Best small gym bag
“What bag do you take to the gym?”
16 answers from 16 people · Updated Oct 12, 2026
tantrums trailhead 20L mesh duffle
i've used this bag almost every day for two years. holds a change of clothes and a pair of shoes with plenty of room to spare for trail or gym essentials. the mesh actually lets your sweaty clothes dry out. kinda gross, kinda sick.
perfect size for all my workout needs + love the kalo print
Macy’s did a promo earlier this year and these bad bois were a bonus. Thank god my mom still loves juicy like I do and graciously gifted this to me 0:) Makes packing for workouts so much more fun
6
Be really excited about your gym gear
If I know I have a good outfit ready for the gym I’m way more likely to go. Having workout clothes that fit and feel good makes me feel stronger and happier. (Image is my Andi gym bag I’ve had for years and I’m obsessed with. But, the company has shifted vision and their gym bags anre only available on resale sites.)
3
and if you need a yoga mat or pickle ball carrier, this one is great.
Lo & Sons Catalina Deluxe Travel Tote Bag - Midnight Ash
This bag is super functional and durable. I’ve had it for years and love the separate section for gym gear. Doesn’t have a dedicated laptop sleeve but this brand has other options that do. They often have sales 🤑 Personally I don’t like a backpack on public transit
24
This bag was my first kit purchase after I started playing again and has all the pockets one could ever need. The front racket bag is detachable if you wish to travel light and carries two rackets easily (and is also built for pickleball paddles). The clip on the back makes it easy to hang on the fence if bench space isn’t free. I have an older model in forest green and the logo isn’t as prominent, which I prefer. It also has a tiny tennis ball charm zipper which thrills me every time I see it.
11
This bag is so big you could probably fit your grandma in here. In all honestly I love this bag. Crafted from recycled nylon, it’s a spacious, streamlined solution for studio or everyday carry.
This is my tennis bag. I love because it doesnt look like a the normal brand forward tennis bag. More like just a travel duffel. It has all the bells and whistles you want with a more unassuming look.
1
A tote that can accommodate a 15" laptop, books, water bottle, gym clothes, and so on with a two-way zipper and pockets. Usually minimal bags like these don't have a zipper or if they do, they're larger (for travel), and come up against my short person threshold for ludicrous capacity.
1
FP Movement Quilted Carryall Bag
I have it in pink but that color is no longer sold seemingly!!! REALLY spacious with a laptop sized inner pocket. I use for travel + in theory "the gym" (I don't go to the gym but I love dreaming).
33
I bought a roll-top backpack after my 20+ year old backpack finally gave up the ghost. I thought it would be perfect for my work/gym needs. I work outdoors with a clipboard, so I didn’t need much space for that. Plus lunch and my small gym pack. What I realized is that the roll-top is limiting since I only have so much visibility into the backpack. So I went looking again. I found Portland Gear & realized it was what I truly needed. Although the smaller sized Cascade backpack would be fine for work, I also wanted to be able to use my bag for travel as well. Hence the Portland Cascade Getaway was the winner. The only bummer about the larger size is the limited color options.
6 recs
I’ve been training Muay Thai pretty consistently and have slowly figured out what’s actually worth keeping in my bag. Nothing fancy — just the gear I use every week for pads, bag work and sparring. If you’re in the US, MMA Warehouse is the best place I’ve found to buy Muay Thai gear. Great selection of actual Thai brands and usually way easier than ordering from overseas, fast shipping, and I don’t feel like my identity is going to be stolen.
