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By Avidan Grossman and Jake Woolf
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The best gym bags are built for more than just the gym. Sure, they come with the product specs you'd expect from a bag designed to store your sweaty workout gear—water-resistant fabrics, adjustable shoulder straps, ample shoe compartments—but these aren't bags made exclusively for exercising.
Functionality is paramount, but so is form (kind of like, uh, going to the gym). And now that you're hitting the gym again with some regularity—or swear this is the week you're going to start!—you'll need a bag up to the task. A tote bag won't do the job. A backpack feels inadequate. But a specialty gym bag (a.k.a. a duffle bag—or “duffel bag”, depending on your preference) with a generous main compartment to keep those filthy gym clothes separated from the chinos and button-up you'll be changing into post-shower? That's just what the doctor ordered. Especially when said gym bag comes with an abrasion-resistant laptop sleeve so you can bring your work with you wherever you go, you sick puppy, you.
And don't forget: Even the most technical gym bag can double as a slick weekender on a last-minute summer getaway or a lightweight carry-on for your first airplane trip in months—provided, of course, you invest in a style with the right accoutrement. Durability is a must, as is an easy-access side pocket to store your water bottle. A few carefully placed external pockets to hold all your small items never hurt, either. So even if you're an expert gym-goer getting reacquainted with the day-to-day grind, it's worth reminding yourself what a game-changer a high quality gym duffle can be, and then tracking down the best one for your routine.
Luckily, GQ Recommends unearthed 19 of the absolute best gym bags on the market right now, so you can hit your PRs—or just hop on the Hampton Jitney—in style.
Materials: 14-oz 900-denier 100% post-consumer recycled polyester ripstop Lining: 3.3-oz 200-denier 100% recycled polyester Capacity: 40L Dimensions: 21" x 13.7" x 10.6"
Is there anything Patagonia's legendary Black Hole bags can't handle? In tote or dopp form, the waterproof 14-ounce 900 Denier nylon fabric works like an impenetrable forcefield, repelling whatever the world throws at it (and looks way better for the wear, though you can always hose it down for a makeshift factory reset). Its duffel, though, remains a standout, thanks to features like daisy chains for you to hook on an extra pair of climbing shoes or a portable speaker for your bike commute to and from the gym. The cavernous 40-liter main compartment is enough to house a weekend's worth of outfits, and features a separate mesh pocket that's great for keeping your sweaty gear far away from your crisp 9-to-5 standbys. Plus, its handles and straps mean you can carry it however you prefer—no more straining your biceps with extra work after a gnarly arms day.
Materials: 100% polyester with polyurethane coating Lining: 100% polyester Capacity: 27L Dimensions: 9.8" x 19.1" x 8.7"
Rains is famous for outerwear that laughs in the face of inclement weather. Its duffle bag harnesses the brand's trademark waterproof tech to protect your workout gear from the worst of the elements, whether it's raining cats and dogs or you're the bedraggled owner of a pet insistent on slobbering all over your gym shoes.
Materials: 100% polyester Lining: 100% polyester Capacity: 41L Dimensions: 20" x 11" x 11"
This one's a no-brainer. The Brasilia is one of the most popular gym bags in Nike's arsenal, and if you can't trust the Swoosh to provide a spacious, heavily-zippered duffle to store all your swoosh-emblazoned gear, who can you turn to? It's got easy-access exterior pockets for small valuables like your phone and earbuds as well as ventilated mesh side pockets to keep your sweaty clothes and dirty shoes from stinking up the main compartment. And with a durable coated bottom, you won't have to worry about scuffs and tears.
Materials: Waxed cotton canvas Lining: Cotton-polyester Capacity: 40L Dimensions: 10.5" x 22.5" x 10.5"
Not everyone is into the newfangled waterproof, anti-odor, solar-powered BS that gym bags have become. What happened to a good ol' fashioned duffel bag? Well, L.L.Bean's timeless duffle bag has been around for decades and isn't showing any signs of going away. Sure, the recipe has changed a bit over several decades, but the vintage specimens that menswear geeks drool over aren't all that different from today's version. It's made with full-grain leather handles and all-cotton waxed canvas that'll repel water and look better with age (something none of the synthetic bags can say). Add to that detachable shoulder straps, convenient exterior zip pockets, a reinforced bottom, and a rugged heritage look that'll outlast any trend and you've got yourself a bag that'll see you pumping iron well into retirement.
Materials: Nylon Capacity: 20L Dimensions: 17.5" x 9″ x 8″
Can’t stop thinking about how darn cool Maverick looked cruising along at Mach 10 in the Top Gun sequel? You need a bag that can handle your newfound need for speed. Even if your idea of supersonic travel involves a quickie bike ride uptown bumping Kenny Loggins on your AirPods, this bag is built to be put through the paces. A durable water-resistant construction, YKK zippers, tons of pockets, and a signature orange lining evoke the same cool factor as your favorite bomber—though the only danger zone you’re headed to is dangerously big fits territory.
Materials: 1680D Cordura ballistic nylon Lining: Capacity: 18.7L Dimensions: 17.5" x 12.5" x 8"
Okay, yes—Aer's Fit Pack 3 is technically a backpack. But its fan-favorite style comes chock full of the type of product details you'd expect to see in a next-level duffle designed for heavy-duty wear and tear. Its exterior is made out of abrasion-resistant 840D nylon with Cordura side paneling, and a padded interior ensures your laptop stays secure no matter how many dirty socks you've wedged in there. Factor in an easy-access water bottle pocket and Duraflex hardware, and you're looking at a formidable gym bag alternative that might convert even the staunchest duffle devotee.
City Adventurer Large Duffle Bag
Materials: 100% Nylon Lining: 100% Recycled polyester Capacity: 29L Dimensions: 18.1" x 9.3" x 11.6"
If you tend to book it to the gym as soon as you log off, you need a bag that can hold your workout duds and your office essentials—and won't look out of place at either. Lululemon's sleek, deceptively tech-y duffle comes with plenty of storage for your sweat-wicking, four-way stretch gear along with a padded sleeve for laptops up to 16" (you know, in case you need to bang out some emails while you wait for the bench to free up). It's cut from a lightweight waterproof fabric and tricked out with handles, a cross-body strap, and exterior pockets, including an expandable option specifically for your sweat-soaked garms. We're also giving it bonus points because it's shaped like a bowling bag, which you should definitely use it for if this guy's energy matches your own.
Materials: 100% Nylon Lining: 100% Recycled polyester Capacity: 29L Dimensions: 18.1" x 9.3" x 11.6"
If you’re hunting for a gym bag that doesn’t look out of place in a corner office, Bennett Winch’s luxe bag is the solution. It brings the clean lines of a weekender, the functionality of a gym duffel, and craftsmanship of the tailor who makes your bespoke suits. Hand-crafted in England using top-shelf materials (full-grain leather for the handles and reinforcement areas, heavy-duty brass for the zippered pockets, and water-repellent-bonded cotton), Bennett Winch's Weekender is all about subtle opulence. The roomy main compartment has a padded laptop sleeve and enough space for at least two outfits. Plus, the bag comes with two separate waterproof compartments—one on either end—to keep stanky shoes and sweaty clothes away from your suit and tie.
Materials: Nylon Capacity: 23L Dimensions: 19.6" X 9.4" X 9.8"
They say that showing up to the gym is half the battle, but for plenty of folks, it's more like all-out war. That's why you pay thousands of dollars a year to go to a gym jam-packed with amenities like a juice bar and a day spa—storming the beaches, or, in this case, hauling your ass to the gym, feels like way less of a struggle when you're not slumming it to your local NYSC. Enter Saint Laurent's ripstop bag, which took home top honors in this year's Fitness Awards for its ability to transform your workouts into bona fide fashion moments. You’ll never have to worry about ID'ing it in the locker room, but don’t blame us if someone “accidentally” walks off with it while you’re on the treadmill. All's fair in love, war, and lifting.
The Adidas Team Issue Duffel is the consummate team player, up for whatever coach (a.k.a., you) needs. The checklist is deep: dedicated shoe pocket, roomy main compartment, multiple pockets inside and out with a mix of water-resistant nylon and breathable mesh. A detachable shoulder strap lets you go hands-free when you need to eat-and-go (whether that’s a protein shake or a burrito, your call). Plus you get ten colors to choose from, and a lifetime guarantee.
Separate end-cap compartment? Check. Nearly indestructible nylon? Check. Three-way strap system? Check. A classic since its debut in the '70s? Check, check, check.
48 Hour Tin Cloth Weekend Duffle Bag
Filson built its name outfitting some of the hardest-working folks around gear that can go anywhere, shrug off anything, and look better for it. The brand's 48 Hour Weekend Duffle Bag is no exception. The headline feature here is Filson's signature Tin Cloth, made of a hefty 14-ounce canvas that’s been oiled for water-resistance. Backing up the all-natural, all-weather exterior are beefy bridle leather straps, durable brass zippers, and a slew of compartments (including two large exterior pockets) for all your gear. Just note: the 48 Hour Duffle a little smaller than a full-size duffel, so scout the size and make sure it’ll carry everything you need.
Meet your secret to keeping up your workout even on vacation. The Matador Freefly features all the crucial gym bag amenities like water-resistant materials and dedicated compartments for large and small goods—with a superpower. The duffel rolls up into itself until it’s the size of a hamburger (and not even one of those giant restaurant monstrosities). Toss it into your luggage and you won’t have to juggle your gear on the way to the hotel gym again.
If you’re looking for slick, simple, and clean, let us introduce you to this throwback carryall from Adidas. Its waxy vinyl-like polyurethane exterior can shrug off a drizzle and the deep profile means you can maximize the space inside (which includes a zippered pocket).
Bellroy's penchant for minimalist design belies this bag’s maximal utility. There’s a dizzying array of compartments tucked everywhere (the better to stash everything from valuables to stinky socks), while the brilliant ultra-wide opening makes sure you can get to all of them. But the showstopper is the bag’s extra-durable ripstop nylon, made completely from recycled plastic bottles, that gives the Lite Duffel its name without sacrificing any durability. Because your workout should go down in the gym, not in carrying your bag to it.
Why do people love Baboon to the Moon so much? (For one, its name is "Baboon to the Moon.") But the relatively new luggage brand specializes in endlessly versatile, deceptively durable luggage made out of a cheery ballistic nylon you'll never have to worry about damaging. Its signature Go bag makes traveling a breeze, whether you're waltzing your way through TSA or hunting down an unused cubby in the locker room.
Herschel may be better known for its campus-roving, vintage-passing backpacks, but if your kind of academia involves fitness classes, they've got a great bag for that, too.
Trade Series 2-in-1 Duffle Bag
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By The Editors of GQ
By Yang-Yi Goh and Tyler Chin
By The Editors of GQ
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