Motivation is essential for achieving your fitness goals, but the right gear and a little organization can help keep you on track, too. Athletic shoes and technical workout apparel get most of the attention, sure, but a good gym bag is the real locker room MVP. Looking for the best gym bags for men? Read on for our shopping advice and favorite bags for this year.
Gym Bag Features to Consider
When hustling to and from the gym, you need a way to keep your valuables and apparel safe, secure, and separated. While a basic stuff bag is better than nothing, the best gym bags feature various compartments for organizing your essentials: easy-access stash pockets, secure inner pockets for your keys or wallet, and a separate compartment for dirty shoes and sweaty clothes. Other features to look for include comfy straps, durable materials, and stylish design (especially important if you’ll be carrying your bag all day).
If you’re ready to build a consistent gym habit in 2023 (or continue your existing routine), set yourself up for success with a gym bag that fits your lifestyle. To help you pick the right one, we’ve rounded up top-rated gym bags from trusted brands including Nike, The North Face, Thule, Timbuk2, and more. Grab one and get after it.
The Best Gym Bags for Men 2023
1. Nike Brasilia 9.5 Training Duffel Bag
The Nike Brasilia has a roomy main compartment, a water-resistant bottom, and a ventilated shoe/wet compartment with side zip access. That means you can keep wet swimsuits and stinky gym shoes separate from your street clothes.
[$37; nike.com]
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2. Carhartt Legacy Gear Bag
Carhartt’s Legacy Gear Bag is water-resistant and tough. Some might feel it’s a bit overkill for a daily gym bag, but we don’t mind toting it around—it works, plain and simple. (And it’s a relatively stylish pick, too.) 20-, 23-, and 30-inch versions are available, and you can choose between black, grey, camo, or that classic Carhartt two-tone tan and brown.
[Starting at $55; amazon.com]
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3. Thule Chasm
The wide mouth can swallow most anything you’d need to stuff in there, and a nifty side-zip access panel lets you grab items quickly without tearing the whole bag apart. The tarpaulin fabric is durable and weather-resistant, and the bag can be carried as a backpack—ideal for traveling or hauling heavy loads. It comes in four sizes (up to 130 liters) and four colors including orange, blue, and turquoise.
[Starting at $130; amazon.com]
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4. The Mastline Co. Hudson Barrel Duffel
Heavyweight canvas construction with a padded, water-resistant nylon interior and classy leather features make this bag ideal for the gym or excellent as an overnighter. Internal storage pockets give you easy access to smaller items like keys or your phone.
[$85; mastline.com]
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5. The Friendly Swede Sandhamn Duffel
Removable backpack straps make this bag a valuable member of any portage arsenal. Small and light enough for daily gym runs, it’s also roomy and tough enough for weekend travel or outdoor treks. 30-liter, 60-liter, and 90-liter sizes are available.
[Starting at $64; amazon.com]
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6. Leolake Sports Gym Bag
Don’t let the obscure brand name scare you. This affordable bag for is great for the gym: It has a large storage capacity and includes dedicated pouches for shoes and wet clothing. Better yet, it’s available in five colorways and has thousands of great reviews on Amazon.
[$26; amazon.com]
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7. Lululemon Command the Day Large Duffle Bag 37L
A well-designed bag focused on all-day functionality, the Command the Day Large Duffel from Lululemon is a top choice. An exterior padded pocket provides a dedicated space for a laptop, while another compartment keeps shoes and sweaty gear separate from your everyday items. Internal pockets provide storage for valuables, and an external pocket can haul your post-workout protein shake.
[$158; shop.lululemon.com]
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8. The North Face Base Camp Voyager Duffel
Durable and highly functional, the Camp Voyager Duffel from The North Face is a premium option for the gym and beyond. Constructed from recycled materials, this bag features several compartments, including an easy-access external zip pocket for smaller items, an external pocket for a water bottle, and a padded laptop pocket. It also has an adjustable divider in the main compartment for separating your sweaty gym clothes and shoes. Webbing on the outer surface provides plenty of places to tie down other gear as well.
[$125; thenorthface.com]
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9. BAD Bags Duffel Bag No. 1.5 Backpack
This small brand has a passionate following thanks to its durable, made-in-the-U.S. bag designs. The smallest option in BAD Bags’ line of duffels, the No. 1.5 is constructed from premium materials including Cordura nylon fabric, nickel-plated hardware, and seatbelt webbing for maximum durability. In addition, a drawstring shoe pouch sewn into the bottom of the bag allows you to keep your shoes and gym clothes separate from your other items.
[$114; badbags.com]
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10. Kuiu Base Camp Cordura Duffel
Kuiu is well-known in the outdoor industry, but the brand just released a smaller duffel that’s ideal for hauling gear to the gym and back. Made from high-quality Cordura fabric with a polyurethane-coated leather handle, it’s constructed to withstand anything you throw at it (or in it). An internal mesh storage pocket in the main compartment makes it easy to separate shoes and workout gear, while two additional external pockets can carry smaller items.
[$149; kuiu.com]
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11. United by Blue (Re)active Mini Duffle
A stylish gym bag constructed from 100-percent recycled materials, there’s a lot to like about the (Re)active Mini Duffle. In addition to being lightweight and water-resistant, it features adjustable shoulder straps, an external pocket for small items, and ample space in the main compartment. Plus, the mesh exterior fabric and mellow colorways make it worthy of showing off.
[$78; unitedbyblue.com]
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12. Timbuk2 Player Duffel
A premium gym bag that doubles as carry-on luggage for quick weekend getaways, the Tumbuk2 Player Duffel is a versatile choice. Made from 100-percent recycled nylon and polyester, it features a cavernous main compartment for carrying clothing, shoes, and whatever else you need to travel with. Better yet, the side pocket converts to a luggage passthrough, so you can to attach this bag to the handle of a wheeled carry-on.
[$109; timbuk2.com]
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