Going into the fitness world is an exciting beginning to a lifelong journey. It does not only change your physical body; you are starting to go into a lifestyle change, and everything around you will change to cater to your gym needs. That is if you are dedicated to living out your active lifestyle.
When you start showing off your gains, you might find that you need some new additions to your closet to accommodate your gym needs. One of those things might be a gym bag.
A gym bag is something great to invest in especially as a regular gym-goer. It will help you get to your gym quickly and with no fuss if you choose the right gym bag. There are, of course, a lot of things you have to consider when buying a gym bag.
Some things you have to consider are the capacity of your gym bag and its aesthetic. Do you have a lot of equipment and need a bigger gym bag? Do you need something sturdy and with a lot of padding?
I know some people who commute and want a more flexible bag, something that won’t get in the way especially in a crowded space. Others, however, like the safety of a bulky bag, something that definitely protects the things inside.
Going into an active lifestyle gives you an excuse to buy new gear for the gym, but buy wisely and take into account the quality of the material and its price. It might be a bit tricky to some, so here’s a list of the best gym bags for women out there!
Best Gym Bags For Women Compared and Reviewed
| Image | Name | Brand | Check Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Top | Under Armour Undeniable Duffle 4.0 Gym Bag | Under Armour | Check Price on Amazon |
 | Herschel Novel Duffel Bag | Herschel | Check Price on Amazon |
 | PUMA Evercat Contender 3.0 Duffel | PUMA | Check Price on Amazon |
 | Nike Gym Club Bag | Nike | Check Price on Amazon |
 | Aurorae Yoga Mat Carrier Bag | Aurorae | Check Price on Amazon |
#1 - Under Armour Undeniable Duffle 4.0 Gym Bag
Personally, my favorite part would have to be the shoe compartment. It’s such a great feature to add to any gym bag, and Under Armour does this wonderfully as it still leaves a lot of space inside your main compartment.
This bag is also going to be great if you want to overpack. Its material can help stretch out just a bit to accommodate all those extra gear and clothes; the gym bag is made of 84 percent polyester and 16 percent elastane (or spandex).
Polyester, as I said earlier, is great for moisture-wicking, so no worries about having a wet gym bag. It’s also very durable, and adding the elastane makes for a more stretchable bag that will help adjust to the number of things in it.
You’re also going to have a shoulder strap so that it makes your bag so much easier to carry. It’s also water-resistant on the outside, so no need to worry about wetting your things. Users definitely love it, especially for its quality and its size, so I’m not surprised if you love it too!
PROS
- Durable material
- Spacious
- Stretchable
CONS
- Some users have reported missing parts
#2 - Herschel Novel Duffel Bag
The duffel bag is made out of 100 percent polyester, which is a great material for various reasons. Polyester has always been used in the athletic wear industry because of its great qualities.
Polyester is a fabric that is known for its moisture-wicking abilities. So, if you’re going home from the gym with sweaty clothes in your bag, you won’t have to worry about it staying in there for too long (of course, with proper care).
Polyester is also known for its strong fibers, so you can splurge on this bag. It will stay with you for years, after all. It has a shoulder strap and a handle, which is great if you want a hassle-free carrying experience.
Some users have great experiences with this. It has a lot of space for anyone who likes to overpack! There are still a lot of complaints about parts falling off or a squeaky bag, though, so beware.
PROS
- Polyester makes for a durable bag
- Big capacity
- Classic
CONS
- Users complained about a squeaky sound
#3 - PUMA Evercat Contender 3.0 Duffel
The PUMA Evercat Contender 3.0 Duffel definitely is going to help you out with your gym needs.
The great thing about this duffel bag is how much storage it has.
Not only is the main compartment already really spacious, but you also have 3 zip pockets on the outside of the bag, convenient for shoes and socks.
It also is made of polyester, which is a durable fabric with strong fibers that you will see in most athletic wear. The great thing about it is also how good it is at moisture-wicking, which means you probably don’t have to worry about having a moist bag (yuck!).
It also has dual carry handles, which is definitely convenient for a gym bag. Users also love this since you don’t have to break the bank in order to get your hands on this.
Users have complaints too though. Some have complained about how quickly the fabric has ripped and how quickly the seams came apart. Keep that in mind when deciding a gym bag for you.
PROS
- Very spacious
- Lots of storage and pockets
CONS
- Some users have reported fabric ripping
#4 - Nike Gym Club Bag
The great thing about this duffel bag is how much pockets it has all around for your gear. Inside and out, you have places to keep whatever you need neatly inside your bag.
The duffel bag is also made of 100 percent polyester, which is especially great for athletic wear and gear since it has very strong fibers. Whatever you have to bring to the gym, this bag can probably handle it.
The material is also water-repellent, which is especially important if you’re going to the gym and you have all that sweat to handle. The Nike Gym Club bag is just the bag to help you out on that.
Adding detachable shoulder straps is also a great move from Nike as it gives you the option of using the handles without any strap touching the floor. It’s such a little thing, but it proves to be important at the gym.
Some users are quite disappointed at the size of the bag, however. They didn’t expect it to be as small as it is, so if you want something that would be for your quick gym sessions, this bag is it. For overpacking, maybe look for another bag.
PROS
- Durable material
- Water-repellent
- Variety of colors
CONS
- Too small for some users
#5 - Aurorae Yoga Mat Carrier Bag
This is a smaller backpack than everything else on this list and will probably carry all the essentials (but not any more than that). Confused about why it’s called the “yoga mat carrier bag”? Well, for all the yogis out there, it has a special compartment for your yoga mat that makes it much easier than carrying it on your person.
Mats are, of course, not included, but another compartment is also featured for other things you might need such as water bottles. Aurorae have definitely thought their design through with their wet liner in the front pocket which is specially made for wet and sweaty clothes.
There are a lot of pockets around this bag, so you won’t run out of storage. It also claims that it can fit most 15.4-inch laptops which you can compare to the amount of stuff you might need in the gym.
It’s not all good, though. Some people think the sling design is a bit awkward and throws them off their balance, especially when you have heavy stuff in there. Some prefer the shoulder bags better, so try to keep that in mind before buying this bag.
PROS
- Lots of storage
- Sling bag design
- Yoga mat compartment
CONS
- The sling bag design is quite awkward
My Number One Pick
- 84% Polyester, 16% Elastane
- 8 shoulder drop
- UA Storm technology delivers an element-battling, highly water-resistant finish
- Tough, abrasion-resistant bottom & side panels
- 2 large front zippered organization pockets
What To Look Out For When Buying A Womens Gym Bag
Below are some considerations that you might want to look into before purchasing a gym bag.
Material
You’ll find that the quality of your bag really depends on the material that the brand uses. In most cases, you will find that your bag is made of polyester or some kind of polyester mix. This is because polyester has very strong fibers.
Its synthetic fibers are usually used for athletic wear and gear. This is because polyester is known for its moisture-wicking and water-repellent qualities. In fact, it can only store 0.4 percent of moisture. The Nike Gym Club Bag, for example, is water-repellent because of this material.
Some bags also have a mix of polyester with another material to either make it stronger or make it conform to your needs. For example, the Under Armour Undeniable Duffle 4.0 Gym Bag has elastane along with polyester. Elastane, or Spandex, is a type of material that can make your fabric stretchable.
Look at the material. You can be the judge of it!
Capacity or Storage
Before buying any gym bag, you have to think about the amount of gear you actually bring to the gym. Buying a bag that is too little for you will obviously affect how you get to the gym. Buying a bag that is too big, on the other hand, will also be quite a hassle.
Try reflecting on how much you really need and see if it matches the bag you’re eyeing. If you have certain needs such as a shoe compartment, you can think about that as well. I, for one, needed this when I went swimming all the time and needed to change from rubber shoes to slippers.
If you need bigger storage, you might want to look into the Herschel Novel Duffel Bag. Its high quality and large capacity will be great for those who like to use their gym bags as their travel bags as well.
Another thing to consider when it comes to storage is the number of pockets there are. I personally like to have small pockets on the inside of the bag where I can keep change or even place my wallet in. This makes me feel secure and is quite convenient to have so you don’t have to keep digging in for your wallet.
The Aurorae Yoga Mat Carrier Bag is a great bag that has a lot of pockets and even a compartment for your yoga mat.
Waterproofing
Some bags are made especially to become waterproof. This will help you not only with accidentally spilling some water on your bag, but also when handling some sweaty clothes (and a sweaty you).
Getting a bag that is waterproof will keep your things safe and protected. This is especially important if you like to bring electronics with you. If you come from work or school, waterproof bags can be a surefire way that your things won’t get destroyed along the way. The PUMA Evercat Contender 3.0 Duffel will help protect your things with its waterproof feature.
Design
You also want to look at the design. Not only will the style help make you look stylish as you go to the gym, but the way the bag is built will either burden you or make your heavy gym bag feel lighter.
Some go for the usual shoulder bag, which is definitely fine especially if you have things to bring aside from your gym bag. Others have a backpack style that is more balanced and will make your load feel lighter.
Frequently Asked Questions for Womens Gym Bags
Q: What material should I look for in gym bags?
A: You should definitely look for polyester. It’s a great material for athletic wear because of its durability and moisture-wicking ability. You definitely want something that is water-repellent especially for all the sweat and water in the gym.
Q: Should I get a duffel bag or backpack?
A: This really comes down to personal preference, but I can give you a few tips. If you’re someone who likes to have a balanced weight all throughout (which is especially great for your posture), you’ll want a backpack. It distributes the weight so that your load will feel lighter.
Duffel bags, however, can be much better for some people, especially for those who like to travel a lot and have a lot of bags with them. Duffel bags can also be much more convenient, especially if you’re someone who does not only use the bag as a gym bag but also your everyday bag.
Conclusion
Gym bags are a great investment and a great addition to your gym gear. If you’re ready to invest and splurge, there are tons of options out there that will probably last you for very long. To me, it’s better to invest in a durable bag that’s a bit more expensive than the cheaper bag that will last you for a year then break down.
If you’re looking for more fitness gear, check out our other post on the best workout shoes for women. And if you want to take your training to the next level consider having a weighted vest, specifically for women. If your goal is lifting weights, we’ve done even a review on the best weightlifting gloves for women – check it out! And stay strong!
And when you are ready to start tracking your goals, to gauge improvements on performance each day then see our review on the best fitness watches for women which caters for all budgets. Having a fitness watch may seem like a gimmick, but if you want to constantly improve upon your current self – you need a way to measure that and an easy way is by using one.
Always do your research before breaking the bank. The buying guide will definitely help you decide with your own personal preferences. Have fun shopping for your new gym bag!
Sources:
https://www.textileschool.com/234/polyester-fiber-and-its-uses/
Kelly Li is a yoga and mindfulness enthusiast from Adelaide, Australia. Kelly believes that through active yoga, exercise, and practicing stretching routines that we can feel better in our bodies and ultimately better mentally too. Kelly runs weekly yoga boot camps and hopes to inspire others to try it as a form of fitness.