What Size Should a Gym Bag Be: Pro Recommendations

Not only the right type of bag but also the right size of the bag matters. The larger one will become a burden while the smaller one cannot not handle all the necessary items. Therefore the right-sized bag will make a difference indirectly in your workout productivity.

The ideal size will give a professional look. However, what is the ideal size? It is subjective for everyone as it depends upon not only the needs but also the personality and physique of a person. 

Here, you will find a comprehensive guide about the right size of the bag and which factors must be considered when choosing a bag size. 

Gym Bag Size Chart

Different sizes are for different purposes. You have to choose the most appropriate one for you. These are actually duffle bag dimensions. But this can help you make good estimates about the right size of gym bags. 

• 40 liters = 53 x 35 x 27 cm
• 55 liters = 68 x 40 x 30 cm
• 70 liters = 71 x 44 x 33 cm
• 100 liters = 80 x 50 x 37 cm  

Here are some estimates of uses according to different sizes.

• Below 20 liters: appropriate for short outings
• 20 to 35 liters for a full-day picnic
• 35 to 50 liters: for more than one day 
• Above 50 liters: for weeks or more than weeks

You can now choose the right size of the bag by using the above measurements.¹ 

Factors When Choosing The Right Size

There are a number of factors to consider when looking for the right-sized gym bag.

Workout Exercises

These activities decide the type of gear. High-intensity activities require a water bottle and a change of clothes. Moreover, if you are a weightlifter, you will need a proper dress along with gloves, wrist straps, and waist straps. If you are a yoga practitioner or a stretcher, you might need a mat or different gear. Therefore, the bag must be of enough size to accommodate all the compulsory items.

Gym Days

It also depends upon the days you go to the gym. Regular gym goers will carry more gear than occasional gym goers. So they will need a large-sized gym bag.

Organization Of Items

There are some people who keep everything organized. So, they will need proper compartments and space for each item in the bag. Larger bags will definitely have more space and compartments than smaller ones.

Separate shoe compartments, side pockets for the water bottle, compartments for the pre-workout and post-workout clothes, etc, are compulsory in a gym bag.

Your height, size of gear, and type of gear are some other factors to consider for the right size of the bag.

Measuring The Size Of The Bag

The size of a gym bag is measured by using mainly two or three parameters. 

According To The Dimensions

It is the most common method to measure and compare the size of bags. Just measure the key dimensions of the bag using a measuring tape. These include the length, width, and depth of the bag. Then, write these measurements in the form of length x width x depth.

You can measure these dimensions in centimeters or inches. This method is mostly used for measuring the size of small bags such as clutches or purses.

According To The Volume

As larger bags are not exactly rectangular, you may not be able to estimate the correct size using the dimensions. Therefore, the volume might give you the right size of the bag. To measure the volume of the bag, multiply the length, width, and depth.

Volume = length x width x depth

This will give you size in terms of liters or cubic centimeters. This parameter is mostly used for measuring the size of larger bags such as gym bags, tote bags, or luggage bags. 

According To The Diagonal

For larger bags, you can sometimes use the diagonal measurement. This will help you to visualize the actual space used for carrying items. It is actually a corner-to-corner measurement using a measuring tape. 

Compartments Of A Gym Bag

If you are going to buy a gym bag, then choose a bag that has enough compartments to carry all the essentials. 

Main Compartment

This is the largest compartment which can hold the core essential items such as workout clothes, deodorant, towels, and other main accessories. 

Shoe Compartment

This compartment is specially designed to keep smelly and sweaty shoes separate from other items. Some bags provide ventilated shoe compartments.

Bottom Compartment

The bottom compartment stores the used or dirty clothes during the workout. Or you can put bigger items such as a yoga mat or sometimes weightlifting accessories.  

Side Pocket

There might be more than one side pocket. You can carry all the quick-access items such as mobile phones, wallets, headphones, keys, or water bottles. 

Sleeve Or Laptop Compartment

This is a padded compartment. It provides a safe place for putting a laptop or tablet in your backpack. 

There may be front or top-loading compartments which also provide some extra space for keeping toiletries, snacks, or water bottles, etc.

Best Materials For The Gym Bags

Following are the main materials which are used for making the gym bags

• Polyester
• Leather 
• Canvas
• Nylon
• Vinyl
• Neoprene

Conclusion

Right right-sized gym bag is very important for maintaining a proper gym workout. Therefore, use all these guidelines to buy the right size gym bag. While considering the above-mentioned factors, look for a bag that can fit in your gym locker if you have one. Also, the gym bag should have a padded or mesh shoulder strap which will be easy to carry on the shoulder. 

A medium-sized bag is considered an ideal gym bag. That doesn’t give a bulky look or a childish look. At the same time, it can carry all the necessary items in it. If you want to read the right guide about the gym essentials, then here is the blog for this.

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Article Sources

Bagsbucks provides reliable information with good-quality references to support the facts.

1.  Out-of-bag estimation of the optimal sample size in bagging – ScienceDirect ↩︎