The 9 Best Gym Backpacks of 2021

Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Under Armour SC30 Undeniable Backpack at Amazon

"Sleek, sporty, convenient, comfortable."

Best Budget:

Outlander Travel Hiking Backpack at Amazon

"Features dual mesh pockets for water bottles."

Best for Women:

MZ Wallace Metro Backpack at Nordstrom

"Both chic and practical."

Best for Work:

Nike Vapor Power Training Backpack at Amazon

"Great for bringing your gear to work before or after hitting the gym."

Best with Shoe Compartment:

Nike Sport III Golf Backpack at Amazon

"The shoe compartment that will work well for everything."

Most Versatile:

Adidas Rival XL Backpack at Amazon

"A great option for carrying all of your gym needs."

Best for Laptop:

Under Armor Recruit 2.0 Backpack at Dick's

"A great option to safely carry your laptop with you."

Best for Basketball:

MIER Large Sports Backpack at Amazon

"Lets you easily carry your basketball on the train or on the go."

Best String Bag:

WANDF Drawstring Backpack at Amazon

"This bag is great for vacations as well as those daily gym trips."

Buy on Amazon Buy on Zappos

Sleek, sporty, convenient, comfortable—these words only approach accurately describing this fantastic gym backpack. The Under Armor SC30 Undeniable Backpack is one of the best overall gym backpacks on the market today.

This Stephen Curry-branded bag is available in four designs, including simple black or blue and gold styles. It is one-size-fits-all with 12-inch by 19.5-inch dimensions and plenty of storage space. The soft-lined laptop sleeve inside the bag is perfect for office workers looking for a versatile gym bag, while the water-resistant polyester and abrasion-resistant bottom are ideal for rough and tumble uses.

Under Armor’s bag is ideal for the gym not just because of the design and reasonable price, but also because it has extra-large mesh pockets for plenty of water bottles, a huge interior pocket for all your gym clothes, and a front-loading zipper pocket for shoes or anything else. The bag is designed to fit a Size 5 soccer ball or basketball. The shoulder straps are UA HeatGear for added comfort.

Buy on Amazon

If you're looking for something inexpensive, compact, and effective, consider the Outlander Ultra Lightweight Backpack. This no-frills option features dual mesh pockets for water bottles and a large open interior, and it weighs only half a pound. However, this bag also folds up into a tiny zippable pocket that you can attach to another bag with the included carabiner.

It is made with tough, water-resistant nylon and features two-way, high-quality zippers. The bag includes multiple pockets for easy organization. This budget backpack is perfect for the gym, and it comes in more than a dozen solid colors so that you can match your bag exactly to your style.

Buy on Nordstrom

There's a reason you've been seeing this bag everywhere. The MZ Wallace Metro Backpack is both chic and practical—the neutral color palette ensures that you'll find an option to go with most outfits, and the pockets provide ample storage space. It also comes with a removable interior pouch and smartphone pocket, and it fits most 15-inch laptops. An added bonus? The nylon material makes cleaning a cinch.

Buy on Amazon Buy on Dick's

Sleek and stylish, the Nike Vapor Power Heathered Training Backpack is a great option for carrying your gym gear to work. This heathered design available in three simple colors—blue, black, and gray—fits right at home in an office setting and looks stylish in any workplace. The bag is understated, so you won’t need to talk to your co-workers about going to the gym unless you want to.

This is one of the best gym backpacks for the office because of its convenient padded laptop sleeve. In addition to these office job amenities, the bag also has sports contoured Curve Max Air backpack straps, a large main pocket, and side water bottle holders. Like many bags, this backpack sports small compartments for your keys, wallet, and phone as well as a wet/dry compartment for storing sweaty clothes or swimsuits.

Buy on Amazon

Don’t worry, you don’t have to love golf to take advantage of this fantastic gym backpack. The Nike Sport III Golf Backpack may be designed for 18 holes, but this sleek bag features a great shoe compartment that will work well for everything from the treadmill to CrossFit.

With a timeless heathered design, available in three color options, this gym backpack will match anyone’s style. The main backpack compartment uses a fold-over top and buckle closure, ideal for cycling. The bottom of the backpack sports a separate shoe compartment that zips for secure carrying. You can easily carry cleats, sneakers, or golf shoes in this bag without having to squish them or dirty your gym clothes. The whole bag is 13x27x7 inches in size, with lightweight construction and a durable polyester design.

Buy on Amazon Buy on Dick's

The Adidas Rival XL Back is a great backpack for the gym and just about anything else. With 14.5x13x20.5-inch dimensions, this gym backpack lives up to the “XL” in its name with a voluminous main compartment and plenty of small pockets. The bag sports 2 mesh water bottle pockets, a laptop sleeve, internal compartments, four small exterior pockets, and LoadSpring, heavy duty straps. The polyester bag is tough but features a lifetime warranty from Adidas. This particularly big bag is a great option for carrying all of your gym needs as well as other items you may need for work, school, or a trip all at once.

Buy on Dick's

A gym backpack is perfect for bringing your exercise gear to work as well as bringing your work gear to the gym. The Under Armor Recruit 2.0 Backpack is one of the best gym packs and a great option to safely carry your laptop with you. There is a soft-lined pocket for your laptop on the large main pocket of this traditionally styled backpack. The pack also has the UA Storm water-resistant finish to protect your computer from rain and damaging splashes.

In addition to laptop protection, this backpack has many other great features. It has two mesh water bottle pockets, an abrasion-proof bottom, small pockets for small items, and a sporty overall design.

Buy on Amazon

Bring your basketball to the gym for your next league game or scrimmage. The MIER Large Sports Backpack is a quality, inexpensive backpack that lets you easily carry your basketball on the go without having to hold it or squeeze it into a tight bag.

The Mier pack has a large mesh pocket that unzips from the front and easily fits a basketball, a pair of sneakers, or some clothes that need to breathe. The Bag has a large internal compartment as well with an oversized laptop sleeve and a water-resistant bottom. This great gym backpack includes a bunch of small features, like the handy zippered side pocket, the mesh water bottle holder, a key hook, a carabiner loop, and much more. The whole bag includes 40 liters of storage capability and comfortable straps.

Buy on Amazon

Many people like to use a string bag when they head to the gym. However, even if you’re opting for this simple option, you don’t need to give up on the best features of a standard gym backpack. As expected, this small, lightweight string bag includes a large middle pocket. However, this WANDF bag also features a sneaky shoe compartment with a zipper in the back as well as a separate, small front pocket for smaller items.

The nylon bag is water resistant and includes wide, comfortable, adjustable straps. While you still get that sleek drawstring design, you avoid the pitfalls of this bag with small interior pockets to prevent all of your gym gear from mixing together. This bag is great for day trips and vacations as well as those daily gym trips.