Puma Evercat Candidate - Review 2023

A Streamlined Gym Bag for Women

PUMA’s Evercat Candidate found the sweet spot when it comes to its size. It’s not too small to look like a kids’ duffel but big enough so children can also use it without weighing them down.

It has the right kind of aesthetics for women without being overtly feminine. The dimension is just right, and the designs don’t scream for attention. 

Bring it to your next gym visit, use it for your afterschool soccer training or rock it on your commute to work. It’s a very versatile gym bag for urban use.

It has a roomy main compartment and two zipped side pockets, one of which can accommodate your training shoes. 

This PUMA gym bag is a budget-friendly option for women who want an alternative to the “neutral” bags that otherwise flood the market.

Construction and Design

A womens gym bag doesn’t have to be outright femine. But the Evercat Candidate has a design that is both strong and subtle. Some champagne pink on the zippers, some trim and on the logo–on the black ripstop nylon sports bag–make the aesthetics of this duffel pretty cool.

We find the same cylindrical cut of the bag in other competitors like the Canway Sports Gym Bag and Boost Sports Gym Bag. It comes in various designs in a low-profile way, just like how we like it.

PUMA Evercat Candidate vs. Canway Sports Gym Bag

The main fabric used for this PUMA gym bag is polyester. It’s one of the most proven outdoor gear and apparel fabrics for its abrasion and water resistance. And compared to nylon, creasing won’t be a problem, and it doesn’t shrink.

Although polyester is durable enough as the fabric itself, the Evercat Candidate gym bag has poor stitching. The seams are not cleanly put together or reinforced. It’s a pitfall that consumers need to know and reflects the low price.

With that said, if you’re not carrying a heavy load, there should be no worries. If it’s just your gym essentials, you’re good to go.

For heavy hauling and solid durability that you can count on, check out King Kong Heavy-Duty Duffel and its 1000D polyester fabric.

The zippers work ok. They’re not the smoothest and feel cheap, so you need extra caution whenever you open/close the main compartment. Whether it’s a backpack, sling bag, fanny pack, or heck, even in waterproof jackets, zippers are frequently the point of failure, so this is not surprising.

This gym bag from PUMA doesn’t have a robust construction. But for light use and with proper care, you can extend its lifespan.

Harness System

PUMA Evercat Candidate Gym Bag has traditional duffel harnessing. It has a dual-top handle with Velcro padding to keep them together. That’s paired with a removable and adjustable shoulder strap.

The shoulder strap is easy to adjust on the fly. Clipping and unclipping it from the gym bag is also a breeze. It’s worth noting that the swivel hook connecting the strap to the bag itself is plastic. Don’t overload it to avoid putting too much strain on these points. They’re not as durable as stainless steel/aluminum ones like what you’ll see in a Kuston Sports Gym Bag.

PUMA Evercat Candidate vs. Kuston Sports Gym Bag

Carry this gym bag from PUMA on your shoulders for your next workout. Just remember that there’s no padding, so it’s not as comfortable as possible. We don’t recommend that you walk around with it for a long time to avoid hurting yourself.

If you need a duffel bag with comfortable harnessing for traveling purposes, check out G4Free, MIER Large Duffel Backpack, and Under Armour SC30 Storm Duffel. They can transform into a backpack so carrying a heavy load is not as strenuous.

Overall, Evercat Candidate doesn’t offer the best harness system. But it works ok for gym sessions with your essentials on board or a minimalist’s weekend escapade.

Storage

Whether you’re a gym rat, a sports enthusiast, or you enjoy the convenience of a duffel bag for work purposes, you’ll love how spacious Evercat Candidate is. It’s one of those rare models that are not too small or too big.

Let’s look at how much room this PUMA gym bag offers.

Main Compartment

The main compartment is accessible via a 2-way zipper. You can carry your gym bag on either shoulder, and you won’t have trouble opening/closing it up. Inside, there isn’t any pocket for internal organization. So if you value staying clutter-free, Everest Gym Bag is for you.

The unobstructed main compartment of PUMA Evercat Candidate is a plus if you’re carrying bulky items. But since you can’t have a heavy load due to its poor durability, all your personal things will scramble inside.

This PUMA gym bag is a roomy companion whether you’re about to hit the weights or off for a 3-day camping trip. All into sports? Throw in your soccer ball, shin guards, gloves, scrimmage vest, a set of fresh clothes, water, and snacks.

Front Pocket

The front pocket is relatively tiny, as in. It can only accommodate small items, which you probably don’t want inside the main compartment. Your keys, change, cards, and mints can sneak in here.

Side Pockets

There are a couple of zipped side pockets outside the Evercat Candidate gym bag. The one on the right has nothing special, where you can pack more items. But the left pocket is a shoe compartment. We appreciate how PUMA still had this feature in mind when they released this gym bag. It’s something that Thule Chasm lacks. But if you prioritize keeping your dirty shoes separated from your other stuff, NIKE Brasilia Gym Bag has a solid box-like shoe compartment.

On the upside, you can retract the shoe pocket’s fabric to have more space in the main compartment. If you’re not carrying any shoes, you can still use it as you would a typical side pocket.

All in all, the spacious room is nice, but again, we need to consider that this PUMA gym bag isn’t as solid as it could be. It might not be ideal if you need a duffel bag for traveling. Check out King Kong Heavy-Duty Duffel or Peak Design Travel Duffel. Both are super tough and won’t let you down.

Summary

For around $23, PUMA Evercat Candidate Gym Bag is an affordable choice. But, sadly, you don’t too much for this price. Part of the price is for the brand itself–and PUMA does a good job on the looks of this bag for women.

For light-packing too, it’s likely a good option.

It’s spacious and has a built-in shoe compartment, so that’s nice. You can fit in your gym essentials as long as you’re not carrying anything too heavy.

Get yourself an Evercat Candidate if you’re short on money. But it would be wiser to save up a few more bucks for a more reliable gym bag with rugged construction.

Buy this duffel bag if:

• You’re tight on budget but need a gym bag
• You like the aesthetics of it
• Packing light is never a problem for you
• You like anything PUMA