Maybe you stash an empty grocery bag in your duffel so you can store sweaty sneakers after a workout. Or perhaps you tie the laces to the outside of your backpack so your shoes don’t have to go in your bag at all. Whatever your solution, chances are you don’t like having your dirty sneakers kicking around your gym bag alongside your clean clothes. The good news is, there’s a simple alternative (and it doesn’t involve any DIY contraptions).
If you want to keep your workout gear clean and organized, all you really need is a proper gym bag. Whether you’re carrying cycling shoes to your local spin studio, or storing a pair of sneakers to change into after work, a gym bag with a shoe compartment is a total game changer.
That said, shopping for the perfect gym bag is challenging enough, and finding one that also has a shoe compartment can be even harder. If you’re not sure where to start, you’ve come to the right place. After scouring the web, reading customer reviews, and seeking out recommendations from experts, we’ve narrowed down 10 of the best gym bags with shoe compartments. Now, it’s up to you to decide which one fits your needs the best. Shop our favorites ahead, and see which bag you’ll be adding to your cart.
— Additional reporting by Chandler Plante
Medium YUMC Travel Yoga Gym Bag for Women, Red ($25, originally $27)
Whether your workout brings you to the gym or the yoga studio, if you like to BYO yoga mat, you’ll want to have this bag to transport your shoes and gear. In addition to a shoe pocket and space for all your gym or studio essentials, it also has a strap designed specifically for holding a full-size yoga mat or foam roller.
Why we love it: This gym bag is made of waterproof Oxford — the kind of fabric normally used for diaper bags — making it the perfect material to carry all your gear.
What reviewers say: “I use this as my everyday gym bag, and I love it! On the days I don’t need my yoga mat, I use the strap to hold my foam roller instead. I love the separate zipper area for your shoes since I’ll go to yoga in my crocs & change into my gym shoes after.”
What’s worth noting: If you do hot yoga and use a mat plus a yoga towel, or have a thick, Pilates-style mat, you’ll have to roll it pretty tight in order for the built-in strap to fit around it.
Dimensions: 13.4″ x 10.2″ x 3.6″
Colorways: 4
Calpak Fit Gym Bag in Tea Rose ($140)
This stylish gym bag from Calpak is just as functional as it is fashionable. It features several specialized compartments to help keep your workout gear organized (sneakers included). “The side pocket designed to carry your shoes has a vent (to help your sweaty shoes dry faster) and extends into the bag,” our PS editor said in her full review. “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.
Why we love it: This bag is chock-full of useful features, including yoga mat straps, mesh side pockets, and an outer water bottle holder with an adjustable bungee cord.
What reviewers say: “Best gym bag ever. I like that the shoe compartment is separate and spacious, I recommend this gym bag and also good for light travel or even overnight bag.”
What’s worth noting: At $140, this bag is definitely more of an investment. In our opinion, it’s worth the price, but there are also more affordable options out there.
Dimensions: 19.25″ x 12.75″ x 8″
Colorways: 4
Beulptn Small Gym Bag for Women, Green ($22, originally $27)
If you’re packing dry and wet items, this might be the gym bag for you. Not only is there a separate compartment for your shoes, but it’s also made with water-resistant fabric and linings. This gym bag even comes with its own toiletry bag and a detachable sling strap in case you’d rather use it for travel.
Why we love it: Did we mention this bag comes in over 50 different colorways? You can also pick from a variety of different patterns and finishes (like metallic or leopard) if that’s more your style.
What reviewers say: “I recently purchased this small gym bag, and it has quickly become my go-to for the gym and short trips! The design is sleek and stylish, perfect for everyday use without being bulky. The dedicated shoe compartment is a game-changer, keeping my shoes separate from my clothes and making it super convenient to pack and stay organized.”
What’s worth noting: A few reviewers say that the zippers on this bag aren’t the best quality. None called this a deal breaker, but it may be something to consider.
Dimensions: 19.7″ x 8.3″ x 11″
Colorways: 58
Medium Etronik Gym Bag for Women, Blue ($38)
This gym bag will keep your shoes separate and your phone charged, thanks to the handy USB interface. It also comes with additional pockets for all your fitness essentials, a zippered wet bag, and water-resistant nylon to make sure all your items stay safe and dry.
Why we love it: If your phone is always running out of battery at the gym, this gym bag is a definite must-have. Plus, all the additional compartments will help keep your things organized.
What reviewers say: “The Etronik Gym Bag for Women is not only perfect for the gym but also great as a carry-on for travel! It’s spacious, with a separate compartment for shoes and wet items, and fits easily under the seat or in the overhead bin.”
What’s worth noting: Some shoppers say this bag feels especially heavy if you overpack (potentially due to the design of the shoulder strap).
Dimensions: 18″ x 8.7″ x 13.5″
Colorways: 17
Wisepack Gym Bag Womens Mens with Shoes Compartment, Light Purple ($30, originally $33)
If you’re looking for a gym bag that’ll last, this one has you covered. Made with water-resistant material, it also boasts a separate shoe compartment, trolley sleeve for convenient travel, and plenty of pockets to help you stay organized. Plus, you can choose from a wide variety of fun colorways.
Why we love it: Your gym bag should be able to withstand whatever comes its way — be it a sweaty gym sesh, or a long day of travel. We love that this bag is reliable, fashionable, and functional all at the same time.
What reviewers say: “One side of the bag works as a shoe storage, and the other for your water bottle or phone. I’ve had this for months now and have tossed this in and out of my car and around hotels and gyms. Very durable. There’s been no problems with the zippers or the material ripping with time.”
What’s worth noting: This shoulder strap doesn’t come with any extra padding, so it’s best to avoid overpacking.
Dimensions: 17.7″ x 7.5″ x 11.8″
Colorways: 41
adidas Defender 4.0 Duffel, Sandy Pink/White ($36, originally $40)
This gym bag has lots of unique features for athletic purposes. Think space for team embroidery or branding, an adjustable shoulder strap, and of course, a separate shoe compartment. It even comes with a lifetime warranty, so you know it’s made to last.
Why we love it: This gym bag comes with two separate compartments on each side — one of which is vented to avoid any unwanted odors.
What reviewers say: “The bag is designed for practicality. The main compartment’s U-shaped zipper allows for easy access to the contents, and the side pockets are handy for storing shoes, toiletries, or wet items separately from the main compartment. The padded base adds to the bag’s structure and protects your belongings.”
What’s worth noting: Shoppers note that that this bag is on the smaller side, so if you’re looking for something larger, this might not be your best bet.
Dimensions: 20.5″ x 11″ x 11.75″
Colorways: 25
Fioretto Women’s Gym Duffle Bag with Shoes Compartment, Grey & Pink ($22)
Gym bags don’t have to be big and bulky. This one from Fioretto has plenty of storage space (shoe compartment included) but shoppers say it’s still incredibly lightweight. The unique colorways are also a major plus in our book.
Why we love it: We’re all for a gym bag that’s as comfortable as it is stylish. Because after a tough upper body day, the last thing you need is an uncomfortable shoulder strap weighing you down.
What reviewers say: “This bag is perfect. As you can see it holds all the items from my purse plus my shoes and gym items with room still left for more. Carrying this on my shoulder feels lighter than all the bags I normally carry. It distributes the weight more making it easier on my shoulder after recent shoulder surgeries. I absolutely love all the extra pockets. On top of it being spacious it’s adorable.”
What’s worth noting: Some call this bag lightweight, but others call it flimsy. These descriptors may be good to keep in mind, depending on the kind of material you’re looking for.
Dimensions: 18″ x 11″ x 11″
Colorways: 16
forestfish Duffel Bag Gym Totes, Green ($22)
At first glance, you might not even realize this is a gym bag. In actuality, this stylish tote includes a separate side compartment for shoes, wet items, and any other gym essentials. Plus, it’s so cute, you might find yourself using it outside of the gym as well . . .
Why we love it: This isn’t your typical gym duffel. It’s such a unique design and it’s not as bulky as other bags on the market.
What reviewers say: “I love how stylish this bag is. I love the size of it, I wanted something where my barbell pad was going to fit and it fits perfectly in this bag.”
What’s worth noting: This bag is on the smaller side, but some shoppers say this is actually a plus. With four separate pockets on the outside alone, it’s a more compact option with plenty of storage space.
Dimensions: 18.9″ x 7.9″ x 10.6″
Colorways: 5
coowoz Large Travel Backpack, Beige ($30)
Fitness coach and personal trainer Andrea of Body by Dreaa shares that she uses this backpack as her gym bag because it can fit everything from her headphones to a whole tub of pre-workout — not to mention it has a removable shoe compartment. If you bring a lot to the gym but want to make sure your whole bag can still fit in a gym locker, you may want to consider replacing your current one with this backpack instead.
Why we love it: This backpack comes in two larger sizes (plus a ton of cute colors) in case you need to fit a bit more in your bag.
What reviewers say: “Saw somebody use this as a gym bag on TikTok so I bought it for myself. Absolutely love it! I’m able to carry my barbell pad on the sides and all of my gym equipment stays organized. Highly recommend.”
What’s worth noting: The water bottle pocket is relatively small, which might not be ideal if you tend to take a big Hydroflask to the gym.
Dimensions: 12.6″ x 16.5″ x 7.9″
Colorways: 23
Medium FocusGear Ultimate Gym Bag 2.0, Black ($30)
If you hate having to decide which shoes to bring to the gym, this FocusGear gym bag is worth the investment. The shoe compartment is extra large (big enough for two pairs!), and there’s even another waterproof lined pocket at the bottom for flip-flops or swim gear.
Why we love it: In addition to being spacious enough to fit two pairs of shoes, this gym bag also has pockets for both a water bottle and protein shaker.
What reviewers say: “The shoe pocket is great, and even though your shoes technically take up some room on the inside of the bag, there is plenty of room left inside. Yesterday we also managed to squeeze my boyfriend’s squat shoes in the shoe pocket with mine when we walked to the gym, and we didn’t even have to take my boxing gloves or barbell pad out to do it.”
What’s worth noting: Customers have complained that the zippers can give out if you overstuff your bag.
Dimensions: 20″ x 11″ x 10.5″
Colorways: 8
Kalea Martín writes primarily about food and cooking for PS, but as a former figure skater and hockey player, she covers fitness, too. Prior to becoming a lifestyle writer, Kalea covered hotels, restaurants, and travel for Luxos Magazine in Milan and worked in marketing at HarperCollins Publishers.
Chandler Plante (she/her) is an assistant health and fitness editor for PS. She has over four years of professional journalism experience, previously working as an editorial assistant for People magazine and contributing to Ladygunn, Millie, and Bustle Digital Group.
