10 Gym Bag Essentials for Women

by The Violet Journal
gym bag essentials women

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Is there anything worse than getting to the gym, only to realise you’re missing an essential piece of workout gear? Make sure you’re prepared with this list of 10 gym bag essentials for women, so you know exactly what you need to pack before you leave for the gym.

 

Here are 10 gym bag essentials for women.

 

1. Water Bottle

If you’re thinking about working out without water: don’t. Staying hydrated while working out will keep you safe and energised, and while there are other drink options that are generally better for hydration, water is the cheapest and easiest option.

Most gyms will sell bottled water, but you should do your bit for the environment (and for your bank account) and invest in a reusable water bottle.

I’d recommend the water bottles you get with this blender on Amazon. You get two leak-proof bottles, and the blender is perfect for mixing your supplements before or after your workout.

 

2. Padlock

Most gyms will require you to bring your own padlock to use the lockers. Not all gym users will go to the effort of locking their possessions away, but I wouldn’t be able to work out without knowing that my things are safely locked away.

I use this combination lock padlock by Master. It’s cheap yet sturdy, and conveniently sold on Amazon.

 

3. Gym Towel

There’s nothing worse than going to use a machine, only to notice it’s covered in someone else’s sweat. Make sure you bring a gym towel with you so you can wipe down all the machines you use – even if you don’t sweat that much.

I like to use a microfibre towel because they’re lightweight, easy to carry around and dry quickly. They also often come in a handy carry bag.  Check out my favourite brand on Amazon.

 

4. Wireless Headphones

Whether you work out to music, podcasts or audiobooks, headphones are an absolute must for any gym goer.

I’d suggest investing in a pair of wireless headphones so you can focus on your workout without worrying about holding your phone at all times. Because let’s be honest – women’s workout clothes aren’t exactly blessed for pockets.

I like to use over ear headphones when I’m lifting weights or using machines, and wireless earphones when I’m doing cardio – but that’s just a personal preference.

 

Best wireless headphones for the gym:

Sony WH-1000XM3 Noise Cancelling Over Ear Headphones

These are some of the best noise cancelling headphones on the market. You can trust them to block out the gym’s noisy surroundings, allowing you to focus on your workout. On top of that they’re comfy and secure, so you don’t have to worry about them falling off while you’re working out.

 

Apple AirPods Pro

The Apple AirPods are by far the best wireless earbuds I’ve tried. The original AirPods will be enough for most people, but I’d recommend the AirPods Pro for the gym – the extra noise cancelling is perfect for working out in a noisy gym, and the removable tips make it even less likely that they’ll fall out while you’re working out.

 

Best budget headphones for the gym:

Anker Wireless Headphones

Anker has been providing us with quality, affordable technology for years, and their wireless headphones are no exception. They’re a fraction of the cost as the Sony headphones or the AirPods mentioned above, proving that you don’t need to spend a lot of money for a good listening experience in the gym.

 

5. Deodorant

Whether you shower at the gym or prefer to wait until you get home, make sure you always have a stick of deodorant with you.

 

6. Spare Hair Ties

If you have long hair then spare hair ties are a must, because nothing’s worse than your last hair band snapping as soon as you get into the gym.

I tend to keep an entire pack of 100 in my gym bag, so that whenever there’s a girl in need in the changing rooms I can offer her a couple hair ties without worrying whether I still have enough for myself.

Buying in bulk is also cheaper than buying hair ties as and when you need them. Check out my favourite snag-free hair ties on Amazon.

 

7. Face Wash and Cotton Pads

If you sweat a lot during your workouts, then the first thing you should do when you get back into the changing rooms is to wash your face. Not only does it prevent acne, but it’ll leave you feeling cleaner and fresher.

I like to keep it cheap and simple with a bottle of micellar water. You can check out my favourite micellar water by Garnier on Amazon.

 

8. Resistance Band

If you’re going to bring any equipment with you to the gym, make it a resistance band. Resistance bands are a beginner friendly way to transform your leg days and see some real progress with your booty gains. On top of that they fold up nicely and take up barely any room in your gym bag.

I have to recommend the resistance bands by B_ND. When this company was launched, they were the only supplier of affordable yet high quality resistance bands.

These days you can get cheap, quality bands anywhere, but B_ND remains one of my favourite places to get resistance bands.

But their bands are often sold out due to high demand, and their shipping prices are crazy. So if you’d rather buy on Amazon, check out these bands by FITFORT. FITFORT is one of my favourite fitness brands on Amazon, offering cheap but high quality workout equipment.

 

9. Spare Socks

Spare socks take up barely any space in your gym bag, but they have the potential to save your entire workout. No one wants to work out in wet socks.

 

10. Period Products

If you have periods, then you should keep some of your period products of choice in your gym bag, as well as pain killers if you might need them.

But even if you don’t have periods, there’s nothing stopping you from carrying a few pads and tampons around with you. If someone in the changing rooms ever asks you if you have any on you, it’s nice to be able to offer them a choice of options.

 

Read Next: Three Life Changing Technology Products

 

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2 comments

Roni August 19, 2020 - 12:09 pm

I always massively overpack when I go to the gym so it’s great to read a post that highlights just the essentials! I ended up having to buy a new gym bag just to fit all of my stuff – but now after reading this I can probably switch back to my old bag and pack lighter x

Roni | myelevatedexistence.com

Reply
The Violet Journal August 19, 2020 - 4:06 pm

That’s so funny – I’m the sort of person to get to the gym only to realise I’ve forgotten my trainers. Glad this helped you out!

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