How to Pack Your Bag for the Gym or Health Club

Co-authored by Monica Morris

Last Updated: February 23, 2022 References Approved

You wanted to go to the gym, but you only had time on your lunch break and didn't have your gym bag. Or you get to the gym and realize you've forgotten your pants. These slip-ups shouldn't keep you from working out. But, by properly packing your gym bag, you will eliminate these problems so you can maximize your workout time.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Preparing Your Bag

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Buy an adequately sized bag. When choosing a gym bag, you want to make sure it has adequate room. Look for bags that have multiple, roomy compartments. You'll want to put your clothes in one compartment, shoes in a separate compartment, and your food in another compartment. If you can find a gym bag with smaller zipped compartments, that's even better. This helps you keep the different items in your bag separated while your bag remains organized.^{[1]
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2
Gather plastic bags. Collect some plastic bags for your various items. This is especially important if you don't have a gym bag with multiple compartments. It is important to separate the different items in your gym bag so you don't have things leaking on each other.^{[2]
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- Get one larger bag to place your shoes in. You don't want your sweaty sneakers getting all over your clothes. Think about getting a shoe bag specifically designed for gym shoes. Placing your shoes in a bag can keep odors and bacteria at bay, keeping your entire gym bag from smelling like dirty, sweaty feet.^{[3]
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- Buy smaller Ziploc bags for toiletries and your underwear. You can pack your clean underwear in the plastic bag to keep it fresh, then place your dirty underwear in the bag after you change.
- You can also use the plastic bags for ice in case you have an injury.^{[4]
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3
Pack from the bottom up. Start by packing your shoes either on the bottom of your bag or in your shoe compartment. Then pack all your items in your smaller compartments. Next place your toiletries into the bag, then add your towels and clothes on top so they won't get wet if one of your toiletries has a leak. Place any electronics or reading material on top.
4
Pack your bag the night before. Mornings can rushed and crazy. Sometimes you oversleep, spend too long in the shower, your breakfast burns, or you end up hitting the snooze button three times. On mornings like this, the last thing you're thinking about is your gym bag. Remove that stress from your morning by packing the bag the night before.
- Leave the bag by the door or near your briefcase, shoes, keys, or coat. That way, you won't accidentally walk out of the door and leave the bag in your bedroom floor.
5
Leave emergency gym bags in your car. For those days that you do leave that gym bag on the bedroom floor, have a back up bag in your trunk. Keep only the necessities in this bag - a t-shirt or tank top, a pair of workout shorts, socks, an older pair of sneakers, and cheap headphones. This ensures that you never miss your workout.^{[5]
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Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Packing the Essentials

1
Pack quality workout clothes. Two key items you must have in your gym bag are a workout shirt and bottom. Make sure the fabric is breathable and well-fitted. Think about what you are going to be doing that day; you wouldn't want your low-hanging pants to slip down when you're doing a squat or your shirt to fall over your face when you're bending over in yoga. Go for quality and usefulness over fashion.^{[6]
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- Decide if you would like to wear tank tops or short sleeve shirts, along with workout shorts, tights, or pants. It doesn't matter as long as you keep in mind your fitness regiment.
- For colder months, pack a jacket and track pants. This is especially essential if you plan on walking out of the gym still wearing your gym clothes.
- It's a good idea to pack extra underwear, especially if you are going straight to the office. You don't want to put on your nice, clean work clothes over sweaty underwear.^{[7]
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- Ladies, you might want to pack a sports bra if you're planning on wearing your normal bra to the gym.
2
Bring gym shoes. Good shoes are essential for working out. Most gym goers can wear trainers or running shoes. If you are an advanced weight lifter, you may want lifting shoes instead. Regardless of the shoes you wear, make sure you pack them.^{[8]
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- Don't forget some socks. Working out without socks isn't great for your feet or your work out footwear. Make sure you always have a pair of socks in your bag, even if you have worn a pair to the gym. You never know when your socks are going to slide down in your shoes, get wet, or have something else happen to them. Socks are essential items in your gym bag.^{[9]
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- Make sure to pack flip-flops. Flip-flops are a must have if you are showering at the gym after your workout. You should never place your bare feet on the shower floor; instead, wear flip-flops to protect your feet from bacteria and fungi.^{[10]
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Throw in a few hair ties or sweatbands. For many, hair ties are necessary for keeping hair pulled back and out of your face during workouts. For those with short hair, headbands or sweatbands can help keep hair off your face and soak up the sweat.^{[11]
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Pack all the essential toiletries. If you are hitting the gym during your lunch hour or before work, you need to make sure your gym bag contains the proper items to help you stay refreshed and professional for the rest of the day. Consider packing the the following:
- Deodorant and possibly some kind of body spray or scent. Just be careful not to overspray the cologne or perfume, especially if you're not showering fully.
- Body wash. You can buy a body wash and shampoo in one for the gym.
- Face wash or wipes, and moisturizer to clean your face of all the sweat. You might want to throw in some toner or astringent, too.
- Shaving cream and razor. Only pack this one if you're planning on shaving at the gym.
- Dry shampoo. This comes in really handy if you don't have time to wash, dry, and style your hair before getting back to work.^{[12]
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Keep a towel with you. It is good practice to keep a towel with you. Not all gyms offer towels for free, and though gyms wash them, they might not be the cleanest. To wipe up the sweat from your body or wipe down machines, bring your own towel.
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Pack a water bottle. Hydration is essential when working out. Have a water bottle so you can refill it as often as necessary. You don't want to be left without a way to hydrate yourself or have to buy overpriced water at the gym.^{[13]
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Throw in some snacks. Pack healthy snacks into your bag for a pre- or post-workout boost. Try nuts, apples, protein bars.^{[14]
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8
Don't forget the electronics. No workout is complete without music, so make sure to keep headphones in your bag to hook to your smartphone with its playlist. If you have an iPod or iPod shuffle, keep that in your bag.
- You can also pack heart monitors, fitness trackers, and any other fitness equipment you have.^{[15]
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9
Remember the sanitizer. Gyms can harbor a lot of germs since you are sharing equipment (and sweat!) with other members. To cut down on germs, bring hand sanitizer with you to rub on your hands afterwards.
- An alternative to hand sanitizer is disinfectant towelettes or wipes. You can wipe your hands down, and more importantly, you can wipe the machines and weights down before touching them. Plus, towelettes and wipes won't open in your gym bag and make a mess.
10
Don't overlook first aid. Small injuries can easily occur at the gym. Blisters, small cuts, and other abrasions can crop up from using the machines, holding barbells, or doing push ups. Be prepared for these instances by carrying band aids and small bandages in your gym bag.^{[16]
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Expert Q&A
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Question

What should I bring to the gym?

Monica Morris
ACE Certified Personal Trainer
Monica Morris is an ACE (American Council on Exercise) Certified Personal Trainer based in the San Francisco Bay Area. With over 15 years of fitness training experience, Monica started her own physical training practice and gained her ACE Certification in 2017. Her workouts emphasize proper warm-ups, cool-downs, and stretching techniques.

Monica Morris

ACE Certified Personal Trainer

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.
Question

What should you pack in your gym bag?

Monica Morris
ACE Certified Personal Trainer
Monica Morris is an ACE (American Council on Exercise) Certified Personal Trainer based in the San Francisco Bay Area. With over 15 years of fitness training experience, Monica started her own physical training practice and gained her ACE Certification in 2017. Her workouts emphasize proper warm-ups, cool-downs, and stretching techniques.

Monica Morris

ACE Certified Personal Trainer

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

If you're going to go on the treadmill for a while, you might bring a protein drink along with water, because that's best to have directly after a workout.
Question

How do I make sure my clothes don't get wrinkled if I go to and from the gym from the office?

Community Answer

You can role your formal clothes to prevent wrinkles; I find this really works well for me. If you're not sure how to do this, there are tutorials on YouTube, or you can check out the article on How to Roll Clothes.