29 Best Gym Bags For Women Who Like To Work Up A Sweat

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Whether you’re into yoga, cross-fit, cardio, dance or lifting weights, you need a bag to carry your gear to and from your gym or fitness studio. But with so many gym bags and so many brands to choose from, it can be hard to settle on just one.

Looking for a bag to match your favorite sneakers? Looking for something simple that will match every outfit? From backpacks to totes to duffel bags, here are the best gym bags for women, no matter what type of workout you like.

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What to Look for in a Gym Bag

When shopping for a gym bag, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. Aside from the color and how it looks on the outside, there are a few other key things to consider.

First of all, think about the fabric. Unless you allow the rain and snow to derail your workout plans, it’s best to pick a water-resistant bag that can withstand inclement weather. Water-resistant bags are also good for resisting sweat and moisture from ground surfaces and gym floors.

Second, look for ventilation. If you intend to carry your stinky gym shoes or pack a change of clothes, you’ll want a breathable bag to keep smelly odors at bay.

Third, consider the size and how many pockets it has. Is there an organization for your workout gear, water bottle and a pair of shoes? Does it include interior pockets to hold your toiletries and cosmetics? Does it have exterior pockets to hold your phone, keys and gym pass?

The more you need to carry, the bigger it should be. So despite how cute it may look on the outside, having the right amount of organization is key!

Last but not least, consider the straps and carrying options. Some people prefer a shoulder bag. Some people like a crossbody bag. Some people insist on carrying a backpack. Make sure you choose a bag that lets you carry it in the way that’s most comfortable for you.

Okay…ready to shop? Here are our 15 favorite gym bags for women who like to work up a sweat:

1. Nike Gym Club Bag

With a bold logo across the front, the Nike Gym Club Bag is an instant classic. This duffel bag has a very roomy main compartment with a secure zipper closure, two top handles and a detachable shoulder strap. It’s detailed with interior pockets as well as an external zipper pocket to hold small items within easy reach.

You can tote it by hand, carry it over the shoulder or wear it as a crossbody bag. It’s perfect for anyone looking for an easy and stylish way to carry gym clothes, toiletries, shoes and other workout essentials.

2. Under Armour UA Storm Undeniable II MD Duffle Bag

Water-resistant material. Multiple compartments. Versatile straps. The Under Armour UA Storm Undeniable II MD Duffle Bag is absolutely perfect for carrying to and from the gym.

This duffel bag features a zippered main compartment and a vented shoe pocket to hold sneakers or dirty laundry. It’s also detailed with side pockets for added storage.

This duffel is available in vibrant color combinations and features a lightweight design with pop color accents. A padded top grab handle and an adjustable shoulder strap make it easy and comfortable to carry.

3. Aurorae Sling Yoga Backpack

The Aurorae Sling Yoga Backpack makes carrying your yoga mat and other must-haves a cinch. This yoga bag includes two roomy main compartments, a yoga mat locker system, a water bottle pocket and a small zip pocket on the front. The shoulder strap is detailed with a built-in phone pocket so you can keep your phone within easy reach at all times.

Another reason to love this backpack is that it’s detailed with a front flap pocket with a wet liner. You’ll always have a safe place to stash your stinky clothes after hot yoga or a sweaty outdoor workout.

4. Boost Gym Bag With Shoe Compartment

Looking for a super affordable gym bag that you can use for all types of travel? The Boost Gym Bag With Shoe Compartment is available on Amazon for less than $20!

This gym bag features a classic duffel shape with multiple pockets, a shoe tunnel to hold sneakers and multiple pockets inside and out. It’s detailed with two top handles, a detachable shoulder strap and a wet pouch to hold toiletries or damp sports bras.

Related: The 17 Best Gifts for Runners

5. Sweaty Betty Icon Gym Bag

Durable and versatile in matte nylon fabric, the Sweaty Betty Icon Gym Bag can be carried anywhere and everywhere. This gym bag can be carried two ways; by the two handles or by the adjustable shoulder strap. The inside features front and side pockets, a zip pocket at the back, plus 2 internal zip pockets. It also has a yoga mat strap on the bottom and a water bottle holder on the side.

6. Lululemon On My Level Bag

Yoga pants and leggings may be our Lululemon favorites, but the On My Level Bag proves that this brand can do it all! In a crossbody silhouette with a removable shoulder strap, this bag features a phone pocket, a water bottle holder and a secure zipper.

It’s made from water-repellent fabric, and it’s easy to wipe clean, so you can wipe it down after every use. But what we love most about this bag is its versatility. It looks just as good with leggings and sneakers as it does with a hoodie and jeans for a day of casual trek around town

7. Mier Sports Gym Bag

A ventilated shoe tunnel and multiple pockets make the Mier Sports Gym Bag a great way to carry shoes, clothing, and personal gear to and from the gym. This duffel features a zipper closure across the top, one roomy main compartment, a side-vented shoe holder and one inside zipper pocket to hold your valuables.

It’s detailed with an external front zipper pocket for added storage. It also features dual top handles that you can tote by hand and a detachable strap that you can sling over the shoulder.

8. Nike Heritage Gym Sack

A giant logo and swoosh graphic make the Nike Heritage Gym Sack a favorite among Nike fans! This lightweight, easy to carry sack pack is ideal for those moments when you only have to tote a few items.

This drawstring backpack features one main compartment, slender straps and a side zipper pocket to hold your phone or keys. It comes in many color combinations, but we love the simple and clean design of the classic black/white combo!

9. Adidas by Stella McCartney Gym Sack

We’ve loved Stella McCartney since she started designing for Chloe way back in 1997. We’ve loved Adidas since the ‘80s when their shell-top sneakers became iconic. But now that the two have teamed up, they’re better than before!

The Adidas by Stella McCartney Gym Sack is everything you want in a fashionable gym bag. It’s co-branded with both logos and detailed with a cinch-top drawstring. You can even collapse it into a super cool bum bag when you only have to carry a few items.

Hit the gym, stroll the city or hike a trail – wherever you go, this bag lets you do it in style.

10. Gaiam Tree of Life Yoga Tote Bag

Yogis everywhere are already big fans of Gaiam, and their Tree of Life Yoga Tote Bag is just one more reason to fall in love. Sized to hold a 24” mat, this tote features a snap closure, a moisture-wicking lining, and two flat straps for easy carrying over the shoulder.

It’s detailed with one inside zipper pocket and one outside zipper pocket, so you can keep your phone, keys and other small items close at hand. The interior fits your yoga mat perfectly and still offers plenty of other room to carry a towel or a change of clothes.

Related: 11 Best Squat-Proof Leggings

11. Lululemon Fast and Free Backpack

While it’s perfect for carrying your gear to the gym, the Lululemon Fast and Free Backpack is one that you can literally run with on your back.

This hydration-compatible backpack is well-constructed with a padded back panel, an adjustable sternum strap and a stowable waistband for added stability. These stabilizing features mean you’ll feel less bounce when you’re on the move.

It’s detailed with interior compression straps, so your personal items don’t bounce around inside. It also includes reflective accents for increased visibility in low light.

12. Adidas by Stella McCartney Large Tote

We love the Adidas/Stella McCartney mash-up so much that we’re giving them not one but two spots on this list.

If you prefer a shoulder bag to a backpack, check out the Adidas by Stella McCartney Large Tote. Made from recycled poly fabric, this sporty tote bag features a large silhouette with a top zipper, an external pocket and co-branded logos.

This tote features two top handles to carry over the shoulder and includes an exterior zipper pocket to hold your phone or other small items.

13. Herschel Supply Co Packable Duffel

Simple and stylish in a classic barrel silhouette, the Herschel Supply Co Packable Duffel is perfect for any gym-goer. In a round shape with a zipper closure, this duffel features a classic woven label plus an interior pocket with a snap closure.

This gym bag is made from ripstop poly fabric for added durability and comes in a wide range of patterns, colors and prints to suit your unique style. When it’s not packed full of workout clothes and gym essentials, it folds up into its own little pouch so you can store it with ease.

14. Dagne Dover Landon Neoprene Carryall Duffle Bag

Need a gym bag that can carry more than a few items? The Dagne Dover Landon Neoprene Carryall Duffle Bag offers loads of room for all sorts of essentials. Perfect for use as a gym tote or a weekender bag, this duffle is made from neoprene and performance air mesh. Not only is it durable and versatile, but it’s super stylish.

This carryall includes a water bottle pocket, a padded laptop sleeve and a mesh pouch. The outside is detailed with a phone pocket, two top handles and a detachable shoulder strap so you can carry it in different ways.

15. Caraa Nimbus Weekender

The Caraa Nimbus Weekender bag is the ultimate gym bag and travel bag. Vegan-friendly and water-repellent inside and out, this bag offers storage for all your most important items.

In addition to providing plenty of room for clothing and shoes, it includes a wet pouch, a padded laptop sleeve, a water bottle pocket and mesh pockets. It includes two drawstring pockets on the outside and breathable mesh vents.

And as if that wasn’t enough, it’s also detailed with a power bank pocket so you can charge your phone while on the go.

The Caraa Nimbus Weekender is more of an investment than your typical $30 duffel bag, but with 14 pockets and tons of other features, it’s worth every penny.

16. Puma Everett Women’s Candidate Duffle Bag

This duffle bag is as basic as it gets, but it comes at a basic price, which can be really appealing for some shoppers. The large Puma gym bag is available in various colors and patterns, with more than 15 options to choose from. It’s made from polyester and is easily machine-washable. There’s a separate shoe compartment, plus zippered pockets on the sides and fronts, as well as a removable and adjustable shoulder strap.

It gets the job done and for a great cost, and can be ordered on Amazon.

17. Girlfriend Collective Thorn Please Recycle Backpack

If you’re looking for a gym bag that can double as a backpack for when you’re on the go, look no further. This Please Recycle gym bag option is as sustainable as it is stylish and as functional as it is fashionable.

It comes in more than half a dozen colors and is almost entirely made from recycled plastic bottles. The water-resistant fabric makes it a good fit for running to the gym in the rain or wiping off sweat. The straps feature extra padding for extra comfort, and various pockets easily store gym wear or tech.

The only downside? Since this bag is a backpack first and a gym bag second, it doesn’t feature any gym-specific qualities you might want, such as a separate pocket for stinky tennis shoes.

18. Sportsnew Sports Gym Bag

Another super-affordable option available on Amazon, this gender-neutral gym bag from Sportsnew comes in more than a dozen colors and patterns and two sizes, small and medium (the medium size gives you about four extra inches of space).

The bag features specific, easy-access pockets for your shoes and water bottles, with dry and wet compartments to easily separate soiled and clean clothing.

19. Vooray Trainer Duffle

This Vooray Trainer duffle bag takes the qualities you like in a basic gym bag and gives them a slight upgrade. The shoe compartment is ventilated, so it’s not trapping in icky smells while you run to and from the gym. Plus, the water bottle pocket is extra-insulated to keep your water or thermos of morning coffee at just the right temperature.

The lightweight bag is water-resistant, with a PEVA-lined wet gear pocket, and there are multiple interior and exterior pockets for keeping all your gear organized and within convenient reach.

20. Aruna Project Aamina Yoga Tote

Specifically looking for a bag to take along to the yoga studio? Try this yoga tote from the Aruna Project. 

Handcrafted, water-repellent and abrasion-resistant, this bag offers a large main compartment to fit your clothes and shoes, but then an exterior front pocket that can easily wrap around and secure your favorite yoga mat. The fabric is fair-trade verified and, when you shop with Aruna Project, 100% of the profits go to human trafficking survivors.

21. Away Far Duffle

For a duffle bag that can pull double duty both at the gym and on your next vacation, go with this duffle bag from travel brand Away. While the brand may be more well known for its luggage, it makes a pretty nice, rugged duffle, too.

The polyester bag is lightweight but can stand up to abrasion and weather. Made from recycled materials, it features a detachable strap and exterior webbing for extra storage. When using the duffle, it’ll hold a few days’ worth of items, but when you’re ready to toss it into storage (maybe you gave up on that New Year’s resolution?), it folds completely flat for no wasted space.

22. Calpak Luka Duffel

This Calpak Luka duffel bag is also sure to delight, likewise built by a travel brand but with extra features that makes it gym-ready, too. For example, there’s a separate shoe compartment along the bottom that’s the perfect size for tennis shoes (and the brand does admit that the duffel was made with the gym, travel and everyday use in mind).

There are nine total pockets, the bag is super lightweight and it comes in some super-fun, limited-time colors in addition to the classic neutral tones.

23. Beis Sport Duffle

This minimalistic, sport duffle bag by Beis features a padded crossbody strap and handles, so you can carry it two ways. It’s compact, so will fit beneath an economy-class seat during your next flight, or just in your gym locker.

Reviewers report the bag is incredibly versatile and “perfect for any activity,” and multiple reviewers mention taking the bag on their outdoor adventures, such as hiking, camping or on a road trip.

24. Live Well 360 Tote

If you prefer a tote-style bag, but still need the durability and rugged appeal of a typical gym bag, then consider this Live Well 360 Tote, available on Amazon.

Practical and spacious, the tote is made from high-quality materials that are water-resistant and odor-resistant, while also being easy to keep clean. The shoulder straps are padded, for extra comfort, and there are extra organization pockets beyond the main, inner pocket, including an indoor slip pocket for gym clothes or tennis shoes, and a fleece-lined pocket for your cell phone.

25. Terra Thread Aarde Eco-Friendly Gym Bag

This sustainable, eco-friendly gym bag by Terra Thread comes in seven colors, ranging from a sleek black to a rich, vibrant green. Made from fair-trade organic cotton canvas, in a Fair Trade-certified factory, the bag features multiple internal and external pockets for both large and small items. Plus, this is a gym bag purchase you can feel good about, as each purchase with Terra Thread supports Feeding America and the organization’s work combating food insecurity in the United States.

26. Vera Bradley Sport Bag

Vera Bradley fans that are also gym-goers, rejoice! You can now enjoy all the fun, whimsical patterns that the Vera Bradley brand is known for, every time you go to the gym. This Vera Bradley Sports Bag comes in a range of floral patterns, and can be carried by hand or worn as a backpack.

The fabric is water-repellent and made from recycled bottles. There are roomy pockets specifically for larger items, like a pair of shoes, but also internal pockets designed with jewelry and similarly small items in mind. The bag is a little bit larger than most totes or some gym backpacks, measuring in at 14 inches wide and 19 inches tall.

27. Hycoo Sports Tote Gym Bag

It’s a tote, it’s an overnight bag, it’s a duffel, it’s a gym bag — it can do it all! 

This travel gym bag for women comes in more than 40 colors and patterns, and even comes with its own separate toiletry bag. It can hold about six to eight pieces of clothes, along with your cosmetics and toiletries necessary for cleaning up after a particularly difficult work out. There are separate compartments for wet clothes and dry clothes and the wet compartment is made from high-density, water-resistant material.

Want to take this bag on the go? It fits within most major airlines’ carry-on guidelines.

28. Wandf Travel Duffle Bag

If finding a cheap deal on a duffle bag is your primary goal, look no further. At under $15 (even at regular price on Amazon), this travel bag is as affordable as it gets. Of course, it’s worth noting that you do get what you pay for, but if you just need a bag to get you from home to the gym and back again, and you don’t anticipate any rough wear or tear, this bag will get it done.

This personal item duffle bag comes in more than 20 colors and features both a shoulder strap and handles. It’s designed to fit all major airlines’ carry-on restrictions. When it’s not in use, the water-resistant bag can be folded into a super-small, ultra-compact rectangle.

Reviewers call it a bargain and say the bag offers plenty of room.

29. Built for Athletes Small Gym Backpack

This Built for Athletes backpack is made for taking to the gym, but it can hold a lot more than just your gym gear and can go a lot further than the gym. It’s designed to be extra stable and durable, so could be taken hiking or trail running. It can hold a change of clothes, a towel and shoes, but also a laptop or tablet. When you’re ready to pack or unpack the backpack, the main compartment opens 180 degrees, for easier organization.

However you decide to stuff it, the backpack can hold up to 33 pounds.

What’s the Best Gym Bag for Me?

The best gym bag for you will entirely depend on your individual needs and how you plan to use the bag.

If you want a bag that can pull its weight not just at the gym, but in other situations as well, look for a bag that’s also advertised for travel, overnight trips or everyday use.

If you need a bag that can stand up to a lot of rough wear and tear, look for an extra-durable, waterproof option.

Want a bag that can hold way more than your gym stuff? You can find that solution in one of our above recommended weekender bags or totes.

Prefer something more on the stylish side? That’s an option, too, as are gym bags that are fully functional and gym-focused only.

Whatever your intended use, though, look for a gym bag that’s well-reviewed, within your budget and ticks all of your desired boxes. With all the great gym bags for women that are available, there’s no reason to settle.

Do I Even Need a Gym Bag?

If you’re new to the whole gym-going experience, you might be wondering if this really is a necessary purchase. The short answer? No, you might not actually need to buy a gym bag.

If you already have a tote, duffle bag or backpack that can hold your gym gear, and you don’t use that bag for anything else and you really don’t plan on going to the gym all that often, then you can likely use the bag you already have at home.

However, if you use that bag regularly for work or travel, you likely won’t want to stink it up with your gym wear or, when you need it for an impromptu trip, suddenly realize it’s filled with dirty workout clothes. If that sounds like you, buy a new gym bag.

Likewise, if you plan on going to the gym very regularly, rain or shine, and plan on getting in some pretty tough workouts, you might want to invest in a gym-specific bag that will make your experience easier and more convenient, thanks to the gym-specific functions it will offer, like a separate pocket for towels or shoes, or a hidden pocket for valuables.

What Are the Best Gym Bags for Women?

From barre workouts to high intensity interval training to goat yoga, everyone has their own favorite fitness routine. Maybe you like to dance. Maybe you like to run. Maybe you get exercise playing tennis or swimming.

No matter how you work up a sweat, you’ll need a gym bag to carry your gear.

The bags that made this list are our absolute faves – and for many different reasons. No matter which one you choose, you can rest assured that you’ll have an easy way to carry your gear and look good doing it.

You might also be interested in: Amazon’s 7 Best Yoga Mats [For Channeling Your Inner Yogi]

The 29 Best Gym Bags for Women: 

1. Nike Gym Club Bag
2. Under Armour UA Storm Undeniable II MD Duffle Bag
3. Aurorae Sling Yoga Backpack
4. Boost Gym Bag With Shoe Compartment
5. Sweaty Betty Icon Gym Bag
6. Lululemon On My Level Bag
7. Mier Sports Gym Bag
8. Nike Heritage Gym Sack
9. Adidas by Stella McCartney Gym Sack
10. Gaiam Tree of Life Yoga Tote Bag
11. Lululemon Fast and Free Backpack
12. Adidas by Stella McCartney Large Tote 
13. Herschel Supply Co Packable Duffel
14. Dagne Dover Landon Neoprene Carryall Duffle Bag
15. Caraa Nimbus Weekender
16. Puma Everett Women’s Candidate Duffle Bag
17. Girlfriend Collective Thorn Please Recycle Backpack
18. Sportsnew Sports Gym Bag
19. Vooray Trainer Duffle
20. Aruna Project Aamina Yoga Tote
21. Away Far Duffle
22. Calpak Luka Duffel
23. Beis Sport Duffle
24. Live Well 360 Tote
25. Terra Thread Aarde Eco-Friendly Gym Bag
26. Vera Bradley Sport Bag
27. Hycoo Sports Tote Gym Bag
28. Wandf Travel Duffle Bag
29. Built for Athletes Small Gym Backpack