**GIVEAWAY**

The lovely people at V Water, (who I’m working with at the moment), saw how much I loved and used my Gymtote Sophie bag, and have given me one to give away to my lovely readers! You could win a Tan Sophie Gymtote to cart all of your gym kit stylishly around with you too! Simply like my gymtote picture on instagram to be in it to win it- why not follow me there too while you’re at it :)!! (Open to UK, US and European entrants!)

I’ve been the bag lady for a long time. I’ve been lugging my large handbag plus a gym bag around with me on most days, much to amusement and horror of many friends. So when I heard about GymTote– the chic yet practical handbag that features loads of storage specially designed for your gym kit, I couldn’t wait to try it!

After visiting the pop-up event last year, I decided to wait until the new design, the Sophia tote was released before making my purchase. It combines the two elements in their other styles that I most liked- sleek black and the A4 pocket!

The Sophie tote comes in black and tan, and includes a shoe pocket, A4 pocket for your laptop or iPad, water bottle pocket, slot for your yoga mat, storage area for your gym kit plus a zipped area for your valuables. The kit areas are all waterproof, meaning you don’t have to worry about ruining the lining if your water bottle leaks or your trainers are muddy.  The bag is bigger than I thought it would be, and you can really stuff it full!

I have to be honest, when I first opened the bag I was a little disappointed. The zips were a bit ‘sticky’, and were hard to do up. Plus the fabric wasn’t as luxurious as I would have expected for the £120 price tag. However, although the fabric hasn’t changed (obviously!) the zips have loosened, and I am falling in love with my bag. It’s now my daily handbag, and fits my sports kit, uni books and life essentials safely in its pockets. The bag is smart and although huge, doesn’t look out of place at a restaurant or bar or under your desk in the office. I do love having everything in one bag, and not forgetting my work pass, padlock or oyster card within my numerous other bags!

A few tips:

1. Put your trainers in first before your gym clothes, this ensures you don’t have to battle to get the shoes in.

2. Don’t overfill it, it can get very heavy!

3. Zip up the top with your essentials, otherwise they are very open to potential pickpockets.

4. Get a thin yoga mat if you want to use it for yoga. My thick mat doesn’t fit in the slots!

5. Put it on your next Birthday wish list!!

I do wish the bit at the top for your life essentials (purse, phone, keys etc) was a little bigger, and that the zips hadn’t been so sticky to start with. Oh and that it was a little cheaper, however I know that the cost per use will mean that it’s worth it in the long run!

Thanks Abi for the lovely photos, sorry about the ‘model’!