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I love to work out before work, so I’m always looking for a gym bag that makes it easier to carry my gym gear And my work stuff from home to the gym or studio, to work and then home again. That’s a heavy load and finding a gym bag for all occasions is harder than you might think. Often the bags on the market just don’t have enough space for all my stuff: change of clothes and shoes, toiletry bag, water bottle, laptop and other workout stuff. Sometimes they don’t have special compartments and I’m afraid my laptop will get damaged by my loose water bottle or my sweaty shoes will transmit bacteria. Other gym bags are too heavy to carry around comfortably. But when I heard that Calpak was getting into the gym bag business with the Fit Gym Bag, I had a good feeling.

I own and love a diaper backpack and diaper crossbody from Calpak. I reach for them so often because of their clever design, among other things. There’s room for everything, so much so that sometimes the bag – or rather an empty space in the bag – reminds me that I forgot to pack something I need. I was hoping that Calpak’s Fit Gym Bag would be similarly designed and would 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 testing it out, here are my honest thoughts.

What are the criteria for a good sports bag?

While I sometimes have to try to cram a yoga mat, change of clothes, and water bottle into a random tote bag, there’s no denying that a proper gym bag is a much easier way to get to and from your workout. The best gym bags: have a designated spot for a water bottle, yoga mat, and change of shoes; are waterproof (to deal with sweaty clothes and water bottle spills); accommodate everyday essentials like a toiletry bag and laptop for pre- or post-work workouts; have a padded strap; and have external pockets for easy access to your wallet, phone, and headphones. These are the must-haves. The nice-to-haves for gym bags are: space for a really big Water bottle; a loop for the handle of a rolling suitcase so the bag can also be used as a weekend bag; carry handles in addition to a shoulder strap; and cute color combinations.

What I like about the Calpak Fit sports bag

Just as I had hoped, the Calpak gym bag is spacious and has plenty of dedicated compartments, so I no longer have to worry about how best to organize my workout and work essentials. The dedicated pockets and sleeves made it easy to fit everything in and access the things I needed without having to unpack and repack my bag half a dozen times throughout the day.

But it’s the details that really sold me on the Fit Gym Bag. Like many gym bags, for example, the shoulder strap on the Calpak gym bag is padded. But unlike most others I’ve tried, the padding is sewn in so it doesn’t slip, which – in my experience – makes it almost impossible to keep the padding where it needs to be, which is on my shoulder. You can adjust the shoulder strap on either side of the padding to make sure it sits in the perfect place, whether you prefer to wear the bag as a shoulder bag or across the body.

Other details I like: The yoga mat straps have adjustable clip buckles so you can just snap your mat in and tighten the straps instead of having to thread it through a series of elastic loops. The exterior water bottle holder has a bungee cord with an adjustable toggle around the opening so you can strap your water bottle in so it doesn’t slip out if you bend over or drop your bag. There are also additional elastic bands inside the bag to hold a much larger water bottle for true hydration fans. There are mesh and zippered side pockets inside depending on whether you want breathable or waterproof storage. And the side pocket meant for carrying your shoes has ventilation (so your sweaty shoes dry faster) and extends into the bag instead of under or out. I prefer this because shoe compartments at the bottom of bags seem clever, but I’ve found that they create a bulky and uneven bottom that makes it difficult to set the bag down. With Calpak you can “pack” your shoes in the main compartment and still keep them hygienically separate from your clothes and accessories.

What you should consider before trying the Calpak Fit sports bag

The Calpak Fit Gym Bag is a roomy bag. I’ve used it mostly empty and stuffed and it never feels too big in any situation. However, if you just need something to store an extra pair of shoes, you may not need quite as roomy a bag. The outer yoga mat straps are also designed to accommodate a rollable mat; I found them a little too short to wrap around a foldable Stakt mat. Finally, my Fit Gym Bag had a slight chemical smell right out of the box, but it dissipated within a few hours.

Who the Calpak Fit sports bag is best suited for

The Calpak Fit Gym Bag is a fantastic option for anyone who needs to regularly transport gear to and from the gym. The carry strap also means it can be used as a weekender (especially if you need to pack a yoga mat for your weekend getaway).

More details about the Calpak Fit sports bag

Where can I buy the Calpak Fit gym bag?

You can purchase the Fit Gym Bag ($140) on CalpakTravel.com.

Reviews

★★★★★

Mirel Zaman is the Health and Fitness Director at PS. She has over 15 years of experience in the health and wellness space, covering fitness, general health, mental health, relationships and sex, diet and nutrients, spirituality, family and parenting, culture and news.