expandable storage compartment for a helmet, but this can be used for anything you want to store things in. A few of it’s features are that it is highly durable, has a lightweight construction, is water resistant, has wet/dry clothes storage to keep things separated, a ventilated shoe compartment that holds 2 pairs of shoes, and it has a specific area for nutrition storage for supplements, protein bars, etc. Overall, it’s a great bag that will meet all your gym bag needs.
Orca Gym Bag
In our opinion the best gym bag out on the market today is Orca’s transition bag. This bag is pretty amazing. First off, it looks great with the outside black color and then the inside is a bright green, giving it a great contrast. But even more impressive than that is all the things this amazing bag does. It is made up of a combination of cotton, nylon, spandex, and lycra, giving it a lightweight and flexible feeling. It has dedicated wet/dry gear compartments, comes with a wet gear bag to further keep your wet gear separated, expandable shoe compartment, holds 2 water bottles, has a zipper pocket for keys, wallet, etc, loads of internal compartments, and it can be an over the shoulder bag or it can be converted to a backpack. If you’re looking for a bag that holds a lot of your things, keeps them organized and is durable enough to withstand years of use then this bag is just what you’re looking for. We can’t say enough about this bag and all the things it does well.
If you enjoyed this article then you may also enjoy our review of the best weight lifting/Crossfit gloves of 2017. Check it out!
