11 Workout Essentials That You Need In Your Gym Bag👝
What to pack in your gym bag
Table of contents
Gym shoes👟
The most important part of packing for a gym trip are shoes. Not just any old pair of sneakers 👟will do.
You want something comfortable that won’t slip off your feet🦶🏼 while you’re working out.
But what type of shoe should you wear? There are many types of workouts that require different styles of 👟footwear.
Here are some things to keep in mind about each one.
Towel
A towel is such an essential piece of gear for workouts🏋🏼 that many gyms won’t even allow you to use the equipment without bringing one.
But what happens when you forget to pack yours? You might find yourself stuck outside trying to work out while wearing nothing but a wet👕 T-shirt.
Water bottle
If you plan to do a lot of walking around the gym or running errands, bringing your own water bottle💧 is probably a good idea.
You won’t have to worry about finding a place to fill up and you’ll avoid having to pay for bottled water.
Some fitness experts recommend carrying a 2 liter 💧bottle because it holds twice the amount of fluid compared to a typical 16 ounce bottle.
A lock 🔐
This one really depends on your gyms, but if you need a way to secure your bag while you’re working out, there are plenty of options. If you work out at home, you might even consider investing in something like a safe 🔓deposit box.
Post-workout snack 🥟
You might think that you need to eat something immediately after working out, but actually it’s best to wait about 20 minutes before eating anything.
This gives your body enough time to 🤸🏽recover and digest what you just put into it.
A small study published in the Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research found that 🤸🏾♂️ people who ate within 30 minutes of finishing exercise experienced greater 🏋🏼muscle damage.
Toiletries
If you have to rush off after your gym session, you’ll want to feel refreshed.
So put together a little toiletry kit you can keep in your bag, with things like shower gel, body wash, shampoo🧴, conditioner, deodorant, 🧼soap, toothbrushes🪥, toothpaste, floss, 🪒razors, shaving cream, etc.
You don’t need much, so it doesn’t take up too much room in your bag.
And travel-size items mean you can fill them up again when you get home.
Why a Duffle Bag?
A duffle bag 👝 is a versatile piece of luggage that you can use for almost anything.
- You can carry it over one shoulder like a backpack, sling it over both shoulders👝, or even wear it across your body like a backpack.
- A duffle bag is great 👝for traveling because it’s easy to pack and unpack. And since most duffle bags👝 come with wheels, you don’t have to worry about carrying it around.
- But what makes a duffle bag 👝different from a regular suitcase or backpack? Let’s take a look at five things that make a duffle bag 👝unique.
Duffles Can Look Professional
The duffle bag 👝is the most versatile bag you’ll ever use. Whether it’s a carry-on bag to travel light or a 👝daypack for hiking🥾, it’s the perfect companion for every trip.
And because it looks like a regular suitcase, people often mistake it for one.
So how do you know whether yours is a true 👝duffle or just another boring suitcase? Here are three things to consider.
How To Organize Your Gym Bag?
Use packing cubes🧊.
You don’t have to go out and buy expensive luggage to make sure your things are organized properly.
Packing cubes 🧊are perfect for keeping everything neat and tidy inside your backpack. They’re easy to use, too.
Just open up the box and place items inside it🧊🧊. Then close it up again and you’re ready to go.
Bring water bottle.
There are few things better than working out, especially when you’re doing something you love.
But what happens when you’re done? You might want to reward yourself with some delicious food🥙, but chances are you’ll find yourself thirsty.
While you don’t necessarily need to bring along a gallon of water💧 with you everywhere, there are ways to make sure you’re drinking plenty💧 throughout your day.
Separate your gadget.
If you keep your gadgets📱 separate, it makes it much easier to find them if one gets lost, stolen or damaged.
If you store them in a single bag, you might end up having to rummage through everything to find what you want.
A good way to do this is to use a small zip lock bag🎒.
This way, you won’t lose track of where things go.
You’ll also be able to tell how many devices there are inside the bag 🎒without opening it.
A compact towel.
Towels come in many shapes and sizes. Some are large enough to wrap around a person three times.😉
Others are smaller and roll up into a small bundle. There are even some that fold up into themselves.
But what do you really need in a towel? 🚿What size should it be? How does it affect your workout routine? 🛀🏼Let’s take a look at how towels work.
Deodorant.
There’s nothing worse than bumpin’ into someone that’s just had a workout and smells like sweat🥵.
You know what I’m talking about. They’re wearing some sort of cologne or perfume and you can still smell their 🧴body wash.
Or maybe they’ve got something stuck under their arms. Either way, it’s gross.
Workout log.
Keeping track 📗of your workouts is one of the best ways to ensure continued progress.
A notebook 📕and pen🖊️ are ideal for recording your daily activities, including what you eat, how much sleep you got, and how many miles you walked.
If you prefer taking notes on your phone, try out 📝Fitbit Coach, which allows you to record your exercise data👩💻 in real time. You can even set up reminders about your next appointment👨🏼💻.
Bluetooth headphones🎧.
If you’re looking for something to listen to while you exercise, there are plenty of options.
From noise canceling models to ones that let you stream audio wirelessly,🎧 here are some of our favorites.
Sneakers.
If you don’t want to wear your running shoes 👟to the gym, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t bring them along.
But what about those times where you forgot to pack them? Well, we’ve got some tips to help you avoid this situation.
Flip Flops🩴.
This is a public service announcement about gym showers. Do not use public showers without wearing flip flops🩴.
Flip flop 🩴shoes are the most important thing you can wear while showering. They protect your feet from getting cuts, scrapes, blisters, and infections😢.
If you don’t wear 🩴flip flops, you’re putting yourself at risk for developing fungal infections☹️ like athlete’s foot, ringworm, jock itch, and tinea pedis.
These conditions can lead to skin irritation and☹️ even sores. You could also contract serious illnesses such as😢 hepatitis A, B, and C.
Wipes.
The humble wipe is one of life’s most useful tools. Whether it’s cleaning up spills, wiping down surfaces,🧻 or even just cleaning those smudgy fingerprints 🧻off your phone screen, there are few things more versatile.
In fact, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite multipurpose wipes 🧻to help make sure you never run out again.
Shower Shoes🩴.
Showers 🚿are great places to relax and unwind, but there’s one thing you don’t want to do while taking a shower🛀🏼: put your feet up on the bathroom countertop.
This could lead to dangerous bacteria growth like☹️ E. coli and staphylococcus.
And it’s not just bacteria; people often step in soap scum 🧼and urine left behind by previous guests🧽. So what’s a person supposed to do?
The answer lies in a new trend called “shoe covers,” which allow you to use the shower 🚿without having to worry about dirtying your shoes.
These covers come in different shapes and sizes, including some that fit over both shoes and slippers🩴.
They usually have a waterproof lining and are designed to protect against splashes and leaks🩴. Some even include built-in handles for easy carrying.
Protein Powder and Shaker.
If you’re looking to build lean mass🏋🏼, you’ll want to make sure that you’re getting enough protein.
Your body needs it to repair itself and grow muscles🏋🏼.
Whey and soy are great sources of protein, but there are plenty of others out there too.
Snacks🥟.
Exercise is hard work💪🏼, especially if you want to see results fast.
But it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t fuel yourself properly while working out🏋🏻.
You don’t need to spend hours in the gym to burn calories🏋🏻; you just need to make sure you eat well enough throughout your day.
The best way to do that is to pack some healthy snacks into your bag👝 before heading to the gym.
Hairbrush.
A lot of us spend hours working out 🏋️♀️ every day, but it seems like there are always one or two things you forget about 🤔 while getting sweaty 😅.
This 20-piece hair brush set 🧑🎨 is perfect for keeping track of everything from shampoo bottles 🧴 to hair ties 🎀.
And since it’s made from silicone 🧴, it won’t break 💔 even if you drop it 🙀.
The brush 🖋️ features soft bristles 🤚, a rounded shape 🤍, and a rubber grip handle 🤜 to keep it steady 🤜.
You can use it to comb through wet or dry hair 💆♀️, and it’s easy to clean up afterwards 🧹. Plus, it’ll fit into most travel kits 🧳.”
Tips to Make Your Gym Bag Smell Good
1.Send Your Gear Through the Wash
Wash your gym bag 🧳 regularly 📅. If you want to keep your gear smelling fresh 🌼, follow these three steps 📃.
- Remove everything from your bag 🧳 and lay out each item separately 🧑💼.
- Place the items 📦 into separate bags 📦 and place those bags 📦 in the laundry room 🧺.
- Take the clean items 🧹 out of the dryer 🚿 and put them away in your locker 🧑💼.
- Repeat the process every week 📅.
- Don’t forget to check your shoes 👟. They’re often forgotten about during the cleaning process 🧹.”
2. Deodorize the Interior and Exterior of Your Gym Bag
Once you’ve finished packing your gym bag 🧳, it’s important to give it a thorough cleaning 🧹 to ensure no odors linger 🤢.
Here are some tips 💡 for getting rid of gym bag smells 🤢 once and for all 💪:
- Remove anything from your bag 🧳 that could contribute to stinky smells 🤢. This includes sweaty clothes 💦, dirty workout gear 🏋️♀️, food wrappers 🧺, receipts 📃, etc. If you’re worried about germs 🦠, use antibacterial wipes 🧽 to clean your bag’s exterior 🧹.
- Wash the bag’s exterior 🧹 with a gentle detergent 🧼 and warm to tepid running water 💦. You don’t want to wash the bag too aggressively because you’ll risk damaging the fabric 🧵.
- Wipe down the entire bag 🧳 with a damp cloth 🧹. Avoid rubbing the bag’s surface since that can cause wrinkles 🤕.
- Let the bag 🧳 dry completely 🌀 before storing it away 🗄️.
- Use Fresh Wave Laundry booster 💪 to eliminate lingering smells 🤢.”
Everything we recommend
The best gym bags 🧳 are built tough 💪.
They’re designed to protect your belongings 📦 from sweat 💦, dirt 💩, water 💧, and even accidental drops 💥.
But what about those inevitable spills 🤕?
We’ve found the most durable workout gear 🏋️♀️ that can stand up to anything life throws at it 🤦♂️.
From our favorite travel backpack 🎒 to our top-rated laptop sleeve 💼, each item here has been rigorously tested against a variety of liquids 💦, temperatures 🌡️, and conditions 🌦️.
And because you’ll use your bag 🧳 every day, we took into account durability 💪, size 📏, weight 📊, design 🎨, and price 💰 to find the best options out there 🌎.
So whether you want something to carry around while working out 🏋️♂️, take on vacation 🏖️, or just stash your stuff away at home 🏠, check out our picks 🔝 for the best gym bag 🧳.”
Budget pick
Herschel Supply Co.
The Herschel Supply Co. 💼 is a budget brand that makes great bags 🧳 like this mid-sized duffel 🧳.
It’s constructed of durable nylon canvas 🧵 with a padded interior 🛋️ and adjustable shoulder strap 🤝.
One downside: There are no pockets inside. But it does come with a removable rain cover 🌧️, making it suitable for travel 🛫.
This duffle 🧳 is ideal for people who want something small and light for trips to the gym 🏋️♂️ or weekend adventures 🏞️.
We recommend the Herschel Supply Co.’s
Sutton Duffle Medium-Volume Duffle Bag 🧳, $80 💵, amazon.com 🌐 for the perfect size 📏 and price 💰.”
wowbuyz.com
Bathing Suit
“The #1 rule of swimming 🏊♂️ is to keep yourself clean 🧼. A good rule of thumb 🧐 is to wear something you’d feel comfortable showing off in public 🌃.
Not everyone wants to show off their six pack abs 💪, but we do want to look our best 💯 while enjoying the water 💧.”