The 9 Best Gym Bags for Men, Tested by Editors

Out of all the gym bags we’ve tested, Lululemon’s blew the competition out of the water. For starters, it can transition from a duffle bag to a backpack by simply clipping the hidden straps onto the base of the bag, which allows you to wear it on your shoulders. We also love that its vast amount of pockets offer enough space for a change of clothes, running shoes, jump ropes, water bottles, and more workout equipment. We’re not exaggerating—it’s that spacious in there.

Given its water-repellent fabric that dries in seconds, it’s a great bag to carry during rainy and snowy commutes. When this bag is not in use for the gym, it comes in handy for impromptu overnight stays and road trips—no need to dig out a full suitcase. And you can ensure that work gets done since there’s an padded sleeve for your laptop.

The price may be a little steep, but we guarantee you can fit your entire life in this thing and get your money’s worth. One more thing to know about this gym backpack is that its shoulder straps are very tough, and made with nylon and elastane, which will not tear or fray a bit.

Read More: The Best Gym Backpacks

A gym bag that can serve double duty and convert into a work bag is a winner. Enter Mack Weldon’s 2-in-1 backpack duffle, which has convertible backpack straps and a top handle for easy carrying. Capacity-wise, there’s plenty of room where you can easily store your cross training sneakers and swap for your comfortable dress shoes. Thanks to to the dedicated shoe compartment and accessible pockets, we were able to separate our sweaty gear from work essentials during our testing.

For our city professionals, the bag also features a padded sleeve to protect and secure your laptop as you’re hustling through crowded streets. As you travel into the office or leave the gym, the side pockets are also deep enough to hold your coffee or water bottle.

This gym bag has pockets galore: A total of 10 compartments will make organizing your gym clothes, fitness gear, and personal gadgets a breeze. We love that its shoe pocket is very spacious and fits up to men’s size 14. In addition, it has its own wet pocket for storing wet towels, sweaty clothes, or swim trunks. There are two bottle holders as well, one for your pre-workout drink and another for your post-workout drink.

Based on our extensive testing, we found this bag is more than just reliable for the gym. Our gear editors have taken it for a spin during backcountry adventures and quick weekend excursions.

Your gym bag shouldn’t feel like a burden on your shoulder. That’s why we love Bellroy’s lightweight option, which has the volume for carrying around all of your daily needs deftly. Whether it’s gear like ropes and lifting belts, workout clothes, and fitness gadgets like a massage gun, the Lite duffel can handle them while letting you move free like a bird. And we love that it doesn’t look too gym-ish, so you can carry it to your office as well.

We also appreciate that the bag is pretty indestructible. During our testing, we found the nylon fabric was resistant to dirt, stains, and daily wear and tear. For good measure, the water-resistant zippers kept our belongings dry upon abrupt showers during our commute home. In terms of transportability, the bag can be folded or rolled and packed for easy storage. That’s right—the flexible design makes it simple to pack down when you’re not using it.

Beyond what meets the eye, Dagne Dover’s carryall bag is designed to hold a great deal, last for a long time, and double as a stylish carry-on. Crafted from premium neoprene, it boasts a high-tech fabric that’s super smooth and water-resistant to keep your gear dry on rainy days. Inside the main compartment, you’ll find significant room for your typical gear as well as a shoe bag and dust bag to help prevent dirt or moisture from transferring to your clean duds. Plus, this section contains a dual water bottle slip pocket, so you’ll never be short on H2O at the gym or on a hike.

We’ve owned this bag for a few years and the fabric’s tough structure has withstood the wear and tear better than the more expensive options out there. Perhaps, it gets a scuff or a stain, you can pop it into the washer for easy cleaning. There’s an adjustable shoulder strap to wear as a crossbody if you want to be hands-free. Not to mention, it’s a sleek design that we don’t mind showing off as we board flights, too.

On the smaller side with just an 18-liter capacity, Troubadour’s gym bag is for people who just need to pack clothes, towels, snacks, grooming products like deodorants, and shoes. We love that even at its small size, it still has a separate shoe compartment made with waterproof, breathable, and antimicrobial lining to keep the rest of the stuff in the bag fresh. Our tester also found that it could easily fit into a locker even when full, and is also super easy and lightweight to carry anytime (especially with the non-slip shoulder strap that really gives our hands a break).

In addition, we love that the shell of this duffel is waterproof, and despite its mini size, it still has many compartments like mesh pockets and a bottle holder to let us access our gear easily.

Alo Yoga’s gym duffel bag is large and in charge. Made from neoprene, this streetwear-inspired option feels great and comes with a water-repellent finish. It’s wider than most bags that we’ve tested, making it ideal for regular gym sessions. Or, if you could use a quick three-day jaunt, it’s sizable for such—no need to pull out a huge luggage set. Inside, you’ve got two mesh pockets, one zipper pocket inside, and one big zipper pocket outside for shoes, towels, or clothes.

We found it’s a hot-ticket item for fitness enthusiasts and frequent travelers alike. Yes, the price is higher than others on the list, but you get higher quality and materials. Our testers simply love that the opening is so big, so you can just stash and go.

A Gymshark gym bag is the kind of men’s gym bag that says “I’m the biggest guy in the room—or at least I want to be.” Nothing wrong with that. With a wet pocket for gym gear and slip pockets for work essentials, our tester loved carrying it as his go-to office-to-gym duffel. The main entry is large and has quite a few pockets and compartments within to help you organize your stuff. And it does have a shoe compartment that you can also use to store your fresh-off-the-bench-press clothes.

Overall, we love the functionality and versatility of Gymshark’s gym bag. More than anything, the selling point was the affordable price tag. It can take you from the office to the gym every day and carry all your essentials without putting a huge dent in your wallet.