The Best Gym Bags in 2020

The Epperson Climb Pack is built tough, ready to carry your gear to and from the gym or to the great outdoors during your next hiking and climbing excursion. It features a weather-resistant 1000D Cordura nylon exterior and sturdy YKK zippers that’ll stand up to frequent hard use. The top flap design closes with an included climbing-grade carabiner for added security, and it can be used to actually bear your weight in a pinch.

The Black Hole Mini MLC is a versatile briefcase and backpack hybrid that features a clamshell design that can help you separate your everyday carry from your athletic gear when you’re on the move. With a dedicated laptop pocket that’ll accommodate a full-size 15" laptop, the Mini MLC is built for office work too. And as an added bonus, the durable TPU laminate water-resistant design of the bag and its manageable international carry-on approved size means that this bag can pull dual duty for one-bag travel.

You may know Lululemon best for their yoga-inspired gear, but their athletic design philosophy goes well beyond comfortable pants. Their sleek More Miles backpack is a top-loading urban backpack that fits the urban commute while accommodating up to 25.5 liters of your essentials. Its water-repellent fabric exterior construction is easy to wipe clean, and it’s accented by nice exterior touches like sealing zippers and dual water bottle pockets. The sternum straps and waist straps are made for your comfort, and they also help to compress the main compartment itself. Finally, the More Miles pack features a padded laptop/tablet pocket and a “sweaty” compartment to segregate your used clothes from the rest of your gear.

With an ultra-slick, minimalist design and premium touches that befit its name, RYU’s 24L backpack is all business, whether that’s protecting and organizing your work essentials or giving you extra functionality for your more active pursuits. The Locker Pack’s exterior is built from a blend of polyester, cotton, and canvas, with a wax-treated face and PU-treated backside to create a water-resistant shell, accented by leather straps and zipper pulls. And speaking of, a molded internal shell retains the bag’s shape for ease of packing, and further complemented by a drop front opening for easier to access your gear, especially when it includes larger items like packing cubes or a pair of shoes for the gym. Zippered and mesh pockets give you plenty of organization on the inside for both your work and play essentials, while a secure zip pocket under the top flap hides access to a separate laptop sleeve.

If your gym bag is not your primary bag for everyday carry, it should be light and easy to put away. The packable construction of the Matador Transit bag makes it a perfect choice. It features a waterproof and puncture-resistant 30D Cordura ripstop nylon shell that folds into a pocketable shape when its not in use. The lightweight material also helps it tip barely 5 ounces in total on the scales. But with a generous 30 liters in capacity, you’ll be able to haul quite a lot of gear in it when you need to.

The roll-top closure of the Alpin Metro Pack ensures everything inside stays safe from inclement weather, and it also lets you pack the bag down to the right size for your gear to keep things low profile in transit. For your smaller items, there are two color-coded zippered sections for quick and easy access. The mesh contour of the pack conforms to the shape of your back, making this bag very comfortable to wear on longer commutes.

The Filson Duffle Backpack features an expandable coated-nylon pocket that lets you separate sweaty gear from a clean set of clothes, and your other everyday carry essentials. It’ll also help you keep soiled and dirty clothes separate from everything else when you’re on an extended trip. And the versatility of the pack makes it great for extended use, as it’s able to be carried as either a backpack or a duffel pack and its durable 600D nylon construction will strand up to the wear and tear of heavy use as well.

Bucket-style bags offer a unique, quick-access route to your essentials, demonstrated by Osprey’s Transporter Zip Top backpack. The outdoor-inspired (and outdoor-ready) design is just at home in the urban jungle. As its name suggests, its top opening zips open to reveal its 30L worth of contents, including a padded 15“ laptop sleeve, document sleeve, internal organization slots, and plenty of space for the rest of your gear. Rounding out its features are dual water bottle pockets inset into the main compartment to maintain the Transporter’s sleek silhouette, a heat-embossed, scratch-free, zippered slash pocket, and a front attachment point for a blinker light.

The Keb Hike pack is a great option if you’re looking for a smaller bag for your gym carry. The 20-liter capacity lets you carry your gear without being too big and bulky for the daily commute. And just because the bag is small, it doesn’t mean it’s not capable. Its recycled 1000D textile design is super durable while being environmentally sustainable, and its strong enough for use in the outdoors. In fact, you can even attach skis and ice poles for winter excursions as well.

The unique easy-access design of the Street Zen makes it great for everyday carry use that has an internal frame sheet that makes carrying even bulkier items easy to do despite its manageable size. This means you can definitely fit your athletic gear and a change of clothes without a problem. The top and side buckle openings let you reach into the bag at a moments notice, making the Street Zen great for commuting as well. And the durable 500D Cordura construction will stand up to frequent use, and if anything goes wrong you can avail of Mystery Ranch’s lifetime guarantee.