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A swim mesh bag (also just called an equipment bag or kit bag) can quickly prove to be a great investment once you start swimming with fins, pull buoys and other technique-improving gear.
But what exactly is a swim mesh bag, how does it differ from a standard swimming bag, and which kit bag should you choose? I’ll give you the full rundown in this guide.
In this guide, I’ll cover:
The best simple mesh bag 
The best simple mesh bag
Best mesh swim bag with pockets 
Once you reach the point in your swimming journey where you start using gear to improve, a swim mesh bag becomes almost indispensable. With a kit bag, you can keep all your gear in one place, so you always know where it is.
I know from personal experience that if I don’t keep my gear packed in my mesh bag for whatever reason, I usually end up forgetting something at home.
So the best thing about a swim mesh bag is that it keeps your gear organised, meaning you know exactly where everything is.
That’s why all types of swimmers can benefit from a mesh bag. At least whenever you’re carrying more than just one piece of kit.
You might have seen swimmers down at the pool carrying a dedicated swimming bag. So what’s the actual difference between one of those and a mesh bag for your swim gear? And why not just use either a bag or a mesh bag?
The answer to what sets a bag and a mesh bag apart comes down to what they’re designed for.
In short, a swim mesh bag is designed to store and carry your swimming gear. A standard swimming bag is designed to easily transport and store your clothes and personal belongings to, from and inside the swimming pool.
If you just chuck your gear into your standard swimming bag after your session, for example, the bag will quickly get wet inside. And since swimming bags are often waterproof, the water from the wet gear will sit pooling at the bottom of the bag. That’s hardly ideal, as we can all agree.
A swim mesh bag, on the other hand, is built to let water drain away from wet gear. It’s made from a different material, and the vast majority of mesh bags feature drainage holes to let the water out.
And that’s where the big difference lies.
So in simple terms:
If you have just one piece of equipment or more, a swimming mesh bag can be a clear advantage. But the next big question is which bag you should choose.
For obvious reasons, I can’t make the choice for you. But at least I can share a few things you should consider before you enter your card details at checkout.
The first thing you should consider is how big a bag you need. If you only have a little bit of gear, like a pull buoy and a set of finger paddles, there’s no need for a large bag. On the other hand, if you have the full package with fins, paddles in several sizes, a snorkel, a pull buoy and so on, a small bag won’t be nearly big enough.
So decide how much gear you have that needs to go in the bag. And keep in mind whether you might use more equipment in the future.
If you only need a small bag right now, but you already know you’ll need more gear down the line, stay ahead of the game and invest in one of the larger mesh bags.
Examples of a large and a small mesh bag:
So what are the pros and cons of a small versus a large mesh bag?
Pros and cons of a small bag:
Pros and cons of a large bag:
A swim mesh bag is designed to store and carry swimming gear. But most of us swimmers also need to carry other items along with our equipment.
That could be your goggles, wallet, water bottle or phone. What they all have in common is that it’s probably not the best idea to keep them packed together with your wet gear.
That’s why it can be a great idea to choose a mesh bag that comes with extra storage pockets.
The advantages of a mesh bag with pockets compared to one without are pretty easy to see. But to make things simple, I’ve listed the pros and cons of both types below:
A small detail you might not think about when buying a swim mesh bag is whether it has drainage holes at the bottom to let water out. Most mesh bags are solid on the bottom half and have mesh on the top half.
Having mesh on the top half is clever enough, as it lets moisture from wet gear escape. But if water collects at the bottom of the bag, it can’t get out. Over time, that can lead to mouldy gear.
On the other hand, some mesh bags feature drainage holes at the bottom so water can drain out completely. This prevents water from pooling at the bottom, keeping your gear fresh and mould-free.
Hopefully, I’ve given you a good overview of what to consider when looking for a new mesh bag to store and carry your gear. Now let’s get to the part where I share the gear bags I recommend.
We’ve reviewed and assessed 10 different bags from various brands, and the ones that performed best in the categories ‘best simple mesh bag’ and ‘best mesh bag with pockets’ are the ones we recommend as top picks.
So let’s go!
These are the swim mesh bags we reviewed
To select the models below across the different categories, we’ve reviewed a wide range of the most popular swim mesh bags in Ireland and abroad to bring you the most relevant and reliable recommendations. These include:
The swim mesh bags are rated based on factors such as pockets, size, price, colour and an overall assessment of functionality and quality. It’s this overall evaluation that forms the basis for the recommendations below.
If you just want a bag that’s as simple as possible, I clearly recommend choosing this simple mesh bag from Speedo.
With its single large compartment made of mesh all the way round, this kit bag does exactly what it says on the tin. There’s plenty of space for your gear, and because it’s mesh on all sides, water from your equipment drains out easily.
On top of that, Speedo is known for making quality products for even the most demanding swimmers. So you can be sure the durability of this bag is top notch!
Pros and cons of the Speedo mesh bag:
If you want the absolute best simple mesh bag, this Speedo mesh bag is the one to go for.
The Watery Active mesh bag is made of mesh netting so it’s breathable, allowing ventilation so your gear dries faster. The mesh bag can be carried by hand or on your back.
If you’re looking for a mesh bag that’s spacious and durable, this is the right choice for you if you want a simple mesh bag at a great price.
If you’d like a mesh swim bag with extra storage pockets, we highly recommend our own mesh bag from Watery.
Traditionally, gear from a retailer’s own brand is often cheaper – but also linked to lower quality compared to the big, established brands. But that’s not the case here.
At Watery, we’ve managed to develop a mesh swim bag that meets all your needs: it’s budget-friendly, has extra storage pockets separate from the main gear compartment, drainage holes at the bottom to let water out – and it’s built to last.
Normally, people associate the best products with the most expensive brands. But in this case, you get the absolute best bag with our own Watery mesh swim bag.
With a mesh swim bag, you can easily carry and organise all your swimming gear. Of course, you could actually do that in a traditional swim bag too. But as I’ve already mentioned earlier in this guide, that’s not necessarily the best idea.
If you put your wet gear into a standard swim bag, the water will simply make the inside damp. That quickly leads to mould forming on both the bag and your gear.
On the other hand, a swim bag makes it easier and safer to avoid leaving your clothes and valuables in the pool lockers. Unfortunately, lockers in changing rooms can sometimes be broken into. By keeping your clothes and belongings in your bag, you avoid the risk of theft in the changing room.
That’s why it’s a really good idea to use both a mesh swim bag and a regular swim bag. With the mesh bag, you keep your gear organised while letting water drain away easily. And with a swim bag, you can bring your clothes and valuables poolside to keep them safe from theft.
A swim mesh bag is designed to hold all kinds of swimming equipment. If you’ve got a lot of gear, you should go for a large mesh bag. And if you only have a piece or two, a small one will do just fine.
You don’t just have to stick to proper training equipment either. Things like your towel, swimwear, and other essentials fit nicely into a swim mesh bag too.
Here are some of the most common items people keep in their swim mesh bags:
A pair of swim fins helps you move faster through the water with your kick. This makes it much easier to focus on your arm technique, or simply build a stronger kick.
However, fins take up quite a bit of space in a swim mesh bag, so if you have a pair, you’ll probably want to choose one of the larger bags.
A pullbuoy helps keep your hips and legs at the surface of the water, rather than sinking halfway down. This lets you focus entirely on your arms without worrying about your kick.
A pullbuoy doesn’t take up too much room, so it easily fits into a small swim mesh bag. Unless you have a lot of other gear, in which case a larger bag is a great idea.
A pair of finger paddles attaches to your hands to help you feel any flaws in your stroke. At the same time, finger paddles—or their bigger sibling, hand paddles—are used to build functional strength in your upper-body swimming muscles.
Finger paddles take up hardly any space. They’re quite slim and not much bigger than an adult’s palm, so they easily fit into a small swim mesh bag, unless you have lots of other bulky gear.
With a snorkel in your mouth, you can breathe without having to turn your head. This prevents your breathing from breaking your rhythm, allowing you to maintain an optimal body position in the water during technique drills.
A snorkel doesn’t actually take up much space. It’s quite narrow, but on the other hand, it’s relatively long. It will fit into most small mesh bags, but I still recommend using a large bag if you own a snorkel.
As a swimmer, it’s hard to live without swimming goggles. They’re probably the most essential piece of gear a swimmer owns.
Swimming goggles take up almost no room at all, so they fit easily in a small, simple mesh bag. But the straps can be quite fragile (and the lenses can be too, for that matter), which is why I recommend keeping them in an extra pocket on the bag itself.
You can also keep them in a dedicated goggle case to protect them as best as possible, and then clip the case onto either your mesh bag or your swim bag.
A towel is essential for drying off in the changing rooms. Many swimmers keep their towel in a swim bag, but you can also easily keep it in a mesh bag.
Keeping your towel in a mesh bag is the best idea once it’s wet. That way, you avoid getting the inside of your swim bag soaked.
If you want to keep your towel in your mesh bag, I recommend using one of the larger bags. It will naturally have the most space, as a wet towel can take up quite a bit of room.
Your swimwear is the most essential piece of gear if you want to get into the pool in the first place. Naturally, it doesn’t take up much space, so it’ll easily fit in a small mesh bag.
Many swimmers keep their swimwear in a swimming bag on their way to the pool, and then move it over to their mesh bag after their swim. That way, the wet swimwear can breathe and you avoid dampness inside your bag.
Swimwear fits easily into small mesh bags. But if you also keep your towel in your bag, choose a larger mesh bag instead to ensure you have plenty of room.
It’s hard to get through an entire swim session without getting something to drink along the way. We might be moving around in water, but it’s not quite what you’d want to drink.
If you want to bring a water bottle to the pool, it can easily be stored along with the rest of your kit in your mesh bag. I personally have a mesh bag with an extra compartment designed for water bottles, so that’s where I keep mine.
By keeping your water bottle in an exterior storage pocket outside the main compartment, you free up space for all your other gear, towel, swimwear and so on. The vast majority of large mesh bags have this kind of pocket, so make sure to check if the bag you have your eye on comes with one.
A mesh bag is rarely something you’ll find in traditional high-street sports shops. You’ll usually need to look to dedicated swim shops instead.
That’s why we recommend buying your mesh bag from us at Watery – where you’ll find a wide selection, great prices and fast delivery.
Our high Trustpilot score and regular order updates via email help ensure a safe, straightforward shopping experience.
So if you need a mesh bag – or any other swimming gear – Watery is the obvious choice.
