I Found the Versatile Gym Bag of My Dreams — and My Back Is Thanking Me

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I love working out before work, and therefore I’m always in search of a gym bag that makes it easier to lug my gym gear and my work gear from home, to the gym or studio, to work, then back home again. It’s a heavy load, and harder to find a do-it-all gym bag than you might think. Often, the bags on the market simply don’t have enough space for all of my stuff: a change of clothes and shoes, toiletry bag, water bottle, laptop, and miscellaneous workout gear. Sometimes, they don’t have designated compartments, which makes me worry about my laptop getting damaged by my loose water bottle, or my sweaty shoes transferring bacteria around. Other gym bags are too heavy to comfortably tote around. But when I heard Calpak was getting into the gym-bag game with the Fit Gym Bag, I had a good feeling.

I own and love a Calpak diaper backpack and diaper crossbody. I reach for them so often in part because of their smart design. There’s a space for everything, so much so that sometimes the bag — or rather, an empty space in the bag — reminds me that I’ve forgotten to pack something I’ll need. I hoped that Calpak’s the Fit Gym Bag would be similarly designed, and finally solve my gym bag problem. The brand sent me the bag to try out, along with the Fit Dopp Hanging Kit, their toiletry bag. After putting it to the test, here are my honest thoughts.

What’s the Criteria For a Good Gym Bag?

While I’m guilty of trying to stuff a yoga mat, change of clothes, and water bottle into a random tote bag, there’s no arguing that an actual gym bag is a much easier way to travel to and from workouts. The best gym bags: have a designated space for a water bottle, a yoga mat, and a change of sneakers; are waterproof (to deal with sweaty clothes and water bottle spills); can fit daily essentials like a dopp kit and a laptop for pre- or post-work workouts; have a padded strap; and have exterior pockets for easy access to your wallet, phone, and headphones. Those are the need-to-haves. The nice-to-haves for gym bags include: space for a really big water bottle; a pass-through for a roller bag handle so the bag can double as a weekender; hand carrying handles in addition to a shoulder strap; and cute colorways.

What I Like About Calpak’s the Fit Gym Bag

Just as I’d hoped, Calpak’s gym bag is roomy, and comes with plenty of specialized compartments that took the guesswork out of how to best organize my workout and work essentials. The designated pouches and sleeves made it easy to fit everything and access the things I needed without having to unpack and repack my bag a half-dozen times throughout the day.

But the details are what really won me over to the Fit Gym Bag. For instance, as with many gym bags, Calpak’s gym bag’s shoulder strap is padded. But unlike most others I’ve tried, the padding is sewn in so it doesn’t slide around, which — in my experience — makes it nearly impossible to keep the padding where it’s needed, on my shoulder. You can adjust the shoulder strap on either side of the padding to ensure it’s at the perfect spot, whether you prefer to wear it as a shoulder bag or cross-body.

Other details I love: the yoga mat straps have adjustable clip buckles, so you can just snap your mat into place and tighten the straps to fit, rather than having to thread it through a series of stretchy loops. The outer water bottle holder has a bungee cord with an adjustable toggle stopper around the mouth, letting you cinch in your water bottle so it doesn’t slide out when you bend over or drop your bag. There are also additional elastic bands inside the bag designed to secure a much larger water bottle, for the true hydration enthusiasts. Inside, there are mesh and zippered side pockets, depending on if you want breathable or waterproof storage. And the side pocket designed to carry your shoes has a vent (to help your sweaty shoes dry faster) and extends into the bag instead of under or out. I prefer this as shoe compartments on the bottom of bags seem smart, but I’ve found they create a bulky and uneven bottom that makes it hard to set your bag down. Calpak’s lets you “pack” your shoes in the main compartment, while still keeping them hygienically separate from your clothes and accessories.

What to Consider Before Trying the Calpak Fit Gym Bag

The Calpak Fit Gym Bag is a roomy bag. I’ve used it mostly empty and totally stuffed and it doesn’t feel too large in either situation. But if you just need something to store an extra pair of shoes, you might not need quite as spacious a bag. The external yoga mat straps are also designed for a rollable mat; I found them slightly too short to wrap around a foldable Stakt mat. Finally, my Fit Gym Bag had a slight chemical odor straight out of the packaging, but it dissipated within a few hours.

Who the Calpak Fit Gym Bag Is Best For

The Calpak Fit Gym Bag is a fantastic option for anyone who regularly needs to carry gear to and from the gym. Plus, thanks to the luggage handle sleeve, it can double as a weekender. (Especially if your weekend getaway requires you to pack a yoga mat.)

Additional Details About the Calpak Fit Gym Bag

Where Is the Calpak Fit Gym Bag Available?

You can buy The Fit Gym Bag ($140) on CalpakTravel.com.

Rating

★★★★★

Mirel Zaman is the health and fitness director at PS. She has over 15 years of experience working in the health and wellness space, covering fitness, general health, mental health, relationships and sex, food and nutrition, spirituality, family and parenting, culture, and news.