Top 5 compared
The best gym bags
Clean clothes on one side, sneakers and a damp towel on the other, kept apart on the way home.
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The top 5 at a glance
A gym bag is usually a duffel: one big zipped compartment for clothes and a towel, and a separate pocket that keeps shoes or wet gear away from them. Shoe pockets are vented so sneakers can air out after a workout; wet pockets are lined so a swimsuit or damp towel doesn’t soak everything else, and Fitgriff’s has one of each.
Every bag here has one of those pockets, and most have a coated or water-resistant base for a wet locker-room floor. The smaller bags double as a carry-on or slide under a plane seat; the biggest isn’t meant as a carry-on, so it suits the car and the team bus.
What matters
- About 40 liters takes a change of clothes, sneakers and a towel.
- A shoulder strap as well as handles, for longer walks.
- Outside pockets for a water bottle.
- Measurements on the listing, if it has to fit a locker.
#1Nike Brasilia 9.5 Training Duffel Bag
$30–$50
Nike’s Brasilia 9.5 keeps it simple: a big zipped main compartment, a ventilated side compartment that keeps shoes and sweaty clothes away from clean clothes, and a coated base against scrapes and spills. It comes in four sizes, 25L to 95L, and the table shows the 41L Small.
What owners say: Owners single out the separate compartment for cleats, and there’s plenty of space for practice gear or a weekend away. They find it tough enough for rough handling, and kids love using it.
A closer look: Choose the size by the gear: the Small takes a change of clothes and sneakers, and the bigger sizes leave room for pads, a ball or a weekend’s packing. The double handles are enough for a quick trip from the car, and the adjustable shoulder strap takes over on a longer walk to the field.
- Zipped valuables pocket inside
- Side water bottle pockets
- Coated base resists scrapes
- Comes in four sizes
- Adjustable shoulder strap
Best for: Practice, training and weekends
- Capacity
- 41L (Small)
- Size (L × W × H)
- 20 × 11 × 11 in
- Shoe or wet pocket
- Ventilated shoe compartment
- Water-resistant
- –
#2Under Armour Undeniable 5.0 Duffle Bag (Small, 40L)
$30–$50
The classic gym duffel at 40L, with a vented pocket that keeps sneakers or used gear 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 football player grew tired of sweating through his T-shirts at practice.
What owners say: Football players and pickleball regulars alike find room for all their gear, in compartments that are well thought out. It stands up to hard use, and its looks win approval too.
A closer look: The padded shoulder strap tucks into a side pocket when the top handle is all you need, and the webbing on the front takes clip-on extras. Empty the vented pocket after every session so sneakers and damp gear don’t sit in there overnight.
- Strap stows in side pocket
- Webbing for clip-on extras
- Two water bottle pockets
- Foam-lined base and sides
- Padded top handle
Best for: Daily gym trips
- Capacity
- 40L
- Size (L × W × H)
- 21.7 × 10.6 × 10.1 in
- Shoe or wet pocket
- Vented shoe or laundry pocket
- Water-resistant
- UA Storm finish
#3Fitgriff Gym Bag with Shoe and Wet Compartments (Small)
$30–$50
It has both a ventilated shoe pocket and a separate waterproof pocket for a wet swimsuit or a sweaty top, so a swim or a shower after the gym doesn’t soak everything else. At about 19 in long, it also goes on a plane as a carry-on.
What owners say: There’s more room inside than it looks: one owner fits two pairs of size 14 shoes. The wet compartment, the sturdy straps and the long zipper pulls are all singled out, and it has drawn compliments at the gym.
A closer look: Six pockets in all: the main compartment with a small inner pouch, the wet pocket, the shoe pocket, a front pocket and a mesh side pocket for a bottle. Unzip the wet pocket at home so it can dry out, and the waterproof base wipes clean after a wet locker-room floor.
- Six pockets in all
- Works as a carry-on
- Extended zipper pulls
- Mesh side bottle pocket
Best for: Swimmers and gym showers
- Capacity
- 30L
- Size (L × W × H)
- 18.9 × 10.2 × 9.8 in
- Shoe or wet pocket
- Shoe pocket and waterproof wet pocket
- Water-resistant
- Waterproof base
#4adidas Defender Duffel Bag (Medium, 59L)
$30–$50
Big enough for a team’s worth of gear: a 59-liter bag for cleats, pads, a foam roller and a change of clothes, with a zippered, ventilated shoe compartment and a water-resistant base for wet fields and locker-room floors. adidas covers it against defects for five years.
What owners say: Owners fit in soccer gear or as many as four sets of boxing gear, wraps and shin guards included, and the huge front pocket earns its keep. It’s well made and durable, they say, down to the fabric.
Heads up: At 24.75 in long it’s too big for most airline carry-on limits, as adidas itself points out, so treat it as a bag for the car, the bus and the team trip.
A closer look: Cleats go in the zippered end compartment, where the vents let them air out on the drive home. Clip keys or a water bottle to the webbing loops, and wipe the bag down with a damp cloth when it comes back muddy.
- 5-year warranty against defects
- Padded shoulder strap
- Webbing loops for keys, bottles
- Wipes clean with damp cloth
Best for: Team sports and bulky gear
- Capacity
- 59L
- Size (L × W × H)
- 24.75 × 12.5 × 13 in
- Shoe or wet pocket
- Ventilated shoe compartment
- Water-resistant
- Water-resistant base
#5BAGSMART 24L Gym and Travel Bag with Wet Pocket
$20–$30
A neat 24-liter duffel 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 the personal item on a flight.
What owners say: Frequent flyers like it as the personal item that tucks under the seat, light and not bulky, with plenty of zipped compartments. Opinion on the straps is split: some find them tough, others had them come apart.
A closer look: After a swim or a class, zip the damp towel or swimsuit into the wet pocket, then empty it once you’re home so it can dry. The outside zip pocket keeps a phone or boarding pass within reach, and the crossbody strap leaves both hands free.
- Fits under a plane seat
- Slides over a suitcase handle
- Crossbody strap
- Outside zip pocket
Best for: Flights, swims and fitness classes
- Capacity
- 24L
- Size (L × W × H)
- 16.5 × 7.5 × 11.8 in
- Shoe or wet pocket
- PVC wet pocket
- Water-resistant
- Yes
How they compare
Swipe sideways or rotate device to see all 5.
| Feature | #1Nike Brasilia 9.5 | #2Under Armour Undeniable 5.0 S | #3Fitgriff | #4adidas Defender M | #5BAGSMART 24L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Runner-up | Best for swimmers | Best budget | ||
| Picked Rating | 9.6 | 9.4 | 9.4 | 9.4 | 9.1 |
| Price | $30–$50 | $30–$50 | $30–$50 | $30–$50 | $20–$30 |
| Capacity | 41L (Small) | 40L | 30L | 59L | 24L |
| Size (L × W × H) | 20 × 11 × 11 in | 21.7 × 10.6 × 10.1 in | 18.9 × 10.2 × 9.8 in | 24.75 × 12.5 × 13 in | 16.5 × 7.5 × 11.8 in |
| Shoe or wet pocket | Ventilated shoe compartment | Vented shoe or laundry pocket | Shoe pocket and waterproof wet pocket | Ventilated shoe compartment | PVC wet pocket |
| Water-resistant | – | UA Storm finish | Waterproof base | Water-resistant base | Yes |
| Best for | Practice, training and weekends | Daily gym trips | Swimmers and gym showers | Team sports and bulky gear | Flights, swims and fitness classes |
| Buy now | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
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