A gym backpack’s shoe compartment must be able to store the user’s shoes. Ideally, a gym backpack with shoe compartment will be large enough to fit the needs of even large-footed wearers.
The versatile shoe compartment isn’t just for transporting shoes to and from the gym. It often doubles as a storage space for items with unpleasant odors, like dirty laundry, and therefore must be able to efficiently keep the odors of its contents away from the bag’s other compartments.
Hydration is key while you’re sweating at the gym. The perfect gym backpack must have a water bottle pocket to make it easy for the wearer to always have a water bottle on hand.
Water bottles are bulky and can leak, so putting them in the main compartment of your backpack isn’t ideal. A side water bottle pocket resolves both of these issues. First, this pocket is external, so even if the bottle leaks, the water will stay away from the bag’s main compartment. Second, a water bottle pocket is shaped perfectly to fit most bottles, so you can store them easily without adding bulk to the backpack.
With proper ventilation, smelly sneakers, wet bathing suits, dirty clothes, and whatever else you carry in your shoe compartment, can air out. The best gym backpacks with shoe compartments have features that promote ventilation, like breathable fabrics.
The Nike Sport Golf Backpack comes out on top as the best gym backpack with a shoe compartment. This bag’s water-resistant shoe compartment is located below the main compartment, making it easy for wearers to store stinky footwear and laundry without the smell escaping into the rest of the bag.
Consumers love this backpack for its top-loading design, which makes gear easy to access at the gym. Fitness enthusiasts enjoy the all-important side water bottle pocket for on-the-go hydration
If you need a gym backpack with shoe compartment that is both roomy and multifunctional, the G4Free 3-Way Duffle Backpack is for you. This bag’s shoe compartment can fit up to size 12 footwear. It’s also ventilated to keep sneakers as fresh as possible.
Versatility is the name of the game when it comes to the G4Free 3-Way Duffle Backpack. It can be worn as a backpack, a shoulder bag, or a duffle bag thanks to convertible straps. With 40 L capacity, this backpack can hold more gym gear than any other backpack on our list.
The Under Armour Hustle 3.0 Backpack incarnates the agility of an athlete in backpack form. Its spacious, gusseted bottom shoe compartment makes carrying sneakers or laundry a piece of cake. Under Armour’s Storm technology makes this bag highly water-resistant so that it can keep your gym gear as clean as possible.
Those of you who like hitting up the gym before or after work will enjoy this bag’s laptop compartment, whose padding ensures that your laptop will stay safe while you’re at the gym.
The Targus Work + Play Fitness Backpack is a top choice for the best gym backpack with shoe compartment thanks to its versatile compartments and ergonomic features. Unlike most other bags on our list, this backpack’s shoe pocket is located in a front compartment, rather than a bottom compartment, which makes footwear easier to access. The shoe compartment is ventilated and lined to ensure that sneakers air out without stinking up the rest of the bag.
Another useful feature is the top hook that lets you hang your backpack up like a toiletries kit, which is handy for your post-gym shower. Customers also rave about this backpack’s removable laundry bag.
The King Kong Backpack has expandable external pockets that function as a shoe compartment. Because sneakers are stored externally, they can ventilate better than they would if enclosed inside the bag.
Fitness enthusiasts love that this backpack has not one, but two water bottle pockets. They also applaud the bag’s water-resistant nylon material, which helps keep gear fresh.
What’s better than a standard gym backpack? A gym backpack with a shoe compartment. Beyond storing footwear, shoe compartments are ideal for transporting dirty gym clothes and even wet bathing suits.
In our search for the best gym backpack with shoe compartment, Nike’s Sport Golf Backpack came out on top. This bag’s shoe compartment won fans over for its spaciousness and water resistance. Features like a side water bottle pocket, large main compartment, and handy organizational pockets make it a perfect fit for the gym, court, or studio.
That being said, you really can’t go wrong with any of the options we put forth. All of these gym backpacks with shoe compartments will transport your things comfortably and withstand the duress of the locker room.