I’m a fitness writer and these are the 14 best gym bags I’ve tried for carrying fitness essentials

What this rucksack can’t hold probably isn’t worth hauling to the gym. There are water bottle holders on either side which easily held my protein shakers, two smaller zipped pockets on the front for accessories, a sneaky padded laptop sleeve on the back and two large compartments in the body of the bag.

I found the main compartment easily stored a few pairs of shoes, which CrossFit fans wanting to switch between training shoes, runners and lifters will appreciate. But my favourite feature was a hidden, waterproof and aerated pocket on the bottom of the bag, perfect for storing your sweaty gym clothes – just don’t forget to take them out at the end of the day.

The straps and back are heavily padded for comfort, and the bag has been load-tested to 30kg, so you can even use it for a spot of rucking if you want. The only downside? The hefty price tag.

This Gymshark backpack offers premium features at a price that won’t shake you to your core.

There’s a separate shoe compartment at the bottom, so you don’t have to cram smelly trainers in with your work stuff, as well as a padded laptop sleeve. You also get a cushioned back panel and a sizeable main compartment with a wide zippered entryway, so you can easily access items that have dropped to the bottom.

The look is very Gymshark – svelte and all black – so if that’s your thing you’re going to love it.

And while it isn’t as large as rivals like the Built For Athletes bag, I was able to fit a change of clothes and laptop inside and found it far less cumbersome for commuting.

If I could only own one bag, for the gym and everyday life, it would be this one. You see, between lugging gym kit around, testing products on the go and squeezing various electricals in for my work day, I rarely travel light. This Stubble & Co bag caters for that perfectly.

It comes in three sizes – 30l, 40l and 65l – and the largest one proved to be something of a Tardis. The main compartment is enormous, and the large zippered window on the back of the bag allows you to open it up entirely so you can easily access all areas.

The bag itself is large, but sits flusher to the back than my Built For Athletes top pick, making it more flight-friendly. Despite this, I was able to keep filling it, and filling it, and filling it, and somehow never ran out of space or found myself in any discomfort while carrying a collection of heavy items.

There are more pockets than I knew what to do with, including a handy separate shoe compartment, and I’ve never felt more sure that my computer would remain safe during a crowded commute. This is because the kit bag has a custom-built padded compartment for laptops up to 16in, and it’s made from waterproof materials.

The straps can also be moved or removed to switch it between a rucksack and a duffel. However, its success boils down to the fact that it’s a very big, comfortable and practical bag.

I liked the understated design of this spacious gym bag. There’s plenty of room inside the 60l duffel, with its zipped main compartment, which has another one underneath that’s really cavernous and will store two pairs of trainers with ease.

The outer pockets are good for quick-grab items and the whole bag feels very well made, especially in the areas that usually start to degrade over time, such as zips, seams and straps attachments.

Backpacks aren’t for everyone, especially if your commute is a busy one so if a duffel style is more your speed, you can’t go wrong with this sleek style from Nike.

This is a really good backpack which looks great and comes at a reasonable price.

The addition of a padded laptop sleeve and water bottle slip pocket on the side of this updated model makes it slightly more versatile for sports and commuting, and the unexpectedly generous 28l capacity provides plenty of room for a change of clothes.

CrossFit fans who tend to carry most of their worldly possessions to and from the box each day might want to invest in a larger backpack, such as the Built For Athletes bags above. But most gym-goers will be more than catered for, with the decent-sized main compartment and front pockets for stashing valuables.

In my opinion, it’s the handsomest bag we tested too, and quickly became my go-to for everyday wear.

Every Troubadour bag I’ve tested has been brilliant – robust, sleek, stylish and incredibly comfortable to wear. They’ve also all been on the pricier side, often costing north of £250

At £169, the new neo backpack isn’t cheap by any measure, but it is the best value for money option the brand offers. And for those in the market for a premium rucksack that will last for years, it marks a smart investment.

It’s a compact bag with a deceptively generous 22l capacity, waterproof coating, padded compartments for your tech and clever storage options – a hardshell pocket on the top offers easy access to your essentials.

But the neo’s standout feature is its comfort. Lightly stretchy shoulder straps are designed to contour to your body, while a chest strap holds the bag securely in place. Whether I was walking, cycling or in some cases (when I was late for my train) running with it on, the contents felt near-weightless.

It’s not the largest backpack, but on office days I found I could stash some gym shoes and workout clothes in separate compartments to my laptop, work things and a couple of water bottles without any fuss.

In short: a premium option, a pleasure to use and a very good bag.

Completing a Hyrox race is an impressive achievement. If you’re part of team Hyrox and you want everyone at the gym to know you’re capable of this hardcore fitness feat, this is the bag for you.

It has a velcro section on the front where you can slap personalised patches and comes with a couple of Hyrox ones to get you started. The zippers also have the word “Hyrox” on them – just in case anyone didn’t get the message.

Beyond the branding, it’s also a fantastic bag. As a slightly slimmed-down version of Built For Athlete’s top-scoring pro rucksack, it still has plenty of pockets for stashing your valuables, and lifting knick-knacks and bottles. It also boasts a hidden waterproof compartment on the underside for all your sweaty gear.

The spacious main compartment easily housed my running shoes and lifters, while the padded shoulder straps and waist strap helped keep me comfortable when I carted it to the office and back. This, twinned with its slimmer profile, has meant I keep coming back to this bag for CrossFit sessions and office days.

Like it’s bigger brother, it’s pricey, but I really do believe you get what you pay for here.

We live in the era of the hybrid athlete. Where once people simply lifted weights or ran or swam, they now want to do all three activities simultaneously – and more besides. This Bloxx bag caters to that audience.

The first thing I noticed when having a rummage around was the pockets – this bag has loads of them. There are easy access option on the top and side, external water bottle holders, a padded laptop compartment that sits flush against the back panel and even some MOLLE-style webbing so you can attach a few extra pieces to the front of the bag via a carabiner. I went for liquid chalk.

The main compartment is split into three roomy zippered subsections, with the bottommost made from a waterproof material to keep your used gym, swimming or running kit separate from other items you might not want to inherit its odour. This makes it a good match for fans of triathlon and tackling muddy trails.

During testing, I found my size UK10 weightlifting shoes just fit into the waterproof shoe compartment on account of the bag’s narrow design, so itmight not work for those with larger feet.

That said, the rucksack practically inhaled all of my other gym kit including more shoes, gymnastic grips, weightlifting straps, skipping ropes, a TRX and any number of other items from my travelling fitness circus. it also allowed me to carry them comfortably and safely, thanks to its padded back panel and waterproof tarp-like material.

Add into the mix that it’s considerably cheaper than most tactical backpacks on the market and this becomes an even more appealing option.

The GoRuck bag above is undeniably pricey. This Force Fitness option is a more affordable alternative if you want to try walking with a weighted backpack, and it’s surprisingly feature-heavy considering its significantly lower RRP.

The backpack can hold up to 60kg, it has an internal sleeve to keep any weight plates sitting securely, and it’s made from a durable 1050D cordura material. It also has plusxh padding on the shoulder straps and back panel, which I found kept me comfortable on longer hikes while I was hauling a 10kg plate around, and it also comes with a welcome chest strap.

Although it didn’t quite feel as premium as the GoRuck bag, it still held all my gym essentials with ease thanks to its 20.5L capacity, and handles on the top, bottom and sides mean you can use it for workouts when you’re on holiday too.

Everything Stubble & Co makes tends to follow a stealth bomber aesthetic. As someone with a predominantly black gym wardrobe, this suits me down to the ground.

Unlike the kit bag above, the brand’s duffel sticks with a standard design – it’s a classic barrel-shaped bag with a long, removable, padded strap. But it stands out by doing the basics incredibly well.

The chunky zips are built to last, the bag is waterproof to protect your belongings and there are easy access pockets for all your gym essentials such as a protein shaker, sweat towel and headphones.

There’s even a smart looped strap on one side so you can slide it around the handle of your wheelie bag when travelling – everything has been incredibly well thought out.

I found the 25l main compartment had ample space for a few gym shoes and all my workout gear, although I kept this one exclusively for the gym rather than commuting as there was no padded laptop pocket. That, however, was my only complaint.

If you take a military mindset into the gym, this Bergen-esque 25l backpack will suit you down to the ground. It boasts four compartments, the largest of which can easily house your shirt, shorts and trainers. The three other compartments come in descending size order and will be able to take a 15in laptop, notebooks and all the other pocket shrapnel I carry around. The two biggest compartments open out to 180 degrees, making it easy to pack and unpack, and there are two side bottle holders. This combination proved ideal for all of my CrossFit wares.

No matter how loaded the bag was, I was still able to dial in some good ergonomics thanks to waist and sternum straps, along with some compression straps that can slim the bag down when it’s not fully loaded. Although I did find, when it was at capacity, it extended back quite far, making me far from popular when using the tube.

If you want an extra bit of personalisation, you can buy Velcro patches to personalise the top pocket of the bag with motivational phrases that range from the encouraging “Hard work pays off” to the brutally blunt “Nobody cares, work harder”.

In a sea of pockets, secret compartments and snazzy features, this holdall from Gymshark stands out for its simplicity.

It’s a medium-sized duffel with a surprisingly generous main compartment and a couple of zippered pockets for your valuables. If you want a bag you can just chuck everything into it and sling it over your shoulder – I think you’ll like this one.

Thanks to its washed cotton canvas finish, it looks great too – as evidenced by the fact that my other half keeps nicking it.

Militaristic gym bags are all the rage at the minute, particularly within the functional fitness community. But as with any trendy thing, this means they can be quite expensive.

This Under Armour bag offers the rugged aesthetic of pricier options for under £100 (and sometimes under £50, if you shop the sales).

While it’s not as big (21l) as most rivals, it does everything right, with padded shoulder straps, a chest strap for a secure fit and slip pockets on either side for water bottles and protein shakers.

It’s made from a durable cordura material, uses Under Armour’s water-resistant storm tech to keep your belongings dry, and has reflective molle webbing on the front so you can clip on extras like gymnastic grips. There’s even a separate shoe compartment in the bottom for smelly gym trainers.

After using it for a week, I found it was a comfy and compact option which worked well for gym trips but couldn’t quite hold everything I needed when working out on my way to work.

This Myprotein barrel bag is uncomplicated and affordable – two attributes I can get behind.

The large main compartment is plenty big enough to store a change of clothes and a whole host of workout accessories, while the zipped inner pocket is a welcome addition for valuables like your keys and phone.

Admittedly, you don’t get some of the premium features seen on other bags in this list, such as heavily padded straps, waterproof compartments for sweat-logged clothes and protected laptop sleeves. But the top zip running along the length does mean everything inside is pretty accessible, however messy the bag is.

So, if you’re after a sleek, cheap and simple gym bag to sling over your shoulder, this is a solid shout.