What is the best gym kit? Reliable gym bags from Nike and Lululemon
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Now that we’re no longer restricted to at-home reps and have our sights set on ticking off some big fitness goals in 2021, many of us are easing back into gym environments – if we haven’t done so already (though, no pressure).
But, along with the mental shift of uprooting our workout spaces from living room to gym studio, there’s a practical element involved too. Namely: the need to cart all of our kit to and fro.
Turn up with just a towel in a Tesco bag and, well, you know the rest (though, props for reusing!).
All that to say, it’s time you invested in a solid gym bag – one that sets you up for the best workout possible.
How to shop for the best gym bag
Let’s not overcomplicate things – gym bags largely come down to preference and specific requirements.
So, consider the type of workouts you do and the kit required (do you need to lug around weight belts and barbell pads, or do you just need space for a resistance band or two?), along with how much space you need for additional items.
If you tend to commute to work from the gym (or vice versa) it’s likely you’ll want a gym bag with a laptop pocket, or one that’s spacious enough for work essentials as well as gym kit.
Keep an eye out for bags with water-resistant properties if you often exercise outside or walk between the gym and your home or workplace, and those which allow you to separate stinky, worn kit or footwear from clean items.
If you travel with lots of smaller items (keys, cards, earbuds, for example), a bag that has multiple, zipped pockets might be preferable for you, whilst padded, adjustable shoulder straps should be prioritised for those who cycle or walk a substantial distance to or from the gym.
New Crew Backpack
Lululemon’s New Crew Backpack is ideal for taking from gym, to desk, to dinner – by which, we mean that its super-sleek and smart aesthetic doesn’t scream stinky-gym-kit-carrier, and wouldn’t look out of place in any environment.
It has three zipped compartments, one that’s padded for a 15” laptop, one for workout gear, and a third for small items – there’s also an exterior bottle pocket.
It’s made from water-repellent and wipe-clean fabric, perfect for commuters exposed to the Great British elements, and is lightweight for comfort, too.
It has a minimalistic, understated appearance, and is available in five colours.
Buy now
Nike Swim Deck Backpack
Swimmers, this is the gym bag for you.
Designed specifically to store swim paraphernalia, Nike Swim’s Deck Backpack has water-resistant fabric (so it doesn’t absorb residue from damp kit post-dip) and mesh side panels to encourage ventilation and aid belongings in drying.
It opens wide to allow easy access, and has a secure roll-top closure.
On the front of the bag, there’s a laptop compartment with an adjustable drawstring and a zipped pocket for stashing smaller items, and there’s a mesh pocket on the side of the bag for storing a bottle or additional wet clothing.
It’s sleek and slightly playful in appearance with neon orange details, and it has padded shoulder straps.
Buy now
Ripstop Backpack
If peak organisation is your idea of a good time, then WIT’s Ripstop Backpack has your name – figuratively speaking, of course – all over it.
There are, frankly, more pockets and compartments than you could shake a resistance band at, including one large, main space, expandable side pockets for footwear, a laptop compartment, a bottle pocket, and many small, zipped cavities too.
The exterior fabric is durable and water-resistant, and branding is reflective for nighttime or early morning jaunts to the gym.
The optional shoulder straps are padded, and can be zipped away when they aren’t required, and there’s a custom moulded, padded, mesh back panel for increased comfort whilst carrying.
It’s also available in a smaller, 17L version for those who prefer to travel light.
Buy now
Small Hero 2.0 Backpack
Don’t let the extreme sports look of this bag put you off, if that’s not your thing.
Whilst its aesthetic may resemble military kit, the Hero Backpack has actually been designed with durability, comfort, practicality and appearance in mind – specifically for gym-goers and athletes, whether competing in obstacle courses or doing circuit training in your local fitness facility.
And, our honest opinion? It succeeds in ticking all of those boxes.
There are four main zipped compartments, some containing pouches and pockets for storing smaller items, and a bottle holder on either side of the bag.
There’s space enough for a pair of trainers, a laptop (there’s a dedicated compartment for a 15” one), a towel, clothing, a wash bag, and more, and it opens flat for super-easy access.
Shoulder straps are adjustable and padded for peak comfort, and the fabric (which comes in six colourways) is waterproof and rip-proof – genius. The 25L can carry up to 15kg, and you can also upsize to the 45L Large Hero 2.0 Backpack, if need be. All bags have a velcro strip which can be personalised using patches.
Buy now
Unisex OutDry Ex 40L Duffel Bag
There’s lots to love about Columbia’s OutDry duffel. It’s completely waterproof, for starters, with sealed seams and a water-resistant zipper that helps to keep belongings protected from the elements, so it’s a great investment for commuters and those with a tendency to exercise outside.
It’s roomy – it could easily moonlight as a weekend bag – and versatile, with multiple padded handles and straps so it can be carried in whichever way feels the most comfortable (hoicked over the shoulder or worn as a back pack, for example).
It does lack the pockets and compartments that some other gym bags boast, so if organisation is important to you then this may not be the best option.
However, it is super lightweight, and it folds down and packs into a little zipped bag – ideal for when you’re travelling or living in close quarters.
Buy now
Vardag Duffel 30
Duffel bags are classics for a reason. They open wide for quick access to all belongings when you’re dashing to make a class on time, and are roomy for ensuring all the essentials fit with ease.
Fjällräven’s Vardag Duffel is case in point – and it’s got good looks to boot, too. Available in four colours and sporting that well-loved, token Fjällräven aesthetic, it really does level-up the everyday gym bag.
Constructed using durable, water-resistant fabric (which is made from a blend of recycled polyester and organic cotton) and with a padded base it’s ideal for outdoor excursions as well as gym sessions.
There are two zipped pockets for smaller items – one exterior and one interior – and an adjustable, removable strap, so that the bag can be carried by hand or slung over your shoulder.
Buy now
Training Weave Backpack
Reebok’s Training Weave Backpack has style and substance.
Yes, it has tons of storage space in the main compartment and pockets aplenty for smaller items (there’s a laptop sleeve, side pockets, and a front zip pocket), but also a smart appearance.
Plus, it can be personalised with badges on the velcro strip on the front of the bag.
The fabric is hardy – which is key for gym bags that are used frequently – and sturdy. There’s an extra little bag for sweaty gym kit post-wear, and shoulder straps are adjustable.
Buy now
MP Gym Holdall
Size: 38cm H x 58cm W x 30cm D
Where function is concerned, you can’t go far wrong with the MP Gym Holdall.
It’s roomy with a large main compartment that’s ideal for stashing a change of clothes, an inside zipped pocket for small items such as keys, and a side pocket that’s spacious enough for a pair of shoes (we particularly rate the ability to separate grubby shoes from other belongings).
The base fabric is water resistant – handy for outdoor workouts and commuting – to keep your kit dry, and the removable, cross-body strap is padded for comfort when carrying.
You could argue it’s a little heavy on the MP branding, but at £34 it’s great value for money, if you ask us.
Buy now
New Crew Backpack
Lululemon’s New Crew Backpack is ideal for taking from gym, to desk, to dinner – by which, we mean that its super-sleek and smart aesthetic doesn’t scream stinky-gym-kit-carrier, and wouldn’t look out of place in any environment.
It has three zipped compartments, one that’s padded for a 15” laptop, one for workout gear, and a third for small items – there’s also an exterior bottle pocket.
It’s made from water-repellent and wipe-clean fabric, perfect for commuters exposed to the Great British elements, and is lightweight for comfort, too.
It has a minimalistic, understated appearance, and is available in five colours.
Buy now
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Source: www.bedfordtoday.co.uk
This notice was published: 2021-07-07 21:10:30
