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$REI Balance Gym Bag - Women\'s$

REI Balance Gym Bag - Women's

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Spend more time playing and less time packing with our sophisticated REI Balance gym bag.

Sourced from old plastic bottles, post-consumer recycled PET polyester is tough enough to endure the daily grind and is gentle on the environment
Large zippered opening gives you easy access to all your workout essentials; side panel can hold a 1-liter water bottle
Separate compartment for your shoes or dirty clothes keeps your clean clothes looking good; large mesh vents help air things out
Slender bag design fits inside most lockers with convenient access to the main compartment
Hide-away straps secure a yoga mat to the front rather than the bottom so you can still set the bag down; tuck the straps away for a clean look
Front zippered stash pocket keeps your keys and small items handy
Adjustable, padded shoulder strap provides comfortable carrying

Imported.

Item 763406

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REI Balance Gym Bag - Women's Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews

REI Balance Gym Bag - Women's

3.5

(based on 19 reviews)

68%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

Comfortable strap (13)
Lots of pockets (13)
Lightweight (12)
Stylish (11)
High quality (10)

Cons

Best Uses

Daily use (10)
Sports (7)
Travel (4)
Commuting (3)
Gym bag (3)

- Reviewer Profile:
- Practical (14), Stylish (9), Comfort-oriented (6), Career (4), Classic style (3)
- Primary use:
- Personal (17)

REVIEWS

Reviewed by 19 customers

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Displaying reviews 1-10

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Apr

2008

(26 of 29 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Love it!

By _gatecrasher_

from Boston, MA

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Durable
Easy to Transport
Large Capacity
Lightweight

Cons

Best Uses

Gym bag

Comments about REI Balance Gym Bag - Women's:

After going on an epic quest to find a gym bag that had everything that I was looking for I found this bag. The pictures really don't do it justice, so I actually went to an REI store to take a look. The teal is very pretty, a little shiney and the bag was larger than I expected, but fits everything perfectly. The 'shower caddy' is a bit laughable but makes a good case for jewelry/small items. I was slightly more concerned about the shoe pocket. It's a very heavy nylon/polyesther, and while I'm sure it's fine for most gym-dwellers, I'm a marathon runner which I think puts my sneakers in a whole different category of wet, rank, and sweaty. I ended up buying a spray bottle of waterproofing spray at REI and hosed down the inside of the shoe pocket where the shoes are stashed. So far, so good! I can go for a long run in the mornings and then park the bag under my desk in my office without having to offend work colleagues. I can fit a pair of women's 10.5 sneakers, my Ipod, bagged up used gym clothes (shorts and a thin T-shirt) a wicking shirt, light pants, and toiletries (full sized shampoo bottle, full sized hairspray bottle, a few smaller bottles of moisturizer, deodorant and a small make-up bag, two hairbrushes, all in the bag, no problem. I also love this bag because I take the subway to and from the gym, home and work. It's not too big where I'm knocking people over as I get on and off the subway. It's not too bulky or heavy/awkward to carry either. I highly recommend this bag!

Nov

2008

(7 of 7 customers found this review helpful)

1.0

Meh

By fbhs

from Boston, MA

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable Strap
Good Strap Length
Lightweight
Lots of Pockets

Cons

Poorly Made
Wears Out Easily

Best Uses

Daily Use
Sports

Comments about REI Balance Gym Bag - Women's:

I really liked the bag, but as another reviewer mentioned, it wears out really quickly. I had mine for about 5 months and the strap started fraying by the seam before it ripped altogether.

I'm not planning on exchanging it for a new one. Best to buy a different bag.

Apr

2008

(7 of 7 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

skinny*roomy*versatile (not just 4 gym)

By reddirt

from PNW

About Me Classic, Comfort-Oriented, Practical, Sometimes minimalist, Stylish

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy To Access Items
Easy To Carry
Easy to store
Good Capacity
High Quality

Cons

Best Uses

Personal airline carry-on
The gym of course

Comments about REI Balance Gym Bag - Women's:

-skinny profile makes it super easy to carry, yet its still roomy

-fits my climbing & runnings shoes + harness + water bottle

-thoughtful design (compartments, loops, pockets)

-easily used for non gym stuff (ie laptop in protective sleeve + papers)

-great for traveling on plane because:
.skinny profile makes it easy to deal w/ for TSA xray
.outer pocket is perfect for passport, flight info papers, tickets
.fits under seat in front of you side by side w/ small backpack
.fits essentials for long flights like small pillows, blanket, snacks, water bottle (which I bring in empty, then fill w/ water after getting thru TSA)

-slightly higher price due to being a recycled product (prolly slightly more $$ to make) but worth it!!

Sep

2009

(5 of 5 customers found this review helpful)

2.0

Started as a good idea

By Snowbird

from Utah

About Me Modern, Practical, Stylish

See all my reviews

Pros

High Quality
Lightweight
Lots of Pockets
Stylish

Cons

Too Small

Best Uses

Daily Use
Gym

Comments about REI Balance Gym Bag - Women's:

The design of this bag is fantastic (a vented place for shoes and dirty clothes, water bottle pocket, straps for a yoga mat) however once I put my running shoes in the side pocket, the bag is 3/4 of the way filled up! I ended up (trying) to throw my toiletry kit in there too, but as hard as I try, the bag will not fit my essentials (change of clothes, shoes, toiletry kit, water bottle, yoga mat on the side). I wish REI would upgrade this bag to the size of a standard duffel, but keep the cute design, fashionable colors and well-thought-out details. Oh, and make the "yoga mat straps" a little more heavy duty--it needs actual adjustable buckles (similar to the straps on the side of the REI cargo getaway duffle) to actually hold anything--not dinky little keychain clips. I would actually purchase the Cargo duffel if it was a tad more feminine and included the vented pockets and water bottle pocket that the Balance gym bag has. Sigh. What started out as a perfect gym duffel for women, ended up as nothing more than a fancy purse.

Jun

2008

(5 of 6 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Useful bag

By MayS

from Canada

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Durable
Easy to Transport

Cons

Small shoe area

Best Uses

Comments about REI Balance Gym Bag - Women's:

I initially wanted a backpack with a seperate compartment for shoes but that doesn't seem to exist so settled for this gym bag instead. Lots of pockets makes it easy to organise. One complain is that the seperate shoe pocket/area seems rather small. I have US 6 cross trainers and I have difficulty stuffing my shoes in, maybe it's the material it is made out of?

Apr

2010

(3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

AWESOME BAG

By MissMont

from NW Montana

About Me Modern, Practical

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable Strap
High Quality
Lots of Pockets
Stylish

Cons

Best Uses

Commuting
Daily Use
Sports
Traveling

Comments about REI Balance Gym Bag - Women's:

WOW this bag is just great. I love the grey and pinkish color, it really matches about anything. I'm a bike commuter so I needed a rugged gym bag to keep up with me. This bag has done the job. It fits perfectly on my Jandd Expedition rack and the yoga straps are the best thing ever and they hold my 1/4 inch mat. I can fit my size 9 running shoes/trail shoes, socks, pants/shorts, long sleeve, tank, cycling shorts, sunglasses, deodorant, sun block, jacket, beanie, magazine, and a bunch of small personal care items. I'm a smaller person 5'6", 125 lbs, so I can really shove a ton of my cloths in this bag, with shoes in the shoe pocket. It also fits nice into small skinny lockers.

The only beef I have with this bag is that it has a ton of air holes but didn't come with a rain fly. If I'm riding in the rain, everything gets wet. I've since purchased the REI 20 liter rain fly. Works perfect!

Oct

2008

(3 of 5 customers found this review helpful)

1.0

cool bag -- but fell apart in 6 months!

By dallas darling

from Dallas, TX

About Me Practical, Stylish

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable Strap
Good Strap Length
Lots of Pockets
Stylish

Cons

Wears Out Easily

Best Uses

Comments about REI Balance Gym Bag - Women's:

Paid full price for this bag 6 months ago -- and the strap split in a way that's not repairable! Great style and practical design can't make up for lousy construction.

Nov

2008

(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

So far, so good!

By a2runnergirl

from Ann Arbor, MI

About Me Comfort-Oriented, Practical

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable Strap
Good Strap Length
Lightweight
Lots of Pockets
Stylish

Cons

Best Uses

Sports

Comments about REI Balance Gym Bag - Women's:

I'm always on the go and have been looking for a gym bag that holds all my running gear but isn't large or bulky. I managed to fit in: running shoes (shoe compartment is fine for my size 7 shoes), shorts, t-shirt, sports bra, flip-flops, swim suit, goggles, swim cap, socks, and a thin long sleeve warm-up top. And there is a bit of room left! The shower caddy is a bit small, but it is fine for mini-size products. The pockets inside are great to find stuff easily. I only gave it a four because I haven't had it that long and can't yet rate how it will hold up over time.

Apr

2008

(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Great, versatile bag!

By reenbean18

from New York

About Me Career, Classic, Comfort-Oriented, Practical

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy To Access Items
Easy To Carry
High Quality

Cons

Small Capacity

Best Uses

Hitting the gym

Comments about REI Balance Gym Bag - Women's:

I saw this reviewed in Fitness magazine and went for it. I love it! It makes for a great gym bag - has a separate compartment for sweaty clothes or shoes. It also has lots of accessible and sturdy pockets, and straps for a towel or yoga mat. Maybe a bit short on space, but it works for me because it FITS in my gym locker (unlike most duffel bags). Would also be great gear bag for hiking.

Mar

2011

(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Great bag for carrying the basics

By ontherun

from Los Angeles, CA

About Me Comfort-Oriented, Practical, Stylish

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable Strap
Lightweight
Lots of Pockets
Stylish

Cons

Small zipper opening

Best Uses

Exercising
Gym workout

Comments about REI Balance Gym Bag - Women's:

I used this to transport all my workout gear for my tri training, so I have running shoes, sandals, workout clothes change of clothes, shower essentials, etc. Basically, I carry a lot of stuff! In order to fit everything I have to be a minimalist because my shoes take up the majority of the room. I wish the mouth of the bag was a bit bigger, but so far this bag works. I like the size I just have to be practical about what I pack.