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 best workout clothes, 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…
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Best gym bags in 2023
- Built For Athletes Pro Series Backpack ($285 / £199), builtforathletes.com
- Stubble & Co Adventure Bag ($275 / £195), stubbleandco.com
- Castore Protek Holdall ($54 / £45), castore.com
- UA Own the Gym Duffle Bag ($95 plus shipping & taxes / £74.95), amazon.co.uk
- Salomon Trailblazer 30 ($80 / £60), amazon.co.uk
- Kooples x Sport (£75 / not available in the US), endource.com
1. Built For Athletes Pro Series Backpack
| Features: | Waterproof compartments, 2-year warranty, anti-microbial lining, vented shoe compartment, shock absorbent laptop compartment |
| Capacity: | 11.9gal / 45L |
| Dimensions: | 12.2 x 18.9 x 8.7in / 31 x 48 x 22cm |
| Colour: | Black |
Style: 4/5
Storage: 5/5
Comfort: 5/5
Overall: 5/5
One of the toughest gym bags we’ve tested, the Pro Series 45L bag has plenty of space for all your gear and an indestructible design that will last for years. It may be pricey but we think it’s worth every penny.
Featuring military-spec rip-proof fabric and dedicated laptop and shoe compartments, the Pro Series has more zips and pockets than we’ve had protein shakes. Its load-spreading design means it’ll go easy on your back too.
Read our full Built For Athletes Pro Series Backpack review
2. Stubble & Co Adventure Bag
| Features: | Weatherproof design with additional rain cover, trolley sleeve, detachable waist strap, waterproof shoe compartment, padded laptop compartment |
| Capacity: | 11.1gal / 42L |
| Dimensions: | 22 x 15 x 9in / 55 x 38 x 24cm |
| Colours: | Black, ember orange, urban green, tasmin blue |
Style: 4.5/5
Storage: 4.5/5
Comfort: 4.5/5
Overall: 4.5/5
The Adventure Bag is an ideal choice for those who spend as much time jet setting as they do bench pressing. It’s a 42L waterproof bag with all the compartments you could ever need, as well as horizontal and vertical handles.
Look beyond the bombproof Ripstop fabric and you’ll find neat touches like detachable waist strap with bum bag and a trolley sleeve that lets you slip it securely onto your trolley handle. Its compact dimensions mean it’s carry-on compatible too.
Read our full Stubble & Co Adventure Bag review
3. Castore Kendrick Bag
| Features: | Anti-odor fabric; 2 external zip pockets; large main compartment with mesh zip pockets; adjustable and removeable shoulder strap; durable and weather-resistant |
| Material: | Polyester |
| Dimensions: | 20 x 12 x 10in / 54 x 30 x 25cm |
| Colours: | Black, navy |
Style: 4.5/5
Storage: 4.5/5
Comfort: 4/5
Overall: 4.5/5
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).
4. Under Armour Own the Gym Duffle Bag
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| 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 |
| Colours: | Black, grey |
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.
5. Salomon Trailblazer 30
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| 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: | 8gal / 30L |
| Dimensions: | 20.5 x 11.5 x 8.5in / 52 x 28 x 22cm |
| Colours: | Various |
Style: 3.5/5
Storage: 3.5/5
Comfort: 5/5
Overall: 4/5
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.
6. Kooples x Sport
| Materials: | Ployester |
| Features: | large main compartment; spacious side pockets; detachable shoulder strap |
| Colours: | Khaki, red, black |
Style: 3.5/5
Storage: 4/5
Comfort: 4/5
Overall: 4/5
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.
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