The best gym bags
Trainers, a damp towel and a clean change of clothes in one bag, kept apart: gym bags with their own pocket for wet and muddy kit.
A gym bag earns its keep by keeping things apart: trainers away from clean clothes, a wet towel away from everything else. So look for a separate shoe or wet pocket first, then a shoulder strap for the walk from the car or the bus.
Size is the other choice. Around 40 litres takes a full change of clothes, trainers and a towel, or a weekend's packing; a smaller bag suits a class, a swim or a flight. Water-resistant fabric helps on the wet days, and a coated base copes better with a damp changing-room floor.
What matters
- A separate pocket for shoes or wet kit.
- About 40 litres for a full change of clothes.
- A shoulder strap as well as handles.
- Water-resistant fabric for rainy days.
#1 of 5
Best overall
Nike Academy Team Football Duffel Bag (Small, 41L)
£30–£50 Price range
Made for football teams, with a separate wet/dry compartment that keeps muddy boots or a damp towel away from clean kit. At 41 litres it takes a full kit and a ball, and hand and shoulder straps make it easy to carry to the gym or the pitch.
What owners say: Owners find it roomy enough for boots and a full kit, like the side pockets for shoes, swimwear or damp clothes, and rate its looks, toughness and value.
A closer look: Nike says spot-clean only, so wipe out the wet compartment after a muddy match and leave it open to dry rather than putting the bag in the wash. It suits a junior footballer's club kit as well as an adult's gym gear.
- 41 litres
- Separate wet/dry compartment
- Zip outer pockets, inner pocket
- Hand and shoulder straps
- 100% polyester
Best for: Football and gym kit
- Capacity
- 41L
- Size (L × W × H)
- 53 × 25 × 28cm
- Shoe or wet pocket
- Wet/dry compartment
- Water-resistant
- No
#2 of 5
Runner-up
Under Armour Undeniable 5.0 Small Duffle Bag (40L)
£36 RRP
The classic gym duffel: 40 litres, a vented pocket that keeps trainers or used kit away from everything else, and UA Storm, a water-repellent finish for rainy walks to the gym. Under Armour began in 1996 in Kevin Plank's grandmother's basement in Washington, DC, after the University of Maryland footballer grew tired of sweating through his T-shirts at practice.
What owners say: Owners say it's well made and a good size, big enough for a full change of clothes, with enough compartments to stay organised at the gym or on a weekend away.
A closer look: The coated, foam-lined base and sides keep it in shape and cope with a damp changing-room floor. The fabric has odour-control tech, but it still pays to empty the vented pocket after every session.
- 40 litres
- Vented shoe or laundry pocket
- UA Storm water-repellent finish
- Foam-lined, coated base and sides
- Two water bottle pockets
Best for: Daily gym trips
- Capacity
- 40L
- Size (L × W × H)
- 55 × 27 × 26cm
- Shoe or wet pocket
- Vented shoe pocket
- Water-resistant
- UA Storm finish
#3 of 5
Best for women
BAGSMART 24L Women's Gym and Travel Bag
£20–£30 Price range
A neat 24-litre holdall in soft, light Taslan with its own PVC pocket for a wet swimsuit or towel. It fits under a plane seat and slides over a suitcase handle, so it doubles as a cabin bag for weekends away.
What owners say: Owners like it as a cabin bag and for overnight stays, find plenty of pockets inside, and love the colour, its light weight and the value.
A closer look: BAGSMART's own size guide suggests this medium bag for anyone under about 5ft 5in, or for one or two nights away; the large suits people around 5ft 9in and taller, or three to four days.
- 24 litres
- PVC wet pocket
- Fits under a plane seat
- Trolley sleeve
- Crossbody strap and handles
Best for: Classes, swims and short trips
- Capacity
- 24L
- Size (L × W × H)
- 42 × 19 × 30cm
- Shoe or wet pocket
- PVC wet pocket
- Water-resistant
- Yes
#4 of 5
Best for weekends away
adidas Linear Duffel Bag (Medium, 39.75L)
£30 RRP
Kit, trainers and valuables each get their own place: a separate shoe compartment, side and end zip pockets, and zip and slip pockets inside. The shoulder strap has a pad that slides to wherever it's comfortable.
What owners say: Owners find it excellent quality and good value, with lots of pockets and room for a weekend away, and like how light and smart it is.
Heads up: adidas makes this bag in more than one size, so check the Medium (39.75 litres) is the one selected before ordering.
A closer look: The outer and lining are recycled polyester, and adidas says the bag is made with at least half recycled materials. Padded grips on the carry handles make it comfortable on the walk from the car.
- 39.75 litres
- Separate shoe compartment
- Side, end and inner zip pockets
- Adjustable strap with movable pad
- Recycled polyester outer and lining
Best for: Gym and weekend trips
- Capacity
- 39.75L
- Size (L × W × H)
- 56 × 22 × 28cm
- Shoe or wet pocket
- Shoe compartment
- Water-resistant
- No
#5 of 5
Best budget
DPWEION 40L Gym Bag with Shoe Compartment and Wet Pocket
£10–£20 Price range
Swimmers and anyone who showers at the gym get the most from this one: a shoe compartment on the side, a separate waterproof pocket for wet towels and swimwear, and 40 litres in water-resistant polyester.
What owners say: Owners find it well made and good value, a good size for gym kit and weekends away, and like the shoe compartment and the wet pouch that keeps damp things apart.
A closer look: It's roomy enough for three to five days away, so it doubles as a weekend bag, and the two handles and adjustable strap give a choice of ways to carry it.
- 40 litres
- Side shoe compartment
- Waterproof wet pocket
- Water-resistant polyester
- Adjustable shoulder strap
Best for: Swimmers and wet kit
- Capacity
- 40L
- Size (L × W × H)
- 52 × 26 × 30cm
- Shoe or wet pocket
- Shoe compartment and wet pocket
- Water-resistant
- Yes
How they compare
| Feature | #1Nike Academy Team S | #2UA Undeniable 5.0 S | #3BAGSMART 24L | #4adidas Linear M | #5DPWEION 40L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Runner-up | Best for women | Best for weekends away | Best budget | |
| Picked Rating | 9.4 | 9.3 | 9.2 | 9.1 | 9.0 |
| Price | £30–£50 Price range | £36 RRP | £20–£30 Price range | £30 RRP | £10–£20 Price range |
| Capacity | 41L | 40L | 24L | 39.75L | 40L |
| Size (L × W × H) | 53 × 25 × 28cm | 55 × 27 × 26cm | 42 × 19 × 30cm | 56 × 22 × 28cm | 52 × 26 × 30cm |
| Shoe or wet pocket | Wet/dry compartment | Vented shoe pocket | PVC wet pocket | Shoe compartment | Shoe compartment and wet pocket |
| Water-resistant | No | UA Storm finish | Yes | No | Yes |
| Best for | Football and gym kit | Daily gym trips | Classes, swims and short trips | Gym and weekend trips | Swimmers and wet kit |
| Check price | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
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