By Dan Fauzi

Published: Tuesday, 24 May 2022 at 12:00 am


The right gym bag can keep you organised for years. Those of us who exercise regularly know that there’s usually more than workout gear in the bag: there’s often food, work essentials, a change of clothes for post-training, as well as a number of other random necessities.

Choosing the right one for your routine is important. Gym bags with compartments are great for when your wet workout gear is likely to stay in there for a while, keeping it separate from cleaner, dry clothes.

For people who are often out and about, weather-proofing can be a helpful feature for protecting your belongings. Separate zipped pockets can also offer more hidden protection for items that are more valuable.

A high-quality gym bag can last years, while helping you to learn the best way to organise all of your stuff. So, we’ve rounded up our favourites, in a number of different styles and budgets.

Best gym bags to buy in 2022

Under Armour UA x Project Rock Freedom Regiment Backpack

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Credit: Amazon
  • £155.87 / $85

For seasoned athletes who train whatever the weather, this kit bag from Under Armour and Project Rock is designed to battle the elements. Rather than the traditional duffel design, this gym bag can be worn on your back. And with a handy water bottle pocket on one side and two organisation pockets on the other, it looks like a great way to keep your kit organised.

The backpack is said to be highly water-resistant, with a water-repellent front pocket for your valuables. The PU-coated bottom panel is resistant to abrasions, and the inner has soft padding. There’s even a laptop sleeve that can fit a laptop up to 15″.

Nike Gym Club Training Bag

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Credit: Nike
  • £32.95 / $41.44

This gym bag is made from at least 65% recycled polyester fibres. This is done using recycled plastic bottles that are shredded down and converted into yarn. It’s a great way to invest in a bag that has a sustainable element to it and, available in green or a coffee brown, its classic styling looks good too.

The duffel bag has carry handles and a removable shoulder strap, with a sizeable main compartment and zipped pockets for smaller items. The capacity of 24L is smaller than some others in this list but is likely to be plenty for your gym and fitness gear as long as you don’t have any particularly bulky items.

Lululemon Core Duffel 2.0

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Credit: Lululemon
  • £104 / $130.79

Packed with compartments, side pockets and external pockets, this gym bag is designed for athletes that like to stash their kit away in an organised fashion and still have easy access to it.

The 38L-capacity bag lets you keep your shoes, gym clothes and water bottle separate, which is likely to be handy after a sweaty session. There’s also a space for your laptop and the bag has an adjustable shoulder strap.

Under Armour Triumph Cordura

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Credit: Under Armour
  • £105 / $132.05

The Triumph Cordura can be used as both a duffel and a backpack thanks to the inclusion of a shoulder strap and backpack straps. It has built-in dividers that you can take out if necessary and, along with the ventilated fabric, the bag can accommodate your dirty gym wear.

There’s more than enough space for your fitness gear and your everyday belongings in this 53-litre pack, while there are also separate compartments and a laptop sleeve to help with organisation.