THOSE of us who work out religiously during the weekdays will know the struggle of finding a bag big enough to fit the things we need during the workday, along with the hefty amount of training equipment needed. Shoes, clothes, shaker bottles, wraps, belts…the list doesn’t end. Plus, these are just the necessities if you regularly train in a standard gym. Rock climbers, boxers and participants of other gear-intensive sports will know the struggle of having to lug around far more goods on the daily. It’s not fun trying to fit your laptop and work necessities in the mix, we’ll guarantee.
To make life a little easier for you junkies, we’ve scoured for the best gym-to-office bags on the market that don’t skimp on style. Here are our favourites.
KING KONG BACKPACK II
King Kong Apparel makes some of the hardiest gym bags we know, and they are exceptionally roomy as well. The Backpack II is our carry-all of choice, given that it has a 28-litre capacity, and compartments to keep your goods organised. Out front, you have an area to store your shoes or meal prep, while the inside of the bag houses a compartment that can fit files of a 15-inch laptop for work. The whole set-up is made from military grade nylon too, so it’ll survive any abuse you’ll heap its way over the years and still look brand new.
S$229. Available at Armour Up Asia.
Timbuk2 Quest Duffel
Fans of convertible packs will love the Timbuk2 Quest Duffel, a 48-litre tank that can be carried as a duffel or backpack. Aside from a spacious main compartment, there are smaller pockets for your valuables, as well as a separate compartment to store shoes or wet clothes, keeping the stench out. If you think 48-litres is a whole lot of volume for your day-to-day needs, fret not — the Timbuk2 comes with compression straps to minimise its volume according to your preference.
Price NA. Available at Timbuk2.
PATAGONIA ARBOR CLASSIC CANVAS BACKPACK
Some of us spend the whole working day on the move, so something lightweight is preferred, though you definitely want a pack that doesn’t skimp on space. The Patagonia Arbor Classic Pack hits those requirements dead on, as you get a 25-litre backpack with a wide main compartment, a laptop sleeve and a stash pocket for your valuables just under the flap. This suave backpack is also waterproof, which means you don’t have to sweat it if you’re caught in a downpour. The fact that it is constructed entirely from recycled polyester is a plus as well.
S$99. Available on Mr Porter.
Herschel ultralight duffel
This Herschel duffel lives up to its name as one extremely light option, so you can pack its 30-litre space to maximum capacity without having to worry much about the weight of the bag itself. Aside from being able to carry it via top straps, this multi-purpose gym-to-office bag has backpack straps hidden in a zipped pocket so you can travel with it in a manner that suits you best, and can be folded into its own internal pocket for storage, which is nifty if you’re bringing it on a business trip and have to stow it in a suitcase.
S$189.90. Available at Herschel.