10 Best Gym Bags for Men in 2022 (Personal Trainer-Reviewed)

We selected the best gym bags for men based on the following criteria:

• Suitability for different gym habits
• Ease of transportation
• The types of enclosures
• Functional pockets for gym gear

Keep these points in mind to help you find the best bag for your needs. To learn more about each consideration, take a look at our buying guide!

Here are our favorite men's gym bags. Keep in mind what stuff you need to carry and how to help you pick the best option for you!

*Please note that these products were chosen after extensive research by mybest writers. The choices are not necessarily affiliated with or recommended by Gentry Washburn unless explicitly said so.

Gym bags vary in styles, closures, and pockets. To help you find the best option for your needs and gym habits, we've explained everything you should keep in mind below.

Gym bags come in three main styles based on their straps: backpacks, drawstrings, and duffel bags. Each style offers pros that are ideal for different gym habits.

Backpacks are a common choice for gym bags since they offer lots of room. Some come with one shoulder strap while others have two, but two straps will distribute the weight evenly for better comfort. 

Backpacks work well if you go to the gym by bike or walk long distances. However, they may cause you to sweat on your back and shoulders if you wear them for too long. Despite this, it's one of the most secure options since it sits on your back.

Backpacks often have added features for better functionality, like water bottle pockets, headphone jacks, or sleeves for electronics. We also recommend looking for adjustable padded straps for better comfort.

Backpacks are often made of synthetic water-resistant materials like polyester and can handle wear and tear. They are also a versatile choice since you can use them for other activities, like hiking.

Drawstring bags are thinner, with two drawstrings on either side to open and close them. They typically have one main pocket with a mesh or zipper side pocket. You can use both straps to wear it on your back or one to wear it on your shoulder. Drawstring bags are also very lightweight, making them ideal for bringing a few items to the gym.

Keep in mind drawstring straps are thin, so they may break if you put too much weight in the bag. The strings can also dig into your shoulders. If this is a concern, consider a backpack with a drawstring closure for the best of both worlds!

While drawstring bags are often thought of as small, they are available in a range of sizes. Some are large enough to carry a basketball, while others only have room for a water bottle and towel. However, regardless of size, drawstring bags are easy to roll up and take up little space. This makes them excellent to toss in a suitcase or workbag. 

Drawstring bags are often made of polyester, but you may also see vinyl and Oxford fabric options. Oxford fabric is a stronger material, meaning it will hold up better over time. On the other hand, vinyl and polyester are water-resistant, making them better for holding sweaty clothing or wet towels.

Some drawstring bags are made entirely of mesh that lets you see your belongings and allows wet items to begin to dry. They are also extremely lightweight since they use minimal fabric. However, you may get wet if you wear a mesh bag full of sweaty gear on your back! 

Drawstring bags use one or two layers of string. Single-layered drawstrings can't carry as much weight and may cause shoulder strain. Despite that, it's easier to make the drawstring lengths even on both sides since you only need to worry about one layer. Double-layered drawstrings can carry more weight but may get tangled.

Duffel bags have multiple pockets and places to store your belongings, making them excellent for those who pack heavy for the gym. However, it can be uncomfortable to carry a duffel bag for a long time due to strain on your hand or shoulder. Some come with both handles and straps so that you can switch up how you carry them.

There are several styles of handles. Fabric handles are the easiest to wrap your hands around, but they may dig into your hands. We recommend cushioned or plastic handles. Cushioned handles are the most comfortable, but they require more of your hand to grip them. Plastic handles are the most durable but aren't as comfortable. 

Duffel bags are usually made from synthetics like polyester. Synthetic fabrics provide some protection against moisture, and they also hold up to wear and tear well. Since you will be carrying the bag by the handle or strap, check the customer reviews to confirm if the handles are durable and attached well. 

Gym bags use drawstrings, zippers, and pockets to keep your belongings secure. Some options are more secure while others are more convenient.

Some bags come with multiple zipper pockets, though you will come across different types: straight and wrapping zippers. Straight zippers only go in one direction, allowing you to quickly zip them open and closed. However, these zippers usually come with one slider, so they won't close if it gets broken. On the other hand, you won't have any trouble finding the slider. 

Wrapping zippers go all or most of the way around a bag, giving you larger openings to add or remove items. However, it will take you longer to open the zipper and find the slider. Luckily, most of these zippers come with two sliders, so you can still use them even if one breaks.

Zippers typically stay closed, unlike Velcro or drawstrings that may loosen. If you're extra concerned about security, zippers with two sliders will allow you to lock a pocket closed with a padlock. This may not be a concern for everyday use, but it may come in handy if you are using a duffel bag or backpack for other purposes, like traveling. 

Drawstrings are great for storing a few belongings in a single pocket. Drawstrings may come loose, causing your belongings to spill out. You also have to be careful not to tie a knot that's too tight to untie. Despite that, you can get to your belongings quickly by pulling the drawstrings apart.

Drawstring closures are often seen on drawstring-style gym bags, but you may also see them used on backpacks and duffel bags. Drawstring closures require the additional fabric to get the drawstring effect, making them ideal for carrying irregularly-shaped items that don't fit in zippered pockets.

Additional pockets are often very useful for going to the gym since you need to keep items separate, like shoes, smartphones, water bottles, and workout gear. There are three common types of pockets: open, elastic, and those sealed by buttons, snaps, Velcro, or zippers.

Open pockets are the easiest and quickest to access, but they are the least secure. They may be best for water bottles or towels. Elastic ones are easy to access with some security, but they won't work properly if the elastic breaks off. 

We recommend sealed pockets with zippers, drawstrings, or snaps for the most security. Velcro pockets are easy to use, but the Velcro will weaken over time. Sealed pockets are often for smaller items. To confirm if the pockets are large enough for common gym gear, check the reviewer comments or item dimensions. 

People bring different items to the gym, so look for a bag that provides space for what you need. It's a good idea to look for space for common items like water bottles and shoes.

Bags sometimes include bottle holders made of mesh or fabric with an elastic band at the top. These pockets are great if you like cold water but don't want condensation on your other belongings. 

However, your bottle won't be protected in a mesh pocket, so it may break or leak if you aren't careful. Still, we recommend getting a bag with a bottle holder since it makes it easy to grab a drink as needed.

In addition to mesh bottle holders, some bags include additional mesh pockets on the exterior. These pockets are great for smaller belongings you need to grab quickly, such as a gym ID. Look for zippered mesh pockets if you're storing anything important that you don't want to lose.

Since you can see through the mesh, you can confirm you have what you need without unpacking your entire bag. However, people can easily see what you have in those pockets, so your belongings could get stolen.

Some gym bags provide shoe compartments where you can put your sneakers. These are usually on one side of the bag with a zipper that wraps around for easy access, and they keep your shoes separate from other items.

Shoe compartments also save you time since you don't need to fish through your bag to find your shoes. However, it's important that the compartment is large enough, especially if you have a big shoe size or wear chunky sneakers. To confirm if the pocket runs small, check the reviews.

Wet pockets are waterproof pockets with zippers, keeping damp belongings away from other items. These pockets are great for storing wet clothes or towels in your bag after working out. They also work well for water bottles that tend to form condensation or leak.

In addition to reviewing our buying guide, Gentry also answered a commonly-asked question on the Internet.

"Wash your bag once a week," Gentry says. "This seems extreme, but it is seriously the easiest way to keep it from smelling bad. At the end of the week, just throw it into the washer so that it is ready at the beginning of the next week."

It never hurts to invest in high-quality gear to help you get the most out of exercise. These items will help you make your workouts convenient and fun!

We picked 10 excellent gym bags, but there are many more options on the market! Take a look at Amazon's best selling gym bags below.

Author: Garrett Garcia

Updated by: Sara Chittenden, 12/9/2021

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