Gym Bags, Gym Backpacks & Training Bags

A good gym bag does more than simply carry your training gear from home to the gym. If you regularly train CrossFit, HYROX, weightlifting, or strength training, you quickly end up bringing shoes, grips, a lifting belt, tape, clothing, and other training essentials with you.

A good sports bag or gym bag keeps all of that gear organised and gives everything a fixed place. That means you do not have to dig through one large compartment looking for your CrossFit grips, weightlifting tape, or other small essentials before every session.

At WODgear, you will find gym bags and training backpacks from brands such as KNKG and Built For Athletes, available in different sizes and layouts for everyday training, competitions, and longer training days.

Why do you need a good gym bag?

You can of course carry your shoes and clothing in any bag. The difference with a dedicated gym bag is mainly in the organisation and construction.

If you train regularly, you quickly collect quite a bit of gear:

• Training shoes
• Grips
• Lifting belt
• Weightlifting tape
• Knee sleeves
• Jump rope
• Towel
• Water bottle
• Clean clothes

A specialised gym bag usually offers separate compartments to keep these items organised.

That does not only make it easier to find what you need quickly. Separate sections for shoes or damp clothing also help prevent the rest of your gear from immediately taking on the same smell.

What should a good gym bag offer?

For frequent use, organisation, materials, and carrying comfort are especially important.

A good gym bag should ideally offer:

• Multiple compartments for training gear
• A separate section for shoes or damp clothing
• Smaller pockets for tape, keys, and accessories
• Strong zippers and durable materials
• Enough space without being unnecessarily bulky
• Comfortable handles or shoulder straps

If you train several times per week, your bag will take a lot of wear. Strong materials and solid stitching therefore make a real difference in durability.

Backpack or duffel bag?

One of the main choices is between a gym backpack and a duffel bag.

Which one suits you best mainly depends on how you travel to the gym and how much gear you bring.

Choose a gym backpack when:

You often cycle, walk, or use public transport.

A backpack distributes the weight across both shoulders and keeps your hands free. That makes a CrossFit backpack one of the most practical choices for everyday use.

Backpacks are also useful if you use the same bag for work, travelling, or competitions.

Choose a duffel bag when:

You usually travel to the gym by car or want maximum access to your gear.

A gym duffel bag often has a wide opening, which makes it easy to reach almost everything inside. Larger duffels also tend to offer more options for separating shoes, clothing, and accessories.

What size gym bag do you need?

Bigger is not automatically better.

The right capacity mainly depends on how much gear you normally bring.

Around 25 litres

Suitable if you travel light and mainly carry shoes, clothing, and a few training essentials.

A compact Built For Athletes backpack can be a good choice for everyday sessions where you do not need your full collection of gear.

Around 35–40 litres

For many CrossFit athletes, this is the ideal middle ground.

There is enough room for shoes, grips, a belt, clothing, and accessories without carrying an oversized bag.

The KNKG Conquer Backpack 38L is currently one of the most popular backpacks in our range and is especially suitable for athletes who bring a lot of gear but still want to keep everything organised.

Around 45 litres and above

If you almost always bring everything with you or use the same bag for competitions and longer days, a larger backpack or duffel is often more practical.

The Built For Athletes 45L Backpack offers plenty of space and is therefore well suited to athletes who want to carry shoes, clothing, and a complete training setup.

Why choose KNKG?

KNKG, formerly King Kong Bags, has been developing bags for athletes who carry a lot of training gear since 2011.

The brand focuses heavily on smart organisation and durability. Many KNKG bags include separate compartments for shoes, clothing, and accessories, so you do not have to search through one large compartment every session.

Some models also allow you to attach a lifting belt to the outside of the bag, helping you save space inside.

Within the current WODgear range, the KNKG Conquer Backpack 38L and the KNKG Core Duffel are among the most popular choices.

Why choose Built For Athletes?

Built For Athletes is best known for its distinctive training backpacks.

The bags combine a robust construction with multiple storage compartments and a fully opening main compartment. This makes it easier to organise your training gear and quickly access what you need.

Built For Athletes backpacks are widely used for CrossFit and HYROX, but their layout also makes them suitable as an everyday gym bag or competition bag.

Within our current range, the Built For Athletes 45L Backpack Monochrome is one of the most popular versions.

Which gym bag is suitable for HYROX?

During a HYROX competition or full training day, you often bring more with you than during a normal gym session.

For example:

• Multiple sets of clothing
• Training or running shoes
• Food and drinks
• Towel
• Recovery gear
• Personal items

That is why larger HYROX backpacks of around 35 to 45 litres are popular for competition days.

For normal training sessions, a bag that large is not always necessary. Choose a size that matches the amount of gear you actually use.

Which gym bag suits you best?

Use the way you travel and the amount of gear you carry as your main guide.

If you often cycle or use public transport, choose a gym backpack.

If you carry relatively little, a backpack of around 25 litres is often enough.

If you want to carry shoes, clothing, grips, a belt, and other accessories in an organised way, a model around 35 to 40 litres, such as the KNKG Conquer Backpack 38L, is a strong all-round choice.

If you almost always bring a full training setup or use your bag for competitions, look at a larger option such as the Built For Athletes 45L Backpack.

If you mainly travel by car and want maximum access to your gear, take a look at our duffel bags, including the KNKG Core Duffel.

Whichever style you choose, a good gym bag mainly helps you spend less time searching for gear and more time training.