What to Pack in Your Gym Bag: Gym Girl Edition

Let’s be honest: going to the gym is not just about grabbing your shoes and walking out the door. There is a whole little operation involved.

The outfit. The water bottle. The headphones. The hair tie you swear you packed last time but somehow disappeared. And, of course, the emergency items you might need but would absolutely regret not having.

In case you’re heading straight to the gym after work, squeezing in a quick workout before meeting your friends, or spending half your day running from one plan to another, having a well-packed gym bag can make your life so much easier.

Here’s our ultimate gym girl packing list:

1. Your Workout Outfit

First things first: the actual reason you’re carrying a gym bag.

Pack a breathable workout top, your favorite leggings or shorts, a supportive sports bra, and, of course, a fresh pair of socks.

Choose pieces that are comfortable, breathable, and suitable for your workout. You don’t want to spend your entire session adjusting your clothes instead of focusing on your reps.

2. The Right Training Shoes

Your workout shoes can make a big difference, so bring a clean pair that suits the type of training you’re doing.

And if you’re going somewhere after the gym, pack an extra pair of shoes. Nobody wants to show up to dinner in their slightly sweaty training sneakers.

Luckily, many of our duffle bags feature a dedicated shoe tunnel, keeping your footwear separate from the rest of your clean clothes and gym essentials.

3. A Water Bottle

Keep a water bottle in your bag so you can stay hydrated throughout your workout without having to rely on tiny plastic cups.

4. Gym Accessories

Depending on your workout, you may want to pack a few accessories such as lifting straps, resistance bands, or training gloves.

5. Gym Membership Access

Keep your membership card, or phone with your gym app somewhere easy to reach.

6. A Microfiber Towel

A lightweight microfiber towel is one of those things you don’t fully appreciate until you need one.

It’s compact, dries quickly, and takes up very little space in your gym bag. Use it to wipe away sweat or keep one handy for your workout equipment.

 7. Deodorant

A quick refresh can make you feel much more comfortable before getting back into your day.

8. Your Headphones

Pack your wireless earbuds or headphones and make sure they’re charged before you leave.

9. A Phone Charger or Power Bank

A small charging cable or power bank can save you when your phone decides to give up halfway through your workout.

10. A Quick Snack

If you’re heading somewhere after the gym or know you’ll be hungry after training, throw a quick snack into your bag.

A protein bar, fruit, or another easy post-workout snack can be a lifesaver when your stomach starts reminding you that you haven’t eaten in hours.

11. A Hair Tie

The last thing you want on the treadmill is your hair in your face. In fact, you don’t want it in your face anywhere.

Keep an extra hair tie in your gym bag because, somehow, hair ties disappear at a rate that should be investigated.
(Speaking of hair ties, I need to get a scrunchie from here asap, yes they are sold out online but they got to have some at the stores right? Brb let me check.)

12. Hand Sanitizer

Gym equipment is not exactly the cleanest thing in the world, so keeping a small hand sanitizer in your bag is a simple way to freshen up your hands when you need it.

13. A Small Tissue Pack

Do girls overthink what they might need? Maybe.
Keep a small pack of tissues in your bag because you never know when you’ll suddenly need one.
Boys will probably grab a towel and go. If they even remembered the towel. We, on the other hand, are preparing for every possible scenario.

14. A Fresh Change of Clothes

If you’re going somewhere after your workout, bring a clean outfit.

It could be a simple T-shirt and joggers, a fresh activewear set, or whatever makes sense for the rest of your day. If you’re packing multiple outfits, a small mesh laundry bag is a great addition to your gym bag. It keeps your sweaty workout clothes separate from everything else.

Or, if you have our Active Days Duffle Bag, you can use the waterproof pouch to store your used gym clothes.

15. Shower Essentials

If you’re showering at the gym, your bag may need a few more things.

Think:

- A larger towel with enough coverage
- Body wash
- Shampoo
- Flip-flops (You do not want to be walking barefoot around the changing-room showers.)
- Fresh underwear
- A hairbrush
- A small perfume or body mist
- Makeup, if you’re getting ready for a night out afterward

16. Choose the Right Gym Bag Size

Your ideal gym bag depends on your routine.

If you shower at the gym, change outfits, carry toiletries, shoes, accessories, and basically half your life with you, a larger duffle bag will give you the space you need.

But if you usually just need your workout clothes, shoes, water bottle, and a few essentials, you may prefer something smaller and more lightweight.

There’s no need to carry a giant bag when you only need half the space.

And there you have it: everything you need to make your gym bag work for you.

Now go pack your bag, and check for your hair tie. Seriously. Check.

And since we’ve packed everything you could possibly need, might as well throw your passport in there too. (Cause who says no to travel?)