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Kit Dillon is a writer focused on bags and travel gear. He has worked for Wirecutter for a decade and lost count of the number of bags he has tested. 8 color printing machine
The Aer Gym Tote remains out of stock, but the company says it should be available again this month. We’re keeping an eye on it and will update.
Here’s the secret: There is no perfect gym bag.
Many bags sold as “gym bags” are indistinguishable from any duffle bag or tote. And almost any kind of bag will work as a gym bag in a pinch.
A good gym bag, however, brings fresh clothes to a workout and takes wet gear home again without making everything a fragrant swamp.
After researching hundreds of gym bags—traditional gym bags and others—and testing more than 40, we’ve found six bags for a range of gym goers and situations.
We found two picks, one over-organized and one simply built, that will last a lifetime. We also chose a backpack for commuters, a casual water-resistant duffle, a simple tote organized for a gym, and a cheap pick for team gear, plus a roll-top dry bag for separating out sweaty gear within your gym bag.
If these choices aren’t what you’re looking for, check out our picks for duffle bags, laptop backpacks, and totes.
I’ve written about many aspects of travel luggage and bag design for Wirecutter for a decade now. In that time I’ve used everything from plastic shopping bags to backpacks to overly designed gym bags to carry my gear around. For 20 years I’ve practiced (among many things) Muay Thai, boxing, Pilates, interval training, and barbell training, in all manner of gyms around the world, including church basements in Scotland, garages in California, fitness clubs in New York, and home gyms on the North Shore of Hawaii.
Made to withstand a lifetime of abuse, this bag was the toughest we tested. Its many compartments let you keep clean clothing separate from sweaty towels and sneakers, and it has a lifetime warranty.
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The KNKG Plus Duffel is best for a dedicated gym goer or heavy lifter who needs a bag to stand up to years of being shoved in and out of lockers without breaking.
It’s tough. This bag has been our top pick for five years running. During our testing, the competitive lifters we interviewed all gravitated to the KNKG Plus Duffel, drawn by its durability and strength. Just holding this bag, we felt a noticeable difference in quality compared with every other bag we tested. The 1,000-denier nylon is thicker and more robust than the nylon used in other sport bags: It’s like the difference between a school knapsack and a thick canvas duffle bag. (The term denier refers to the thickness of the fibers in a fabric; the higher the denier number, the stronger the fabric.) The sturdiness of the bag is evident in the details, as well, from its double-stitched seams to its all-metal fasteners.
It’s well organized. Most gym bags are made to be somewhat disposable—inevitably, odors, stains, and the weird abuse they sustain wears them out. Before we tested the KNKG Plus Duffel, we wouldn’t have considered spending three figures on a gym bag, but it won us over not only with its durable materials and strong construction but also with its clever organization options. In addition to its main compartment, the Plus Duffel, which has an overall capacity of just over 30 liters, comes with four accessory pockets (one button-sealed for clumsy hands), a stretch catchall, and a shoe compartment. KNKG also makes internal dividers if you want to keep things even more separated. If you’re a powerlifter, the similar KNKG Core Duffel comes with an integrated weight-belt attachment.
It’s tough. (Did we mention that?) In our destructive testing, squat world-record holder Roy Glenn took one look at the original model of this bag, threw up his hands, and emphatically declared that there was no way he could tear it apart. Every corner of this bag is built to last, from the zipper points to the seams, and it should stand up to years of abuse. The Plus Duffel comes with a practical lifetime warranty as long as the original purchaser is still in possession of the bag, which should be plenty of coverage for even the most dedicated gym buff.
It comes in multiple sizes. KNKG also makes the same bag in larger, 45-liter and 63-liter models.
It’s pricey. The cost may raise a few eyebrows, but considering the Plus Duffel’s durability and quality, it’s worth the investment. And the truth is, after years of testing and comparing bags of all types and prices, we have found many, many cheaper gym bags that are just that: cheap and not worth even their low price. But you’ll probably want to pair the Plus Duffel with a plastic shopping bag or a dry bag to protect its nylon against your dirty gear or wet post-workout towel.
This is a lighter-weight, buy-it-for-life bag with a shoe compartment. But it offers less organization than the KNKG Plus Duffel.
May be out of stock
The Goruck Gym Bag Ripstop Robic is a slightly less organized bag than the KNKG Plus Duffel, but it’s nearly as tough.
It will last a lifetime—and it’s priced accordingly. Goruck has a reputation for making well-made, tough bags, as well as for charging a premium for its gear based on that reputation. This bag is no different. For this guide, we purposely chose plenty of bags carrying lifetime warranties and made from tough materials, because you need a bag that you can buy once and wrestle in and out of gym lockers without worry. The 30-liter Goruck Gym Bag Ripstop Robic, made from lightweight and water-resistant 420-denier ripstop nylon with a lifetime repair-and-replace warranty and all-metal hardware, fits that description very well.
It keeps things simple. Some people may prefer a ton of organization, as you can find in the KNKG Plus Duffel, but for others, plentiful pockets are just additional places to lose your car keys. Goruck chooses the path of simplicity with this bag, giving it one vented shoe pocket, one main compartment with one closed zipped pocket for valuables, and one vented zipped pocket. You can carry the bag by the handles or sling it across your shoulder with a provided, removable strap. The outside of the bag has an open pocket for quick access—a place to drop a loose bandana or sweatband, say—and a rain-protected zippered side pocket with an internal zippered mesh pocket. It offers everything you need from a gym bag and nothing you don’t.
It comes in a larger size, too. Goruck makes a 45-liter version of this bag, as well. Unless you work out with extra gear, such as boxing gloves or a gi, you’re unlikely to need the 45-liter bag, which is very large. Most people, who need at most a T-shirt and change of shorts, will appreciate the smaller, 30-liter version.
It offers less organization than our top pick. Some people, however, may prefer a simple bag without many frills; for them, the extra pockets and organization of the KNKG Plus Duffel may be more a nuisance than a perk. But we’ve tested the KNKG bag for over five years now, and we’re only starting to build a comparable track record with the Goruck gym bag.
This backpack offers plenty of ways to separate your computer, your clean clothing, and your sweaty workout clothes or gym shoes. However, because it’s a daily-carry backpack, not a basic gym bag, it’s pricey.
The Aer Duffel Pack 3 is best for anyone who commutes to both work and the gym and wants a laptop pocket in their bag—or who just prefers to carry a backpack instead of a shoulder bag.
It’s adaptable. Sometimes, carrying a separate gym bag and laptop bag to the office isn’t ideal. In that case, the Aer Duffel Pack 3 is the best option. Its sleek, minimal look allows it to blend into nearly any setting. The bag is made of a tough, 1,680-denier Cordura ballistic nylon that’s similar in strength to the material used in the KNKG Plus Duffel but with a finer texture. With a capacity of 21 liters, the Duffel Pack 3 holds less than the Plus Duffel, but we still found that it had room for what we needed to transition from work to working out. The Aer Duffel Pack 3 comfortably carries a 16-inch laptop in its back pocket, as well as a full change of clothes within its main compartment and a pair of shoes (up to men’s size 13) in a ventilated compartment at the bottom of the bag.
It carries what you need and then some. As a gym bag, it swallows a full change of gym clothes or assorted gear, while the expandable water-bottle pocket on the side can fit even a large Nalgene bottle. As a laptop backpack, the Aer Duffel Pack 3 can carry a few books or slim items along with that 16-inch laptop. Optionally, you can buy the same design made from X-Pac sailcloth, which is extremely durable and waterproof, but most people don’t need to spend the extra money for that level of technical fiber; the regular model’s nylon and sealing zippers are plenty tough and water-resistant for a trip to the gym.
It’s well organized as a backpack. You access the waterproof, cavernous main section of the bag via a convenient duffle-style zipper on the outside. Because the shoe compartment at the base of the bag unfurls internally, anything you tuck into it takes up space in the bag’s main section. The laptop compartment has several small accessory pockets, including a zippered mesh one for small items. A quick-access pocket at the top of the bag can hold sunglasses, a smartphone, and gym and transit passes. And just above the water-bottle holder is a small, zippered pocket for keys and a wallet or other small items.
It comes in a smaller version, too. If you have a smaller torso, you might prefer the Aer Fit Pack 3, which is essentially a smaller version of the Duffel Pack 3. It has the same overall design, with a rear compartment for your laptop and other gear, a clothes area in the front, and a dedicated shoe compartment on the bottom. But the Fit Pack 3 is several inches shorter and holds about 25% less (almost 19 liters in total capacity versus the Duffel Pack 3’s roughly 25 liters), so it looks and feels quite a bit smaller on your back. Aer’s bags all have a lifetime warranty.
This tote keeps everything separated, including work gear, while maintaining a casual profile.
With more pockets than it seems like it should have, as well as a luggage loop, the Aer Gym Tote is great for well-organized travelers and daily commuters.
It’s understated. Admittedly, many of the other picks in this guide have a robust, somewhat chunky look, which might not appeal to everyone—to call it plainly, they’re a bit bro-ey. The Aer Gym Tote avoids looking like a gym bag while keeping the organizational details we expect, such as a separate ventilated shoe pocket. All black with only a single obvious zipper, the Aer Gym Tote maintains Aer’s adherence to strict minimalist design.
It’s capable of carrying more than it seems. Although almost any tote is suitable for a trip to the gym, very few have the extra details that make the Aer Gym Tote stand out—beginning with the ventilated shoe pocket (a rare thing to find in a tote-style bag), which holds up to a size 12 men’s shoe. Externally, the Gym Tote has a large side pocket for accessories with a self-sealing zipper for added water resistance and a smaller pocket for items such as keys or a wallet. Internally, the bag has a water-bottle holder and a laptop sleeve for a 13-inch laptop.
It’s good for the gym, but it can double for travel. Made from a 1,680-denier Cordura ballistic nylon exterior, this gym bag is as tough as any of our other picks, but it’s the only pick with a luggage loop for slipping over the handle of your carry-on suitcase. With that, plus the laptop sleeve and thoughtful organization, there’s very little separating this bag from any number of personal items we recommend for travelers.
We wish it came in larger sizes. Although the Aer Gym Tote holds far more than you might expect, its less-than-20-liters capacity is still somewhat limiting. That’s about a liter less than the capacity of our backpack pick, the Aer Duffel Pack 3, and more than 10 liters less than the capacity of the KNKG Plus Duffel.
This durable, lightweight bag made of recycled plastic bottles has self-sealing, water-resistant zippers, plus a wide opening. However, it gives you no way to separate wet and dry gear or shoes.
The Bellroy Lite Duffel is a lightweight and simple bag made from recycled and reclaimed materials, and it’s great for carrying light gym gear or spare clothes.
It’s lightweight but tough. The Bellroy Lite Duffels’ is made from recycled nylon and industrial cutoffs. Its plain layout and minimalist charm nearly mask Bellroy’s consistent attention to technical details and overall construction. That’s a nice way to say that this is a well-built bag for doing simple, day-to-day things. The result is a lightweight bag—at least, lighter than most bags of this size and strength—that’s tear-resistant and reassuringly durable.
It’s produced by a Certified B Corp company. Plenty of companies claim to use recycled materials or sustainable designs. It’s beyond our scope to verify every supply chain, but we do trust the certification process that B Corp brands, such as Bellroy, have to go through, as it is meant to demonstrate their accountability and transparency for things such as charitable giving, labor practices, and supply-chain practices.
It’s simply laid out. The Lite Duffel has two compartments: a main compartment with a wide-mouth design for easy access, plus a side pocket. Both access points are protected by self-sealing water-resistant zippers. Inside, the bag has four separators and two carabiner loops. Farther inside the side pocket are two more pockets and a key loop. Thoughtfully, Bellroy also includes a diminutive slip pocket (video) for an Apple AirTag—handy if you like keeping close track of your stuff. The Bellroy Lite Duffel comes with a detachable shoulder strap and has a three-year warranty.
Despite being made with lighter-weight materials, this affordable duffle can stand up to heavy use. It’s also the biggest of our picks, good for anyone who needs extra space for their sports gear.
The Adidas Team Issue Duffel Bag Medium is best for anyone who carries a lot of gear or pads and needs an inexpensive option for keeping their equipment organized.
It holds a lot but doesn’t cost a lot. Some sports require more gear than others. For the price, we couldn’t find anything better for carrying all that gear than the Adidas Team Issue Duffel Bag. It’s equipped with four outside zippered pockets and an internal small pocket.
It’s well organized and ventilated. Like the KNKG Plus Duffel, the Adidas Team Issue Duffel Bag has a shoe/laundry pocket, and the one in this bag is even better ventilated. However, this bag does not have metal shoulder-strap fasteners; instead, it uses somewhat thin plastic clasps.
It’s well built, considering the lightweight materials. This bag is made of 600-denier polyester. Surprisingly, despite the thinner material and plastic hardware, this bag stood up to more abuse than we expected. Roy Glenn, our destructive tester, took several turns trying to find a way to break this bag. While he ripped out the shoe pocket easily enough, the reinforced seams stopped him from breaking down the bag completely, although he was able to bust the zippers from their tracks. We don’t think anyone is likely to put their gym bag through those kinds of stresses.
It’s easy to carry. If you’re lugging a lot of gear, the extra-wide, padded shoulder strap should relieve some strain from carrying all that weight. The bag has a classic look that’s not dominated by its logo—a nice change from some of the other designs we saw during our research.
It’s covered for life. Adidas backs the bag with a lifetime warranty.
It might not be around forever. Adidas used to make the same design in other sizes, one larger and one smaller. The company now has similar bags in the Defender series (small and large), but neither of those has a separate shoe compartment.
For swimmers or anyone trying to separate their wet gear from their dry, this model’s paper-bag shape helps it stay upright when you’re packing and unpacking it.
The Ortlieb Dry-Bag is a bag for your bag. If you tend to carry out excessively wet or sweaty gear from the gym, such as swimsuits or clothes after hot yoga, a dry bag can keep your stuff separated. This model is currently the top pick in our dry bag guide.
It keeps the dry stuff dry and the wet stuff wet. The Ortlieb Dry-Bag has a shape similar to that of a paper grocery bag, so it stands upright when you place it on the ground. Thanks to that simple design, you can load your wet gear more easily. Like all dry bags, the Ortlieb Dry-Bag is waterproof and durable, with a roll-top closure. There’s not much more to it. This bag is designed to keep wet things from seeping out—or the wet from seeping in—and it does that very well.
It comes in multiple sizes. We tested the 10-liter version of this bag; although we suggest the 13-liter version for most people. But it also comes in sizes ranging from 5 to 109 liters. Choose whichever size best suits your bag.
This simple bag has no apparent flaws, if you need to separate wet items from dry. But if you don’t need that feature, you don’t need this bag.
Everyone has specific ideas of what a gym bag should be, depending on their needs, and you can find thousands of bags that would work. To clarify our search, we conducted a public survey to see what most people wanted from a gym bag.
We also looked for some comfort features that make small but significant differences when you’re using a gym bag three times a week, including: reinforced sides to help the bag stand up during packing, reinforced seams (especially where the shoulder strap attaches to the bag), easy-to-pull zippers on small pockets, and an easy-to-clean interior.
If you need an organized bag under $100: Take a look at the Nike Utility Power Training Duffel Bag, which is a good bag at a very good price. It’s organized in a similar fashion to the KNKG Plus Duffel, but it’s made from less robust materials. We’ve had problems with budget gym bags in the past not lasting long enough—they just couldn’t take being yanked around incessantly in and out of gym lockers. One could say we’re being a touch too cautious in insisting on doing extra testing before we fully recommend this bag, but Nike’s warranty is a mere two years.
BAD Bags No 2 Duffel Bag Side Pocket: The KNKG Plus Duffel edged out this model, but if you don’t mind its leather accents and blunt construction, it should be worth the money.
Calpak Luka Duffel: This travel bag could make a decent gym bag, but the material choice lets the overall design down. We prefer more robust fabrics for our picks.
Nike Brasilia 9.5 Training Duffel Bag: We were attracted to the eye-catching low price and compartmentalized design of the Brasilia. It’s an okay bag for the price, but the slightly more expensive (but still under $100) Nike Utility Power is a better choice with a more intuitive layout.
Nike Gym Club Duffel Bag: This simple duffle bag, made partly from recycled materials, falls into that liminal category that plagues so many gym-bag designs: Is it a gym bag or a basic duffle? Is there a difference? We’ve built this entire guide around the idea that there is, and even then the line gets blurry. But if you want a basic duffle, we have better options in our duffle-bag guide.
This article was edited by Ria Misra and Christine Ryan.
Kit Dillon is a senior staff writer at Wirecutter. He was previously an app developer, oil derrick inspector, public-radio archivist, and sandwich shop owner. He has written for Popular Science, The Awl, and the New York Observer, among others. When called on, he can still make a mean sandwich.
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