Build a Better Gym Bag and the Workouts Will Come

Wired headphones prevent you from moving between machines and activities with efficiency in the gym, and untangling them is always a pain. Upgrade to a wireless pair and watch as your shoulders relax and your stride widens during your workout.

The best gym bag is one that won’t brick your style but can stand up to the wear, tear and moisture of multiple workouts per week. We’re fans of Herschel’s Coast duffle, which is made from water-resistant, durable tarpaulin but comes in cool colors and patterns so it doesn’t look like a pure utility play.

If you’re planning to shower more than three nights or mornings at the gym, it’s worth making the experience feel like home. That means packing a wash bag with good-quality grooming supplies and other medicine-cabinet provisions like Q-tips and clippers.

Do not underestimate the power of some post-workout quiet time in the steam room. Pack a pair pool slides in your bag so you can indulge in the amenities and maintain good hygiene simultaneously. Now that’s what we call streamlined.  

If pro athletes can have fun with their performance wear (we see you, NBA guys), you certainly can too. Don’t take the workout uniform so seriously, don’t buy everything in black and gray, and you just might find that going to the gym feels a little bit less like punishment.

Whether it’s your security blanket while warming up or your post-workout reward, nothing feels better or looks cooler than a hoodie. We like this one from Union because of the traffic-stopping color and side zip, which allows you to take it off without flashing your entire Spin class your still-under-construction abs. 

We know maintaining that new-new is important when it comes to sneakers, but don’t deprive your workout style because of it. In fact, being able to wear a pair of dope, in-demand sneakers—like Adidas’s about-to-drop Nite Jogger in black and neon—just might give you that push you need to go to the gym. If you don’t do it for your health, do it for the Instagrams.

You rallied, you lifted, you showered, now out into the freezing-cold air with a full heart—and a wet head. Pack a bright knit beanie in your bag to protect your immunity and your style and you’ll be walking on air as you head home or off to work.

Drinking a ton of water every day is not fun and never will be, no matter what your gym rat friend says. At least make it easier on yourself by buying a water bottle that’s easy to clean (and chug from) and has a convenient handle that makes dragging it everywhere less daunting. 

Protect your bag (and the rest of your stuff) from gym-goer stink by keeping nylon pouches on hand for your sweaty, wet clothes. When you forget to unload your bag before passing out that night, you’ll be very glad you contained the swamp into one washable area.