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When you’re already carrying a lot of equipment, clothes, and shoes to the gym, you don’t want to take up space in your gym bag with a large water bottle. You also don’t want your drink to leak on everything else in your bag. Fortunately, there are plenty of gym bags on the market that come with water bottle holders.
So what is the best gym bag with a water bottle holder? The best gym bag with a water bottle holder is the King Kong EDGE45 Duffel. It has side pockets for water bottles that can also be used to hold small items, a separate shoe compartment that can fit two pairs of shoes, and a 45L internal volume. Due to its large capacity, you can also use it as a travel bag.
In this article, I’ll discuss:
- The things you should consider when buying a gym bag with a water bottle holder
- The ten best gym bags with water bottle holders
- Features you should look for in a gym bag
3 Factors to Consider When Buying a Gym Bag with Water Bottle Holder
The three biggest factors to consider when buying a gym bag with a water bottle holder are:
- Intended use
- How much equipment you need to carry
- How many water bottles you need to take to the gym
1. Intended Use
Some bags are intended to be gym bags only, while others can also be used for travel, outdoor activities, or work. If you want your bag to serve more than one purpose, you should look for one that can also be used outside of the gym.
2. How Much Equipment You Need to Carry
How much gear you need for the gym will determine the size of the bag you need.
If you’re a general gym-goer or a bodybuilder, you probably won’t need to carry as much equipment as powerlifters or weightlifters, who use belts, knee sleeves, wrist wraps, straps, chalk, tape, and a variety of other items during their workouts.
If you go to work or school straight from the gym (or vice versa), you’ll also need a bag big enough to fit a change of clothes, meals, and your work or school essentials.
3. How Many Water Bottles You Need to Take to the Gym
If you’re going to be at the gym for an hour or less and you go straight home afterward, you likely only need to bring one bottle of water with you.
But if you’ll be at the gym all day or you don’t go home right after your workout is finished, you’ll probably take more than one drink with you and will need a bag that can hold two or more water bottles.
Top 10 Gym Bags with a Water Bottle Holder
The 10 best gym bags with a water bottle holder are:
- King Kong EDGE45 Duffel – Best Overall
- King Kong CORE25 Backpack – Best Backpack with Water Bottle Holder
- Vooray Burner Duffel – Best for Women
- Eackrola Sports Gym Bag – Best for Powerlifters and Weightlifters
- Osprey Daylite Duffel 30 – Best for People Who Also Like the Outdoors
- Canway Sports Gym Bag – Best for General Gym-Goers
- Fuel Sport Carryall Duffel – Best for Yoga
- Ridge Classic Backpack – Best for Active Professionals
- Everest Gym Bag – Best Budget Option
- KingKong Heritage Leather Duffel Bag – Best for Durability
1. King Kong EDGE45 Duffel – Best Overall
I’m just going to come right out and say it – I love the King Kong EDGE45 Duffel. It’s my top choice for a gym bag with a water bottle holder because of its high-quality construction and large interior.
If you need a bag that you can use for more than just the gym, the EDGE45 Duffel is an excellent option. I recently took it on a weekend trip because I wanted to see if it could double as a travel bag.
I was able to fit multiple outfits, a toiletry bag, a blow dryer, and a book in the main compartment, with plenty of room to spare. I was also able to fit my running shoes in the shoe compartment and various smaller items in the side pockets.
If you want to use the bag solely as a gym bag, you can easily fit a set of gym clothes, a towel, and a toiletry bag (if you shower at the gym), plus any gym gear you need in the main compartment. You could also fit a food storage container if you want to bring a meal to the gym.
I was able to fit my belt on top of everything else. I use a nylon belt so it’s pretty flexible; I haven’t tried to fit a leather belt in the bag, but depending on how much other stuff you pack, I believe you could do so.
Both sides of the bag have a dual-slotted pocket that can be unbuttoned to make one large pocket. With the snaps fastened, smaller water bottles and shaker bottles fit comfortably. A 32oz Hydro Flask bottle fits as well, but it is snug.
If you don’t want to pack your knee sleeves in the main compartment, you can store them in the other water bottle holder so they can air out.
The interior pockets are great for smaller items such as wrist straps, keys, a cell phone, a protein bar, or headphones. There’s also an extra zipper pocket on the side, which is where I’d store things like chalk that you may not want coming into contact with anything else.
The bag has a 13” laptop compartment that’s perfect for small laptops or tablets. If your laptop doesn’t fit, you can use this compartment for books or other items that you want easy access to.
One of the things that impressed me the most about this bag was the shoe compartment. It fits both my lifters and my regular training shoes. This is a great feature for powerlifters or CrossFitters who carry multiple pairs of shoes to the gym.
Pros
- Large internal capacity
- External shoe compartment fits two pairs of shoes
- Multiple pockets for organization
Cons
- Expensive (but worth it)
2. King Kong CORE25 Backpack – Best Backpack with Water Bottle Holder
The CORE25 Backpack is another excellent bag from King Kong Apparel. It’s a versatile bag that can be used outside of the gym thanks to its laptop sleeve and multiple pockets for organization.
The backpack has two exterior water bottle holders that expand to accommodate bottles of different sizes. My 32-oz Hydro Flask water bottle fits easily in both pockets. I believe you can fit a bottle up to 40oz, but I wouldn’t try to fit anything larger than that.
Another great feature of this bag is the exterior belt storage, which saves space inside the bag. Even if you don’t use the straps for a belt, they give the bag a cool, rugged aesthetic.
The King Kong CORE25 Backpack has a bottom shoe compartment, but it has a couple of drawbacks. Since your shoes are stored vertically, they take up a lot of space inside the bag. Also, large shoes don’t fit in it easily. I had a difficult time zippering it with my husband’s size 13 shoes.
Still, I recommend this product for anyone who needs a bag that can transition from the gym to the office or school. It has a padded laptop compartment and interior mesh pockets that can hold chargers, headphones, or other small electronics.
This backpack is also a good choice for people who walk or ride a bike to work, since it’s lightweight and more convenient to carry than a duffel bag.
Pros
- Two water bottle pockets
- Exterior belt holder
- Carry-on compliant
Cons
- Can’t fit a lot of stuff in the main compartment if you use the bottom shoe pocket
- Large shoes don’t easily fit in the shoe compartment
3. Vooray Burner Duffel – Best for Women
The Vooray Burner Duffel is a lightweight bag with four internal pockets for storage and organization.
There are three small pouch pockets and one zippered pocket on the interior that can hold travel-sized bottles of soap and shampoo. This is a nice feature because you don’t have to pack a separate toiletry bag if you shower at the gym.
You can also use these pockets to store jewelry, your wallet, and other valuables while you’re working out.
This bag only has one water bottle holder, and it is small. It’s ideal for anyone who only does quick workouts at the gym, doesn’t have a large water bottle, and doesn’t need to carry more than one drink.
Due to the small internal capacity, this bag is also a good option for general gym-goers who don’t need to carry belts or a lot of other bulky equipment with them.
Pros
- Comes with a separate bag for wet clothes
- Can double as a travel or work bag
- Available in several different colors
- External shoe compartment
Cons
- Small internal capacity
4. Eackrola Sports Gym Bag – Best for Powerlifters and Weightlifters
For powerlifters and weightlifters who carry multiple pairs of shoes and a lot of equipment to the gym, the Eackrola Sports Gym Bag offers plenty of storage space and organization. The internal capacity is 65L, and there are several pockets for personal items.
The bag’s exterior has two mesh water bottle pockets that can hold up to a 32oz water bottle. There are also five small loops that you can clip carabiners to for things like hand sanitizer or your keys. You can also loop your straps or wrist wraps to them so they can air out after your workout.
The back of the bag has two extra mesh pockets that can hold extra water bottles or knee sleeves.
The shoe compartment fits two pairs of shoes, which is a nice feature for anyone who carries lifters and regular training shoes to the gym. If you only have one pair of training shoes, you can also use the compartment to store wet clothes or towels.
The only thing lacking in this bag is a dedicated belt holder, but the interior is large enough that a belt can easily fit inside.
Pros
- Dual shoe compartment
- Breathable mesh pockets
- Separate wet compartment for sweaty gym clothes
Cons
- Only available in one color
- Some customers have said that the buckles aren’t very durable
5. Osprey Daylite Duffel 30 – Best for People Who Also Like the Outdoors
The Osprey Daylite Duffel 30 has enough space to hold anything you’d need for the gym. It’s made from GRS-certified (Global Recycled Standard) recycled and bluesign® sustainable materials, so it can withstand harsh weather and holds up well when it’s thrown around the gym.
The Osprey Daylite Duffel can be worn as a backpack or a duffel bag. The versatile carrying options make it a great choice for people who like to hike or camp and need a bag that’s comfortable to carry for a long period of time.
This duffel has one stretchy mesh water bottle pocket. The pocket is angled for easy access to your water bottle no matter which way you carry the bag.
This bag doesn’t have a lot of pockets, but there is one front zippered pocket and one side zippered pocket where you can store small items. You can also use these pockets to keep your sweaty gym clothes or wet towels separate from everything else.
If you need a larger bag, the Osprey Daylite Duffel is also available in 45L and 60L sizes.
Pros
- Can also be worn as a backpack
- Available in seven different colors
- Also available in 45L or 60L
Cons
- Not a lot of pockets
6. Canway Sports Gym Bag – Best for General-Gym Goers
The Canway Sports Gym Bag has a slim, rectangular shape and a side hook that make it a great bag for general gym-goers who store their bags in gym lockers.
With a 45L capacity, the main compartment has enough space to hold gym clothes, a towel, and even a belt. There are two internal mesh pockets that can be used for toiletries, straps, or wraps, as well as a wet pocket for sweaty clothes. There’s also a small padded pocket inside that you can use to store your valuables.
The two zippered pockets can hold small gym items or small snacks. The side mesh pocket can fit a shaker bottle as well as a second water bottle.
The bottom of the bag is sturdy and waterproof. Not only will it keep your belongings dry, but it will also hold its shape when it’s empty so you can easily pack everything you need.
Pros
- Available in six different colors
- Affordable
- 45L internal capacity
Cons
- Not as durable as other bags
7. Fuel Sport Carryall Duffel – Best for Yoga
The Fuel Sport Carryall Duffel isn’t very large, but its two exterior water bottle pockets, yoga mat straps, and padded shoulder straps make this an excellent bag for yoga enthusiasts.
There’s only one interior mesh pocket in the main compartment, but you can use it to store smaller items so you don’t have to worry about them getting lost in the larger pocket.
The shoulder straps are padded for extra comfort when running errands after class or walking back and forth from the yoga studio. There’s also a detachable shoulder strap so you can wear it as a crossbody bag.
Since it doesn’t have a large capacity, this bag may be too small for powerlifters, CrossFitters, or weightlifters, but there’s enough space to hold yoga blocks, a yoga towel, and a change of clothes.
Pros
- Affordable
- Available in a lot of colors and prints
- Comfortable shoulder straps
Cons
- Not large enough for powerlifters, CrossFitters, or weightlifters
- Only one interior mesh pocket
8. Ridge Classic Backpack – Best for Active Professionals
The Ridge Classic Backpack has a clean, minimalist design that works well for anyone who wants their gym bag to double as a work bag.
In addition to an external water bottle holder, there’s a smaller pocket on the outside for sunglasses. The technology compartment has a padded laptop sleeve and several slip pockets for headphones and charging cables. The laptop sleeve is shock-resistant, which keeps your laptop protected when commuting on the bus, train, or subway.
An external USB port comes in handy for individuals who have long commutes and want to make sure their electronics are always charged. It’s also a nice feature for anyone who uses this bag for hiking or outdoor adventures.
The main compartment can be accessed through either a top or front zipper. The top zipper offers quick access to your belongings, while the front zipper allows you to open the bag like a suitcase when you’re packing.
The main compartment also has two mesh zippered pockets that you can use for toiletries or smaller gym items.
The backpack is available in a classic version and a slightly larger commuter option. The classic option can easily fit a change of clothes as well as a laptop. The commuter version is ideal for people who need to carry extra work files or meals with them from the gym to the office.
Pros
- Minimalist design
- External USB port
- Double zipper design
- RFID-blocking pocket for credit cards and passports
Cons
- A bit pricey
- No shoe compartment
9. Everest Gym Bag – Best Budget Option
The Everest Gym Bag is an inexpensive bag with a large internal capacity and several pockets for small items.
The water bottle pocket can fit bottles up to three inches in diameter. If you have a larger bottle or want to bring more than one drink to the gym, you can use the stretchy mesh slip pockets on the front of the bag. There are also two zippered pockets on the front where you can store your smaller items.
On the sides of the bag, there’s a large exterior pocket for shoes or wet clothes as well as a small ventilated pocket that would be great for your knee sleeves.
The main compartment has a 32L capacity. It’s not the largest bag, but if you only need it for gym gear and don’t need to pack work clothes or large equipment, there’s plenty of space to fit whatever you need.
Pros
- Affordable
- External shoe or wet compartment
- Can carry up to three water bottles
Cons
- Internal capacity is smaller than other gym bags
10. KingKong Heritage Leather Duffel Bag – Best for Durability
The KingKong Heritage Leather Duffel Bag is crafted to the highest quality. It’s made using full-grain American leather that is built to last.
The type of leather that KingKong uses to produce this duffel bag gets ‘better with age’, according to the company’s website. You’ll be able to use this bag every day for years to come, and it won’t look worn, faded, or tarnished.
This product is available in tan, cognac, and black so that you can choose your favorite color. There is also free two-day shipping available for customers in the United States and it will usually be shipped within 24 hours of placing your order. For international customers, the expected delivery time is between 6-20 days.
This duffel bag can hold up to 46 liters and includes four external pockets, seven internal pockets, a laptop sleeve, and two bottle pockets. It also comes with a separate shoe bag, so you can store your sneakers separately and keep your gym clothes and equipment dirt-free.
Pros
- High volume of storage room so you won’t struggle for space
- Plenty of pockets for safe and easy storage of your belongings
Cons
- Expensive
- Quite bulky to carry around on one shoulder
Features to Look for in a Gym Bag with Water Bottle Holder
In addition to at least one water bottle pocket, other features you should look for in a gym bag include:
- Durable materials
- Additional pockets for organization
- Size
1. Durable Materials
When you’re carrying a lot of equipment to the gym, your gym bag should be durable enough that it won’t rip or tear. The buckles and zippers should also be made from high-quality materials so they won’t break even if the bag gets heavy once it’s packed.
2. Additional Pockets for Organization
While you can throw all of your gym equipment into a bag with just one large compartment, this makes it difficult to find what you need once you get to the gym.
A bag with multiple pockets will not only keep your items organized but will also keep your valuables safe and protected while you’re working out.
3. Size
In addition to your gym gear, your gym bag should be large enough to carry shoes, a gym towel, a change of clothes, and toiletry items, especially if you shower at the gym.
If your gym has lockers, you should also make sure your bag will fit into a locker so you don’t have to take everything out to store it.
Related Article: 7 Best Gym Bag Odor Eliminator
Final Thoughts
The King Kong EDGE45 Duffel is the best gym bag with a water bottle holder because of its sturdy construction, large internal capacity, and versatility.
If you prefer a backpack, the King Kong CORE25 Backpack is an excellent option. The external belt storage makes it ideal for CrossFitters, weightlifters, and powerlifters. Because it has a padded laptop compartment, it’s also a good choice for people who commute to work from the gym.
Not sure which bag is right for you? Check out the article Best Powerlifting Gym Bag for more recommendations, or our other reviews:
About The Author
Amanda is a writer and editor in the fitness and nutrition industries. Growing up in a family that loved sports, she learned the importance of staying active from a young age. She started CrossFit in 2015, which led to her interest in powerlifting and weightlifting. She's passionate about helping women overcome their fear of lifting weights and teaching them how to fuel their bodies properly. When she's not training in her garage gym or working, you can find her drinking coffee, walking her dog, or indulging in one too many pieces of chocolate.
