A Tote-al List of Workout Necessities
My gym bag is my constant companion – it goes with me everywhere.
I’m not one of those people who visits the gym at the same time every day – I just drop in when it fits into my schedule. So it’s important to be workout-ready at a moment’s notice. That means getting my gym bag essentials down to a science. So that once I’m dressed, all I need to do is grab this bag – pre-packed – and hit the gym.
The Bag
The most necessary piece in this puzzle is, of course, the actual gym bag. My go-to bag is oversized so I can stuff it to the brim. I love this soft, unstructured bag because it’s super big, but also has room to grow. I can shove all my gym stuff in there, plus work clothes for a post-gym outfit change.
The Shoes
I always keep a pair of sneakers in my bag in case I find myself at the gym wearing different shoes. These sneakers from APL are super versatile and can handle pretty much any workout. They have a really stable sole which is great for leg day, but they are also lightweight and flexible enough for cardio.
The Socks
I keep a stash of extra socks with me because they are the one thing I always seem to forget, and there is nothing worse than exercising in bare-footed sneakers (hello, blisters!) Tube socks have been my choice as of late for their full coverage…plus, they look extra sporty.
The Layer
I like to start my warm-up wearing a sweatshirt since the gym is typically kept cold, an easy layer I can take off and put on as I please. This one is super effortless and bulk-free so I can easily tuck it away in my bag until I need it.
The Hair Ties
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten to the gym and either not had something to put my hair up with, or had a hair tie snap when fixing my ponytail. Now that I’ve learned my lesson, I always keep these with me so I can make sure I won’t work out with hair in my face. I also love these because they don’t make dents in my hair – I can easily take my ‘do down and walk out the door looking as good as new.
The Water Bottle
My gym’s policy is BYOWB (Bring Your Own Water Bottle) or you will have to drink out of the water fountain. Luckily, I always have this baby with me to stay hydrated through every hot and sweaty move. Bonus points to this water bottle for its double-walled design that keeps my water cold all day long… very refreshing.
The Weights
Truth be told – I am a Bala Bangles fan. I love them so much that I always try to incorporate them into my workouts somehow, so I keep them in my bag to throw onto my ankles for leg day and my wrists when I walk on the treadmill. They’re just one pound each so they don’t weigh my bag down too much, and they’re super travel-friendly.
The Deodorant
The pièce de résistance: my gym bag deodorant. This deodorant never leaves my gym bag because there is nothing I hate more than getting to the gym and realizing I didn’t put deodorant on that day, or leaving the gym and realizing I need to reapply. Summary’s plant-powered formulation smells good and, even though it’s purple (!!), goes on totally clear so there’s no trace of deodorant under my arms.
The Dry Shampoo
If you take one piece of advice from all this — stash some dry shampoo in your gym bag for a post-sweat-sesh refresh. I often look like I just dunked my head under water after a workout, and a few pumps of this helps to make my hair look pre-sweat perfect. It works in a pinch if you have errands to run after the gym and don’t feel like washing your hair beforehand.
I’m not one of those people who visits the gym at the same time every day – I just drop in when it fits into my schedule. So it’s important to be workout-ready at a moment’s notice. That means getting my gym bag essentials down to a science. So that once I’m dressed, all I need to do is grab this bag – pre-packed – and hit the gym.
The Bag
The most necessary piece in this puzzle is, of course, the actual gym bag. My go-to bag is oversized so I can stuff it to the brim. I love this soft, unstructured bag because it’s super big, but also has room to grow. I can shove all my gym stuff in there, plus work clothes for a post-gym outfit change.
The Shoes
I always keep a pair of sneakers in my bag in case I find myself at the gym wearing different shoes. These sneakers from APL are super versatile and can handle pretty much any workout. They have a really stable sole which is great for leg day, but they are also lightweight and flexible enough for cardio.
The Socks
I keep a stash of extra socks with me because they are the one thing I always seem to forget, and there is nothing worse than exercising in bare-footed sneakers (hello, blisters!) Tube socks have been my choice as of late for their full coverage…plus, they look extra sporty.
The Layer
I like to start my warm-up wearing a sweatshirt since the gym is typically kept cold, an easy layer I can take off and put on as I please. This one is super effortless and bulk-free so I can easily tuck it away in my bag until I need it.
The Hair Ties
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten to the gym and either not had something to put my hair up with, or had a hair tie snap when fixing my ponytail. Now that I’ve learned my lesson, I always keep these with me so I can make sure I won’t work out with hair in my face. I also love these because they don’t make dents in my hair – I can easily take my ‘do down and walk out the door looking as good as new.
The Water Bottle
My gym’s policy is BYOWB (Bring Your Own Water Bottle) or you will have to drink out of the water fountain. Luckily, I always have this baby with me to stay hydrated through every hot and sweaty move. Bonus points to this water bottle for its double-walled design that keeps my water cold all day long… very refreshing.
The Weights
Truth be told – I am a Bala Bangles fan. I love them so much that I always try to incorporate them into my workouts somehow, so I keep them in my bag to throw onto my ankles for leg day and my wrists when I walk on the treadmill. They’re just one pound each so they don’t weigh my bag down too much, and they’re super travel-friendly.
The Deodorant
The pièce de résistance: my gym bag deodorant. This deodorant never leaves my gym bag because there is nothing I hate more than getting to the gym and realizing I didn’t put deodorant on that day, or leaving the gym and realizing I need to reapply. Summary’s plant-powered formulation smells good and, even though it’s purple (!!), goes on totally clear so there’s no trace of deodorant under my arms.
The Dry Shampoo
If you take one piece of advice from all this — stash some dry shampoo in your gym bag for a post-sweat-sesh refresh. I often look like I just dunked my head under water after a workout, and a few pumps of this helps to make my hair look pre-sweat perfect. It works in a pinch if you have errands to run after the gym and don’t feel like washing your hair beforehand.
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