One of the fun parts of Jiu Jitsu is picking and using gear that suits you the most. In addition to your no gi kit and Gi, another frequently used item is a gym bag. A good gym bag will hold everything you bring to training, ease your way in finding what you need when you need it, and will feel like a joy to use and carry around to support your training.
A high-quality, nice-to-look-at, and easy-to-carry bag is an essential item for Jiu Jitsu training. There are many options including general gym bags and one created specifically for Jiu Jitsu training. When looking for a good Jiu Jitsu bag there are a few factors to consider including durability, size, carry ability, compartments, and ventilation/hygiene capability.
Durability
If you train a lot, your bag will get used a lot. You’ll want a bag that can withstand years of pickup and placing on the floor, zippers and buttons that will be opened and closed thousands of times, and Velcro being opened and closed continuously. Have a close look at the material does it feel tough and pay attention to the stitching double stitching with a heavy thread is often a hallmark of a quality bag. Zippers should be high quality and open and close smoothly.
Another factor to consider is the rigidness of the bag. My bag is semi-rigid, meaning that it stays propped up when open and empty. I’ve utilized bags that crumple into themselves if it isn’t full and the experience is much better if the bag is rigid and can hold itself up.
Size
Size is an important factor when considering what gym bag you use for Jiu Jitsu. At a minimum, the bag should be able to hold everything you plan on regularly bringing to class. You might want to consider a bag that is just a little bigger as you might have items to bring on an as-needed basis. Check out my article on what I regularly bring to training for an idea of what size you need to consider.
What I Always Bring to Jiu Jitsu Class
I would not buy too big of a bag. A large bag can be a good option for travel or tournaments, but if it’s too big for training it may be a chore to carry and you’ll need to find more places to store it while you train. The bag I use for my training is packed pretty tight but is easy to carry and takes up less space than what most of my training partners use.
Carry ability
Carry ability is another important factor depending on the distance you’ll be carrying the bag. There are three types of straps you’ll find with most gym bags including single hand handles, single shoulder strap, and dual shoulder backpack style straps. If you are going from the parking lot to the dojo the single hand handles work best. If you are walking or traveling a significant distance you may want a shoulder or backpack-style carrying. The backpack style would work best if you walking or biking a long distance.
The bag I use is convertible from single-handle carry to backpack style. 90% of the time I use the handle going from my car to the dojo, but the backpack straps have come in handy during training and at tournaments.
Compartments
Multiple compartments are super nice to have in Jiu Jitsu training bag. Multiple compartments make it easier to organize your training gear and get to a point where everything has a place and everything is in its place so that when you need it, it is easy to find. I will usually keep my clothing, belt, and flip flops in the main compartment and smaller items like deodorant, mouth guard, bandages, tape, and extra contacts in a separate compartment in the bag. My gym bag has three zippered compartments. I think I’d like to have more compartments, but I make it work.
Hygienic capability
Hard training equals copious amounts of sweat and sweat-soaked clothing. If you’ve ever forgotten a sweaty gi in a bag the results are a putrid stinking mess. A good gym bag for Jiu Jitsu will have a separate compartment or bag for dirty clothing and will repeal moisture so wet clothing doesn’t permeate the bag.
In the past, I had a separate bag for dirty clothing. My current bag is nice because it is made of ballistic nylon that does a good job of repealing moisture. After training, I will take my sweaty clothes and simply place them on top of my duffel, close the handles, and carry the bag to my car. Look for a bag that can be easily cleaned, washed, and/or repeal moisture as much as possible.
What are some popular brands of Jiu-Jitsu-specific gym bags?
In recent years Jiu Jitsu has exploded in popularity and the amount of Jiu Jitsu specific gear is nearly unlimited. This popularity has extended to gym bags and there are now many options available that are specific to the needs of Jiu Jitsu practitioners. Some manufacturers that have created specific Jui Jitsy gym bags include Tatami, Elite Sports, Gold BJJ, Venum, and Fuji. You can find other suitable bags by looking at duffle bags for general gym use, tactical use, and adventure hiking style backpacks and duffels.
What bag do I personally use?
The bag that I currently use and that has been my favorite so if is the Bigh Haul 40 by REI. This has been the perfect bag for me and my regular Jiu Jitsu training. The size is perfect. It is just big enough to carry everything I need and small enough to make carrying it easy. The material is very nice too. The bag is made of recycled ballistic nylon that doesn’t get wet and feels to be very durable. The bag is made of high-quality materials and it’s double-stitched where needed with heavy thread. I’ve used the bag for about three years without issue. The bag is also a convertible bag with handles and backpack-style straps. The straps have come in super handy for travel and at tournaments. The only minor cons I have with the bag are the backpack straps can be hidden, but can not be removed and I wish it had a couple of more compartments.
Review of the REI Co-op Big Haul 40 Recycled Duffel Bag for Jiu Jitsu
Summary
In summary, you’ll get a lot of use out of your gym bag when training Jui Jitsu so it’s best to spend some time and pick one that works for you the best. Look for a bag that you like to carry around, can fit all of your stuff, is durable, and meets the needs of your specific training regiment.