Best Pilates Bags for Reformer and Mat Class (2026)

The best Pilates bag for you depends on the class you take. Reformer studios supply the machine and props, so a roomy tote for grip socks, a water bottle and a change of clothes is usually enough. Mat class is different: if you bring your own mat, the bag has to carry it.

That's where many people get caught out. Most "yoga mat bags" are sized for yoga mats, which Merrithew says are usually around 3 mm (up to about 6 mm for heavier ones). Dedicated Pilates mats are much thicker, often 10 to 15 mm. Below are six bags at different price tiers, grouped by what they're good at, plus a quick way to check whether your mat will fit.

Buying for someone else? A bag pairs well with ideas from our Pilates gifts guide.

Quick comparison

The best Pilates bags

Best shoulder bag with mat holder

1. BAGSMART Yoga Pilates Shoulder Bag with Mat Holder (23L)

Check price on Amazon

If you go to reformer class most weeks but sometimes need a mat, a bag with a built-in mat holder covers both. BAGSMART's Amazon listing title describes this as a 23 L "lightweight & waterproof" shoulder sling bag with a yoga mat holder that also fits a 15.6 in laptop.

• Capacity: 23 L (listing title)
• Mat holder: according to the listing, the front pocket zips open at both ends so a mat (or a racket or paddle) can pass through. Zipped shut, it works as a normal pocket.
• Fabric: Taslon, per the listing (search preview only)

It's a new product (the listing says it was first available in April 2026, per a search preview), so there's no long-term durability record yet. BAGSMART doesn't state a maximum mat thickness. If you use a 10 mm+ Pilates mat, measure your rolled mat against the pocket before you rely on it.

Pros

• ✓ Carries a mat and a laptop in one bag
• ✓ Pocket doubles as regular storage
• ✓ Low price tier

Cons

• ✗ No published maximum mat thickness
• ✗ New listing with no long-term track record
• ✗ Several specs only seen in search previews

Best for thick Pilates mats

2. ELENTURE Large Yoga Mat Bag (Full-Zip, fits up to 1/2 in mats)

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This is the one bag here that names a thickness limit in Pilates-mat territory. ELENTURE's Amazon title says the Large full-zip bag fits mats up to "1/2 Inch Extra Thick," has a zip pocket and works for studio and Pilates use. That's about 12.7 mm, enough on paper for a 10 or 12 mm Pilates mat.

• Style: full-zip tube with a zip pocket
• Length: 27 in (search preview)
• Mat fit: up to 1/2 in, per the listing title

Don't confuse it with ELENTURE's standard canvas bag. That one is about 26 in long and 6.5 in across, and its listing says plainly that "1/2 inch thick mats WILL NOT FIT." BestReviews picked the standard model in 2021 but noted some complaints about the lining and zipper durability. We couldn't confirm the Large bag's current price.

Pros

• ✓ Listed fit up to 1/2 in mats
• ✓ Full zip protects the mat
• ✓ Zip pocket for keys and phone

Cons

• ✗ 15 mm mats are beyond the listed limit
• ✗ Easy to confuse with the smaller standard bag
• ✗ Price not confirmed

Best Pilates tote for everyday use

3. Lululemon Daily Multi-Pocket Tote Bag 20L

Check price at Lululemon

If you just want an open tote that holds class gear and works as an everyday bag, look at Lululemon's Daily Multi-Pocket Tote. It has about 1,600 reviews on Lululemon's site, per search previews. Lululemon's page wouldn't load for us, so these specs come from search previews too:

• Capacity and size: 20 L, 20.1 x 5.9 x 13.8 in
• Fabric: water-repellent recycled nylon, spot clean only
• Pockets: exterior drop-in bottle pockets, snap closure
• Mat: no mat strap (Lululemon sells one separately; we couldn't confirm the current model)

The listing also says the body stands on its own, which helps in a studio cubby.

Pros

• ✓ Stands on its own
• ✓ Drop-in bottle pockets
• ✓ Works as an everyday bag

Cons

• ✗ No mat strap
• ✗ Spot clean only
• ✗ Specs come from search previews

Best sling carrier

4. Manduka GO Play 3.0 Mat Carrier

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If your mat is thin and you just want something light to sling over your shoulder, Manduka's GO Play 3.0 is a simple option. According to Manduka's EU product page, it has quick-release buckles, a shoulder strap (Manduka lists 35 cm / 13.75 in), a 20 x 30 cm zip pocket and weather- and water-resistant fabric. It's spot clean only.

The catch for Pilates is fit. Manduka lists the carrier as compatible with mats up to its PRO 6 mm and publishes no fit data for anything thicker. It also doesn't fit Manduka's very thin travel mats (2.5 mm and 1.5 mm), because the pouch limits how tight the strap can cinch. So this suits a yoga-style mat you also use for Pilates, not a 10 to 15 mm Pilates mat.

Manduka also warns against storing wet items in the carrier, because the color can transfer onto lighter mats. On REI, a reviewer said the pocket fits keys and a wallet but worried the pocket fabric could wear through (search preview).

Pros

• ✓ Light, minimal sling
• ✓ Zip pocket for essentials
• ✓ Water-resistant fabric

Cons

• ✗ Brand-confirmed fit only up to 6 mm
• ✗ Doesn't fit very thin travel mats either
• ✗ Don't carry wet gear in it

Best for work-to-reformer

5. Aer Gym Tote 2 (X-Pac)

Check price at Aer

For reformer-only students who go straight from work, a mat holder matters less than keeping sweaty clothes away from a laptop. Yahoo Health's writers, who say they tested more than 25 gym bags, named the Aer Gym Tote 2 X-Pac their "best gym bag with shoe compartment." They liked that it's waterproof, has lots of compartments and works as "a gym bag that doesn't look like one." The downsides they listed were the smaller capacity and the price.

According to Aer:

• Capacity and weight: 22 L, 2 lb
• Shoe compartment: ventilated, fits up to men's size 12 running shoes
• Other pockets: padded laptop pocket up to 16 in, interior water bottle pocket, hidden tracker pocket
• Hardware: YKK zippers, Duraflex hardware, luggage pass-through

The X-Pac version was sold out on Aer's site when we checked (October 8, 2026). Aer also makes a Gym Tote 2 in 1680D CORDURA ballistic nylon (search preview). There's no mat holder.

Pros

• ✓ Separate ventilated shoe compartment
• ✓ Waterproof X-Pac fabric (per Yahoo)
• ✓ Looks office-appropriate

Cons

• ✗ Expensive
• ✗ No mat holder
• ✗ X-Pac version sold out at last check

Roomiest mat duffel

6. Kindfolk Yoga Mat XL Duffel Bag

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We've ranked this last because search previews showed it out of stock. BestReviews named the standard Kindfolk duffel its "Best of the Best" in 2021, with one complaint: it "doesn't hold the largest of mats, so measure carefully."

The XL version is Kindfolk's answer. According to the brand:

• Size and weight: 26 x 10 x 10 in (vs 8 x 8 in for the standard), 1.3 lb
• Material: canvas with vegan faux-leather trim, one exterior pocket
• Mat fit: up to 26 in wide; "perfectly suited for extra thick mats" (brand claim, no thickness number given)

A 10 in opening is still far roomier than the 6 to 6.5 in tubes of the standard bags we looked at. Kindfolk's site wouldn't load for us, and search previews showed both duffels as out of stock ("Notify me"). Check availability before you plan around it.

Pros

• ✓ Widest opening of the mat bags here
• ✓ Space for a towel and socks next to the mat
• ✓ Standard version was BestReviews' 2021 top pick

Cons

• ✗ No published thickness limit
• ✗ Stock was unavailable in previews
• ✗ Specs come from search previews

Also considered

• Merrithew STOTT PILATES Mat Bag, Duffle Style (ST-06163): comes from a Pilates brand. According to Walmart.ca and Amazon listing previews, it fits mats 10 mm thick or thinner and has a mesh side panel so the mat can air out. One Amazon buyer reported the zipper broke after a couple of months. We could only confirm the listing on Amazon.ca, so US availability is unverified.
• Gaiam Cargo Yoga Mat Bag: retailers list it at 25 in long and 6 in across, so it's for thin mats only.
• Balanced Body Tote Bag: built for a mat or Pilates springs, with mesh to help a mat dry. Balanced Body says it's "best suited for the EcoWise Flat Mat," which is a thin mat. The brand doesn't publish a price.
• Lululemon Everywhere Tote 29L: some Pilates blogs call this the go-to studio tote, but we couldn't find a product by that name in Lululemon's search results (its "Everywhere" line showed belt and crossbody bags), so we left it out. The Daily Multi-Pocket Tote 20L above is the closest Lululemon tote we could verify.

How to choose a Pilates bag

Tap the diagram to enlarge

Pilates tote bag or mat bag?

A tote suits reformer class, where the studio supplies the equipment and you mainly need room to change after class. A mat bag suits mat class, and a tote or shoulder bag with a pass-through mat pocket can cover both. A backpack also works if you want one bag for class, work and commuting. Look for an outside strap or a bottom loop if you carry a mat.

Reformer class or mat class?

Reformer studios provide the machine and props, so you mostly need room for socks, a bottle and maybe a change of clothes. A tote is fine. Mat policies vary by studio, so ask whether you need to bring your own mat. If you do, you'll want a bag that can carry it. Our first reformer class guide covers what studios typically expect.

Pilates mat bag sizing: check your mat's thickness first

This is the step most buyers skip. Common Pilates mats in our catalog run well past yoga-mat thickness. The Merrithew Deluxe Pilates Mat is 15 mm, the Manduka CLOUD Pilates Mat is 12 mm, and the Merrithew Pilates Express Mat is 10 mm. Here's what published bag limits look like next to that:

BestReviews also notes that mats wider than 26 in need larger bags, and that a 1/2 in mat "is considered 'extra-thick' and may not fit some styles."

Our own estimate (not from a source): a 72 in mat rolled tightly with no core is roughly 4.7 in across at 6 mm, 6 in at 10 mm, 6.6 in at 12 mm and 7.4 in at 15 mm. We got this from rolled area = length × thickness = π × diameter² ÷ 4. Real rolls are looser and wider. So a 6 to 6.5 in tube bag will be tight or too small for most dedicated Pilates mats. The easiest check is to roll your mat and measure across the end.

Tap the diagram to enlarge

For more on how the two mat types differ, see Pilates mat vs yoga mat.

Pilates bag with a mat holder: four styles

• Pass-through pocket (BAGSMART): the mat slides through a pocket that opens at both ends. It's convenient, but the fit depends on the pocket size.
• Full-zip tube (ELENTURE, Gaiam): protects the whole mat, but the diameter sets a hard limit.
• Duffel (Kindfolk, Merrithew): roomier, with space for a towel or socks next to the mat.
• Sling (Manduka): lightest option, but it cinches around the mat, so the strap range matters.

Wet gear and ventilation

Don't seal a damp mat or sweaty clothes in a closed bag for long. Manduka warns against storing wet items in its GO Play carrier because the color can transfer. Balanced Body's tote and Merrithew's duffle both build in mesh so a mat can dry or air out. If you're carrying a laptop too, a separate compartment like the Aer's shoe pocket keeps wet gear away from it.

What to pack: Pilates bag essentials

• Grip socks. NBC Select notes that "most studios require you to wear grippy socks," and Club Pilates' FAQ says every class participant needs them. In the same NBC Select piece, Bekah Kilinski, VP of operations and lead coach at Form50, says the grips keep you from slipping on the mat or reformer, which in her view reduces the risk of injury. See our best Pilates grip socks.
• A water bottle. Club Pilates' FAQ suggests bringing "your reusable water bottle." If you use a wide insulated bottle like the Owala FreeSip, check the bag's bottle pocket size first.
• Fitted clothes. See what to wear to Pilates.
• A small towel, if you like to wipe down after class.
• A wet bag or zip pouch for sweaty clothes. Keeps damp gear away from a laptop or a clean change of clothes (see the Aer's shoe compartment above).
• Hair ties and toiletries if you're going straight to work.

The verdict

If you mostly take reformer class but sometimes carry a mat, the BAGSMART shoulder bag does both at a low price tier. If you own a thick Pilates mat, start with the ELENTURE Large, the only bag here with a listed limit of 1/2 in. The Kindfolk XL is the roomier alternative if it's back in stock. For a thin mat, the Manduka GO Play 3.0 is the lightest way to carry it. Reformer regulars coming from the office should look at the Aer Gym Tote 2, and the Lululemon Daily tote suits anyone who wants one bag for class and everything else.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What should I put in my Pilates bag?

Grip socks are the main must-have. NBC Select notes that "most studios require you to wear grippy socks," and Club Pilates' FAQ says every class participant needs them. Club Pilates also suggests bringing a reusable water bottle. Reformer studios supply the machine and props, so check whether your mat class expects you to bring a mat.

Will a yoga mat bag fit a Pilates mat?

Often not. Merrithew says yoga mats are usually around 3 mm (up to about 6 mm), while Pilates mats are commonly 10 to 15 mm. ELENTURE's standard 6.5 in bag says 1/2 in mats won't fit, and Manduka only lists GO Play compatibility up to 6 mm. Look for a bag that states a 1/2 in limit, like the ELENTURE Large, or a roomier duffel.

Do I need a mat holder for reformer Pilates?

Usually no. Reformer studios provide the equipment, so a tote with a bottle pocket, and ideally a separate pocket for sweaty clothes, is enough. Yahoo Health valued shoe compartments and water resistance in its tested gym-bag picks.

Should I put a damp mat in a closed bag?

It's better to let it air out. Manduka warns against storing wet items in its GO Play carrier because the color can transfer. Balanced Body and Merrithew build mesh into their mat bags so the mat can dry or air out.

Is a Pilates bag different from a gym bag?

Mostly in the details. For reformer class, any gym tote with a bottle pocket works, because studios supply the equipment. For mat class, the difference is a mat holder or mat compartment sized for a thick Pilates mat. Many yoga mat bags are built for mats around 6 mm or thinner, so check the listed limit.

What size tote do I need for Pilates?

The totes and bags we looked at sit around 20 to 23 L: Lululemon's is 20 L (per search previews), Aer's is 22 L and BAGSMART's is 23 L. That's typically room for socks, a bottle and a change of clothes. If you also carry shoes or a laptop, look for a dedicated shoe compartment or laptop sleeve (the Aer has both at 22 L), or go bigger.

Can I use a backpack for Pilates?

Yes. For reformer class, where the studio supplies the equipment, any backpack with room for grip socks, a bottle and a change of clothes works, and it can double as your work or commuting bag. If you carry your own mat, look for an outside strap or a bottom loop, or use a separate mat carrier.

Still choosing a mat? See our best Pilates mats. Browse more gear in the accessories category.

Sources

• Yahoo Health: 12 best gym bags of 2026, tested and reviewed
• BestReviews: Best yoga mat bags (2021)
• NBC Select: Best Pilates socks
• Club Pilates: FAQ
• Manduka: GO Play 3.0 Mat Carrier
• REI: Manduka GO Play Yoga Mat Carrier (search preview)
• Aer: Gym Tote 2 X-Pac
• Kindfolk: XL Yoga Mat Duffel Bag and Yoga Mat Duffel Bag (search previews)
• Amazon: ELENTURE Large Yoga Mat Bag and ELENTURE standard canvas yoga mat bag
• Amazon: BAGSMART Yoga Pilates bag
• Lululemon: Daily Multi-Pocket Tote Bag 20L (search preview)
• Merrithew: Pilates and Yoga Canvas Mat Bag, Deluxe Pilates Mat and Pilates Express Mat
• Amazon.ca: STOTT PILATES Mat Bag, Duffle Style and Walmart.ca: Duffle Style Mat Bag
• Academy: Gaiam Cargo Yoga Mat Bag (search preview)
• Balanced Body: Tote Bag
• Manduka: CLOUD Pilates Mat 12mm