There are 5 main items that you should always carry in your gym bag: shower and body essentials, clothing, electronics, accessories, and other miscellaneous stuff that are not categorized in any particular group. Below are some of the items that you should carry from each group:

1. Shower And Body Essentials

To be ready for the post-workout shower, make sure you have these items:

Deodorant. This is a must-have, and you should never assume that your morning application will last you throughout the day, even after exercising. It will only take a second to apply a layer of protection that will fight bacteria, sweat, and odor.

Shampoo and body wash. You can get the two-in-one products that can be used as shampoo and body wash in order to maximize your gym bag’s space.

Antibacterial gel. Even if the machines are sprayed regularly, there may still be germs in the room, and the best way of protecting yourself from them is by having an antibacterial gel.

Lotion. A little lotion goes a long way. It is recommended to find those with natural ingredients and those that can protect your skin from soap or harsh weather conditions.

1. Clothing

Even if you wear your gym clothes to the gym, there are a few things that you need to be stored in your bag, just in case you need to change after the workout or need to hit the gym in between meetings. You should also carry a pair of sandals or flip flops and clean underwear. Other clothes that you might need are:

Socks. You can never have too many pairs of clean socks in your gym bag. For instance, if you are coming from the office, you might need to change socks into something more durable. If you are coming from the pool, you might not be wearing any socks. If you sweat during your training, you will be grateful to have carried an extra pair!

Gym Shoes. This can help if you have a tendency to forget your sneakers or going to the gym with inappropriate shoes.

T-shirts. Have at least 2-3 clean shirts in your gym bag, especially if you have to run errands after the workout session. Besides, if you are going to the gym after office hours, you will not have to worry about working out in your undershirt.

1. Electronics

The electronics you are likely to use is a nice set of headphones. You can also carry a device that can measure your blood pressure, heart rate, steps, and other vital statistics.

1. Accessories

Some of the accessories that you need to carry in your gym bag include a reusable water bottle, a large towel (since not all gyms offer towels), and a small towel that you will use during your workout to keep sweat out of your eyes and hands. You will also need a pre-workout snack and post-gym snack to revive some of the energy lost when you were working out. Some of these snacks include protein bars, almonds, no-bake energy bites, roasted chickpeas or canned salmon.

1. Miscellaneous

Other items that you should carry include:

Odor eliminating spray. Products such as shoe sprays and spritzes will help in eliminating odor from your bag.

First-Aid Kit. The kit should include pain relievers, antibacterial hand wipes, bandage closures, anesthetic wipes, gauze, and elastic wraps for elbows knees and ankles.