5 Gym Accessories Not to Leave at Home

Your exercise preference will make no difference in the must have items for your gym trip. Are you new and not sure what to take along? As you become an experienced gym goer you'll find there are some items you can live without while others are complete necessities. Certain gym accessories will make your trip to the gym more convenient and upbeat while others will help keep your belongings safe.

Gym bag

You might not have many items with you but you'll need some sort of gym bag for your belongings. There are many gym bag styles in different materials but the most popular are duffel bags and back packs. Choose a bag that's not too large so it will fit in the locker unless you plan to carry it around the gym. Invest in a rolling bag if you plan to carry heavier workout accessories.

Workout Gloves

Protect your hands with a pair of gloves since the grips on weights will vary. For example, some dumbbell designs have rubber grips while others are made of serrated steel which can bite. Over time, if you don't wear gloves your hands will produce calluses but that's not necessary unless you want calluses. Some athletes prefer their hands to be tougher but that's a personal choice.

Weight lifting hooks or straps

Shoulder or back exercises might push you to lift heavier than usual and a pair of lifting hooks or straps will help you grip the bar for extreme weights. Hooks and straps both come in a variety of sizes and different thickness grades. Have an idea of how much you will lift before purchasing a pair of straps or hooks since each has a different weight capacity. Straps or hooks that are not strong enough can tear and rip or straighten the hook if you're load is heavier than the recommended capacity.

Upbeat music and players

Health clubs play music that appeals to the general public; not the individual. Working out to soft music or the voice of a basketball commentator is not motivating especially if you need music to stay upbeat. Bring your own music if you have a special preference. iPods, MP3 players and radio head phones are just a few ways to ensure you have good music during your workout.

Padlock

You may not think to bring a padlock to the gym but it's probably more important than any other accessory. Though most health clubs don't announce problems with stealing, it certainly happens. Wallets, phones and other small personal items are easily removed from lockers so keep your valuables safe with a lock. Combination locks are good because you won't have to worry about a key but you'll have to remember the combo. A lock and key set will also suffice as long as you don't lock the key in the locker.

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