The Best Gym Bag 2023
1. King Kong Jnr Kong Bag
Made to withstand a lifetime of abuse, The 1,000-denier nylon is thicker and more robust than the nylon used in other sport bags: It’s like the difference between a school knapsack and a thick canvas duffle bag. Its many compartments let you keep clean clothing separate from sweaty towels and sneakers.
In addition to its main compartment, the Jnr Kong Bag, which has an overall capacity of 30 liters, comes with four accessory pockets (one Velcro-sealed for clumsy hands), a mesh catchall, and a shoe compartment. The sturdiness of the bag is evident in the details, from its double-stitched seams to its all-metal fasteners.
2. Herschel Supply Co. Sutton Duffle Mid-Volume
This midsize bag is for anyone who wants a simple duffle to take to the gym—it’s sturdy enough for the money but has only one main compartment.
A classic shape and look, and a removable shoulder strap (in addition to its two top handles). It doesn’t have a shoe pocket or clothes divider, though, so that means you may need to pair the Herschel with a dry bag (or even a plastic shopping bag) if you want to contain your dirty gear or wet towel.
3. Aer Duffel Pack 2
Sometimes carrying a separate gym bag and laptop bag to the office isn’t ideal. In that case, we think the Aer Duffel Pack 2 is the best option. Its sleek, minimal look blends into nearly any setting. The bag itself is made of a tough, 1,680-denier Cordura ballistic nylon, similar in strength to the material used in the Jnr Kong Bag but with a finer texture. With a capacity of 24 liters, it holds less than the Jnr Kong, but we still found that it had room for what we needed to transition from work to working out. The Aer Duffel comfortably carries a 15-inch laptop in its back pocket, as well as a full change of clothes within the main compartment and a pair of shoes (up to men’s size 13) in a ventilated compartment at the bottom of the bag.
