My first powerlifting meet opened my eyes to how pricey the sport can be once you become more experienced. I had purchased squat shoes, deadlift shoes, a powerlifting belt, wrist wraps and more. I wanted a gym bag that was durable, compact and strong enough to carry two pairs of training shoes. Something that didn’t look too big and sacrificed style as that is an important factor for anything that I buy. In 2019, I invested in the Datsusara 29L duffle gear bag and I have been using it as my gym bag since. After using this bag for over six years, I feel that I can give you a detailed review on it.
About Datsusara: The History
Through his dissatisfaction of being tied to a desk job, Christopher Odell felt unhealthy and unfulfilled. Christopher discovered that his new love for Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) made him feel liberated. However, he found that a majority of the equipment was not functional. For his love for hemp, due to its sustainability and versatility, he was inspired to create the perfect gym bag. In 2007, he founded and launched the business known as Datsusara. His mission was to encourage individuals to live a fulfilling life in accordance with their environment.
Over the years, the brand has grown. They have embraced their mission of creating products that high-quality and environmentally sustainable for those who want to protect nature. As the brand grew popular, more accessories specific to the sport such as ji jitsu belts and clothing apparel were created. Eventually, that led to other bags for everyday use such as hiking to be launched.
Datsusara: The Brand
Datsusara is a well-known brand in the MMA industry due to its use of hemp fabric throughout all their products. In addition to their philosophy, they don’t follow trends. The sustainability feature weaves into the fabric of the company. Their main target audience seem to be towards the MMA audience. However, they seek to inspire everyday people to live healthy and balanced lifestyles both inside and outside. It’s not just how we take care of our bodies but also what we wear and what we carry.
If you take a look at Datsusara’s instagram page, you can see that brand identity is intimate. It includes pictures of their bags used in sports and adventure. Furthermore, their values on sustainability and supporting healthy lifestyles are depicted in a majority of their posts. According to their instagram page, it does not seem that their products are universal and inclusive across age, gender, race, class etc. This could be due to the fact that MMA has been an underground sport in an exclusive space for many years. Or due to the fact that they are not a social media type of brand. Recently, there has been a growing attraction for the sport in other communities. Maybe in the next ten years or so, we might see a change.
Disclaimer: This post does include some affiliate links. If you click and purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products that I have personally vetted.
What Features To Look For In A Gym Bag
If you are looking to invest in a gym bag for powerlifting, you need to look for something with sufficient capacity. A bag that has enough space to carry all your equipment is vital. No one wants to be the bag lady that has to carry multiple bags to and fro everyday. It’s not versatile. It can take up a lot of space, especially if you are commuting. There are two other features that I suggest looking into: organised compartmentalisation and a ventilation system for sweaty and wet clothing.
A gym bag with organised compartmentalisation can make or break your decision. Having a home for each item is key especially when you have a lot of equipment to carry. It makes preparing for the gym more efficient and easier to select what you need in the locker room. In addition, a dedicated shoe compartment saves a huge amount of space. You know how much space squat shoes and deadlift shoes can take!
Aside from these three points, these are other features that I look into:
- Small item pockets – something that can hold resistance bands, padlocks, keys etc.
- Wet and dry sections – no one wants to be around unpleasant smells and bad hygiene practices.
- Size of the bag – this depends on your lifestyle and if you want to use it for other purposes
- Comfort – is it possible to carry it in multiple ways that are comfortable?
- Style – is it stylish and functional? Does it match what you are looking for?
The Datsusara 29L Gear Bag Review
Before I got this gym bag, I was switching between a regular duffle and a drawstring bag. When I was searching for my next investment, I was deciding between two brands: the Datsusara 29L Gear Bag and the King King Core Duffle Medium 35L. Ultimately, it was the price point, the look and the composition of the bag that swayed me. That led me to invest in the Datsusara gear bag.
What Are The Benefits
Firstly, what makes the Datsusara 29L a great bag for powerlifting is:
- It comes with a bag for wet and sweaty clothing. You can easily separate them from dry clothing and it doesn’t get damp.
- All of my powerlifting equipment can fit in the main compartment as well as the small pockets. In addition, it can fit perfectly in a gym locker regardless of the shape.
- The quality of the bag is top tier. In the six years that I’ve used it, the shape of the bag has remained intact. I do have one small tear on one of the front pockets that happened a year ago and I can sew it back.
- Although it’s not waterproof, I haven’t had any issues with items being soaked in the bag.
- The fabric of the bag is made out of hemp and it is a natural material. In this day and age, where a lot of brands use more synthetic materials than natural materials, it’s reassuring to invest in a bag that will last for a long time.
- It is very light to pack into a suitcase and it can easily be used as a weekend bag for a staycation.
What Are The Cons of the Datsusara Gear Bag
Over the last six years, I have noticed a couple of cons with the Datsusara Gear Bag:
- The inside of the bag could be slightly bigger (31 L) as it is a little snug for my powerlifting belt unbuckled. I have tried clipping my belt to the shoulder strap but I don’t like the idea of my belt being outside of the bag. This is a preference thing.
- The side pockets, where I put my shoes, are flimsy and are not as sturdy as the bottom of the bag.
I do understand that this bag was created for MMA specifically and not powerlifting, so the specifications are very different.
The Results & My Experience
For the past six years, I have been using this as my gym bag. Pre-Covid, I was training and getting dressed to the office from the gym. All of my powerlifting equipment (two pairs of shoes, a belt, knee sleeves, wrist wraps, socks, water bottle, resistance bands, gym outfit) including make up, office clothing and all my shower accessories were in the bag. Due to the long shoulder straps and the hand held straps, I could easily move around during my commutes. In addition, the compact nature of the bag made it easier to slide under train seats.
Whenever I have needed to train in another destination or had to travel for a powerlifting meet, I have been able to fold into a suitcase. I believe that the material of the bag and the way that it has been structured gives you the confidence to fold it down knowing that the rigidity won’t be lost. In comparison to every other bag that I have used in the gym, the storage space is it for me. I’m really big on organisation and believe that everything has its own home. With this bag, everything has its place. I don’t have to wonder where anything is or go searching for an item. I really love that.
In terms of pricing, it is an expensive bag and retails at $119. For a beginner in the sport who doesn’t want to spend that much on a bag, I would recommend two cheaper alternatives such as the Adidas Defender Duffel bag, the Focus Gear Ultimate Gear bag. If you want to buy a bag that is going to last, you will need to spend a little bit more.
The Datsusara 29L Gear Bag: The Final Judgement
My final judgement? I think that the Datsusara 29L Duffle Gear Bag would benefit:
- Lifters who are looking for bags with a dedicated shoe compartment
- Lifters who want to invest in a bag that will stand the test of time
- Strength sport athletes that need a bag that they can travel with and fits airport carry on requirements
- Lifters that need a bag with which is easy to commute to and from work
- Powerlifters who want a bag that can carry a belt externally or around the bag.
I still have plenty of years left with this bag as the quality has not waned in the last six years. Although I haven’t tried any other bags, this is the best bag that I have had so far.
Would I buy this bag again? Yes I absolutely would and I would find more creative ways to stash my powerlifting belt.
What bag do you use for the gym? Or if you do another activity, what do you use? I hope that this post has given you some features to consider when switching to a new gym bag. Make sure to hit that subscribe button to join the community and never miss out on a post. Find me on Instagram, Pinterest and TikTok for more powerlifting and wellness content.
Until next time,
Folakemi
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