Flying with a Gym Bag Carry On
Most of the time, when I’m traveling, my luggage fills up a lot faster than I’d like it to. This is especially an issue on airlines that charge enormous fees for each suitcase and carry-on bag that you bring. I could spend an extra few hundred dollars and buy the convenience of carrying excess luggage with me, or I could try to fit some additional items into my gym bag and save that money to buy new running shoes or stock up on protein powder later.
But is a gym bag considered a personal item? Gym bags do qualify as a personal item for airlines. If your gym bag is around the same size as a duffel bag or backpack and can safely be stored underneath the seat in front of you, you can pack up your old Nike bag and skip paying for an extra suitcase or carry-on.
As a frugal human who loves to travel and also has a relatively large collection of gym bags ready at home, I was very excited by this news. It also happened to be that I was going on a trip to Colorado, Utah, and Arizona at the time, and a gym bag would really come in handy. So, I decided to test it out and share my experience with anyone else who was wondering the same thing!
How to use a gym bag as a personal item on your next flight
Most airlines now have deals that include discount flights and a particular item, so I was highly motivated to make this work, and I know you can too. You can find the specific guidelines for your personal item on your individual airline’s website, but generally speaking you can usually get away with a bag that’s 18x14x8 inches and around 22 pounds, which I found to be plenty. Don’t worry about going too crazy with the measurements, though, it’s highly unlikely that they’ll stop you from measuring your personal item.
First, you should determine if you’re absolutely going to need other luggage, or if you’re going to try to travel with just your gym bag. Personally, I’d rather not pay the extra money for a full suitcase and a carry-on that is just going to slow me down, and I’m a light packer anyway, so I opted to only take my trusty gym bag on this adventure with me. I made it work for a week-long vacation, but this would definitely be easier for a shorter trip.
If you’re only bringing your gym bag, you’ll have to be a little pickier about what you put into it. Here’s what went into mine:
- Two tank tops
- Five tee shirts
- Five pairs of shorts
- Two pairs of pants
- Eight pairs of underwear
- Nine pairs of socks
- Flip-flips
- One book
- Toiletries
- Phone charger
I tucked the book and the shoes into the very corner of the bag first. Then I rolled all of the clothes up as tightly as I could one at a time, and put them in the bag on top of the first two items. I opted to leave the charger and toiletries on top so they were less likely to hit the conveyor belt first when the nice lady at the airline counter tossed my bag over her shoulder without a second glance. With everything packed away nicely, it was a bit snug, but it all fit surprisingly well. On the flight there, I wore my favorite pants to hike in, my boots, and a hoodie. Wearing my largest items on the way there eliminated the need to try to cram them into the bag with everything else.
I also kept my phone and my wallet in my pockets, but that was more about having access to them than it was about saving space. What you can fit in your gym bag will depend on what type of weather you have to dress for, the size of your clothing, and the length of your trip, but believe me, it can be done. If you’re using your personal item as overflow from your suitcase or your carry-on, you can be a little less picky with your choices, but I’d still recommend rolling everything up neatly before putting it in your gym bag. It not only saves space so you can pack more, but it also keeps your clothes from getting really wrinkled by the time you land.
The best gym bags to use as a personal item
If you’re in the market for a new gym bag, there are plenty to choose from. My favorite is my SportsNew gym duffel that I bought on Amazon. It’s got thick handles and a convenient cross-body strap so that I can keep my hands free, and I chose the lime green option so that it’s easy to identify when you’re lucky enough to get on a flight with extra overhead space and friendly neighbors. This particular bag is also water repellent, which can be really helpful if you plan on spending a lot of time outside.
Luckily, there are tons of other great options out there, too. You have your choice of size, style, color, weight, and even number of pockets. If the brand name is important to you, all of the big fitness brands like Nike, Adidas, and Under Armour make some fantastic gym bags. Otherwise, you can just hit the closest outdoor store or a quick Amazon search and you’ll find plenty of gym bags to choose from.
Related Questions
What’s the best way to measure your gym bag to make sure it will qualify as a personal item?
Although it’s highly unlikely that anyone working for the airline is going to stop you to take specific measurements of your personal item, it can happen, and it’s better to be safe than sorry, especially if you can’t tell if it will fit under the seat in front of you just by looking at it. As I mentioned earlier, the typical measurements for a personal item are 18x14x8 inches and around 22 pounds. You should check for specifics from your individual airline, but this gives you a good base to start with, and it’s likely that it’ll be very similar or exactly the same.
Once you have the measurements you need to meet, grab your measuring tape; it’s time to get started. First, measure the height of your bag from the top to the ground (without extending the handles up). Next, measure the width from one side of the bag to the other side. Finally, check the depth of the bag by measuring it from the front to the back. If you land at or under the measurements given by the airline, you’re ready for takeoff!
Are there airlines that give you a free carry-on with your economy ticket?
If you want to bring your gym bag as a personal item, but you still need more space for extra clothes, shoes, and other things, there are still some airlines that allow you a free carry-on in addition to your personal item. Airline rules change all the time, so it’s best to double-check before you book a flight, but here’s a pretty current list of the most popular airlines that’ll give you a free carry-on to accompany your new gym bag:
- JetBlue
- Southwest
- Alaska Airlines
- Hawaiian Airlines
- Delta
- American Airlines
Resources:
https://traveltips.usatoday.com/measure-luggage-airlines-13461.html
https://www.airfarewatchdog.com/blog/44258599/how-to-pack-in-just-a-personal-item-sized-bag/