How to find the best gym bag, according to a celebrity trainer
Megan Roup shares the qualities she looks for in her favorite gym bag.
If exercise and movement is part of your everyday routine, finding a practical, well-functioning gym bag can make all of the difference.
When shopping for a gym bag, we look for some key features: size, fabric, organization and straps. A gym bag should work well with your everyday essentials and gym gear, and you should be able to use it for other occasions, like travel or commuting. And if you tend to carry any special workout equipment, like a yoga mat, your gym bag should be able to help with that, too.
As a celebrity personal trainer, mother of two, and founder of The Sculpt Society (TSS), Megan Roup understands the importance of a multi-functioning gym bag. Roup regularly provides TSS members with new on-demand workout classes, including dance cardio workouts, sculpting exercises, medations and more. There are currently over 600 classes on the TSS app, according to TSS' website.
Roup spoke with ABC to help people find the best gym bag to suit their needs.
Megan Roup's gym bag must-haves
For Roup, this means finding a multi-use bag for the gym and beyond.
"I think your gym bag should be able to really go between different phases of life," she says. "It should be able to act as a carry-on, a gym bag, a diaper bag ... it should be your everything bag."
Roup needs a bag that's big enough to fit everything you need without being oversized. And "material matters," she says, noting that she looks for a bag that is durable and machine-washable.
Wearing your gym bag
When it comes to straps, Roup recommends finding a bag that you can carry multiple ways: "I really like a longer option strap to go across my body," she says, as well as shorter straps you can carry.
As your bag gets heavier, you may start putting too much pressure on your shoulder. Roup recommends being aware of which side you're wearing your bag and actively evening out how you carry it.
"Everyone needs to think about how they're feeling with their bag," she says. And "if you feel like you're really compromising your posture, does that over-the-body or side-body strap feel a little bit more supportive for you?"
Roup also says that she needs her bag to have pockets inside so she can "make sure that everything stays organized." Roup recommends a separate space for your shoes, too.
Your gym bag "should be able to be a color that goes with your wardrobe," Roup says. "A black bag is fine, but there are different colors and styles you can pick to freshen things up a bit."
We've narrowed down some gym bags picks to help you find the one that works for you. Continue below to shop!
By clicking on these shopping links, visitors will leave this website. These e-commerce sites are operated under different terms and privacy policies than ABC. ABC will receive a commission for purchases made through these links. Prices may change from the date of publication.