31 best gym bags for women, from classic duffels to backpacks and totes

A tote version of Nike's much loved (but sadly no longer available) One Club duffel, this Nike gym bag boasts almost all the same features — we're taking yoga mat strap, a plethora of pockets, vented laundry compartment and handy contrasting lining — but in a cute, chuck-it-on-your-shoulder design.

The two-way zip fastens all the way across the top for peace of mind and there's even a padded sleeve for your laptop. However, there isn't a shoe compartment, so bear that in mind if you prefer to keep your trainers away from the rest of your gear.

Adanola is the authority on stylish tote bags and this khaki quilted number does not disappoint.

Wide, padded straps make for comfortable carrying, while inside there's plenty of space for all your essentials, including trainers, plus a zipped valuables pocket. There's also a large exterior pocket for easy access to your phone and cards on the go.

And because the zip fastens all the way across the top it's also brilliant for travel.

Also available in black, coffee bean and slate grey.

Gymshark is known for its affordable yet quality range of kit, and this classic holdall-style gym bag is no exception.

With more pockets than you can shake a stick at (including a wet pocket for swimming or sweaty gear, a shoe compartment, mesh pockets for essentials and a zip pocket for valuables — see, we told you), and a durable, reinforced base, it’s ready to go as hard as you are. It’s pretty roomy too — our tester also used it for a long weekend away.

Also available in small and large sizes.

Smart enough for the office but with oodles of space for all your kit, there’s a lot more than meets the eye in this clean, minimalist bag from lululemon.

While the outside is all sleek and smooth, inside there’s compartments and pockets galore – we particularly liked the one labelled for ‘sweaty unmentionables’ – and there’s a camouflaged bottle holder on the outside, too.

The padded laptop compartment could moonlight as shoe storage, plus it comes with reinforced detailing on the base, an adjustable shoulder strap and padded carry straps.

You can always count on Nike gear to get the job done. At 24L, this staple gym bag fits all your essentials and is made from durable recycled polyester to withstand rough gym floors.

The main compartment is double zipped and has a zipped valuables pocket inside, while there's a larger zipped pocket on the outside that you can stash laundry in or essentials you want easy access to on the move. There isn't a shoe compartment, so bear that in mind, but there's plenty of space for them in the main compartment.

It comes with hand straps as well as an adjustable shoulder strap, and all of that without breaking the bank. Available in three colours.

It wasn't so long ago the world went absolutely bananas for packing cubes — you could barley scroll your chosen social media platform without seeing a satisfyingly neat puzzle of mesh cubes fitted pleasingly into a suitcase.

Well, now Sweaty Betty has brought that meticulous magic to the gym bag world, as this sleek number comes with two packable cubes for shoes (although you can use them for anything), as well as a genius yoga mat strap at the base and plenty of other pockets.

The contrast quilted lining means you can find things easily, the bag zips all the way shut and is super lightweight for easy carrying — speaking of, the shoulder strap is adjustable and it has a top carry handle too.

With a price tag of just £32, you’d expect something far more simplistic when unboxing this bag. But it goes above and beyond the call of duty, with vented pockets for shoes and sweaty kit, handy exterior webbing you can clip just about anything to and a zip pocket for valuables.

It’s lightweight, super-durable and water-repellent, with grab handles and an adjustable shoulder strap. Let us say that again — all for £32.

Available in three colourways.

Few backpacks have as much thought put into their production as those crafted by the good people at Built for Athletes.

There are bottle pockets on each side, three main compartments, plus multiple interior and exterior pockets to keep everything from your laundry to your pens and protein bars organised. Thanks to all this smart organisation, there's plenty of space for gym shoes, kit and shower essentials — plus your laptop.

The entire thing folds out flat so it's a doddle to pack and there are a ton of clever straps so you can compress and adjust the fit of the bag exactly as you want (making it as comfortable as possible).

Choose from five colours, plus it's available in a larger 45L size.

This subtle blush tote bag is one of our favourite pieces from Stella McCarney's adidas collab. It's light, super spacious and the recycled polyester shell feels built to last, with a reinforced base.

It zips right up, has wide, comfortable straps and has pockets for your phone, keys, padlock, snacks, you name it. Plus it packs down small for storage.

Also available in black.

Another day, another lululemon gym bag we’re lusting after. This versatile number can be worn two ways (crossbody or on the shoulder, with the sides strapped down and out the way), and the removable strap doubles as a yoga mat carrier or yoga strap — genius!

It comes complete with separate compartments for your shoes and sweaty kit, a zipped water bottle pocket and handy valuables pockets too, plus the straps are padded for all-day comfort.

Available in three colours.

Slouchy, quilted and super lightweight, this is fast becoming our fave bag full stop, let alone for the gym. But that's not to say it doesn't deliver on the technical front, with a comfy shoulder strap, zipped interior and exterior pockets and a full zip closure, plus tons of space — way more than meets the eye.

It's incredibly comfortable to carry around even when fully loaded (there's an interior compartment that's ideal for laptops, so it doubles as a great work bag) and it's wipe-clean. We won't judge you if you order more than one colour.

Available in a veritable boatload of colours that are even more beautiful IRL. Your colour not in stock? Check back soon, as they restock regularly.

This backpack pretty much makes all other bags in your life redundant. We've used ours for short city breaks (it's cabin bag-approved), commuting and the gym, and fallen in love with it a little more each time we open it. It's designed to be super functional, and let us tell you that it delivers.

There are two main compartments, the larger of which opens all the way like a clamshell, so you can easily see exactly what you have in the bag (and it makes for easy packing too). There are straps in this compartment to help you hold down your stuff, akin to a small suitcase. Then the back compartment is ideal for a a laptop, books and files, keeping everything flat and protected thanks to padding.

The bag fits loads more than you'd think, plus there are tons and tons of pockets for anything you could need — we keep all our cables, sports nutrition and work gear in there and it actually stays organised — no mean feat. Plus the bag is durable and waterproof, so you never have to worry about damaging your precious cargo.

Make like the winged goddess of victory (aka Nike) with this cute retro gym bag. With a large interior compartment for sweaty kit, a zipped pocket for valuables and handy exterior pockets too, there’s a place for everything.

It has a reinforced base and shoulder and carry straps, but it’s worth noting the straps aren’t padded. It scores some eco points too, as it’s made from at least 65% recycled materials.

Currently only available in black, but keep your eyes peeled, as new colours are released on the reg.

If you're not familiar with Stubble & Co bags, jump aboard the hype, because these things are simply brilliant. Strong, sturdy and durable, we're convinced ours will last beyond a lifetime.

Storage-wise it's hard to beat this bag — to the point that we keep losing things in it, purely because it has so many pockets. Externally there's a huge shoe compartment, a reinforced top section for valuables (you'll never crush your sunglasses again), a large zipped laptop section that sits against your back, plus various zipped compartments and loops you can attach carabiner hooks or your bike lock to.

On the inside, you'll find a large mesh section in the opening flap (great for laundry) and loads of small organisations pockets with sections for every conceivable accessory.

Thanks to a chest strap and padded straps it's very comfortable to wear — even when we loaded up the 65L version for Glastonbury. You can use the backpack straps as carry handles if you want to convert it into a duffel, or remove them and use the four grab handles to move the bag around.

Available in three sizes, 30L, 40L and 65L.

The Built for Athletes cult backpack gets a mention further up, but we couldn’t not include the brand’s new tote bag as well.

In a more versatile carrying style, it’s just about as functional as it’s rucksack counterpart, with multiple zipped pockets, an internal dry bag to keep wet gear separate, a cushioned laptop section, an internal drinks holder and clever adjustable straps that let you both change the length for more comfortable carrying, but also allow for a yoga mat or foam roller to be strapped on the side of the bag.

As with all BFA products, the construction feels quality and durable, with the polyester shell standing up well to mild abrasion and everyday wear and tear. The bag zips all the way across the top for added security, and there are external Velcro pockets so you can grab your essentials on the go.

Can you truly love an inanimate object? This bag from Danish outerwear brand Rains is testing that theory hard. Simple, sleek, and silky-soft to the touch, we are in lust, at least.

But we know looks aren’t everything, and luckily this bag has more going on under the surface too, with a handy external pocket, tons of space inside and it's made from durable material. But the best part? As you’d expect from a brand named after wet weather, it’s completely waterproof, so will keep your change of clothes splash-free at the pool.

Available in three colours.

This minimalistic backpack satisfies all our nerdy organisational tendencies. Everything is neatly compartmentalised, with sturdy zippers on sections for your tech, valuables and snacks, with a large section at the bottom for laundry or your lunchbox.

There are also water bottle pockets on the side (use one for your protein shake), and the back is padded for comfortable carrying.

There isn't a space specifically designed for shoes, but we were able to fit a pair of gym trainers in no problem. Also available in pale grey and black as well as the cement brown pictured.

We'll be honest, it was looks that attracted us to this bag initially. But then once we got to know it, we realised it actually had a lot more going on beneath the surface. Call it a love story if you will, because we're smitten.

This bag is simply brilliant quality, it fits all your gear and has a sturdy base and interior shoe compartment to keep things organised. We're big fans of the thoughtful details like the giant zip pull across the top, front zipped pocket for phone and keys, and adjustable shoulder strap.

The inverse shape makes it really comfortable to carry on the shoulder compared to some duffel bags, which can feel too large at the base and get in the way while walking.

Available in three colours.

This clever bag packs down into a tiny zipped pouch, so it's easy to store when not in use or tuck inside another bag until you need it.

It's also an absolute bargain at just £4.99 and can comfortably fit all your gear, including trainers, towel and toiletries. To make it as lightweight and packable as possible there aren't tons of pockets — just a zipped internal compartment for valuables.

While abrasion-resistant, it doesn't feel as durable as some, but so long as you're not hurling it across the gym room floor or routinely dropping weights on it, it should hold up fairly well to normal wear and tear.

The straps aren't adjustable but we didn't find this to be a problem, and as it folds down it doesn't hold its structure when empty, so packing it takes a little more effort.