The Best Triathlon Bags of 2022
An organized triathlete is a happy triathlete! Our testers put the best triathlon transition bags through the wringer to help you find the best one that fits your needs.
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No one has more stuff than triathletes. We need to be able to swim, bike, run, and do all of the other little things that make us faster and keep us from getting injured—and that’s just in the first few days of a training week! With all of those activities and all of that gear, a good transition bag can make all of the difference in the world. Sure, on race day, it’s great to be organized and have a spot for everything, but it can also mean the difference between remembering every single little bit you need and riding into T2 only to find one running shoe waiting for you. Even when you’re not racing, the best transition bag for you can help keep everything organized and dry as you go about your training day.
RELATED: The Best Triathlon Bikes, Updated for 2022
What makes a good transition bag? We base the ratings for our best transition bags of 2022 list off the following criteria: size, value, comfort, organization, suspension, and amount of features.
| CRITERIA | DESCRIPTION |
| Size | Measured in liters. For a quick reference: A usual daypack backpack is 20-30 liters, a backpacking bag for one to two nights is 30-45L, and a big multi-day backpack will be 50-70L. |
| Value | Here we look at the value of the bag from 1-5 when looking at the capacity, features, and construction—not just a simple list of prices from low to high. |
| Comfort | This 1-5 rating looks at how comfortable the bag is when filled with triathlon gear at half to full capacity. Here we look at the back padding, the shape of the bag, and overall wearability. |
| Organization | Not every bag is built for hardcore organization. Some transition bags have a tiny little place for every little thing; some are a cavernous black hole. Think carefully about which you actually prefer. Here, 1 is more open space, less organization, while 5 is lots of little pockets/sections/dividers. |
| Suspension | Slightly different than overall comfort, this 1-5 rating looks at how well the bag disperses the load on your body when worn at near full capacity. Here we look at strap shape, number of straps (chest, hip, etc.), and suspension adjustability. |
| Features | This is the bells-and-whistles rating from 1-5. The more little gadgets and tri-specific details the higher this will be. |
Editor’s Note: While the gear below was loaned out by the brands represented, all choices were selected independently by the tester without any promotional consideration or brand input. Also, unlike other “best transition bag review” websites, our testers actually wear and try the gear ourselves—no glancing at spec sheets and rewording marketing terms! For more on how we review gear, click here.
Section dividerDecathlon Aptonia Triathlon Transition Bag | $65
| Size | 35L |
| Overall | ★ ★ ★ ★ |
| Value | ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ |
| Comfort | ★ ★ ★ ★ |
| Organization | ★ ★ ★ |
| Suspension | ★ ★ ★ ★ |
| Features | ★ ★ ★ |
The world’s largest affordable bicycle retailer Decathlon now has a North American presence and that’s great news for triathletes looking for more affordable gear.
Pros
- The price tag
- Detachable bottom compartment for swim gear
- Handy interior triathlon gear checklist
- Large main compartment
- Clever top hook for hanging
Cons
- Cheaper, harder-to-use zippers than others tested
- Tiny compartment for essentials (cell phone, wallet, etc.)
- Often out of stock–if you want it and you see it, snatch it up
Zone3 Transition Bag | $125
| Size | 40L |
| Overall | ★ ★ ★ |
| Value | ★ ★ ★ ★ |
| Comfort | ★ ★ ★ |
| Organization | ★ ★ ★ ★ |
| Suspension | ★ ★ ★ |
| Features | ★ ★ ★ |
This simple option has a unique rectangular profile. Designed with three separate compartments made specifically for swim, bike, and run, the 40L size puts it in the middle of the transition bag size spectrum.
Pros
- High-end, sleek material
- Premium padded and adjustable straps
- Large main compartment
- Durable material on bottom section
Cons
- Boxy design
- Helmet compartment is clunky
- Huge openings make pockets hard to zip closed
Huub Transition Rucksack | $115
| Size | 40L |
| Overall | ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ |
| Value | ★ ★ ★ ★ |
| Comfort | ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ |
| Organization | ★ ★ ★ ★ |
| Suspension | ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ |
| Features | ★ ★ ★ ★ |
This incredibly burly 40-liter bag features a top-loading design, an extremely waterproof wetsuit compartment, small item storage, and a place for two water bottles in a package that won’t break the bank.
Pros
- Super tough design will last
- Super waterproof bottom compartment
- Decent amounts of small-item storage
- External mesh pocket for helmets (even long tail) or shoes
Cons
- Slightly smaller main compartment and wet compartment than others on this list
- Heavy
- Lack of vents on the bottom of the wetsuit compartment means water stays in—needs to be aired out extensively
Zoot Ultra Tri Duffel Bag | $110
| Size | 42L |
| Overall | ★ ★ ★ ★ |
| Value | ★ ★ ★ ★ |
| Comfort | ★ ★ ★ ★ |
| Organization | ★ ★ ★ ★ |
| Suspension | ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ |
| Features | ★ ★ ★ |
Despite being more of a travel duffel, backpack straps, excellent organization, a race-day checklist, a separate compartment for dirty items, and even an included dry bag make this 43-liter bag an excellent choice for the transition area.
Pros
- Great low-key style
- Included thin dry bag increases versatility for wet items when you need it
- Very handy race-day checklist printed on the bag’s lid
- Good price for what you get
- Very light weight
Cons
- No way to remove the backpack straps when using as a duffel
- Separate end pocket inexplicably vents into the main compartment, making it less effective for dirty things
- Only two organizational pockets for small item storage
- No dedicated spot for water bottles
Synergy Triathlon Transition Bag | $150
| Size | 40L |
| Overall | ★ ★ ★ |
| Value | ★ ★ ★ ★ |
| Comfort | ★ ★ ★ |
| Organization | ★ ★ ★ ★ |
| Suspension | ★ ★ ★ ★ |
| Features | ★ ★ ★ |
This 40L option from wetsuit brand Synergy offers a lot of punch for its $100 price tag. Included are several smaller pockets and a main center compartment that’s large and has designated wet and dry areas.
Pros
- Two-piece carabiner and front straps let you bring along accessories
- A place for everything
- Affordable for the space it provides
Cons
- Super-specific (and often small) compartments make it hard to use
- Extra large straps are too long for some
Orca Transition Bag | $130
| Size | 70L |
| Overall | ★ ★ |
| Value | ★ ★ ★ ★ |
| Comfort | ★ ★ ★ |
| Organization | ★ ★ ★ ★ |
| Suspension | ★ ★ ★ |
| Features | ★ ★ ★ ★ |
Basics
Though advertised as a 50L bag, Orca’s Transition Backpack expands via two expandable zippers to add even more space—alongside a separate wet/dry storage compartment in the bottom and pockets on the side.
Pros
- Huge main compartment
- Hard, flat bottom compartment makes standing up the bag on the ground super easy
- Green internal fabric helps with locating errant objects in the giant main compartment
- Side access zipper helps with digging out from beneath a pile of gear
Cons
- Softshell helmet case doesn’t fit aero helmets with even a small tail, only standard road or aero road helmets
- Very little organization with only a handful of pockets for smaller items—no pocket on softshell top
- Expanding zippers add a lot of extra weight and complexity, but not a lot of extra space
- Wet compartment is far less waterproof than other packs
- Strange side zipper pocket doesn’t have much function
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