Seven Gym Bag Essentials for Men
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Hitting the gym after a long day — or right smack dab in the middle of it — is one of the greatest ways to de-stress and stay healthy. It’s a little reset button for your body and mind. But that break from the grind can feel like a bummer if you don’t show up with the proper goods.
That gym bag has to be packed right, gentlemen. You need everything from the right workout gear and snacks down to a men’s travel toiletry bag replete with the ingredients you need to freshen up after that sweaty-as-hell gym session.
Get the Perfect Men’s Travel Toiletry BagWe want you showing up to the gym ready to go, so let’s run down those gym bag essentials.
Workout Gear
You gotta have the right clothes. It’s always good to keep some fresh workout gear in your bag: t-shirt, socks, gym shorts or pants, tennis shoes. This is especially important if you’re often hitting the gym during your work day.
Headphones
If you have extra headphones, it’s good to keep them tucked inside your gym bag. There are few greater gym-bummers than showing up for an intense workout and then realizing you don’t have headphones. It can be hard to get into the zone without the right beats.
Weightlifting Gloves
The right workout gloves go a long way toward keeping your hands from becoming blistered, callused messes. They also boost your grip strength, which can really come in handy — see what we did there? — during especially sweaty workouts.
Towels
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Lots of gyms provide towels for their clients, but if yours doesn’t, always keep a couple in your gym bag. Use a smaller towel to wipe down equipment after you use it, and keep another towel at the ready for your post-workout shower.
Protein
The harder you go in the gym, the more important it is to power up with some protein after your workout. So whether you’re slamming some nuts or a power bar, be sure to get the most out of your workout with some protein-dense caloric intake afterward.
Water Bottle
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Perhaps you think occasional gulps from the water fountain are enough to keep you hydrated. But that’s probably not the case. It’s certainly not the case if you’re really getting after it. Having a water bottle at your side encourages proper hydration. When you’re sweating, you need to be drinking water. If you allow yourself to become dehydrated, you won’t get the most out of your workout. As the University of Connecticut warns, “When it comes to your workouts, being mildly to moderately dehydrated can negatively impact your performance in a few ways that you might not even realize.”
Dopp Kit
Perhaps the most important element is the bag within the bag. Having a properly stocked dopp kit is especially important if you aren’t heading home to shower post-workout. Of course, showering at the gym can feel like a hassle, but doing so before you bounce makes sure you leave all that gym bacteria behind, and it can help in your recovery, especially if you’re willing to give your body a blast of cold water in your post-workout shower. A little cold shock serves to reduce inflammation and boost your bounce-back time. It’s especially helpful after grueling workouts.
But, of course, there’s an even more important reason to shower after you work out: It fights the funk. So keep your kit stocked with the essentials. Get after it with our charcoal face wash and then treat your body right with our activated charcoal body wash.
Stay Fresh with Our Activated Charcoal Body WashThere you have it, gentlemen. Keep your gym bag stocked with the essentials so you’ll always be ready to conquer the gym.
