Gymshark's Founders Tactical Backpack holds 34 litres and is made from 100% cotton, listed at $200 MSRP. The Tactical Lite holds 23L. Neither has a dedicated shoe compartment. For lifters carrying training shoes, a belt, and a change of clothes, a 45L pack with separated storage — such as the IronBackpack Pro 45L at $99.95 — costs $2.22 per litre versus Gymshark's $5.88.
You packed it the night before. Lifting shoes at the bottom, clean shirt folded on top, belt jammed down one side. By the time you get to the rack the shirt smells like the shoes and the belt has bent itself into a shape belts should not make.
This is the specific failure of a gym bag that is one big compartment with good branding on it.
Gymshark makes genuinely nice bags. The Founders Tactical Backpack — designed with founder Ben Francis — is a well-built, good-looking pack with compression straps, a breathable mesh back panel, and a laptop slot. It has a 4.9-star average across its reviews on Gymshark's own site.
It is also 34 litres, and one of those reviewers says it is too small.
What the Gymshark tactical backpacks actually are
Gymshark runs several packs under the "Tactical" name, and they are not the same size. This is the thing most people get wrong when they search for one.
| Model | Volume | Dimensions | Material |
|---|---|---|---|
| Founders Tactical Backpack | 34 L | 46 × 30 × 24.5 cm | 100% cotton body and lining, polyester back mesh |
| Tactical Lite Backpack | 23 L | 18.5" × 12" × 6" (main compartment) | Not published |
| Mini Tactical Backpack | ~13 L | 27 × 21 × 12.5 cm (main compartment) | Not published |
Source: Gymshark product pages, checked 16 August 2026. Specifications and availability change — verify on Gymshark's site before buying.
The Founders is the flagship and the one most searches are actually after. Listed at $200, currently discounted to $60 as a final-sale, non-returnable item, and showing out of stock at time of writing.
Where Gymshark is strong
Three things are real and worth saying plainly.
The build quality is good. Cotton is an unusual choice for a gym bag and it gives the pack a softer, less nylon-y feel than almost anything else in this category. If you want a bag that does not look like tactical gear, this is the one.
The organisation inside 34L is sensible. Two large zipped compartments, two front zipped pockets with a key fob loop, an elasticated external mesh pocket, and an external bottle holder. Nothing wasted.
Compression straps. Underrated on a bag this size — you can cinch it down when you have only packed half of it, and it stops the contents sliding around.
The size problem, in a verified buyer's own words
From a 4-star review on Gymshark's product page:
"The bag is a bit too small. After keeping Size 10 shoes in it, it looks quite congested. I would prefer a bag that is at least 5 liters bigger."
That is a US men's size 10. Not a size 14. Not a pair of Romaleos and a pair of metcons — one pair of ordinary training shoes, and the bag is already congested.
Here is why. A pair of men's size 10 training shoes displaces roughly 8-10 litres. There is no dedicated shoe compartment on the Founders, so those shoes go into one of the two main compartments, alongside everything else. Out of 34 litres you have maybe 24 usable ones left, and your clean clothes are now sharing a space with the shoes.
Add a 10mm lever belt — which does not fold — and the maths gets worse.
The number nobody publishes: capacity per dollar
Most gym-bag comparisons stop at "which one looks better." That is not a decision you can check. Volume divided by price is.
| Pack | Volume | Price (USD) | $ per litre | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TuffWraps TUFF Pro 45L | 45 L | $85 | $1.89 | Not published |
| IronBackpack Pro 45L | 45 L | $99.95 | $2.22 | Limited lifetime |
| HolStrength 45L Tactical | 45 L | $108 | $2.40 | 90 days |
| Serious Steel Fitness 45L | 45 L | $129.90 | $2.89 | Not published |
| Built for Athletes Hero 45L | 45 L | ≈$125-135 | ≈$2.89 | Not published |
| YoungLA 730 Expedition | 21-25 L | $75 | ≈$3.26 | Not published |
| WOLFpak 45L | 45 L | $177.95-$199.95 | $3.95-$4.44 | Limited lifetime |
| NOBULL Waxed Canvas Backpack | 23 L | $119 | $5.17 | Not published |
| Gymshark Founders Tactical | 34 L | $200 MSRP | $5.88 | Standard returns |
| King Kong Core 25L | 25 L | $150-$170 | $6.00-$6.80 | Not published |
Prices as listed on each brand's own site or an authorised US retailer, checked 16 August 2026. Built for Athletes lists in GBP; the USD figure is approximate. Prices change — check current listings.
Two things this table shows.
Gymshark's Founders at MSRP is the second most expensive litre in the group. At the current $60 final-sale price it becomes the cheapest by a distance — but it is out of stock, non-returnable, and that price disappears once the run sells through.
And IronBackpack is not the cheapest per litre either. TuffWraps undercuts it at $1.89. What IronBackpack is: the least expensive 45L pack that publishes a limited lifetime warranty, a 17" laptop sleeve, and free shipping on every order with no minimum. Of the ten packs above, only two carry a lifetime warranty, and the other one lists at $177.95–$199.95.
Side-by-side: Gymshark Founders Tactical vs. IronBackpack Pro 45L
| Spec | Gymshark Founders Tactical | IronBackpack Pro 45L |
|---|---|---|
| Volume | 34 L | 45 L |
| Dimensions | 46 × 30 × 24.5 cm | 51 × 30.5 × 30.5 cm (20" × 12" × 12") |
| Material | 100% cotton body and lining | 900D high-density polyester, water-resistant |
| Dedicated shoe compartment | No — shoes share a main compartment | Yes — 5 separated compartments |
| Opens flat 180° | No | Yes |
| Laptop | In main compartment | Dedicated padded sleeve, up to 17" |
| Bottle storage | One external holder | Two side holders, up to 750ml each |
| MOLLE / patch panel | No | Yes, hook-and-loop, patches included |
| Load rating | Not published | Tested to 20kg / 44lb |
| Warranty | Standard Gymshark returns | Limited lifetime against manufacturing defects |
| Price | $200 MSRP ($60 final sale, out of stock) | $99.95 |
IronBackpack specs from ironbackpack.com; Gymshark specs from gymshark.com. Both checked 16 August 2026.
Which one actually fits you
Buy the Gymshark if you want a good-looking cotton bag that does not read as tactical, you carry a light kit — shoes optional, no belt, no meal prep — and you can find one in stock. It is a nice object.
Buy something in the 45L class if your loadout is: training shoes plus street shoes, a belt that does not fold, sleeves, wraps, a towel, a change of clothes, a shaker, and a laptop, and you would rather those things not touch each other.
The IronBackpack Pro 45L was built for exactly that list. Five separated compartments, a 180° clamshell so you are not digging, a 17" laptop sleeve, MOLLE webbing for the belt, and 45 litres for $99.95 with free shipping.
Shop the IronBackpack Pro 45L — $99.95 →
Comparing other brands? See WOLFpak 45L review and alternative, Built For Athletes 45L vs IronBackpack Pro 45L, and the full 45L comparison.
FAQ
How many litres is the Gymshark tactical backpack?
The Founders Tactical Backpack is 34 litres (46 × 30 × 24.5 cm). The Tactical Lite is 23 litres and the Mini Tactical is smaller again. Gymshark uses "Tactical" across several sizes, so check the volume on the specific product page rather than assuming they are the same pack.
Does the Gymshark tactical backpack have a shoe compartment?
No. The Founders Tactical Backpack has two large zipped compartments and two front zipped pockets, but no compartment dedicated to shoes. Footwear shares space with the rest of your kit. Packs with separated shoe storage keep dirt and odour away from clean clothes.
Will a Gymshark backpack fit lifting shoes and a belt?
It depends on your loadout. A verified Gymshark reviewer reported that US size 10 shoes alone made the 34L Founders feel congested. A pair of training shoes takes roughly 8-10 litres, and a 10mm lever belt cannot be folded, so both together consume a large share of a 34L pack.
What is a good alternative to the Gymshark tactical backpack?
For a larger, lower-cost option, the IronBackpack Pro 45L offers 45 litres with five separated compartments, a 180° flat opening, a 17" laptop sleeve and MOLLE webbing at $99.95 — $2.22 per litre against Gymshark's $5.88 at MSRP. TuffWraps and HolStrength also make 45L packs in this price range, at $85 and $108 respectively; of the three, only IronBackpack publishes a limited lifetime warranty.
Is the Gymshark Founders Tactical Backpack worth $200?
That depends on whether you value the cotton construction and the Ben Francis design collaboration. On capacity per dollar it is the second most expensive option in this comparison at $5.88 per litre. On build quality and looks it reviews well, at 4.9 stars across 8 reviews on Gymshark's own site.
Is Gymshark's tactical backpack waterproof?
Gymshark does not publish a water-resistance rating for the Founders Tactical Backpack. It is made from 100% cotton, which absorbs water rather than shedding it. One reviewer specifically flagged this as an unknown. Coated synthetics such as high-density polyester generally handle rain better.
Same job, more room, less money.
Shop IronBackpack Pro 45L — $99.95 · See all backpacks
