I wish I could be one of those people who always go to the gym empty-handed, but, nope, I’m not. There’s always something I gotta bring, and often it’s more than just one thing I’m trying to juggle in my hands. That’s why I have a few favorite gym bag items that I always have with me at the gym.
Gym Bag
![Gym bag items](https://www.stacemendes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/8DC82205-8942-44B3-A224-AF71B7B62CE0_1_201_a-1440x1440.jpeg)
I love gym bags because they keep all my gym stuff together. Since I’m always trying to sleep a little extra, I don’t have time to be chasing down all my gym items at 5am. It makes grabbing my gym items SO much easier! There are also so many different kinds of cute gym bags, so why wouldn’t you want one?
Barbell Squat Pad
If you’re going to lift heavy, I highly recommend having a barbell squat pad because it provides additional support for your neck and shoulders. I can still lift without it, but I’d rather not because it puts a strain on my neck and shoulders when I lift heavy. It’s really budget friendly, light, and easy to carry in your gym bag.
Resistance Bands
When I start my leg days, I always do some glute activation exercises with a resistance band. The resistance bands that I love are the ones made of fabric. I find that they are stronger and have more resistance for glute activation. I also have the elastic ones, which are great for doing glute activation, and lots of other exercises when you are limited on equipment.
Water Bottle
I always have a water bottle because I NEED to drink water during my workouts. I have a hard time drinking water any other time throughout the day, but it’s a must for me during a workout. My favorite water bottle lately has been a gallon-sized hot pink water bottle! I know it seems like overkill, but it’s actually been so helpful in reminding me to drink my water with time increments and encouraging quotes on the side. I’m not gonna lie; it’s huge, but it fits in my gym bag, and I carry it around all day.
Air Pods
I could work out without music, but that’s not the kind of workout I ever want to have. I 1000% recommend getting air pods. When they came out, I was one of the first ones talking junk about how It’s all hype, expensive, and not worth it. My boyfriend got them, and now they’re basically mine, lol. I LOVE them. It’s one of my favorite gym items of all time. They stay in your ear during intense workouts, and no cords are getting in your way. I highly recommend splurging on air pods if your active, even though regular headphones work just fine as well.
Hygienic Supplies
Nine times out of ten, I’m working out anywhere from 5am-7am before work. I go straight to work after, so I like to keep a few hygienic items in my bag. The main things I have are body wipes, face wash, deodorant, and lotion. After a workout, I like to freshen up before I change and get to work.
Having a gym bag is essential because of certain things that I need for my workout, but I don’t always need all these items. If I’m just doing cardio, I usually don’t need all of these items, so I’ll bring the basics. These are the items I always have in my gym bag. Sometimes I might add a protein bar, protein powder, or something else I might need at the gym. The beauty of the bag is you can put whatever you want in there, it saves you time, and you don’t have to juggle all these things in your hand.