Taking out time for the gym might not be possible every day, but it is necessary for both your physical and mental wellbeing. When you have prior work commitments and social obligations, your best way of squeezing in your fitness routine requires a gym bag that can fit all your gear while making your commute hassle-free.
Sure, any duffel bag or backpack can carry your sweaty and smelly gym clothes, but you do need a functional gym bag with multiple compartments to carry your clothes, sneakers, gym gear, and laptop (in case you're dropping in right from work). Nike, Wildcraft, and Puma are some of the favourite brands for the best gym bags for men.
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A gym bag should be stylish, versatile, and durable. Today, gym bags are constructed in a range of styles, materials, shapes, and sizes that it becomes difficult to pick one out that ticks all your requirements. So, how do you choose this perfect fitness carryall? Lucky for you, we've done the research and prepared this extensive buying guide on the best gym bags for men. Read on!
The first thing you need to consider before exploring gym bags is to think about the circumstances in which you'll be using them. Are you planning on carrying it to the gymnasium's pool? Or, are you thinking about using it just for weight lifting?
Determining your daily activity will help pick up the perfect gym bag for you. For water activities like swimming and diving, you will want to look into a gym bag with a waterproof lining to contain the dampness of your swimsuit.
Men who do intense cardio sessions and sweat may also want to consider a bag with a waterproof interior. But if you work out with a personal trainer on easy-medium level exercises, you might need a relatively low-maintenance bag.
What justifies a gym bag's storage space is the number of things you can fit in it. Be it your workout gear, including headphones, bottle, gloves, gym clothes and shoes, or your office things. If you're an avid gym-goer, you might want to consider getting a bag with numerous compartments.
A bag full of compartments will not only keep your things properly organised but will ensure easy access. Even if you are not a regular gym-goer, we would recommend you look for a bag with at least two compartments to keep your clothes and shoes separate.
On average, a 50 to 70-litre gym bag works best for dedicated gym-goers. If, however, you don't have much stuff to put in the bag, a bag with less than 60-litre storage would do.
A gym bag's material decides its durability, sturdiness, appearance, and safety the content. Polyester, nylon, leather, canvas, and vinyl are the most commonly used fabrics to manufacture gym bags.
Polyester is water-resistant and easy to clean and is the most preferred material choice for athletes. Nylon is comparatively not as water-resistant, but it is stain-resistant, lightweight, and affordable. Leather bags are the most durable ones and are also high-end looking, making them the most expensive option.
However, it tends to retain the odour from sweaty clothes if not taken care of properly. Canvas and vinyl bags are on the cheaper price spectrum, where canvas bags are machine-washable and not compatible with moisture, and vinyl bags are stain-resistant and prone to scratches.
Out of all the factors in terms of size, storage, and material, a gym bag should be comfortable and sturdy. Essentially, it should not put too much pressure on your back or one of your shoulders.
Gym bags usually have three distinct straps – two twin straps in the middle and a long one running through the bag's length. The two shorter straps in the middle are good for carrying your bag for shorter distances. They can even be fastened together to make them easier to hold.
The longer strap is used to carry the bag over your shoulder or body while travelling long distances. Most of these straps are padded and easily adjustable, making them more comfortable and convenient to use.
The type of gym bag you choose depends on the items you plan to carry and your fitness activity. From duffle bags to backpacks and shoulder bags, there are several options to choose from.
If you're a regular gym-goer and have plenty of stuff to carry to your gym, a duffle bag will be the perfect pick for you. It comes with different compartments, making it easier for you to carry clothes, shoes, toiletries, and bottles in an organised manner.
They are exceptionally spacious and easy to carry over your shoulder. Duffle bags come in cylindrical and rectangular shape, and different colours and materials. HRX by Hrithik Roshan, Nike, Wildcraft, and Under Armour has an amazing collection of duffle bags.
If your fitness regime involves, hiking, biking, camping, and nature trails, a backpack is a must-have for you. They look classy and are flexible enough to store a wide range of items. They are spacious and easy to carry as compared to duffle bags.
Backpacks are versatile – they can fit a wide range of gym equipment and items, and can also be used as regular bags to carry other items. Since backpacks only have straps to carry them on back, they put too much pressure on one body part, making them a little uncomfortable to carry.
These bags are designed specifically for athletes and fitness junkies. They do look somewhat like duffle bags, but athletic gym bags have multiple pockets and compartments to fit in all the gear and things of professional athletes.
Athletic gym bags also have a separate shoe storage section where you can keep your shoes away from sweaty clothes after a workout. They are waterproof, exceptionally durable, and easy to organise.
Shoulder bags are the oldest type of gym bags that consists of a twin handle and a long strap that you can use to carry using your hands or on your shoulders, respectively. These bags are generally made of pure leather, making them ideal for all weather conditions.
Shoulder bags also have different pockets and compartments to store toiletries, clothes, and shoes separately. They are also lightweight and easy to carry. However, they tend to put weight on one side of the shoulder, which can cause posture problems.
These bags come to the rescue when you decide to head to the gym straight from your office. This type of bags looks like a briefcase but offers the perfect solution for carrying gym wear, office work papers, and laptop at the same time.
Messenger bags are spacious and have different compartments to organise everything properly. However, you might not want to use them for regular gym days as it tends to retain post-workout sweaty smell, which would make you quite uncomfortable in the office.
As a brand dealing in activewear and gym equipment, Under Armour is a favourite brand for gym freaks. Like all their products, this duffel bag is tailor-made keeping in mind all the fitness needs of professional gym-goers. Made with UA Storm technology the bag has durable water repellent capabilities to keep your bag dry and lightweight in the rain.
The bag comes along with a large storage space with one main zip compartment, one inner pocket, two external zip pockets, and two sides mesh pockets. You can keep all your gym gear, clothes, shoes, and water in one place. The bag also has two short handles with Velcro closure and a removable, padded, and HeatGear shoulder strap.
Nike Brasilia is a practical and well-made bag that features a spacious main compartment, two external zip pockets, and a mesh exterior pocket. The bag is fitted with amazing dual handles and an adjustable shoulder strap for ease of carrying. It also has roomy side pockets where you can store your shoes or other gym accessories.
Users are highly satisfied with their purchase and have reviewed the bag with a 4.5-star rating. They like the fact that the bag has a well-ventilated main compartment that keeps their clothes smelling fresh. You can expect this bag to last for a while because it is designed for durability.
Nike’s Power Duff Training duffel bag is a lightweight and versatile bag to carry with you everywhere. This bag is styled a little differently with ample storage to keep your essentials. The main compartment is roomy but smaller than the above-listed bags.
It has two zipper pockets on the side and two mesh pockets on the other two sides to store water bottle, earphones, or wallet. Reviewers say that the bag is extremely rugged and durable. Overall, it’s a very good quality bag and does exactly what it is meant to do.
Don’t let the minimalist exterior of this bag fool you. Inside you’ll find ample storage space for all your gym equipment and accessories. The bag is also versatile and is a perfect pick whether you’re headed to the gym after work or travelling for a weekend getaway.
It is big and roomy, but small enough to function as a carry-on. It features two-way zip opening into the main compartment, a side zip compartment with shoe inlay, a side zip pocket, and a side mesh pocket. Its adjustable strap and handles are also very comfortable and convenient.
With a well thought out design, Wildcraft’s Gym 3 Duffle Bag is a great, medium-sized, durable bag. Most people love it because you can carry it as a duffel bag and a backpack. Its adjustable shoulder straps make it easy to wear the bag like a crossbody.
It’s designed with two side pockets for easy access to the centre compartment. The bag’s side panel is made up of super glide air mesh for ventilation and breathability so that your sweaty clothes and shoes don’t leave a stench.
If you’re someone who carries the same bag to the gym and other recreational activities, then this bag is a great option. Thoughtfully designed with multiple storage spaces to serve you well during gym, trekking, and hiking. It has a padded shoulder strap and ventilated back panel for ease of carrying.
The bag also features a front pocket with a grab handle, in case you want to carry the bag n a duffle style. This sleek, affordable, and highly functional bag will surely make your commute to the gym comfortable.
HRX is India’s first homegrown fitness brand that’s loved by fitness junkies, sports lovers, and gym enthusiasts. This black coloured training duffel bag is one of the brilliant pieces from HRX that comes with a great design and great functionality.
The bag may look small but has plenty of room inside the main compartment to fit in your gym gear, clothes, shoes, and other necessary stuff. If you don’t fancy carrying bulky-looking bags to the gym, then this one is for you.
If you’re not a regular gym-goer, but fancy a durable gym bag that you can store easily for the rest of the days, then this piece will be a perfect pick. With comfortable shoulder straps and medium storage capacity, this duffel bag by Impulse makes storing all the gym accessories easy.
The bag has a lightweight fabric, making it convenient for you to fold and store the bag for days when you’re not using it. It has one main zipper compartment and two side zipper slip pockets, giving you ample space to carry all the necessary items. Reviewers love the material, size, and design of the bag.
If you’re someone who likes to squeeze in gym time between or after office hours, then this stylish bag is for you. With black coloured polyurethane fabric and a brown adjustable shoulder strap, the bag looks more like a business bag.
The bag has medium-sized storage in the main compartment, two internal slip pockets, and an external sip pocket to store all your gym equipment and office material. You can even carry the bag if you’re coming directly from your school/college to the gym to add on a smart, casual look to your attire.
The gym bag by The House of Tara is a smart take on otherwise simple duffel bags. This is a small-sized bag that’ll be ideal for you if you don’t carry a lot of stuff to the gym. You can just throw in your t-shirt, lower/shorts, gym shoes, tissues, and deodorant in the bag and you’re good to go.
The bag is available in four different colours – blue, olive, khaki, and rust. Reviewers like that the bag is sturdy, smart, and has enough storage space to hold gym essentials. It is also very easy to carry the bag due to its adjustable shoulder straps that enhance carrying comfort.
Buying a new gym bag gives you the perfect reason to get new gym gear and essentials to fill in the bag. We have some recommendations for gym gear and accessories that you would want to add to your bag. Read the articles for the buying guide.
Anything that motivates you to go to the gym is something you should hold on to. Be it getting a pair of new gym shoes, or a gym bag, whatever makes going to the gym easy for you, welcome it into your life right now.
Author: Srishti Sikka
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