12 things every guy should carry in his gym bag

12 things every guy should carry in his gym bag

A few handy gym essentials, a pair of Bluetooth earbuds for jogging on the treadmill or a lock for storing whatever you brought with you in the locker room, can make all the difference when working out.

As it stands, your gym bag likely already has your sneakers, running shorts, keys, and phone neatly tucked in there, and below are 12 additional things that will prepare you for both the expected and the unexpected.

If you still need to buy a bag to hold your stuff, and which won’t look out of place when you bring it to the office, we’ve got you covered on that front, too.

A pair of Bluetooth earbuds

Nothing can more quickly ruin a workout than than a low-quality pair of earbuds. This wireless pair from JayBird fits securely on your ear, has a sweat-proof warranty, and offers a 8-hour battery life. If $130 is more than you’d like to spend, Sol Republic and Koss have cheaper alternatives that are also

A reusable water bottle

Nobody likes waiting in line for a water fountain — especially when they’re parched after a long cardio workout. Save time and pick yourself up a reusable bottle. S’well’s bottles will keep your cold beverages cold for up to 24 hours and your hot beverages warm for up to 12 hours. For those in search of something cheaper, Hydro Flask has an affordable alternative that provides similar results.

A small towel

If you’re looking to really clean your face post-workout, pick up a set of cleansing cloths.

Arena District Athletic Club provides complimentary hand towels, but for some people, there’s something unsettling about using the same towel that many others also used before them. Nike’s small cotton towel comes with a carabiner, so you can hook it onto your machine for easy access.

A tube of deodorant

Deodorant seems like a no-brainer for any gym bag, which means it’s the easiest item to forget to pack. No worries here ADAC has you covered, we provide all your essential  toiletries to help get you back in the game.

A reliable fitness tracker

Fitbit’s Charge HR is a commendable fitness tracker for everyday use, and it’s great for recording your progress at the gym. It has the basic step, sleep, and calorie tracking down; it can automatically recognize when you’ve started a workout; there’s an altimeter onboard to track stairs climbed (though it’s only just okay at doing so); and its silent alarm functionality is always useful. It syncs smoothly and, at least relatively speaking, is accurate at gathering the data it does.

The big plus is its continuous heart-rate monitoring. As with any wrist-worn tracker, it struggles to stay on point while you’re working out, but it does well to measure resting heart rate. Fitbit along with many other trackers interface with the Arena District Athletic Club App.

An extra shirt

Nike’s running shirt uses the brand’s moisture-wicking Dri-FIT fabric, which helps keep sweat stains at bay. It also looks good enough to wear if you want to catch up with some friends for a couple beers after you’re workout

An odor-eliminating spray

An easy way freshen up your gym bag — and you’re going to want to do this every week or so — is with an odor-eliminating spray. Go for the scent-free option.

A soothing muscle rub

You can relieve yourself from muscle aches acquired after a particularly rigorous workout with Lucky Tiger’s muscle rub. A calming blend of peppermint, wintergreen, eucalyptus, and menthol, this waxy salve smells good and does what it sets out to do well.

Protein powder

Whether you’re looking to slim down or bulk up, incorporating protein powder into your diet can be an effective way to elevate your gym routine. EAS Protien Blend mix comes in flavors like chocolate,  and vanilla cream.

A Blender Bottle

Without this pick, lugging a tub of protein powder to the gym is useless.  If you’re unfamiliar with the line, BlenderBottle includes a patented ball with each bottle, which promises perfectly mixed and lump-free shakes. This particular model features a ProStack system, so you can conveniently store your protein powders with the bottle, as well as a twist and lock closure to prevent any spills.

A first aid kit

No matter how coordinated you are — or like to think you are — accidents happen. When you’re in a room surrounded by heavy weights and the occasional sharp edges, those odds become even higher. This case is full bandages, tape, and gauze in the event of mishap. Plus, it’s compact size will fit nicely in your bag.

A lock to store your gym bag

While many gyms have lockers with built-in locks, having your own lock can’t hurt. This one from Master Lock is a lot easier to use than your middle school locker’s dial model.