A gym sack is a drawstring bag that slings over your shoulder or can be carried on your back. They’re one of the most convenient bags to have on hand. Not just a gym bag, their casual look makes them ideal for the beach, easy hiking, or hanging out for the day. Inexpensive and multifunctional, they also fold up easily and some slip into your pocket. Or, keep it as a work eco bag to save the world shopping after dark.
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Gym Sack vs Gym Duffel Bag
Both the gym sack and the gym duffel bag have their virtues. Both are pretty versatile in their own way. If you’re carrying a work bag or riding a bike, a gym knapsack is better.
Drawstring knapsacks are also convenient for sightseeing, shopping, or day tripping. Some may also have a pouch on the inside or outside for slipping in a smartphone. Apart from that, their design is pretty limited, but there are plenty of colors to choose from.
In contrast, the gym duffel bag can pack a lot more and doubles up as a travel bag for an overnight trip. They often have large side pockets and inside the bag are different pouches.
Unlike the simple gym sack, they can have a special shoe pouch inside. However, a handy shoe case fits nicely enough inside a gym sack. There are plenty of duffel bag sizes, styles, and colors to choose from. Puma is one of the most popular brands in Japan for sport bags and accessories.
Best Gym Sack and Drawstring Bag Selection in Japan
If you’re shopping around for a gym sack or gym bag in Japan you’ll usually find them listed as ジムサック・ナップサック or sometimes also ジムバッグ ・ナップサック. Drawstring [ ドローコード ・引き紐 ] doesn’t go well with bag [ バッグ ], but knapsack – not used so much in English – is vernacular in Japanese as is 巾着袋 ( kinchakubukuro).
Also see our post on handy shoes case bags.
Under Armour – Best Gym Sack for Bros
- 50% polyester nylon mix
- Sternum clip
- 6 colors
- 12L capacity
Under Armour bags have only a single cord either side which are held together by a plastic clip. These results in less movement when running or cycling. People familiar with gym sack bags find these ones a slight bit smaller than usual.
It’s best to wash gently the bag by hand to protect the logo. Prices vary a lot between sellers and also double check the size you order. These bags can hold two bottles of wine and a four pack of beer.
Adidas Big Logo – Best Gym Sack for Babes
- 100% Polyester
- Wide color range
- Side zip pocket
- Inside flap pouch
If you don’t mind the big brand logo on your back, these bags do have some nice extras – namely the handy side zip pocket and inside flap pouch. This light and bright color range is appealing to women, but there are also unisex black, blue, and white shades.
The only drawback is the strings. They are not adjustable so tend to be a little long for children or really petite statures. The side pocket is really appreciated for keeping accessories.
There’s a less obtrusive design with a side logo doesn’t have the side zip pocket or the inside pouch. The color range is less and, except for pink, the shades are rather dark. They’re also about an inch or 3 cm smaller in width.
MicV for Mothers Girls & Cuteness
- Microfiber polyester
- Water repellent for light rain
- 4 color designs
- A3 size holds 10kg
- Adjustable stings
These cute bags come in pink with strawberries or flamingoes and aqua-green with la leaf pattern or cats. There’s a slight price difference between them. They only weigh 200g and there’s no phone pouch inside if that’s what you want.
The polyester bags are quite popular with children and suitable for kindergarten. Some women also use them as a handy mother’s bag while others enjoy the eco-bag ・エコバック aspect.
An additional design is made from nylon and has a thin adjustable strap and not a drawstring. It doesn’t fold as well as the polyester sacks and the actually color is somewhat greyer than pictured.
Procase for a Cut Above the Rest
- Waterproof
- Ideal for beach and poolside
- Dry and wet inner pouch
- Adjustable draw straps
Based on a light drawstring design, these are about the best looking bags with their honeycomb patterning. Procase make a wide range of high quality protective cases for electronics as well as tactical and gun bags. Unfortunately, this swim sack is only available in black.
These bags are marketed as swimming bags for their unique waterproof inside pouch. They measure 30 cm across 15 cm in depth. The straps can be individually adjusted on both sides.
Although waterproof in the rain, these Procases are not submergible. For this level of waterproofing it’s recommended to get a dry bag (price link).
There is slight flaw to this bag because the straps could be stronger and better designed. The straps close the bag so adjusting them on the fly is not so easy.
G4 Free for Bushwhackers and Trail Blazers
- Water repellent nylon
- 100 grams
- M and L sizes
- Side string mesh pouches
If you want your gym sack to double up as a light weight hiking bag, these G4 Free’s are pretty good. Both sizes are made of water repellent nylon, but there are some fundamental upgrades for the larger size.
The M-size measures 35 cm wide and 40 cm high. It has a front zip pocket and two side mesh pouches handy for bottles.
The L-size is 39 x 50 cm with an additional dry / wet inner plastic pouch to protect dry items or secure wet items. It folds neatly into a handy pouch measuring 17 cm x 19 cm. You can usually get each size in 3 or 4 colors.
For both bags, the straps are held together with a sternum clip for a more secure fit. Like any other drawstring bag, it’s best not to put too many heavy items (like books) inside which could stress the string cords beyond capacity.
Under Armour for Heavy Lifters
Larger than most other bags, these Under Armours measure W48 x H38 x D5 cm full capacity. They’re big enough for a full gym or even boxing kit. These bags really live up to the expected Under Armour quality. This new design, however, lacks small inside pouches for cards and other accessories.
Lontenrea for a Family Pack
- Set of 4 colors
- Bargain price
- Front zip pocket
- Reinforced corner pivots
These bags come in sets of 4 or 8 of different colors. Each bag is 35 cm across and 40 cm high. These sets area great family choice, but for singles they’re ideal for travelling. They double up as an extra handy bag, and you can put dirty clothes in them when you return.
These Lontenrea sack packs come in two additional designs with not much of a price difference between them. There’s an 8 piece set (price link), but the bags don’t have a front zip pouch. The 6 piece set (price link), instead of a zip pocket, has a reflective band for high visibility at night.
See popular rankings for more choice in Drawstring Bags and Gym Sacks