The 8 Best Gym Bags of 2025: Tested and Chosen by Fitness Experts

GoRuck was founded by Jason McCarthy, a Special Forces Green Beret, who was on a mission to make an indestructible backpack that could withstand any environment, whether you’re in a combat zone, rucking in nature, or carrying your stuff through a busy city. The GR1 was the first backpack from GoRuck, and to this day, it remains one of the best backpacks on the market.

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The best feature is the durability and construction, which easily earns 5 out of 5 stars from GGR’s founder, Cooper “Coop” Mitchell. The bags are built to last, and each bag is protected by GoRuck’s Scars Lifetime Guarantee. If any part of your bag becomes damaged through regular use, GoRuck will repair or replace the bag free of charge.

“The GR1 is one of my favorite bags from GoRuck,” says Coop. “I’ve had mine for nearly a decade now and have taken it all over the world, including to many gyms. Despite all of that, it still performs like it did on day one.”

In addition to being extremely durable and water-resistant, the bag features 210D High-Tenacity CORDURA® on the back panel and underside of the adjustable shoulder straps and is designed to be non-abrasive to skin and clothing, meaning you can wear it all day long. It’s also available in nine colors, earning 4 out of 5 stars for appearance and colorways.

The GR1 is designed to be an all-purpose backpack, not a gym bag, so there are no water bottle holders or waterproof areas for dirty gym clothes. However, it does include a laptop sleeve with a false bottom that protects your device from damage if you drop your bag, which is a great feature.

However, if you’re looking for a versatile backpack that can be used for all purposes, not just the gym, and don’t need all the hidden compartments for lifting gear, this is one of the best gym bags on the market. 

If you want a backpack that’s specifically designed for fitness gear, we recommend the KNKG CORE Backpack. 

If you’re used to using a traditional duffle bag to carry your stuff but want the convenience of a backpack, the NOBULL Waxed Canvas Duffleback is an excellent solution. It holds plenty of gear and unzips like a duffle bag, but it can be worn like a backpack, as well. NOBULL may have a strong presence in the CrossFit community, but any sort of fitness enthusiast will love this versatile bag.

Our tester was Caine Wilkes, OLY, CNC, USAW-L1, an Olympian who has plenty of experience trying various gym bags. Caine was impressed with this pack, especially the durability and construction, which earned 5 out of 5 stars. “It’s extremely durable and built to last,” he says. “It’s made of waxed canvas, which is water-resistant, and has a molded back for added support. It’s comfortable to use and feels like it’ll last for quite a while”

Even though it’s similar to a duffle bag, it has more compartments than you might expect and earns 5 out of 5 stars for the organization. 

“There’s one large pocket where most things will go, but two side water bottle holders and two small side pockets,” says Caine. “A lot of options, but I wish the pockets were a bit bigger in general, so I could keep a change of clothes separate from my lifting shoes and other lifting gear. I’ll also add that I didn’t like the design choice to put the zipper access on the back of the duffleback instead of the front. I know that’s a design choice for dufflebacks, but I don’t see any utility to it. If anything, it was more difficult to open up, as I had to make sure the backpack straps were out of the way.”

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Despite the awkward zipper placement, Caine gives the NOBULL duffleback 4 out of 5 stars for its size and capacity. He was able to carry all of his workout gear with no issues, including knee sleeves, wrist wraps, a lifting belt, lifting shoes, thumb tape, hip circles, and lifting straps.

We wish it had a separate compartment for wet clothes, but you can always use a wet laundry bag to keep things separate. Overall, this is a sleek, versatile gym bag that should last for years.

If you want a more traditional duffle bag, we recommend the Adidas Team Issue Medium Duffel.

When it comes to sleek, stylish, and compact gym bags that still do a great job separating your sweaty gear, it’s hard to beat the Aer Duffel 3, our pick for the best gym bag with a shoe compartment.

We haven’t tested this bag yet, but we love the design, and the bag has an average 4.9-out-of-5 rating based on real customer reviews. Appearance is a matter of preference, of course, but for those who don’t love the rugged look of the KNKG or GoRuck bags, the Aer Gym Duffel has a sleeker design that could work equally well as a work bag. 

It’s still quite durable, as evidenced by the CORDURA® ballistic nylon exterior and a lifetime guarantee, and reviewers have commented on the quality of the materials.

Even though it’s a bit smaller in size, which frequent travelers and commuters will likely enjoy, it does a great job of keeping your things organized. The standout feature is the ventilated shoe compartment that can keep your sweaty, dirty shoes separate from the rest of the bag after a long workout.

In addition, the Aer duffel has a laptop pocket, quick-access back pocket, interior and exterior water bottle compartments, as well as mesh compartments and pockets to hold things like pens, charging cables, a cell phone, and more. 

If you like the idea of a smaller gym bag but want to save some money, we recommend the FocusGear Ultimate Gym Bag, our pick for the best budget gym bag.

When it comes to durable, functional gym bags, it’s hard to beat the quality and innovation delivered by the KNKG CORE Gym Backpack, our pick for the best backpack gym bag. KNKG bags are becoming some of the most popular bags on the market for a reason—they’re excellent, especially for those who carry a lot of stuff to the gym.

GGR’s managing editor Amanda Dvorak, ISSA-CPT, ISSA-CNC, has owned the CORE backpack for several years and gives it 5 out of 5 stars for durability and construction. 

“I’ve had this bag for a few years and have taken it on numerous road trips and plane rides,” says Amanda. “It’s held up really well! I’ve had no issues at all with seams ripping or the material getting snagged on things. The zippers are nice to use—they don’t get stuck at all.”

While it’s very durable, she had a minor issue with the construction, explaining, “There are ventilation panels on the straps and back of the bag, though I’m honestly not sure how well they work. My back can still get sweaty when I wear this bag in warmer temperatures. To be fair, though, I think that’s probably the case for most bags.”

Not only is this bag durable, but it’s built for organization and earns 4.5 out of 5 stars in that category.

“For a backpack, this has a lot of organization,” Amanda says. “Two water bottle holders, a small zipper on the top flap, two zipper pockets on the front, and a laptop sleeve inside. There’s also a separate shoe compartment, which I love. I’m just knocking off half of a point because other than the laptop sleeve, the inside is just a big hole, so smaller things can easily get lost inside.”

The bag also earns 4.5 out of 5 stars for size and capacity, and it’s available in both medium and large dimensions. This bag also has velcro straps on the outside designed to hold a weightlifting belt, so rather than take up valuable internal space with your bulky leather belt, this design element keeps your must-have accessory well-organized and at the ready.

While not the cheapest bag, it’s built to last for years and has a lifetime warranty.

If you want a more budget-friendly option, the FocusGear Ultimate Gym Bag is significantly cheaper and still has plenty of compartments to organize your gear.

For those who don’t want to deal with a large, bulky gym bag every time they work out, the 2POOD Performance Duffel Bag can be a great choice. It’s small and compact, making it easy to transport, but it still has plenty of storage for your lifting essentials.

We’ll start with the appearance and colorways, which earn 3 out of 5 stars from Stephen Sheehan, CPT, CNC. He said, “I like the sleek, no-frills design. I think it’s sharp-looking, with a simple 2POOD logo on the front and no other distracting logos/features. It may be too simple for some, but it gives me the ‘I’m here to take care of business’ vibe.”

Despite its small, compact size, this bag offers easy access to everything you need and earns 4.5 out of 5 for the organization.

“This thing has PLENTY of storage options, including a retractable compartment for water bottles, a padded compartment to keep your valuables safe, pockets on both ends and in the top flap area, and side pockets that fit knee pads,” says Stephen. “There are also quick-attach velcro straps on both sides for keys, knee pads, and your weightlifting belt. The modular dividers are a bit flimsy, but I am more than pleased with how organized I can keep my bag with all of the compartments.”

While 2POOD doesn’t disclose the materials used for this bag, Stephen says it still feels well made and gives it 3 out of 5 stars for construction and durability. It only has a 1-year warranty, which is shorter than most, but we’d expect this bag to hold up for at least a few years. 

If you want to spend a bit more on something that comes with a lifetime warranty, we suggest the GoRuck GR1.

If you’re a frequent traveler, you may need something that has a bit more space than your average gym bag, and the adidas Medium Team Duffel is a great choice. Whether you simply need to bring your gym gear and a change of workout clothes or you’re going on a long weekend trip, this bag can hold everything you need. 

This is more of a multi-purpose duffel bag than a pure gym bag, so rather than features like a dedicated weightlifting belt, you can expect a more spacious, general-use silhouette. That said, it still earns 4 out of 5 stars for the organization from our tester, Ben Emminger, NASM-CNC, NASM-CSNC. 

“This is a pretty basic layout with one large internal well, one shoe divider cubby, one small internal pocket for small essentials, and a large front pocket that covers the entire length of the bag,” explains Ben. “There is a mesh water bottle holder at the side, but it isn’t too taut and does leave some room for your items to move around during transport. You’ll need extra organizer bins or bags if you prefer to keep your items separated internally.”

Adidas offers the gym bag in a variety of colorways with a matching shoulder strap, and it earns 4 out of 5 stars for the appearance and colorways. 

Even though it’s a medium duffel bag, it holds plenty of stuff and may be too big for certain purposes. We give this bag a 3 out of 5 for size and capacity.

“Very large capacity, but adidas does not list the liters,” Ben says. “That said, I had no issues in fitting all my gear into this duffel, along with a change of clothes and toiletries. I’ve previously used this bag for other activities like baseball and basketball, and there were no capacity issues to speak of. I’d be hesitant to use this as a carry-on, though, since it’s right on the cusp of TSA-approved sizing.”

At $54.99, this is a very budget-friendly bag, especially for how much it holds, and earns 4 out of 5 stars for the value. If you tend to pack a lot when you go to the gym, this is a great option. 

If you’re looking for a different duffel bag that’s designed specifically for the gym, the Aer Gym Duffel 3 is another fantastic option. 

If you’re shopping for a gym bag and don’t want to spend too much money, the FocusGear Ultimate Gym Bag is the best budget gym bag I’ve ever used. I’ve been using this bag for about a month, and I still can’t believe how affordable it is. 

Is this the most durable, high-end gym bag I’ve ever used? No. But it also costs less than $30, while plenty of other gym bags cost between $100 and $300, if not more, earning 5 out of 5 stars for the value.

For the organization, I give this bag a solid 4 out of 5. It fully unzips, has plenty of compartments and storage areas, and even has a dedicated shoe area as well as a bag for wet clothing. However, I dock a point because it doesn’t have a laptop sleeve, and accessing some of the hidden compartments is a little confusing due to the zipper location. The main compartment is decently sized, but it’s not as big as other options on our list.

The bag feels pretty good, though it’s not as heavy-duty as some other gym bags I’ve tried. I’d give this a 4 out of 5 for the construction and durability. I could see this bag lasting a few years before the zippers and seams start to wear out. That said, though, for $29, I think that’s pretty solid. 

Compared to other gym bags, this one is a little smaller, but I prefer that. I typically only bring lifting shoes, lifting straps, a belt, and a shaker bottle to the gym, and this fits everything with no issues. If you want to bring multiple pairs of shoes, a change of clothes, or anything bulky, it might be a tight fit. 

Overall, I wouldn’t say this is the best gym bag I’ve ever used, and if you want to buy a product that’s going to last for life, this isn’t the one. However, if you’re on a budget and don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars, this bag is a no-brainer, and I’d gladly pay $50 to $60 for the same bag. 

If you do want something that’s built to last but still portable, the GoRuck GR1 is a fantastic option.

If you can’t decide whether you need a duffel bag or backpack, the lululemon 2-in-1 Travel Duffle Backpack can do both. It’s spacious, versatile, and an especially great choice for anyone who frequently travels.

Our tester, Bojana Galic, NASM-CNC, says this is an amazing bag for travel, but it may be a little too big for a daily gym bag.

“I’ve used this bag on a weekend trip, and it easily held everything I needed,” says Bojana. “As a travel bag, I would give it a 5 out of 5, overall. However, for me, it’s a bit too big to use for a daily gym trip. I just don’t have a ton of stuff I’m taking to the gym with me each day.”

This 45-liter bag is made of water-resistant, 100% recycled polyester and earns a 5 out of 5 for durability. Bojana said, “I haven’t had this bag for an incredibly long time, but my daily gym bag is also lululemon and made of the same material. The fabric is durable and doesn’t snag at all, even when it’s been tossed onto the gym floor many, many times.”

Despite the bag’s excellent construction and storage capability, Bojana only gave it 4 out of 5 stars for feel and comfort due to its large size.

“This bag is a little bit big for me, for sure, especially in backpack mode,” Bojana explained. “I’m 5’7,” and it feels a bit long. The bag itself, without anything inside, is also relatively heavy, which I don’t love and makes it a ton heavier. The straps, though, are plenty comfortable and padded.”

While this may not be ideal for carrying just a few things to the gym, it’s a good bag for those who carry a lot of items or those who simply want a new weekender bag.

If you’re looking for another duffel bag/backpack hybrid that’s a bit smaller, we recommend the NOBULL Waxed Canvas Duffelback.