Weights Are For Gyms, Not Bags

Going to the gym can be intimidating. We understand the urge to pack things you may not need “just in case,” but you don’t want to reach the point where carrying your gym bag is a workout on its own. Here are ten things you can skip on packing.

1. Water Bottle Trinkets

We don’t understand the trend of influencers “packing” their water bottles for events such as walks, Pilates, or yoga. Adding useless trinkets like ring holders or even mini water bottles for your water bottle (will they get thirsty?) serves no purpose other than a performance. A bag will hold your pill containers, wet wipes, and other bits and bobs much better.

2. Energy Drinks

We see the vision here: you slam a Red Bull right at the start of your workout, and by the end you’ll run a new personal best on the treadmill, right? Wrong. Studies have shown that caffeine may help a bit with energy, but there is no evidence linking energy drinks to gym performance. And that’s before getting into the excess sugars and additives.

3. Salty Snacks

Your body’s eccrine glands produce sweat to help cool down; that sweat contains salt, so eating salty snacks during your workout should replenish the sodium you lose through sweating. However, salty snacks can actually counteract some of the effects of sweating. Not only do salty foods make you thirsty, but the added sodium can make you sweat even more!

4. Jewelry

Many gyms recommend you leave your jewelry at home. Not only do you risk your valuables getting damaged or stolen, but it can also pose a health risk by catching on equipment. Small stud earrings, high-quality facial jewelry, or medical ID bracelets are generally okay.

5. Strong Scents

Nobody wants to be stinky, but anyone who lived through the Axe body spray craze of the 2000s will tell you that sometimes less is more. Many public places no longer permit the wearing of heavy scents to avoid triggering allergies or causing sensory overload for people with autism or ADHD. Mild or scent-free deodorants and body washes are the way to go.

6. Cotton Clothing

Cotton clothing is comfortable and breathes well in heat, but it can also impact your body’s thermoregulation process. Cotton is designed to lock in moisture and prevent sweat by locking it in, making your clothing quick to dry. Potential chills, clamminess, and chafing are a high price to pay for no visible sweat stains.

7. Camera Setups

In this digital age, a lot of people prefer video recordings of their workouts over pen and paper. While video may be a great way to check your form, it can also be a distraction to the people around you. If you absolutely must record yourself, try to time it when the gym sees less use, avoid getting bystanders in the frame, and generally stay discreet.

8. Chatty Friends

Working out with a friend can make an otherwise unenjoyable task fun for gym newcomers, especially if you don’t know anybody. However, gyms aren’t social clubs, and most people come to them to focus on themselves, not other people’ conversations. Loud discussions and laughter can be distracting for others in addition to yourself.

9. Slippery Lotion

If you’re using hand sanitizer or wet wipes a lot during your workouts (which we recommend to prevent the spread of germs), you may be tempted to follow it up with lotion to keep your hands from getting cracked and painful. Have you ever tried to open a door after putting hand cream on? Imagine that but with dangerous and heavy equipment.

10. Street Shoes

If you do home workouts or are generally an active person, you may walk or bike to the gym to literally go the extra mile in your fitness journey. That’s totally fine, but we recommend following schoolroom rules and keeping a pair of indoor shoes, particularly for the gym. Nobody wants to use a leg press if it’s got mud and dirt mashed into it from your street shoes.

Now that we’ve discussed what you should leave behind, let’s get into some athletic essentials for everyone from newbies to certified gym rats!

1. Water Bottle

Bring the water bottle, skip the trinkets. A large, insulated, reusable water bottle will keep your drink cool no matter how much you sweat. If you’re a big gulper who’s picky about public fountains and refill stations, then bring a second bottle just in case.

2. Two towels

Wiping down your equipment after use is basic gym courtesy. Some gyms provide towels for this; others don’t. We recommend you bring two of your own: a personal towel for wiping equipment and sweat and a bath towel for when you shower.

3. Earbuds

Do not be That Person blasting a podcast on your phone speaker. Attendants or other gym-goers will ask you to shut it off, and then you will live on in infamy as a gym menace. By all means listen to that hype playlist, spicy audiobook, or motivational podcast while you work out; just use earbuds.

4. A snack

A healthy, non-salty snack is a great mid-workout pick-me-up. Something small like a protein bar, fruit, or unsalted trail mix will give you a boost without crumbs or strong odors that can be distracting to other patrons. Listen to your body when you get hungry.

5. Travel-Size Toiletries

Unlike a hotel, a gym will not supply you with complimentary toiletries for your post-workout shower. Full-size containers are unwieldy and take up space in your gym bag. We recommend keeping a Ziploc bag filled with mini versions of your favorite products—bonus points if they’re in eco-friendly reusable containers!

6. Gym Lock

This one is a no-brainer; you don’t want your stuff stolen. Some gyms may provide locks upon membership along with access keys; others require you to bring your own. The one day that you forget a lock and decide to just trust in your fellow patrons will be the day your stuff gets snagged, mark our words.

7. Cleaning Wipes

In addition to bringing a workout towel, we also recommend sprayable sanitizer or cleaning wipes. While you may be committed to wiping down your equipment after use (and we hope you are), that may not be the case for others. Remember that cleanliness keeps everyone healthy.

8. Moisture-Wicking Clothing

So if you shouldn’t wear comfy cotton clothing to the gym, then what should you wear? Luckily, there are a ton of athletic brands to choose from. Synthetic fabrics such as bamboo, nylon, and spandex wick moisture away rather than locking it in.

9. Shower Shoes

Do you want warts? Because walking barefoot in communal showers is how you get warts. Accessorizing your birthday suit with flip-flops may feel a little goofy at first, but it’s better than being treated for plantar warts from HPV.

10. Spare Underclothes

Not everyone wants to change or shower around strangers; we get that. That said, if you’re going to change when you get home, please at least bring a change of underclothes. You can change in a bathroom stall for privacy and avoid trapping sweat and germs in more delicate places.