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11 Best Shoe Bags for Travel, Work & the Gym

By Andrew Peloquin  |  Updated January 4, 2024

11 Best Shoe Bags for Travel, Work & the Gym
Courtesy of Carhartt

Shoes are messy.

Have you ever thrown a pair in your travel bag or gym bag and thought some separation from your clothes and gear would be a good idea?

Here’s a solution: bags that slide onto your shoes or boots and keep them from dirtying up your other packed items.


WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
  • It’s not one size fits all. And I do mean that literally. Some shoe travel bags are built for sneakers, others for much larger work or hiking boots. Find the bag that fits not only your shoe size, but also your shoe type.
  • Light and waterproof. Typically, shoe travel bags are made with lightweight materials (like polyester or nylon) that are also waterproof—or, at the very least, feature a waterproof coating. Sometimes the waterproofing is on the inside (to keep wet/muddy shoes from leaking), sometimes on the outside (to protect valuable sneakers from the rain), and sometimes on both.
  • Stuff-friendly is ideal. When not in use, shoe travel bags should be small enough to stuff into a pocket of your duffel bag or backpack. Some even come with their own stuff sack that makes it easy to pack them small and tuck them out of the way.

After personally testing more than a dozen bags and combing through dozens more, I’ve winnowed down all my options to the very best shoe travel bags to make your packing and transporting shoes exponentially easier and cleaner.

Note: Many gym backpacks include a built-in shoe compartment in case you are looking for something for that purpose.

Best Overall

Case4Life Sneaker Duffle Bag

Why did I choose it?

Great all-around water-resistant shoe bag that will fit nearly all men’s shoe sizes and works equally well with athletic shoes and dress shoes.


Best Lightweight Shoe Bag
Eagle Creek Pack-It Shoe Sac

Best See-through Shoe Bag
pack all Water Resistant Travel Shoe Bags

Best Inexpensive Shoe Bag
YAMIU Travel Shoe Bags

Best Leather Shoe Bag
Piel Leather Double Compartment Shoe Bag

Best Shoe Bag for Runners
Tracksmith Shoe Bag

Best Shoe Bag for Short Work Boots
Carhartt Short Boot Bag

Best Boot Bag
WOLVERINE Boot Bag


Best Overall

Case4Life Sneaker Duffle Bag


$18
 

Whether you’re packing running shoes, a backup pair of work shoes, or your gym gear, this bag is sized just right.

Made to store basketball shoes up to a Men’s Size 13, it’s tough and waterproof with a double-zip opening that allows you to access all your bag’s contents in seconds. Thanks to its rectangular shape, it’s also easy to pack in any suitcase or weekender duffle.





Best Lightweight Shoe Bag

Eagle Creek Pack-It Shoe Sac


$30
 

At just one ounce, this is the lightest travel shoe bag I’ve tested. It’s sized to fit up to one large pair of hiking boots or two pairs of sandals—great for beach and mountain adventures.

It’s also water-repellent and washable so you can use it to pack your toiletries and grooming products. It’s backed by a lifetime warranty.





Best See-through Shoe Bag

pack all Water Resistant Travel Shoe Bags


$14
 

If you’re packing multiple pairs of shoes, this is the bag for you. The mesh exterior lets you identify what pair is stored in each bag at a glance.

The water-repellent, dust-proof bag will keep any shoe smell trapped inside so your clothes don’t stink even if you pack your shoes straight after a long run or hike. Available in both large and small sizes to fit shoes up to size 16.





Best Inexpensive Shoe Bag

YAMIU Travel Shoe Bags


$10 / 4-pack
 

Keep these shoe bags in your gym gear for easy, sturdy, and affordable protection. Instead of just one shoe bag, you get a four-pack that you can use to pack multiple pairs of shoes or all your toiletries. Lightweight, waterproof, and with a sturdy zipper that’ll slide smoothly for years to come, it’s a traveling man’s best friend.





Best Leather Shoe Bag

Piel Leather Double Compartment Shoe Bag


$100
 

Add a bit of class to your traveling gear with this genuine Colombian leather shoe bag.

Each zipper opens up to an individual compartment for a single shoe, making it the perfect solution to pack luxury leather loafers or formal shoes to take on a business trip abroad.

The more you travel, the more beautiful the bag will become as the leather develops a gorgeous patina.





Best Shoe Bag for Runners

Tracksmith Shoe Bag


$38
 

Athletes and track-stars, this one’s for you. Designed specifically for running and sports shoes, the crossbody bag offers the ideal solution for transporting your cleats, spikes, or flats to and from practice hands-free.

The heavy-duty cotton canvas is tough as nails. You’ll be glad to know it fits shoes up to Men’s Size 13.





Best Shoe Bag for Short Work Boots

Carhartt Short Boot Bag


$35
 

Pack your steel-toed work shoes in this bag and throw it in the back of your truck so they’re always handy.

The bag is sized for short boots and shoes, with a spacious main compartment sized for up to Men’s Size 14 (with steel toes).

The waterproof exterior is matched by an easy-to-clean mud-resistant inner lining and ventilation holes to air out stinky shoes.





Best Boot Bag

WOLVERINE Boot Bag


$40
 

If you need a bag to pack your full-height work boots, you’ll love this Wolverine bag.

Built for boots up to 6 inches tall and Men’s Size 14, it’s spacious, tough, and reliable. The air vents keep your shoes from smelling and let them dry, while the dedicated exterior pocket provides space for extras, like a backup pair of socks or your most needed EDC items.






Knack Large Compressible Shoe Bag


$30
 

Keep your dress shoes or coveted sneakers safe in this bag. Made with dual compartments, it separates your shoes to prevent them rubbing against each other when packed.

Thanks to its 210-denier ripstop nylon body fabric, it’s tough as nails and capable of enduring years of travel.






adidas Stadium 2 Team Shoe Bag


$23
 

Protect your shoes from scuffs and scrapes with this lined, lightly padded shoe bag. Sized for sneakers and tennis shoes, it’s got enough ventilation that your shoes won’t smell after hours spent packed away and the inner lining keeps mud and dirt from damaging the bag.

Packing and carrying the bag is made easy thanks to the webbing loop haul handle.






Case4Life Boot Bag


$14
 

Hikers, hunters, and tradesmen, this boot bag is just the thing you’ll need. The bag’s capable of accommodating boots with up to a 10” height, and up to Men’s Size 13.

The water-resistant nylon exterior shields your boots from rain or snow while the integrated vent holes allow for proper air flow to keep your footwear smelling fresh and clean even after a hard day’s work.





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