Georges St-Pierre once said that the difference between a fighter and a martial artist is that a martial artist trains for perfection, not for merely a fight. However, attaining perfection always requires the right equipment.
One of these tools that helps complement your practice is an MMA gym bag. It ensures you always have your gloves, guards, and headgear.
In this article, we’ll try to answer some of your questions about the best MMA gym bags as well as what size and type you should go for.
With the commercialization of martial arts, many brands have rushed to attract clients with promises of mastery.
It has become a challenge to find a gym bag that actually fits your goals and isn’t just a marketing stunt.
Our Top Picks
In this section, we’ll try to walk you through my search for the best MMA gear bag and review some of my personal favorites.
Contents
- 0.1 Venum Trainer Lite Sport Bag
- 0.2 Gold BJJ Jiu-Jitsu Backpack
- 0.3 Hayabusa Ryoko Mesh Gear Bag
- 0.4 Gold BJJ Jiu-Jitsu Duffle Bag
- 0.5 Meister Breathable Chain Mesh Duffel Gym Bag
- 0.6 MarsBro Water Resistant Sports Gym Duffel Bag
- 0.7 Grip Power Pads Large Gym Duffle Bag
- 0.8 Fairtex Gym Bag Gear Equipment
- 0.9 UNK Martial Arts Bag
- 0.10 Mouteenoo Gym Sports Small Duffel Bag
- 1 MMA gym bag FAQs
- 2 Conclusion
Venum Trainer Lite Sport Bag
The Venum Trainer Lite Sport Bag is simply a beauty. With its large size, functional design, and incredible breathability, it has proved itself as the connoisseur’s choice.
For starters, the Venum bag is incredibly spacious. It can practically fit everything you need for your practice, from your water bottle and snacks to your headgear and shin gear. You can even pack a different outfit and shoes to wear after training.
Venum is also incredibly functional, with several compartments and pockets of different sizes. Some pockets are large enough to fit boots. Others are small for your mouthguard and glasses.
Generally, throwing your activewear after a long sweaty workout can cause some nasty odors, especially with socks! Not with this MMA duffle bag, though. It’s well-ventilated and definitely a cut above the rest when it comes to breathability.
It’s an all-inclusive bag. It works for all kinds of martial arts, as well as other workouts. We’d certainly recommend it for anyone looking for a roomy durable bag with on-par functionality.
Pros
- Durable
- Comes in different color options
- Breathable and doesn’t retain odor
- Spacious
- Features many pockets of different sizes
Cons
- Expensive
- Zippers are of low quality
- Sometimes the pocket mesh paneling rips apart
Product Specifications
| Material | Nylon |
| Dimensions | 27” x 13” x 10” |
| Best for | Versatile – works for most martial arts |
Gold BJJ Jiu-Jitsu Backpack
The Gold BJJ Jiu-Jitsu Backpack is the absolute perfect companion for any martial artist. It’s designed by Jiu-Jitsu athletes for JJ athletes.
This Jiu-Jitsu gym bag is small, compact, and quite minimalistic. That comes as both a blessing and a curse. It’s easier to carry around without having to deal with back pain. However, it doesn’t always have enough space for all your protective equipment and clothes.
Moreover, it has plenty of specialized pockets. One important addition is the waterproof Gi pocket specially designed to keep your best BJJ gi sweat-free and odorless. There are other compartments carefully outlined for your belt, water bottle, and wallet.
Pros
- Compact and minimalistic
- Cool design
- Waterproof Gi pocket
- Belt pouch, zippered side pockets, and velvet pocket
- High-grade nylon, with double stitching
- Customer-friendly replacement and refund policy
Cons
- Expensive
- Not particularly durable
- Not roomy, might not have enough space for all your gear
Product Specifications
| Material | High-grade nylon |
| Dimensions | 14” x 9” x 3” |
| Best for | Jiu-Jitsu and Judo |
Hayabusa Ryoko Mesh Gear Bag
One word for this Muay Thai gym bag: huge. The Hayabusa Ryoko Mesh Gear Bag looks more like a travel duffle bag rather than a gym bag. It’s definitely the only duffle bag you’ll need.
Despite its large size that can comfortably fit your boxing gloves, it’s lightweight and easily carried around. In contrast to other large bags, this bag’s size doesn’t come as a liability.
The breathable mesh keeps gear dry without compromise on durability. It’s made of tear-resistant mesh, high-grade metal zippers, and reinforced with polyester fabric.
Moreover, Hayabusa Ryoko offers different pockets for your wet and dry gear with water-resistant materials. Plus, there are dual water bottle pockets for extra hydration.
Pros
- Large size
- Lightweight
- Good value for money
- Well-ventilated
- Tear-resistant mesh
- Water-resistant pockets
- Dual water bottles pockets
Cons
- Not especially durable
Product Specifications
| Material | Polyester |
| Dimensions | 24” x 13.5” x 11.5” |
| Best for | Boxing and Muay Thai |
Gold BJJ Jiu-Jitsu Duffle Bag
Gold BJJ has made this bag especially for those who are looking for a bjj bag with a bigger size than that of their backpack. It has easily perfected a combination of size, versatility, and functionality.
It has a capacity of 44L, which is enough room for practically everything. Different Gis, headgear, mouthguard, you name it!
Being able to rock up with your cheap BJJ gi and normal gi gives you more options.
It’s made of water-resistant PVC and ultra-durable two-tone polyester, promising to be by your side from white belt to black. There’s also a separate sweatproof pocket for your Gi, socks, shoes, or dirty gear.
Pros
- Customer-friendly replacement and refund policy
- Durable; made of water-resistant PVC and ultra-durable two-tone polyester
- It has a capacity of 44L
- Separate sweatproof Gi pocket
Cons
- Expensive
Product Specifications
| Material | PVC |
| Dimensions | 16.9” x 12.7” x 4.9” |
| Best for | Jiu-Jitsu and Judo |
Meister Breathable Chain Mesh Duffel Gym Bag
Although still a young brand, Meister Design has a history of innovation since 2006. The Meister Breathable Chain Mesh gym bag isn’t an exception.
It’s made of a double-layered chain mesh that’s somehow both incredibly breathable and opaque. Unlike other MMA duffle bags, it’s not see-through. So, no worries, your cartoon-themed socks are safe!
Moreover, it’s porous, ensuring no bad odor is retained. It’s also well-organized. On both sides of the bag, you can find zipper pockets for a belt, mouth guard, or glasses.
Pros
- Very Economical
- Opaque, giving you some privacy
- Very breathable
- Side pockets
- Comes in two different sizes
Cons
- No shoulder pads or support
- Not especially durable
Product Specifications
| Material | Chain mesh |
| Dimensions | Classic: 22” x 13” x 13” or X-Large: 28” x 15” x 15” |
| Best for | Boxing |
MarsBro Water Resistant Sports Gym Duffel Bag
At first look, the MarsBro Duffel bag is more like a business briefcase. We must say it’s incredibly elegant for a gym bag. However, it’s because it’s designed to be versatile, hence, the long name.
What we particularly like about this bag’s design is its minimalism. It’s sleek and contemporary, yet easy on the eyes. Plus, it comes in a variety of colors, catering for every taste.
Apart from its exceptional versatility and cool design, MarsBro duffel bag has a well-ventilated built-in shoe compartment for when you’re going out to dinner after training.
It also has a small zippered pocket for your phone or keys, a side pocket for your shampoo, and an internal security pocket for any valuables.
Pros
- Great value for money
- Cool design
- Versatile
- Shoe compartment
- Plenty of pockets
- Durable
Cons
- It’s not designed for MMA
- No sweat-proof pockets for the Gi
Product Specifications
| Material | PVC |
| Dimensions | 19.7” x 9.8” x 9.3” |
| Best for | Versatile – works for sports, gym, travel, camping, and hiking |
Grip Power Pads Large Gym Duffle Bag
The Sport Large duffle bag is a jack of all trades and a master of many. Not only does it work for the gym and while traveling, but it also works as both a duffle bag and a backpack.
You can use the adjustable shoulder strap or top handles to use it as a duffle bag or turn it around and wear the double back straps. You practically get two bags for the price of one, quite literally.
Pros
- Versatile
- Convertible, works as a duffle bag and a backpack
- Large
- Well-ventilated
- Made of ultra-tough PVC- coated 600-denier
Cons
- Flimsy quality
- Not specially designed for MMA
Product Specifications
| Material | PVC |
| Dimensions | 26” x 12” x 12” |
| Best for | Gym and travel |
Fairtex Gym Bag Gear Equipment
Fairtex has made a bag, especially for boxing and Muay Thai, and it’s carefully designed for just that. It’s a large bag that can fit your wrestling shoes, boxing gloves, headgear, knee pads, and more.
Moreover, it’s waterproof for when you need a fast session on a rainy day.
With two side pockets, a front pocket, and a shoe compartment, this bag will satisfy any detail-oriented person with love for organizing.
Pros
- Can fit all your equipment
- Well-organized
- Durable
- Plenty of pockets
- Waterproof
Cons
- Shoulder handle breaks down
- Expensive
Product Specifications
| Material | Nylon mesh |
| Dimensions | 24” x 14” x 12” |
| Best for | Boxing, kickboxing and Muay Thai |
UNK Martial Arts Bag
This bag is the perfect example of an MMA fighter who does much and says little. It’s well-designed for MMA, offering all that a fighter needs.
It has the right size, large enough to fit your gear, but not too big to be a burden. It’s porous and breathable to let some air in and some odor out.
Additionally, there are side pockets for your shoes and gloves. There are also front pockets for your phone, wallet, and valuables.
Pros
- Large
- Breathable
- Affordable
- Several specialized pockets
Cons
- Poor construction
Product Specifications
| Material | High-grade nylon |
| Dimensions | 27” x 14” x 13” |
| Best for | Boxing and Taekwondo |
Mouteenoo Gym Sports Small Duffel Bag
What first caught my attention about the Mouteenoo gym duffel bag is its creative design. It’s a compact cylinder with smooth edges. Quite the modern look!
When you take a deeper look, it’s a sturdy bag that’s carefully designed for comfort and functionality. It offers a separate shoe compartment, two outer pockets, and one inner pocket for maximum organization.
One incredibly impressive feature of Mouteenoo is their customer service and warranty policy. Unlike most other bags, they offer a lifetime warranty.
Pros
- Great value for money
- Trendy design
- Several pockets, with a separate shoe compartment
- Lifetime warranty
Cons
- Not particularly durable
- MIght be too small for MMA equipment
Product Specifications
| Material | Nylon |
| Dimensions | X-small: 17.32” x 9.8” x 9.8” or Small: 20.5” x 11” x 11” |
| Best for | Gym |
MMA gym bag FAQs
In MMA, when there’s preparation, there’s no fear. Preparation starts with having the right answers if such a concept exists.
In this section, we’ll try to the best of my knowledge to answer some of the questions that itch your mind.
What are the benefits of an MMA focused gym bag?
Most gym bags don’t offer the features necessary for an efficient MMA practice. This might be related to size, the number of compartments, or level of breathability.
Size
While many gym bags come in big sizes, they’re usually not large enough for MMA equipment. You need a bag to fit your gloves, protective gear, as well as your water bottle and clothes. This is often only found in MMA focused gym bags.
Pockets
One great aspect of MMA gear bags is how organized they are. They have plenty of specialized pockets, each designed for a certain purpose.
Some have sweat-free pockets for your Gi, to keep it separate from your other clothes and equipment. This is important because boxing and jiu-jitsu get sweaty pretty fast, and you don’t want your gear to get wet, right?
There are also several other pockets for your water bottles, snacks, and clothes. Some even have a belt pouch.
Breathability
Not enough brands put enough effort into the breathability and ventilation of their gym bags. MMA is an exhausting sport. After each session, you end up sweaty and sticky.
Well-ventilated mesh bags are important for the durability of your gear as well as for the sake of your nostrils.
Which size should I choose?
Size is a double-edged sword. While it’s a great advantage to have a bag fit all your equipment, it’s also a hassle to move around.
Small MMA bags also have the advantage of being compact and easily held and carried, especially backpacks. You should weigh the pros and cons of each feature and consider what works best for you.
As for me, I’d always pick functionality over size. I’d rather shove my things into a bag that barely zips than carry a Godzilla on my shoulders for the whole way.
Should I pick a holdall or backpack?
It’s true that buying an MMA duffle bag or a backpack is solely a matter of preference. However, they have some significant differences.
For starters, duffle bags are usually bigger than backpacks, but that’s not the crucial difference. It’s how you carry it.
Heavy loads carried on your back can damage nerves reaching your arms and hands, especially if you have bad posture. Nevertheless, duffle bags also cause uneven pressure on your shoulder joints and nerves.
Although one solution to this problem is carrying a cross bag, my heart always goes out to backpacks. They’re voguish, compact, and more easily carried around.
Conclusion
MMA isn’t just a sport of fitness. It’s also one of a strong mind and solid preparation. Gear, equipment, and naturally gym bags can be an important part of that.
We must say, though, this has been a difficult choice. While this isn’t a matter of one fits all, if we had to choose, we’d go for the Venum Trainer Lite Sport Bag. It has achieved the difficult combination of versatility, durability, and functionality.
Alternatively, if you’re a beginner looking for something more compact but still top-notch quality, I’d suggest you consider Gold BJJ Jiu-Jitsu Backpack. It’s highly specialized with a unique waterproof Gi pocket. Also, the backpack design is all the go now!
