If you’re preparing to hit the gym, or want a bag to hold your sports equipment, a duffle bag is the best option for storing your must-have workout items. A quintessential part of any workout, a duffle bag is the standard in bags designed to hold your sweatiest clothes, your most hard working sneakers, and all the snacks you’ll need before, during and after putting in a few reps.
Duffle bags are ideal for workout clothes because of their large main compartments that can fit multiple changes of clothes and shoes, including workout shoes and sandals for the shower, and towels for the pool or especially sweaty gym sessions. Having a bag that can take you from the gym to work or vice versa is a vital part of a good workout. If you like to jump on the treadmill before work, having a spot to keep your work clothes and shoes separate from your sweaty gear is important.
A duffle bag is also a great way to organize your gym essentials, whether it’s a bathing suit and towel or a protein shake and snacks. Nothing brings a round of shooting hoops at the gym to a grinding halt like forgetting your sneakers at home.
Gym bags also double as a great weekend getaway bag, with most gym duffle bags big enough to hold multiple outfits and a pair of shoes for one or two nights away from home.
We don’t know which workout is best for you, but we can help you with which duffle you should take to the gym.
1. Adidas Diablo
For those looking for a smaller bag, this duffle measures 18.5″ W x 11″ L x 10″ H and it’s a great option for anyone looking for a lightweight and durable bag that can fit two to three pairs of shoes and multiple changes of clothes. For sports fans, the bag fits one basketball or two volleyballs, plus clothing. Pros of the bag include a large main compartment with a wide U-shaped zippered opening that makes packing and finding your items easy, even after you’ve had a tiring workout. Soft sides mean it’s easy to fit the bag into a gym locker. The shoulder strap is adjustable and padded and the bag, which features the large Adidas logo and is available in 32 color combinations, has a lifetime warranty. As for the bag’s cons, it doesn’t contain interior or exterior pockets to separate wet clothes, shoes, or hold personal items like a wallet and keys.
2. Everest Gym Bag
If you like the size of the Adidas Diablo and the pockets of the Under Armour Undeniable 3.0 Duffle, the Everest Gym Bag combines the two. Measuring 18” L x 11.5” W x 10.5” H with 32L volume, the duffle features a pocket with a side opening that is designed to separately hold shoes or wet clothing away from the rest of the bag’s contents. Unlike the other two duffles, the Everest comes with an outside water bottle holder. Pros also include an adjustable shoulder strap, two shorter hand straps, two front zippered pockets with outside mesh pockets, perfect for small items like granola bars or socks, and a large main compartment with a U-shaped opening that makes it easy to open. Unlike the Under Armour bag, the Everest does not have a reinforced bottom, making it better for inside workouts versus outdoor workouts, although it does have four small plastic feet to help keep the bottom of the bag off a wet locker room floor.
3. PUMA Evercat Contender Duffel Bag
This bag from Puma can stash a surprising amount despite its compact size, and it won’t be cumbersome to haul it home on the train after your workout or stash under your desk while at work. It has several exterior pockets and one large main compartment. There’s a small front pocket that’s ideal for organizing your keys, phone and wallet, as well as larger side pockets.