12 Best Gym Bags for Men of 2025, Tested by Gym Goers

Mar 19, 2025

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Lululemon, KNKG, and Mack Weldon came out on top in our testing.

NOT EVERY BACKPACK or duffel bag is qualified to be a gym bag. Hitting the gym is a gear-driven activity that requires more than just packing a water bottle and deodorant. To properly prepare for daily routines, you need a carryall capable of holding your performance gear and fitness equipment, which is why a supermarket tote or a run-of-the-mill backpack won't cut it. As we look to tackle new fitness goals, we tested over 30 different styles designed to haul all your workout clothes, workout shoes, workout headphones, and even laptops.

Beyond volume, these options are super durable, easy to carry with padded comfortable straps, and water-resistant to protect your goods from the elements. We rounded up our favorite sleek choices from Alo, Lululemon, and Mack Weldon, which work for everything from gym sessions to overnight trips and backcountry adventures. The best gym bags for men are built to organize your essentials, featuring odor-resistant properties for sweaty gym shorts and workout shirts as well as separate compartments to not cross contaminate. Let's be honest, when you think about it, that’s just gnarly if everything is mixed together.

Choose a durable, water-resistant material like nylon, neoprene, or canvas. Each of these will help protect your valuables from rainy days or accidental spills and ensures the bag lasts longer.

It depends on what you'll bring to your daily session. Packing light with clothes to change into and out of along with some other accessories? Then 30 liters or below in capacity—mostly in the form of versatile backpacks—will do you just fine. If you're packing heavy with shoes, water bottles, resistance bands as well as work stuff (i.e. using your gym bag as a work bag, too), then a roomy duffel is what the doctor ordered.

Carryalls dedicated to workout activities often come with a separate shoe compartment, an insulated/waterproof pocket for sweaty stuff, protective sleeves for fitness gadgets, and, of course, pockets for protein shakers or water bottles. You want to keep your dirty clothes away from your clean duds at all times.

We picked the best gym bags for men by testing out 0ver 30 options that cover all the bases. Our style team, led by Christian Gollayan looked at things like size, durability, and how well they kept everything organized from dirty shoes to sweaty clothes. We also considered comfort—after all, no one wants to lug around a bag that’s uncomfortable to carry. We factored in things like water resistance, compartments for easy access, and whether they had extra features like odor control. Basically, we chose bags that combine style, function, and durability—ones that’ll hold up at the gym and beyond. Check out the best 12 gym bags for men that'll take you beyond your go-to fitness club.

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. Not to mention, the poly canvas material helps protect your belongings from light rain and moisture during daily use.

Read More: The Best Gym Backpacks

Designed to function as a duffel, crossbody, and backpack, Lululemon is the most versatile option we’ve tested. At a volume of 30L, it’s roomy for gym gear, workout headphones, and reusable water bottles. We love that it comes with a separate drawstring pouch to keep sweaty clothes away from the rest of your items. The exterior shoe pocket can store gym sneakers or extra shoes and fit up to a men’s size 14, so it’s pretty substantial.

As a 3-in-1 multi-use design, most would think it’s super bulky, but that’s not the case. It’s surprisingly compact, and we found it can fit into cube-sized gym lockers and move through busy crowds without knocking into people. We also appreciate that the bag is pretty indestructible. During our testing, we found the nylon fabric was resistant to dirt, stains, rain, and daily wear and tear.

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.

For a budget-friendly option, you can’t go wrong with Gymshark’s $42 gym bag. It comes with all the nuts and bolts like Lululemon and Rhone, but isn’t as water resistant. We wouldn’t recommend carrying it around in a heavy rainstorm, but the polyester material can manage light drizzles. Besides that, it’s perfect for everyday commutes or leisure travel.

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 ventilated compartment to air out and store your fresh-off-the-bench-press clothes. Overall, we love the functionality and versatility of Gymshark’s gym bag. 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.

Coming in at 45L, Nike’s gym duffel is more spacious than most bags that we've tested. It’s so large and in charge that it holds your foam roller, massage gun, and a weekend’s worth of vacation fits. In other words, no need to pull out a huge luggage set.

Between the detachable and adjustable shoulder strap, and the padded dual handles, it’s practical enough to wear over one shoulder, across the body, or carry by hand. And if you’re traveling with a rolling suitcase, this bag slides on the handle, saving you from having to haul it all.

The polyester finish isn’t as waterproof as others, but the full-length covered zipper offers enough protection against the light showers. Also, the zippered pocket on the side keeps smaller items like your wallet or keys within reach. More than anything, our testers simply love that the opening is so big, so you can just stash and go.

UA’s sturdy backpack doesn’t flinch at rain, rough terrain, or getting stuffed to the brim. Our testers say this gym bag is tough enough to handle spills, scrapes, and surprise downpours without fraying or soaking your belongings. That’s because it’s designed with Under Armour’s Storm technology—a water-resistant fabric treatment—which creates a protective barrier to keep your gym clothes, laptop, and socks dry. Unlike traditional waterproof coatings that can feel stiff or heavy, UA Storm is more lighter and flexible while still being an excellent safeguard against the elements.

We found this bag to be very useful beyond the gym. With enough space for clothes, toiletries, and travel essentials, it’s perfect for camping, hiking, and weekend getaways. The secondary compartment is a great place to store smelly running shoes or dirty laundry. Wherever you commute or however you decide to pack, it won’t be a hassle to wear on your shoulders. The top grab handle lets you move freely, especially for guys that just knocked out a rigorous back workout.

Rhone’s duffel doesn’t scream gym warrior, so it’s a do-it-all bag that can transition from a morning workout to the office—or even to a weekend retreat at a cabin. This is our go-to bag to take on a business trip or country club. No bulky, logo-heavy design—just a clean, minimal bag that works anywhere. The carry-on size means it fits perfectly in a plane’s overhead bin, making it just as great for quick flights as it is for gym runs.

Since it’s produced from a water-resistant nylon material, this bag can weather unexpected downpours without drenching everything inside. With smartly placed internal pockets, we were able to keep things organized—so you’re not fishing through a pile of gym clothes to find what you need. And the detachable padded shoulder strap gives you options. Sling it over your shoulder for a casual carry or grab the handles for a polished look.

On the smaller scale with just a 17.6-liter capacity, Alo’s gym bag is for guys who want to pack light. In fact, our fitness guys found that it could easily fit into their office desk drawer and under most airplane seats—even when it’s full. Made from water-resistant neoprene, this street-ready design has a matte texture that feels smooth and prevents rain from seeping through, and has kept my workout clothes dry after getting caught in a gnarly storm.

Compared to the other backpacks, it’s one of the sleeker designs we’ve tested, and our style editors have co-signed this to throw on with business casual fits. Despite its compact size, it doesn’t cut corners on function. It has a well-organized main compartment, a laptop sleeve, and hidden pockets to keep your work and workout gear secure. Plus, the padded straps make it super comfortable to wear for hours without any kind of strain on your shoulders.

Here's another Lululemon bag that 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.

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.

Sure, Amazon offers a bunch of gym bags, but this one from Adidas takes the cake. At 66L, it comes with ample space in the main compartment for play and travel, so it can also be used as an overnight or weekender bag. What also sets it apart is the water-resistant base, which protects your belongings from moisture, accidental spills, or even a sudden downpour. We've used this bag for months now and found this feature not only safeguards your items, but also contributes to the bags overall longevity by preventing water damage to the material. The branding is a bit in your face, so it may not be ideal for guys who prefer a more subtler approach. On the flip side, the iconic three-stripe logo shows your commitment to athletic style.

For those looking to declutter and uncomplicate their life, KNKG has made something really special with the Conquer backpack. The organizing features of this bag are ingenious, giving you a pocket for every occasion, and I can effectively store anything from my laptop to my creatine for post-workout shakes. In order to accomplish this, KNKG has designed easy-to-navigate dividers that you can change to fit your needs when it comes to compartments. These are not flimsy, which is what I’ve come to expect after being burned by other brands. These are as solid as they get, and will keep your running shoes or supplements in place.

I’m also a big fan of the KNKG Core duffels, but being someone who likes to carry the load evenly on my shoulder, especially when I’m carrying a lot of gear, this purpose-built backpack is the right fit for me. You don’t have to be worried about taking this bag outdoors, constructed out of durable materials like 500D nylon with PVC backing. If you have any weights or plates kicking around, you could take this bag out for a ruck. Long story short, this is a gym bag you can trust to hold your most precious items, with organizational features that will save you precious time.

Best Gym Backpacks | Best Duffle Bags for Men | Best Backpacks for Men | Best Fanny Packs for Men | Best Luggage Brands | Best Crossbody Bags for Men | Yeti x Mystery Ranch Bozeman Backpack Review | Best Gym Towels | Best Luggage Sets | Best Carry-On Luggage

Christian is the deputy commerce editor at Men's Health and Women’s Health, where he oversees shopping content for both brands. He started his magazine career as an accessories assistant at Vogue, and has since held editorial roles at Tatler Asia and The Manual. When he’s not online shopping, you can find him on long walks with his two corgis.

Charles Thorp is the Fitness and Commerce Editor at Men’s Health, where he shares the best product recommendations in gym equipment, recovery tools, supplements, and more. Following an early life in athletics, Charles became a NASM-certified trainer and began writing programs alongside the most respected coaches in the world.

Since entering the world of fitness content, Charles has had the opportunity to learn from and train alongside high performance individuals from the NFL, UFC, NBA, Formula 1, CrossFit, US Olympics, and Navy SEALs. When he’s not writing about training programs or gear, he can be seen at the gym or in the wild, putting them to the test.

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