The 5 Best Gym Backpacks of 2021

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Our Top Picks

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 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

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 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.