Are you aiming to achieve peak performance and train like the legendary Dorian Yates? But wait, what’s missing from your arsenal? Your trusty gym bag, the essential ingredient for maximising your gains and conquering every workout session.
A well-prepared gym bag is your secret weapon for conquering fitness goals and staying on top of your game. However, fear not! In this guide, we will explore the crucial components that should find a place in your gym bag. By doing so, you can guarantee that you are fully prepared to optimise muscle growth and increase strength.
We’ll cover everything from the basics of selecting the perfect gym bag to the crucial fitness gear that can make or break your training session. Discover the importance of fitness apparel, and unlock the potential of workout accessories that enhance your performance.
1. Gym Bag Basics
A well-prepared gym bag is more than just a convenience—it can increase your performance by over 30%. The right gear not only ensures that you have everything you need for an effective workout but also plays a significant role in boosting your motivation. Imagine the confidence that comes with knowing you have all your essentials, allowing you to focus solely on your fitness goals.
The Perfect Gym Bag
Not all gym bags are created equal, and finding the right one for your needs is a crucial first step. It will not only serve as the foundation of your fitness journey but also complement your ambitious and hectic lifestyle. Why not even take it on vacation and continue your fitness journey abroad? See how to achieve this here.
Therefore we’re looking for numerous things. Versatility, durability, size and of course style. All while not breaking the bank.
When choosing a gym bag, it’s important to find one that strikes the right balance in size. Too small of a bag might make it difficult to fit all your essential items, while a large and bulky bag could be cumbersome to carry around. Additionally, durability is key when selecting a gym bag as it will need to withstand daily wear and tear.
Fortunately, you have an abundance of choices available to you. Here are some great recommendations:
2. Lifting equipment
We begin with the absolute must haves for a gym bag to ensure optimal muscle growth and performance during your sessions. Here are the 5 fundamental lifting accessories that will add that extra 5 kg to your bench, reduce injuries and improve stability for all round strength gains.
Lifting belt
We’re all mature here and thus we should be hitting legs. In which case this is an absolute staple, which has absolutely blown up my squat and aided me in going from a measly 60 kg to 140kgs in just a couple years. Click here to see how!
Investing in a high-quality belt can provide excellent support for your lower back during leg and back workouts. This allows you to efficiently engage your core muscles and perform exercises with proper form. A durable belt will be a valuable investment, as it is likely to last throughout your fitness journey.
Here are some of my favourite recommendations. Providing both lever and buckle options to suit your preference:
I personally opt for the lever as it provides extra stability and of course feels satisfying to flick once you hit that well fought for pr.
Lifting straps
Certainly, one of my preferred accessories is lifting straps. Despite receiving criticism from uncreative influencers who definitely secretly utilise them themselves, lifting straps prove to be crucial when engaging in various exercises targeting the back and lower body muscles such as deadlifts or Romanian deadlifts.
After all, why would we want to restrict those larger muscle groups to the strength of our grip. Moreover, it enhances the essential mind–muscle connection during back training, enabling you to focus on the contraction rather than holding on to the weight for dear life.
These are also bank account friendly. Here’s my recommendation:
You should also know how to use them. Here’s a quick tutorial:
Resistance bands
We’ve discussed my favourite accessory, however here is the most important. In order to ensure a productive and injury-free workout, it is vital to properly warm up and activate the muscles.
An effective method for achieving this is through the use of resistance bands, which are easily accessible at most sports stores. I personally recommend using a durable and functional brand that I have found to be highly effective below.
(variety of resistance levels for different strength capabilities)
To get the most out of your bands here are some warm up exercises I utilise at the beginning of every session to get the body firing and primed for muscle exertion.
wrist wraps
Absolutely not essential but a nice provider of stability during your heavy push sessions. It ensures stability and aids in stacking the wrist joints to prevent injuries and assure consistency in your lifting journey.
Once again no need to take out a mortgage on these. Even budget options are often very durable.
3. workout accessories
Workout accessories! Those nice little additions that make going to the gym that bit more enjoyable, or give you that much needed motivation.
headphones
Is there anything more exhilarating than lifting weights, progressing, exerting effort, all the while being serenaded by your favourite Taylor Swift song? Or strangling your ear drums with earth shatteringly loud hardstyle microwave noises.
Music can be a powerful motivator during your workout that can push you to pr’s and help break past plateaus. ultimately enabling individuals to narrow their attention, ignore distractions, and concentrate on establishing a strong mind muscle connection.
Investing in a high-quality pair of headphones is highly recommended, as they will withstand heavy use during workouts and other daily activities. Unlike earphones, headphones are less likely to fall out while lifting weights and provide the necessary external soundproofing for a noisy gym environment.
Why not test your new headphones with a great pump inducing playlist for all of your techno, hardstyle and drum & bass needs!
Fitness watch
Not essential to achieve your goals however can aid the tracking of fitness variables such as rest time, heart rate, steps or calories burned. Especially if you’re an individual that gets distracted by your phone. Just get a watch, leave the phone at home and enjoy the tranquillity of no distractions.
Supplements
These may not be considered accessories, however they are just as important. If your anything like me then remembering to take your creatine or pre workout before attacking the gym is almost impossible. For that reason just carry it in your gym bag and never have a bad session again! Learn more about supplements in our Ultimate Supplement Guide Here.
4. Hygiene items
If there’s nothing more enjoyable than music in the gym, there’s nothing less appealing than inadequate hygiene in the gym. Nobody wants to endure the unpleasant smell of body odour during an intense set or sit on a sweat-soaked bench while working out.
deodorant
Even in unforeseen circumstances or emergencies, being prepared is crucial. As you glance over, you notice your gym crush has taken the machine next to yours. If only you had organised your gym bag more thoroughly, perhaps you would have had a chance.
Gym Towel
Don’t underestimate the importance of a gym towel; especially in the summer. It’s poor etiquette to leave a machine dripping with sweat. It’s just as uncomfortable to walk around with it on you. So put a towel in your bag for good measure to not look like this.
Post-Workout Toiletries
Maintaining personal hygiene after a workout is essential. Get a small travel bag, and fill with essentials from skincare to shower gel to keep you fresh and confident in all areas of life.
Feel good, lift good. Simple.
5. Fitness apparel
Similarly I also ascribe to the concept of look good, lift good. Now I’m not saying you need to wear your best pair of Gucci trainers to the gym. Of course it’s not a fashion show. However you should wear a fit that makes you feel comfortable and facilitates your lifts.
Here is one my staple gym fits for ultimate performance and aesthetic:
Vest
It’s not always the right temperature for a vest. However you should always be prepped for the opportunity to flex that pump. Put a vest in your bag and be ready to show off.
hat
Does Not need to be special. Just something to hide those bad hair days, enable you to trigger that laser focus, or to simply keep the sweat out of your eyes.
Footwear
Your choice of athletic shoes can impact your stability, comfort, and overall workout performance. From squat shoes, to running shoes for cardio. Don’t limit your own potential and possibilities.
In conclusion, your gym bag is more than just a carrier of items—it’s a symbol of your commitment to personal well-being and fitness excellence. By carefully selecting the right essentials, from the perfect gym bag to workout accessories and lifting equipment, you’re setting yourself up for success in every workout.
Ready to share your gym bag essentials or have any questions? Join the conversation in the comments below! Let’s build a community of fitness enthusiasts sharing tips and insights on the path to becoming the ultimate version of yourself.
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