Every New Year, many of us focus on getting fitter, and that often means hitting the gym—leading us on a mission to find the perfect gym bag. So, how does this tie into tech and our interests here at Windows Central? Well, WaterField Designs, famous for creating some of the most gorgeous laptop and tech bags, has just released a new gem—the WaterField Flex Travel Gym Bag. This bag even sports a pocket spacious enough for an 11-inch iPad or a similarly sized tablet.
You can already place your preorders for the Flex Travel Gym Bag, although shipments won’t start until January 13, 2025. Take your pick between a bag crafted from waxed canvas or ballistic nylon, each priced at $389.
Over the years, we’ve extensively explored WaterField’s offerings, evaluating numerous bags from their collection. Their products don’t come cheap, but if you’re willing to invest in a quality bag, WaterField stands out with top-tier design and practicality. A good example of this blend of aesthetics and utility is the WaterField Tech Folio Plus. Excuse my enthusiasm, but their bags truly shine and consistently receive stellar reviews.
In developing the Flex Travel Gym Bag, WaterField sought input from enthusiasts to ensure it catered to users’ needs.
Gary Waterfield, the owner, explained, “Our community, which includes hundreds from my local gym, helped shape a gym bag packed with unique features—just in time to support everyone’s New Year fitness ambitions. I appreciate how it organizes my shoes, clean and soiled clothes, and water bottles separately, plus the gym-specific pockets accommodate my iPad, AirPods Max, and other essentials when I’m on the go.”
Maybe it’s time for WaterField to try using Surface Earbuds and a Surface Go—or perhaps it’s Microsoft that should roll out updates more frequently to keep people interested in their accessories come 2025.
Although the Flex Travel Gym Bag doesn’t offer a pouch spacious enough for a Surface Pro, the back of the bag can house an 11-inch iPad, complete with a protective sleeve for added safety. While it might seem odd to reserve room in a gym bag for a tablet, technology is increasingly commonplace at the gym. I often use devices to record my workouts for form analysis or social media, and tablets help with reviewing exercise videos or enjoying content during cardio sessions.
Allow me to add a quick word of caution: Understand the sensitivity surrounding cameras in gyms. Always respect others’ privacy and get consent before filming. I’m fortunate to work out in a close-knit environment, but I’m always ready to stop filming if needed. If you plan to record in your gym, ensure it’s allowed and always respect the workout privacy of others.
There’s also talk about a new 11-inch Surface device launching in 2025, which should fit snugly into the pocket of this bag. While it was initially believed this might be a successor to the Surface Go, our Senior Editor Zac Bowden suggests it’s probably going to be a smaller Surface Laptop, meant to take over from the Surface Laptop Go. While it’s promising for general computing, I had hopes for an ARM-powered Surface Go that would slide perfectly into this nifty WaterField Flex Travel Gym Bag. Alas, one can only dream.
Now, let’s delve into the details of the Flex Travel Gym Bag. With its U-shaped architecture and two-way zippers, the bag boasts five interior pockets tailored to accommodate assorted gear. Additionally, it features a gold water-resistant liner.
As a frequent gym-goer, I can attest that WaterField has really done its homework. They’ve integrated thoughtful details like a vertical hanging loop for locker storage, a dedicated compartment for shoes to keep your gear from getting grimy, and a tethered carabiner for securing a lock or keys.
The design also includes a discreet pocket for a tracker like an AirTag, a side pocket suitable for a water bottle or shaker, which is ample enough to store earbuds in their case, and, as mentioned, a back-pocket space for a tablet.
