I used to pick up a bag and cycle to my gym. My gym bag was an old bag and nothing like any of the best gym bag India. Later I had considered a work bag with a shoe compartment but those were huge.
And from my research and experience I have seen gym bags are mostly duffel bags and branded gym bags are not always good.
Personally I did not liked
- Wildcraft gym bags
- Gym bag puma
Personally I do like the TopGator Gym Bag
Best Gym bag brands in India
If you are not sure then you can read about gym bag buying guide or on these types of gym bag, what to carry in a gym bag, Cleaning your gym bag?
List Best gym bag India
Best Gym Bag in India with Brands | Top Feature |
Best gym bag for men | |
Leather gym bag mens | |
Gym bag for girls | |
Largest Gym bag in India | |
TopGator Gym Bag Sports Duffel bag with Shoe Compartment 34 L | Gym bag with shoe compartment India/ Good for office Gym |
Best gym bag under 300 | |
Backpack gym bag |
I would not recommend any gym bag for carrying weights or for dumbbells, that will just shorten the life of your gym bag.
Rather you should get those gym bag combo offers – like, gym bag and shaker combo, gym bag and gloves combo etc.
And in my opinion you should not look for gym bag under 200, gym bag under 300 or less.
Reviews of the Best Gym bag India
Under Armour gym bag
Final Verdict: If you are after a brand and want to have an internationally known product, then consider this gym bag.
And this gym bag is also costly. It can accommodate a shoe, but does not have a separate compartment.
Check the other features below!
Under armour is a world famous sports wearable making brand and this under armour gym bag is one of the best. It is available in many colors and is quite big in size.
It also has a UA storm feature which makes the bag more water-resistant than any other gym bag in the Indian market.
Side panels and bottom has high scratch and abrasion resistant material.
Meaning, it is understandable that the gym bag outer material will last for a long time.
It has a large D shaped central compartment which can accommodate most of your large sized gym equipment.
AS for other compartments, under armour gym bag has two large sized side pockets. One large front zipper pocket.
Large vented pocket for shoes or wet clothes and some mesh pockets.
This under armour gym bag has a width of 24.8 inches with length of 11.8 inches and height of 12.9 inches.
This is quite big for a gym bag.
Best Exercise Equipment for Small Spaces
Top features:
- Large size
- UA storm waterproof feature
- Tough outer layer.
- Large pockets and several small compartments.
Cons:
- This large size is not required for many.
- Costly.
AUXTER Brown Leatherette Gym Duffel Bag
Final Verdict: Quite stylish and durable at this price point but do not have high hopes. This is a great value buy at this price point only.
Also comes in black and some other design variants but the material is the same.
Leather bags are cool and durable. And this leather gym bag also has a shoe compartment.
The gym bag has a length of 43cm and has a width of 23cm. The leather bag has two handles. This leather gym bag has a capacity of 23 litres.
The leather gym bag is also made up with heavy-duty material, but be wary of sharp edges or knives etc.
It has a double zip large main compartment and one meshed up compartment for shoes or wet clothes.
It has more small compartments where you can put earphones, id card, sanitisers etc.
In the main compartment you can put a towel, gym gloves, dress and more.
This leather gym bag has an embossed logo, which I am not so fond of.
Top Features:
- Nice design with a big compartment.
- Have a separate shoe compartment.
- Can also be used as a small travel bag.
- Suitable as a gift and for both genders.
- Great value at low price.
Cons:
- I did not like the carry handle, it could use some grip to make it more comfortable.
TopGator Gym Bag with Shoe Compartment India
Final Verdict: It is specious and have many pockets for many uses. And the cost is not high also.
This makes the best gym bag with a shoe compartment. Check all the features below!
This is one of the largest gym bag in India with a size of 34 liter. This also has a separate shoe compartment which is nice otherwise shoe dirt will be all over the other items.
Apart from this, Topgator gym bag has mesh compartment for bottle, transparent compartment for wet clothes and internal pockets to keep keys and credit cards etc.
The outer material is waterproof so you do not have to worry about rain.
The bag has a length of 21 inches and a width of 10 inches and height of 10 inches at well.
You can fit in a big towel along with a gym dress.
I liked the shoulder straps of this gym bag, which are thick and other straps are durable too. And the shoulder strap is adjustable also.
And the whole bag weighs just around 280 gram thus it is super lightweight to carry.
Top Features:
- 34 litre capacity
- Waterproof
- Shoe compartment
- Separate pocket or sweaty clothes
- Mesh pocket
- Anti-theft inner pocket
- Good for office gym
Cons:
- Some do say that the shoe compartment is smaller.
SFANE Duffel Gym Bag
Final Verdict: A great waterproof budget gym bag in India that has a separate shoe compartment.
The straps are thin and the total capacity of the bag is around 15-20 litres only. Suitable for someone who does not want to use this bag to carry a lot of items
This is one of the best gym bag in India, which is best for both women and men. I liked the grey and orange version more.
It is a 19 inch long duffel bag style gym bag which also has a shoe compartment.
It is a polyester made gym bag which is waterproof and the zips are durable also.
Apart from using this as a gym bag, this also good as office gym bag or small hiking trips.
There are also some small compartments where you can put mobile phones, keys etc.
This is not a small gym bag but also not a large one. Still it weighs around 330 grams. And the capacity is around 15 litres.
Top features:
- Good waterproof material used.
- Easy to wash
- Capacity of 15 litres.
- Separated buckles and belts.
Cons:
- Zips are not so durable.
AmazonBasics 40 L Sports Duffel Bag
Final Verdict: I would say this huge sports bag or gym bag in India is suitable for athletes who would carry shoes, footballs or other sports equipment. It is also great for dancers as they can carry a lot of stuff in it.
But I do feel the outer material is thin and with a lot of weight and a lot of usages it will not hold up for a long time. But this is one of the largest gym duffel bag India.
This sports duffel bag or gym bag is the largest of them all. This is the largest gym bag in India with whooping 40 litres capacity.
And obviously apart from carrying everything to the gym you can use this for travelling, hiking or as an office gym bag easily.
And if you want something larger which is more of a travelling duffel bag then get the medium version which has a capacity of 60 litres.
The length of this bag is around 24 inch, Width: 12 inches and height is around 13 inches.
Top Features:
- Huge size to carry everything. Carry water bottle, shaker bottle, towels, shoes, clothes etc.
- Two zipper pockets.
- Has an exterior mesh pocket to keep phones, keys etc.
- Shoulder strap is adjustable and the pads and other straps are nice too.
- Got a handle for one arm carrying. Like a farmer’s carry workout.
- You get a 1 year warranty.
Cons:
- The bag is huge for sure but it lacks a strong durable material build. I feel it is too thing for a bag of this size!
5 O’ CLOCK SPORTS Gym bag Combo
Final Verdict: A great combo pack for those who are not picky or crazy about the minute detail of their gym gears.
The gym gloves, rope, shaker bottles are better than expected and the bag itself is not bad as compared to the price.
Do not want to spend separately on protein shaker, skipping rope, gym gloves then a Gym bag combo is for you.
Here you do not get to pick the best accessories that are needed for a gym session. But you do get the most basic style or of basic quality of accessories that can get you going with your gym session.
Here is what you get with this sports gym bag combo!
- Gym gloves
- Skipping ropes
- Protein shaker bottle (500 ml)
- Hand grip strengthener
Top Features:
- Good quality leak proof shaker bottle
- Gloves are also good.
- Separate shoe compartment.
- Skipping rope is also good.
Cons:
- You can not select the quality of the accessories items given but these are good.
Nike Women’s Gym bag
Final Verdict: If you like the brand value and like the color scheme of this gym bags then get it.
Definitely there are no genders of gym bags but this one is one of the branded gym bags that is promoted for women.
This bag has a width of 21 inches and height of 11 inches and looks very stylish.
Since it is a Nike product, price is on the higher side but durability is also good.
The straps are wide and the material is comfortable. Although it is made from polyester. So it is a little waterproof but I would not try to test it.
And it is easy to clean and note that the bag has a light color shade so it might get dirty pretty quick.
Top features:
- Great material used.
- You get one main compartment.
- 1 slip
- 1 exterior pocket.
Cons:
- No shoe compartment.
- Pricey.
- Does not have a shoulder pad.
Auxter G5 Duffel Bag
Final Verdict: This is a good duffel bag for the gym that you can buy if your budget is low. Do not have high expectations and you will be good to go.
Auxter G5 great duffel gym bag is one of the best buy if your budget is under 300-400 INR.
Even at this budget the gym bag has some space and a separate pocket for shoes. The bottom has a hard material so it feels solid. It is of grey color and made from polyester.
The sports bag has a capacity of 25 litre with dimensions like – 18.9 inch length, 9.8 inch width and 9.8 inch height.
These sports bag also has a dual carry handle and a strap, but no shoulder pads.
Along with the specious compartment this gym bag in India has an organiser pocket for key, cards, phones. All in all this gym bag can carry your clothes, shoes and some sports accessories.
Top Features:
- Specious at this low price.
- Stylish looks.
- Separate shoe compartment.
- Good zipper and straps.
Cons:
- No shoulder pad.
- Straps could be more durable.
SAFARI 15 Ltrs Backpack
Final Verdict: If you want to pack a lot of things then this gym backpack is not for you. It is for those people who would use this bag to carry some dress, water bottle and a towel.
If you drive or ride to your gym then a backpack style gym bag is suitable for you. And here is the smart looking polyester made bag.
The capacity is 15 litre and weighs around 200 grams. And the dimensions are length—12cms, width—27 cms and height is around 41 cms.
It has good space to keep a towel, gym clothes and a shoe will be a tight fit. But there is no laptop compartment, so do not try anything else.
Apart from gym bag, this can be used for short day trips also.
Top features:
- Great looking bag to keep some minimum gym equipment.
- Good as a small backpack.
Cons:
- Small size.
- Not waterproof
- Not strong build.
Buying Guide to your Gym Bag
Water proof: Waterproof is a must-have feature in gym bags. You do not want to get the inner contents of your gym bag wet due to rain or water splash. Waterproof bags also have zips that are hidden, making sure that the zip lines work for longer.
Durable Material: Polyester is the common material used, but leather, canvas made gym bags are wildly popular also. Polyester is waterproof but not breathable, but does it matter?
Canvas made bags are very durable and can be washed in machine, but heavier and will take more time to dry.
Nylon bags are most lightweight, but not as durable as canvas or polyester.
Leather bags look the most premium, but these are faux leather only. Leather bags are not machine washable, but can be clean easily.
Size: From 12 ltr to 40 ltr, gym bags are found in various sizes. The bags that have shoe compartments are a little bulkier. And some duffel bags can be used for gym also and those also tend to be larger in size. If you have a lot to pack in, then you should get a large gym bag.
I prefer small – mid-size gym bags.
And if you do Yoga then you might look for gym bag with yoga mat holder. Or get a yoga mat holder separately.
Comfort: Since the gym bag will not be sticked to your skin for a long period of time so you do not need a softer outer material. Or comfortable outer material. What you will need is some good straps, handlebars so they do not break. And those should be comfortable to hold with a good grip.
Compartments: You must have many compartments especially for shoe. And even better if the gym bag has a separate container for a water bottle. Also the bag should have many other compartments where you can put items like gym gloves, wrist bands, key chain etc.
Price: Unless you are after the brand then gym bags are not costly. Gym bag prices starts well below under 500 and can go upto and beyond 5000 INR. Good leather gym bags are costly too but depends on the brand.
Cleaning: All gym bags are easily cleanable depending on the material. If you want to quickly clean the gym bag then buy the polyester or vinyl made ones. Canvas is a tough material and needs more time to dry up and cleaning. And leather needs more care also.
What to carry in a gym bag for a woman
Here are the gym bag essentials for women!
- Protein Shaker bottle
- Water bottle
- Towel
- Sanitizer
- Shoes
- Gloves
- Elbow support
- Knee support
- Wrist Support
- Bandages
- Deodorant
- Shampoo
- Soap
- Makeup
Gym bag essentials for the modern man
- Protein Shaker bottle
- Water bottle
- Towel
- Sanitizer
- Shoes
- Gloves
- Elbow support
- Knee support
- Wrist Support
- Bandages
- Deodorant
- Shampoo
- Soap
Gender of both male and females should have these essential items in their gym bag. With women they can keep some makeup if needed but otherwise all other items are necessary.
Gym clothes: Either go into the gym wearing gym clothes or take them with you in a gym bag so that you can change back.
Protein Shaker bottle: To sip on that whey protein or pre/post workout drink you would need a protein shaker bottle. You can use it as a water bottle and keep the protein in the container if you have one.
Water bottle: Do not be dehydrated while workout especially after office/work. You have to carry a water bottle even if you do not carry a protein shaker. Sipping water in between workout is good.
Towel: if you are like me who sweats a lot or even not still you should have a towel with you. You can use it to lay on the bench, wrap around ab barbell, do towel pull ups and more. And always clean your sweat before leaving the equipment.
Sanitiser: Clean hands keep away us from many germs and a sanitiser is needed to do that. Since it does not requires any water, you can just use a sanitiser and use the gym machines.
Shoes: Although I get better grips with my bare feet, I would suggest wearing shoes in a gym where any people are present. If someone or yourself drops a weight then your shoes will provide some protection. Also shoes might help with some treadmill workout.
Gloves: No grip means no workout, here are some epic gym gloves in India and you should carry one in your gym bag. This enables you to have a great grip and protects your hands.
Elbow support: If you have elbow pain then it is a must otherwise for more stability you can use an elbow support.
Knee support: Knee support helps with heavy deadlifts and squats. Also helps with stability and maintain a proper form. These supports do not take much space so you can easily cary them in your gym bag.
Wrist Support: Like the knee and elbow support a wrist support is a good equipment which helps the wrist stay in line and work better. Wrist support helps with all overhead and pushing movements with the support.
Bandages: Crepe and band aids are great for all times. And keeping these means you are ready if any injuries happen. But be careful.
Deodorant: Indian climate makes us sweat a lot and a good deodorant will help gp that smell away until you bathe fully.
Shampoo: Good gyms have great washrooms so you can use a shampoo to clean your hair if required. Not essential item but some may need it.
Soap: Since you have sanitiser you do not need a soap but sure it can come handy sometimes.
How to clean your gym bag?
For polyester or fabric based gym bag use any cloth detergent and it will be okay.
You can use water and vinegar also but most cases cloth detergent works.
Clean both the inside and outside and hang it dry.
I would not dry it out in the sun as it may destroy some colors.
For leather gym bags you can use soap and water. And after when the bag is dried you can apply some oil to make it shine.
Gym bags are not much washing machine friendly, all that tumble might leave some marks on the outer walls of the bag.
To remove stain or to do some so-called deep cleaning like other suggest use something like surf excel to rub on the stain and wash later. But do not soak the bag overnight.
And you can remove the straps if possible and wash them separately.
Types of Gym Bag
First of all I would like to tell you there are no style of gym bag that will rule over all. Just get what fits your style and benefits you the most.
Backpack gym bag
The canvas material is widely used since it has waterproof capability and is durable. You can have a lot of things in it. But not good for keeping shoes. Can accommodate a yoga mat. And backpacks are best if you ride a bike or cycle to your gym.
Duffel Bag
Duffel bags are the most common and widely used style of gym bags. These are easy to carry and some leather gym bags of this style look really great. I do not like to carry these to office or college since these are kind of rounded and can be very large. And can put a yoga mat in also.
Still it is a good style which can carry a lot of items.
Shoulder Gym Bag
I am used to a shoulder style gym bag. Goes well with my cycling. For buddy commutes it absolutely sucks. It will get stuck somewhere or the other. Some also come with handles and can be used for office gym also. Some of these shoulder gym bags do have a professional look to it.
Athletic Gym bags
The gym bags are meant for the athletes who could fit in a lot of stuff in them. From towel, to extra set of dress and put another set of shoe in a different pocket. I would prefer this style more than the others. These are waterproof and have excellent space. And also these tend to be large.
Some speciality athletic gym bags are geared at specific sports. Like the gym bags being used for cricket, badminton etc.
Tote Bag
Tote bags are longer and can accommodate a lot of things but unlike others these are not only for women. Anyone can use them. These tote bags are multi purpose but I do not like them as gym bags.
How to pack a gym bag for work
If you are going to use a public commute then you are not going to get by easily with a bulky backpack or any other type of gym bag. I would gladly skip my workout shoes and do the workouts bare feet.
Bare feet also seem to give me better grip.
And if you can possibly pack in a shoe in your gym bag for work then do so.
Here are the items that you can carry to pack a gym bag for work –
Workout Shoe: if you have a large bag where you can put a workout shoe then you must do it. Your feets will not be dirty and less chance of injury from if ever a weight falls.
Towel: A good gym etiquette is to carry your own towel and spread it on machines like bench press etc so your sweat does not
Extra set of clothes: Obviously you will need to change into your gym clothes from your office dress. So you have to carry a set of tracksuit, t shirt etc. If you have the space then you can also carry another set of dress to wear it back home.
Soap: To wash hands or to bathe you may carry a soap to your office gym bag.
Sanitizer: Definitely a alcohol based sanitizer is must. You do not want to catch unwanted viruses or anything to your hands. And always wash hands also after your workout.
Lunch box: Unless you are into eating outside food then you have to carry a lunch box with home made food.
Water bottle: A clean water bottle is must but you can combine it with the protein shaker bottle also.
How to use yoga blocks to increase flexibility
Protein shaker: You can use a protein shaker bottle as a water bottle where the protein shaker bottle has a separate compartment. Use that compartment to store whey or mass gainer.
Office files: Duh! Office comes first before the gym time so you have to keep the files (if any) but keep them separate from the water bottle/protein shaker and the gym towel/ dress.
Laptop : Not everyone carries a laptop to the office everyday but if you are one of them then that is something you have to carry in your office gym bag otherwise how would you work. If you do not carry a laptop then the bag will be less in weight.
FAQ
What should be in a gym bag?
Protein Shaker bottle
Water bottle
Towel
Sanitizer
Shoes
Gloves
Elbow support
Knee support
Wrist Support
Bandages
Deodorant
Shampoo
Soap
These are the most common item that should be in a gym bag.
What’s the best gym bag?
Gym bags that have moderate space to accommodate a towel, a set of dress, water and protein shaker bottle with separate shoe compartment are the best gym bag. The Topgator gym bag seems to be a very good gym bag in India.
Can I use a backpack as a gym bag?
Yes you can. You will need at least a 15-20 liter capacity gym bag. And since there is no shoe compartment you have to pack your shoes in a plastic wrap.
What is a gym bag called?
A gym bag is also called a sports bag and sometimes a duffle bag.
Can you use a gym bag as a carry on?
Yes, most gym bags can be used as a carry on and even can be used for short day trip. Larger capacity gym bags can also be used for 2-3 days of travelling.
Can you wash gym bags in the washing machine?
Yes, Canvas made gym bags can be washed in the washing machine. Leather made gym bags can not be and better not wash polyester gym bags in the washing machine.
How to eliminate gym bag odor?
Wash at least a week if you are using the gym bag for 3 days a week. Use good and mild detergent. Even what you use for clothes would do. For leather material use water and soap to rub both inside and outside. You can also use dettol to kill germs.
How to make gym bag smell good?
I use my deodorant inside the gym bag to make it smell good. But you have to wash the bag at least once a week if you are keeping a shoe and wet clothes in it.
How to disinfect gym bag?
Firstly wash your bag thoroughly and then use a spray type disinfect inside of it. And after each use when you are out of the gym then use the same spray again. This time outside also.
How to fold a gym bag?
If you gym bag a rigid base then you can not exactly fold it but the other sides of the bag, you can squeeze them in.
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homegymindia/
