One of the most common things I’ve seen while practicing BJJ is people carrying ridiculous amounts of equipment into the gym. Honestly, it always baffles me as to why one of the simplest pieces of equipment is so widely ignored. A BJJ gym bag would ensure that you don’t need to pull a juggling act to carry all your gear from the home to your gym.
BJJ training often requires you to carry a lot of equipment: a gi, belt, tape, slippers, underwear, you name it. A big bag with lots of compartments to store stuff separately will come in handy.
If you cross-train MMA, your equipment will differ on a day-to-day basis. If you’re going to practice striking training, you’ll need to bring along wraps and gloves. If there’s a sparring session, then you’re going to need a mouthguard as well.
BJJ gear bags are designed with the nature of the equipment in mind. They often feature specialist compartments for water bottles and feature a mesh design to ensure that the equipment remains dry. Without much further ado, here are the best gear bags on the market.
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Venum Trainer Lite Sport Bag, One Size, Black/Black | 870 Reviews | BUY ON AMAZON | |
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Venum US-VENUM-2124-BLK/BLK Challenger Xtrem Backpack,... | 360 Reviews | BUY ON AMAZON | |
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Gold BJJ Jiu Jitsu Backpack - Heavy Duty Gym Bag with... | 892 Reviews |
$59.99 |
BUY ON AMAZON |
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Sport Large Gym Duffle Travel Bag Wet Dry Storage Carry... | 40 Reviews | $74.95 | BUY ON AMAZON |
The 8 Best Gym Bags for BJJ and MMA
Venum Trainer Lite Sport Bag
- Large main pocket able to fit shinguards and Boxing gloves
- Separate side pocket for easy storage
- Mesh panels deliver enhanced breathability
- Brand: Venum
- Material: 100% Polyester
- Color: Black
- Dimensions: 27 x 13 x 10 inches
- Capacity: 30L
My personal MMA duffle bag that I use for going to the gym is the Venum Trainer Lite Sports bag. Venum is a brand that is well-known by everyone in the MMA community, and you can trust them to provide high-quality products. The duffle bag is made out of 100% polyester and features mesh panels to provide more breathability. The choice of materials means that the bag is very breathable and doesn’t retain any bad smells.
There’s also more than enough room to store all the equipment you need for a training session, like your MMA shorts. It features separate side pockets and a central storage compartment. The individual side pocket helps ensure that any small pieces of equipment will fit easily and securely. One reason why people don’t like a duffle BJJ gym bag is that the shoulder strap can get annoying. Luckily, the extra padding helps ensure that the strap never gets uncomfortable.
Pros
- Breathable Mesh Fabric
- Separate Compartments
- Very comfortable strap
- Perfect everyday use
Cons
- Competitors offer more space
- Slightly longer than you’d expect
Hayabusa Ryoko Mesh Gear Bag
- The Hayabusa Ryoko Duffel Bag is constructed with tear resistant mesh for maximum durability.
- Ryoko is the perfect boxing duffle bag to store all of your boxing equipment.
- The only gym bag you’ll ever need.
- Brand: Hayabusa
- Material: Polyester/Mesh
- Color: Black
- Dimensions: 11.5 x 24 x 13.5 inches
- Capacity: 50L
The Hayabusa Ryoko Mesh martial arts gym bag boasts the highest storage capacity on this list. There’s more than enough room to fit multiple Gi’s easily. It features a spacious design that encourages airflow that helps ensure maximum ventilation. You won’t have to worry about this bag catching the smell of sweat.
This jiu-jitsu gym bag features high-quality construction that boasts a tear-resistant mesh and tough metal zippers. Not only does it offer a massive storage capacity, but it’s built to last years!
Pros
- Large Storage Capacity
- Compact Size
- Breathable Material
Cons
- Uncomfortable strap
Elite Sports Boxing Gym Duffle Bag
- Convenient Storage: Elite Sports gym duffel bag for boxing, MMA, BJJ gear is big enough to keep...
- Mesh Ventilation Compartment: Our boxing gym bag has a mesh pocket and water-resistant lining...
- Takes Haymakers with Ease: Our MMA gym backpack duffel is made of heavy-duty Cordura fabric...
- Brand: Elite Sports
- Material: Polyester/Mesh
- Color: Black/Grey/Pink
- Dimensions: 10 x 20 x 10 inches
- Capacity: 30L
Elite Sports boxing gym bag is another alternative for anyone looking to buy a no-nonsense gym bag. It offers a minimalist design that’ll appeal to anyone and holds several handy features that make it a great muay-thai gym bag.
It features ventilation mesh in the design to help ensure that the bag is as breathable as possible. Sweaty equipment stinks, and if the material isn’t breathable, it’ll cause your bag to stink as well.
The pack also features a handle and straps to allow you to carry it whichever way you prefer conveniently. There’s even a dedicated shoe compartment that you can alternatively use for Gi storage as well!
Pros
- Compartmental Design
- Strap and handle
- Minimalist Aesthetic
Cons
- Slightly less storage
- Zippers aren’t high quality
Venum “Challenger Xtreme” Backpack
- Duffle zip pleat allows the bag to be converted from a backpack to a duffle bag
- Hidden MP3 player pocket with Headphone opening
- Insulated side cooler pocket
- Brand: Venum
- Material: Polyester
- Color: Black/Grey
- Dimensions: 350 x 630 x 240mm
- Capacity:63L
Venum is synonymous with MMA equipment; however, the Challenger Xtreme is more than just a boxing gym bag. It’s one of the best multipurpose backpacks available on the market. The bag is made out of high-grade polyester fabric that’s water-resistant.
It’s so versatile that you can easily convert the Challenger Xtreme from a canvas bag into a duffle bag. There are also extra side compartments that’ll help you store smaller items without losing them in the clutter.
All the straps are adjustable as well, so you can set the bag according to your needs. It’s not only just a great MMA gear bag, the “Challenger Xtreme” is ideal for all types of adventures.
Pros
- Water-resistant Mesh Fabric
- Extra Compartments
- Convertible
- Large storage capacity
Cons
- Bulky size
- Will definitely draw attention
Gold BJJ Jiu-Jitsu Backpack
- DESIGNED BY JIU JITSU ATHLETES 🥋 Our backpack is made by athletes who actually train every...
- WATERPROOF GI POCKET 💦 Keep your clean clothes clean, and your sweaty gear separate. Easily...
- HEAVY DUTY MATERIALS 🛡️ We doubled down on reinforced stitching and top grade nylon to...
- Brand: Gold BJJ
- Material: Polyester
- Color: Black
- Dimensions 17.7 x 13.5 x 3.6 inches
- Capacity: 25L
If you’re in the market for a jiu-jitsu gym bag that you can take to competitions, then look no further than the Gold BJJ Jiu-Jitsu backpack. It’s been designed by athletes that practice jiu-jitsu every day.
The bag features a waterproof Gi pocket that will effectively quarantine your sweaty gear. It’ll make sure your back doesn’t stink either. The backpack is made using high-quality materials and reinforced stitching to ensure it’ll help last through the years.
This MMA gym bag comes with the Gold BJJ seal of approval!
Pros
- Ideal for BJJ Competition
- Waterproof Gi Compartment
- Compact Size
Cons
- Only enough room for one GI
Sport Large Best Gym Duffle Travel Bag
- Grip Power Pads Bodybuilding Sport Large Embroidered Gym Duffle Bag with Wet/Dry Storage TWO...
- ROOM FOR ALL OF YOUR GEAR With a large main compartment plus front, right and left zip...
- HELP WET GEAR DRY On one end, you'll find a ventilated wet/dry compartment for airing out dirty...
- Brand: Grip Power Pads
- Material: Polyester
- Color: Black
- Dimensions: 26 x 12 x 12 inches
- Capacity: 50L
Similar to the Venum “Xtreme Challenger” backpack, the Grip Power Pads MMA gear bag can also change from a backpack to a duffle. If you want to carry more equipment, just convert it from a canvas pack to a duffle bag.
It features a breathable mesh fabric that helps ensure that your sweaty gear has an opportunity to get dry, and the bag doesn’t stick either. The PVC coating also helps make the bag more resistant to wear and tear.
Regardless of what form you use the bag, its padded straps and handles ensure that you carry the bag in maximum comfort.
Pros
- Convertible
- High-grade padding
- Protective PVC coating
Cons
- Not as durable as others
Fairtex Gym Gear Bag
- This high-quality Sport Bag in made of durable Nylon Satin
- It has several pockets and compartments of various sizes; perfect for all your gear big and...
- Boxing Gloves to Shin Protectors to Muay Thai Shorts to Punching Mitts, a whole bunch of...
- Brand: Fairtex
- Material: Polyester/Nylon
- Color: Black
- Dimensions: 15 x 20 x 10 inches
- Capacity: 40L
As you’ll notice, most MMA gear bags either go down the polyester route or the nylon route. Fairtex, however, combines both materials to create a hybrid backpack of sorts. It features a main nylon storage compartment and two mesh storage blocks.
The nylon storage box is completely waterproof and perfect for storing sweaty training equipment, while the mesh compartments ensure that they have a chance to dry a bit as well. It features stands on the bottom to help ensure that the bag doesn’t fall over either.
Pros
- Nylon/Mesh combination
- Stands on the bottom
- Great Design
Cons
- Stands wear out quickly
- Low-quality zipper
Gold BJJ Jiu-Jitsu Duffle Bag
- 44L CAPACITY FOR ALL OF YOUR GEAR 🥋 Customers of our 25L Jiu Jitsu Backpack asked for a...
- XL WATERPROOF GI POCKET 💦 Keep your clean gear clean, and your sweaty gear separate. We...
- A TRAINING BAG THAT WILL LAST 🛡️ Made from water resistant PVC and ultra durable two-tone...
- Brand: Gold BJJ
- Material: Polyester
- Color: Black
- Dimensions: 21 x 12 x 12 inches
- Capacity: 44L
Gold BJJ knows what they’re doing when it comes to BJJ equipment. That’s why they’re so good at making BJJ gym bags. We’ve already talked about how the Gold BJJ backpack is ideal for competitions. The duffle bag offers the same quality features only with much more room.
It features a compartmental design that’ll allow you to carry all your auxiliary equipment in one compartment and your GI’s in the other. The Gold BJJ backpack only gives you enough room to store a single Gi, while the duffle bag has enough space to store multiple. You can keep two in the waterproof pocket and an additional change of clothes along with your equipment in the main compartment.
Pros
- Great Construction
- Separate Compartments
- Waterproof Gi Pocket
- Perfect for competition
Cons
- Bulky
Buying Guide
Several features set apart an MMA gear bag from a regular bag. Looking out for these features will help you find the gear that suits your needs the best.
Storage
Storage capacity in terms of backpacks is often measured in terms of liters. Knowing how many liters you require is essential to understand the bag’s size that you need to get. You need to carry multiple gear types for MMA training; these might include gloves, grips, rash guards, shin pads, and other accessories.
The Gold BJJ backpack offers the lowest storage capacity on this list and still has enough room to store a Gi and a fresh change of clothes.
Material
The material when you’re picking a boxing gym bag plays a crucial role. If the fabric isn’t breathable, then it’s merely going to absorb all the sweat from your dirty equipment. The result is a bag that stinks and is terrible to carry around. Ideally, it would help if you looked to buy MMA gear bags that offer a breathable mesh design.
Features
Lastly, keep an eye out for additional features like extra storage compartments or a waterproof pocket. Stuff like these can make a difference and help you store more items than you thought the storage capacity would allow!
Conclusion
All of the gear on this list represents an excellent option for anyone looking for an MMA gear bag. Choose the bag that suits your requirements the best. Anyone that’s still confused can go with my personal favorite, the Venum Trainer Lite Sports Bag. It is lightweight, breathable, and boasts more than enough room to store all your gear.
