Top 10 Items I Never Go to the Gym Without

Ammon Hanks
Jan 29
8 min read

A thorough list of items, pieces of equipment, and more that I wish I had when I first started lifting. Use my experience so that you progress faster and more confidently than I.

As a trainer and a gym-goer for over 10 years, I've had my fair share of time spent in gyms all over the country. With each daily visit I make to the gym, there's no other feeling I dread more than the feeling of being unprepared. Whether that's forgetting my water bottle, a towel for wiping off sweat, an extra change of clothes, or simply some snacks to keep me going. Some of the best workouts I've experienced is due in part to having everything I need to succeed in my gym bag.

To help you achieve the same level of success in your workouts, here is a comprehensive list of items I've collected over the years that I suggest looking into for yourself:

#1 - The "Cinderella" Gym Bag

I nicknamed this item "Cinderella" because it's a gym bag that fits "just right." Everyone has different needs for what to bring to the gym. Some might carry a complete change of clothes and supplements, while others prefer just the essentials like keys, wallet, and phone. Both approaches are valid. I suggest choosing a gym bag with enough space to comfortably hold a lot of items for those days when you might need to bring more, rather than having a bag that's too small and can't accommodate everything you need.

Among all the gym bags I've tried, this one from Amazon has met my needs the most effectively. I appreciate the large open pocket on top, which lets me quickly find items inside. Additionally, it features smaller zip pockets that securely store my smaller, more important items, making them easy to locate.

With several colors to choose from, good affordability, and excellent durability (I've had mine for well over 3 years with no tears or breaks), I think you'll be more than satisfied with this one.

#2 - Water Bottle

This one is may seem like a waste of a bulletin, but hear me out.

Grabbing just any water bottle and bringing it to the gym isn't going to satisfy the new demand you are going to be putting on your body. Hydration is truly something that could make or break your progress in the first few weeks of your training. When selecting the water bottle of choice, consider these 3 things:

Does it hold enough water? Having enough water from start to finish is going to make your life easier rather than continuously returning to the water fountain and potentially waiting for others to refill theirs as well.
Can it fit easily in my car, gym bag, or hands? If you struggle to carry your bottle to the car, it doesn't fit in the cup holder, nor your gym bag's designated pockets, how are you going to not lose it - let alone drink from it?
Do I like this water bottle? Get yourself a water bottle that you actually like and care about. It has been shown that if you like your water bottle, you are more likely to actually drink from it.

Here are 3 suggestions of water bottle that I myself use daily:

Blender Bottle: Allows for you to use it for pre-workout, protein shakes, or just plain water.
Hydro Jug: Fits in most pockets, holds a lot of water to keep you hydrated, and looks good!
Goal-Water Bottle: This is a fun one as it has markers to keep you focused on your goal.

#3 - Shoes Designed for the Workout

Everyone's fitness goals are going to be different. Some are wanting to run in the local half-marathon while others are going for a new heavy weight lift in deep squats. Regardless of what you are training for, the one part of your body that will be undergoing consistent pressure are your feet; and there's a reason runners don't wear lifting shoes.

Now, if you are a runner and are looking to run in a marathon soon, you are going to want a shoe with a thicker sole, greater arch support, and is durable to last through harsh & wet conditions. On the other hand, for my weight lifters, you will want a shoe with a flatter sole while still durable & comfortable. Specifially when it comes to performing leg exercises such as squats, leg press, etc. Having your feet more flat will increase stability and performance in those exercises.

Here are recommendations when it comes to lifting shoes that I personally love and use:

Nobull They have an amazing selection of fun and unique patterns. And they are built to last

Nike You can't go wrong with a pair of Nike's. With so many patterns and styles, you're bound to find something you like.

#4 - Lifting Belt

If you are going to be doing any of the following exercises, you MUST get a lifting belt:

Squats
Deadlifts
Lunges

It may seem like a short list - and perhaps I'm making a bigger deal of it, but I'm not! The best approach to any injury is prevention. This belt can help prevent major lower back problems, should you engage in the listed exercises above. Don't risk it. Invest in your health and safety.

Here are 3 options to pick from:

#5 - Knee Sleeves/Wraps

This item is subjective moreso than other items on this list; however I strongly recommend investing in it regardless. If you experience existing knee pain, I'd strongly encourage you to invest in these!

I come from a genetic lineage of bad knees. I didn't know about that genetic "gift" until I started lifting and pressing with my legs. Very quickly did I experience knee pain and wasn't sure what the real cause of it was. Upon learning more about general knee health and how to strengthen it, I invested in knee sleeves. It's been one of the best gym purchases I've ever made.

After wearing them for a few weeks in the gym, my knee pain went away. Even as my leg press strength increased and my legs grew. However, even though the pain subsided, I've never ceased to wear my knee sleeves on leg day; I wear them as a preventative measure and I will never stop doing so. They've saved my knees and probably my sanity.

Check out these sleeves! They are my personal favorite and are very comfortable.

#6 - Wrist Grips

Do you know how many pull ups you can do? According to most health and fitness polls, the average person can perform between 2 - 6 pull ups. Go see how many you can do next time you are in the gym. While you are doing that, I want you to take note on whether it's the fatigue in your back you feel first, or the inability in your forearms to continue to grip the bar.

Many beginners find their forearms tire before their back when starting pull-ups. As forearm strength improves, it can meet pull-up demands. However, it's more effective to focus the strain on the back, as intended by pull-ups and back exercises.

These grips are a godsend because they help alleviate the pressure and strain on your forearms, allowing you to concentrate more on engaging your back during the exercise. I highly recommend this item to everyone, regardless of their current forearm strength, as it will significantly enhance your back's ability to perform.

#7 - Cable Attachments: Rope & Handles

This one may be a little bit of a surprise, but you have no idea how many times I've attempted to use a cable machine and the handles or rope are missing. More often than even that, I'll find one handle, and the matching pair is off being used somewhere else and I'm forced to use just the one or another handle that doesn't match at all. My OCD hands just don't accept that...

So, bringing my own pair of cable handles and rope saves me so much time that would otherwise be wasted waiting for those pieces of equipment to become available. They are affordable and easy to pack - the handles more so than the rope, but you get the idea.

#8 - Pre-Workout

Why would I be telling you to bring this in your gym bag rather than leave it at home and just mix it there? Trust me, the times that I have been more than grateful for packing this along is too many times to count.

With so many pre-workouts out there to choose, which one should you start with? BuckedUp

BuckedUp has tons of flavors, different kinds of pre-workout - each with varying levels of stimulants in them to ensure you reach the right level of gym-ready in your workout; and they even have some with no stimulants in them in case you are sensitive or don't enjoy them. I'm confident that you will find a pre-workout that you enjoy at BuckedUp.

And, to help you out, use my trainer's discount code to save even more when you checkout online:

Code: HANKS20

#9 - Protein Powder Tower/Container

At the end of every workout - as I'm putting on my jacket and checking out the mirror-selfie I took while feeling good about myself for once, I can feel my body continue to work and enter recovery mode. I start to get hungry and proper nutrition following a workout is key.

Something I have fallen in love with is pre-measuring my protein powder into little containers that I can then immediately following a workout pour into my blender bottle, shake up, and drink on my way out the door. It truly makes a difference for me in my recovery process and I'm confident it'll have a similar effect on you as well.

Check out some of these options:

#10 - A Badass Attitude

Of all the things listed above, this is by far the most important thing to bring each and everyday to the gym. Each time you walk into that door, identify within yourself how amazing you truly are. Everything incredible and valuable is worth investing in, and by being there at the gym, you are investing in yourself.

I've heard and read about many different methods of invigorating a powerful attitude towards one's self. Here are a few to consider trying:

Self Affirmations in the mirror first thing in the morning
Posting a fun selfie before a workout; the replies will make you smile and motivated
Write down something you are grateful for and why
Text a family member or friend a quick message expressing your love and appreciation for them; most likely you will get a response in kind

Keep one thing in mind, you will not feel 100% every day; it's just not possible. Some days you will feel 99% great, others 50%. There will definitely be days where you feel 0% like yourself; and another day like you are the King or Queen of the world. Through it all, remember that it is okay that you are not always 100% on top of your game. It's okay that you may feel weaker sometimes. It's okay that you are late and don't have as much time. It's okay. None of these short-comings means that you are failing or actually falling short. They are a part of life. What does matter is showing up for yourself every day.

Stay Prepared and Enjoy the Journey

I hope you found something of use in this article. This article is to serve you and help make your fitness journey ultimately easier and more enjoyable. Isn't that the point of life afterall? To do something that you find joy in and make the most of it.