If you’re a dedicated athlete, then you have seen that a regular backpack is not as useful for carrying your things. But choosing a backpack that’s specially designed to cover your sport’s needs is not always easy. There are many on the market with numerous characteristics. There are some things you definitely need, like waterproof material and compartments to separate things. Other specific requirements might depend on the sport you’re practicing, especially if you need to carry your gear with you.
Here are the 15 best backpacks for athletes.
Under Armour Hustle 3.0
Under Armour is one of the biggest brands for athletic items in the entire world. It started out in the basement of Kevin Plank. Plank was a student at the University of Maryland, and he was part of the football team. He would get tired of having his shirts soaked in sweat after practice. From this, he got the idea of making shirts with synthetic fabric that had moisture-wicking characteristics. After he managed his first big sale to Georgia Tech, the word spread, and the rest, as they say, was history.
Now, Under Armour has expanded its options to include very practical backpacks. One of the great options they offer is the Under Armour Hussle 3.0. One of its great features is a separate compartment for your dirty clothes, which is the main thing needed for athletic backpacks. This allows you to have your work things and your food, if necessary, in the same bag without everything getting mixed together. The material is very resistant, and the shoulder straps are quite comfortable, making it ideal if you have a loaded bag. The price might be slightly more than you would like, but the quality and practicality make it worth it.
Adidas Defender II Hussle Bag
Adidas is one of the biggest sports’ brands in the entire world, and number one on the European continent. It was founded in 1924 by the Dassler brothers, and they started out in their mother’s laundry room. After Jesse Sprinter won four gold medals in 1936 at the Olympics wearing their shoes, the brand exploded. However, in 1945, after the company survived World War II, the two brothers had a fallout, and they went their separate ways. Adolf –also known as Adi – founded Adidas, while his brother Rudolf founded Ruda, which later became Puma.
Adidas started selling products different from shoes, including very resilient gym bags. The Adidas Defender II is not exactly a backpack, but it’s a great way to carry all of your sport’s necessities. We do have to say that it could have more compartments, which would make it more practical if you have to carry other things. However, it does have a separate compartment for dirty clothes, which is very much necessary. The material is extremely durable, and the bag is not expensive, making it a very attractive option. On the downside, the shoulder strap can be uncomfortable when you carry too much weight. Furthermore, it makes a sound that might become annoying easily as the day goes by. Its durability and great capacity make it a big favorite.
Under Armour SC 30 Undeniable Backpack
The Undeniable backpack has Stephen Curry’s signature on it. With Curry being one of the biggest NBA players at the moment, we can only imagine he knows what he’s talking about. This backpack is one of the most stylish ones on this ranking. Thanks to its bottom made of water-resistant nylon, it can withstand the roughness of everyday use. However, the design shows consideration for your needs with a special sleeve for your laptop. The straps are very comfortable, and the backpack has a special compartment for your dirty clothes and sufficient space for a soccer ball or a basketball. Furthermore, it has special pockets for water bottles, helping you stay hydrated during your practice.
Diadora Squadra Backpack
Diadora was founded in 1948 by Italian shoe manufacturer, Marcello Dianeli. He had been working in shoes for his entire life, and with the help of his wife, he started his own brand. At first, they would sell shoes, especially destined for mountain climbing. After skiing became popular, they started manufacturing ski boots as well. As the years went by, the brand expanded, and it now produces everything from athletic shoes to clothes to backpacks. One of these made it into our ranking.
The Diadora Squadra Backpack has a feature that makes it very attractive to many athletes. Its front pocket is ventilated and separate from everything else, and it easily fits a basketball or a soccer ball. This way, you can protect the rest of your items from a ball that has touched the floor numerous times. Furthermore, the material is highly resistant, and there’s more than enough space for water bottles on the side. However, the main compartment is not as spacious as other models, which won’t allow you to fit things like books or something else you might need for the rest of your day.
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Nike Club Team Swoosh
Nike started as Blue Ribbon Sports, and it was founded by Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight. Knight was an athlete in the University of Oregon track team, and Bill was his coach. They started selling Japanese shoes. As they grew, they started to manufacture their own shoes and became Nike. Before releasing their first advertisement, they patented the Swoosh design that the brand is known for. Today, it’s the number one brand in the world thanks to the great quality of their products.
Nike kept it very simple in the design of this comfortable and durable backpack. With an only-black color availability and a front pocket with a side water bottle holder, it doesn’t look too impressive. However, the real magic is inside, with numerous compartments perfect for holding different things. This includes a compartment specially designed for your dirty clothes. The bottom is waterproof, and the rest of the backpack is rain resistant. There’s also a flap for you to use if it starts raining. Thanks to the nylon used for creating this backpack, you can be assured that it will last you for years.
Our guide to the best Nike shoes features more amazing products by this renowned brand. Check them out.
Soccerware Drawstring Gym Bag
This brand is focused on bringing honor to its name, focusing mainly on soccer-oriented products. They’re based in Dallas, Texas, and their aim is to become the largest soccer distributor in the United States. Considering that soccer is an emerging sport in the country, they saw the new need in the market and decided to embrace it. Their products tend to be more affordable than most while maintaining very good quality.
This middle-sized bag is perfect for holding your soccer ball and a few other things, but it’s not as spacious as other models we have described. It’s very lightweight, and it has the proper ventilation to make sure your dirty clothes don’t leave everything smelling. A drawback from this design is the strings, which don’t make it as comfortable to carry. Furthermore, due to its shape, it can’t stand on its own. However, the material is durable and waterproof, making it a very good option.
If you are looking for a reliable travel companion, take a look at these top travel backpacks and pick your favorite.
Speedo Large Teamster
This brand was founded in 1914 in Australia by Alexander MacRae. He started manufacturing socks, and it wouldn’t be until 1927 that he started fabricating swimwear. Their designs were not considered very proper at the time as they showed too much skin. Athletes, however, quickly embraced them as they had much more mobility on the water. Clare Dennis set an Olympic record in 1932, making the brand known worldwide. Controversially, she was almost disqualified for the skin showed due to her swimwear. Since then, the company has expanded and has continued to innovate on the fabric used for its designs.
This bag is one of the most versatile, and it makes keeping your things organized very easy. It comes in many colors, and it has both internal and external compartments. This allows for a multitude of options for you to pack your bag, and it covers different needs you might have. If you need to carry your laptop, there’s a pocket designed especially for that. Furthermore, it has a detachable compartment in which you can store your dirty clothes and carry them back home separate from the rest. The bottom is completely waterproof. This backpack might be on the pricier side of the spectrum, but it’s more affordable than other brands as well-known as this one.
For more quality sports bags, check out our reviews of the best-selling running backpacks.
MZ Wallace Metro Backpack
Monica Zwirner and Lucy Wallace founded this company in 2000. Their goal is to offer women a sense of functionality in handbags without losing style. This is why they designed and promoted that manufacture of special materials for their designs called Bedford Nylon and Oxford Nylon, respectively. Their designs are known for being durable, lightweight, beautiful, and practical.
This one is easily the most stylish option out there. It’s a favorite for women, although it can be used by men as well. Its beautiful design doesn’t make it impractical. On the contrary, it allows you to be able to bring it to any occasion. The nylon material makes for a very easy to clean exterior. The interior is compartmentalized, with a removable interior pouch. It has become a very popular option for everyday needs that might include going to the gym. It’s very lightweight, which is an added bonus to this model.
You will find some extremely durable bags by checking out our guide to the top-rated military backpacks.
Amazon Basics Classic Backpack
Amazon is a company that was founded by Jeff Bezos, who is currently the richest man in the world. He founded it in Seattle, Washington in 1994. It started selling music and online videos before taking over the books’ market. Nowadays, it’s one of the biggest retailers in the world, with a strong online presence and many other endeavors that go beyond selling products. They have also branched out to produce their own products, including sports gear.
Just as the name of this backpack suggests, less is more according to this simple design. If your backpack needs don’t require ample space, then this might be the design for you. The Amazon Basic doesn’t have the helpful compartments other models have. However, it’s one of the most affordable options on the market. This makes it a very attractive option if all you need is somewhere to put your gym shoes and dirty clothes after you’re done with your practice. It does have color options, with black zippers giving it some contrast and style.
Everest Gym Bag
This company was founded in 1982, and ever since, it has been producing durable backpacks with different designs. The goal was to make them useful according to the different needs you might have. Known for their high quality and durability, the brand has slowly grown and now has a wide number of options for you to choose from. Their designs are very practical and simple, with a multitude of features that make each of them quite unique.
This duffel bag is one of the most practical ones in the market. With its numerous compartments, it has nothing to envy on traditional backpacks. Furthermore, it’s very lightweight, despite being made of durable nylon that makes the bottom waterproof. One downside of this bag is that’s on the smaller side of the spectrum, which might make it inadequate for your needs. However, it’s a very durable model, and when empty, it can be easily stored as it doesn’t hold its shape.
Under Armour Storm Hustle II Backpack
As you might have guessed from its name, this is a waterproof backpack. The design includes numerous layers in order to guarantee this important characteristic. With two main pockets and two smaller ones, this bag’s compartments make it easy for you to organize your things. The shoulder straps are very comfortable, and the overall material is highly durable. However, since the bottom is not padded, it might not be as resilient as other models. It has a pocket designed for your laptop as well as a deeper one perfect for storing your dirty exercise clothes.
Adidas Rival XL Backpack
This is probably one of the most versatile models on the market. With more than enough space for storing anything you might need, it also has a multitude of compartments. Thanks to this, you can carry your gym shorts and shirts, laptop, books and more. Furthermore, the material is highly durable, and the straps are very comfortable, making it easier to carry your bag around. Additionally, it has a lifetime warranty, which balances out for the high price tag.
UTO
This bag has the best of both worlds. It’s small, which allows you to carry it easily wherever you go, but it’s organized in a practical way. It has a bottom compartment separate from the rest of the bag where you can store your dirty things. Furthermore, there’s also a compartment for your laptop, making it easy for you to switch from work or your studies to your gym or sports time. Furthermore, due to its entire nylon design, the backpack is very durable and waterproof, giving it an advantage over other models. Another pro of this bag is that it’s one of the more affordable models but doesn’t sacrifice quality.
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Targus Work & Play
This company was founded in 1982 in Anaheim, California. Its primary focus is manufacturing and selling laptop bags. However, they have expanded during the years, offering other accessories and widening their options for bags. This growth has allowed them to keep up with the change in lifestyle of the past decades. This is why they now offer options useful for sports, such as the Targus Work & Play.
This backpack definitely has it all. With a special compartment to hold tennis rackets, it’s one of the most versatile models. Furthermore, it’s spacious, and it has the necessary inner compartments we like so much. Unlike other backpacks, the laptop compartment is located toward the front, with a spacious compartment on the back for your shoes or dirty clothes. Made out of polyester, it’s very durable. We would hope so as it’s one of the pricier options in the market.
Fuel Top Load Sport Backpack
Fuel was founded in 1999 in New York City. Since then, they have become a household name, dedicating their efforts mainly to backpacks and other accessories. They have shown great-quality products at affordable prices, making it a favorite for many. The materials are very durable, and they offer a warranty for all of their products, something few companies do in this category.
The Top Load Sport Backpack is a very lightweight backpack with a good storage capacity. However, a soccer ball or a basketball won’t fill in there. It does have a special compartment for your laptop, and it’s one of the most affordable bags on the market. The material is durable, but it might not be as resilient as other models.
If you are looking for smaller alternatives to regular backpacks, take a moment to check out our selection of the most popular sling backpacks.