Tips for making my gym bag lighter?

JessiBelleW
JessiBelleW Posts: 831 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
So i picked up my gym bag the other morning and walked to my car.... so super heavy! Does anyone have any tips for keeping it light? I go to the gym before i head to work in the afternoon so I have to have shower stuff in there too. I have a biggish towel as they are communal showers and im shy!

Replies

  • Alatariel75
    Alatariel75 Posts: 18,224 Member
    What do you have in there? Maybe buy small refillable bottles for toiletries and fill them from your big packs at home as needed, rather than take full size?

    Or just look at it as lifting? :)
  • girlinahat
    girlinahat Posts: 2,956 Member
    I use a multi- shower gel - shampoo, conditioner and shower gel in one, it's probably not great for constant use but it does the job. The other trick is a microfibre camping style towel. It's full size, the one I have doesn't feel like microfibre (which can feel odd on the skin), but folks really small and dries quickly. They're not cheap but worth it.

  • sjohnny
    sjohnny Posts: 56,142 Member
    Take some stuff out maybe?
  • lisalsd1
    lisalsd1 Posts: 1,519 Member
    Leave your work shoes at work if possible, put those on when you get to work, leave there in the evening. I usually take 4 pairs of shoes to the gym with me. Weird, I know...but I need them all.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    Can you rent a locker at your gym? I feel ya though. I packed mine today and then walked for miles and miles around NYC, just to end up not going to the gym. Now I need a massage.
  • Spook_Nuke_Em
    Spook_Nuke_Em Posts: 408 Member
    Take out the 45lb plate :)
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    arditarose wrote: »
    Can you rent a locker at your gym? I feel ya though. I packed mine today and then walked for miles and miles around NYC, just to end up not going to the gym. Now I need a massage.

    Y so much cardio?
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    DavPul wrote: »
    arditarose wrote: »
    Can you rent a locker at your gym? I feel ya though. I packed mine today and then walked for miles and miles around NYC, just to end up not going to the gym. Now I need a massage.

    Y so much cardio?

    Right? I even quickened my pace when I crossed streets.

    The reason I didn't actually go to the gym was because I was supposed to do cardio. :#

  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    Lift more?
  • Warchortle
    Warchortle Posts: 2,197 Member
    lol I was also thinking "get stronger"
  • AgentFlex
    AgentFlex Posts: 211 Member
    +1 for get stronger!
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    arditarose wrote: »
    DavPul wrote: »
    arditarose wrote: »
    Can you rent a locker at your gym? I feel ya though. I packed mine today and then walked for miles and miles around NYC, just to end up not going to the gym. Now I need a massage.

    Y so much cardio?

    Right? I even quickened my pace when I crossed streets.

    The reason I didn't actually go to the gym was because I was supposed to do cardio. :#

    Heh
  • sheermomentum
    sheermomentum Posts: 827 Member
    I got an extra-large microfiber towel of the sort used for hiking. The old one was most of the weight of my bag, and the new one is super-absorbent.
  • Meganthedogmom
    Meganthedogmom Posts: 1,639 Member
    OP I feel you. I pack my hairdryer in my bag, plus shoes, towel, toiletries, hairbrush, clothes, etc... So it's quite heavy and hurts my shoulder :( unfortunately I need that stuff!
  • EvgeniZyntx
    EvgeniZyntx Posts: 24,208 Member
    Hole punch. Hole punch everything. When we do ultralight trekking we cut off the parts of the map we don't use, get gear that's made of super expensive alloys and cut out holes out of non essential stuff. Even my spork handle has a cut out. Have the same mentality and life can be much lighter.
  • maxit
    maxit Posts: 880 Member
    no idea why a gym bag would need to weigh a ton - use hotel sized products for shower afterward, and only have your shoes, sox, top, pants, set of clean underwear, towel. If you can't lift that easily, you are in need of PT lol.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    Microfibre towel
    Sneakers
    Gym wear
    Deodorant
    2 in 1 shampoo
    Comb

    What else you need?
  • DopeItUp
    DopeItUp Posts: 18,771 Member
    EvgeniZyntx wrote: »
    Hole punch. Hole punch everything. When we do ultralight trekking we cut off the parts of the map we don't use, get gear that's made of super expensive alloys and cut out holes out of non essential stuff. Even my spork handle has a cut out. Have the same mentality and life can be much lighter.

    I like the term "speed holes", myself.

    (take that however you like)
  • LKArgh
    LKArgh Posts: 5,178 Member
    What do you have in there that is so heavy?
  • MelodyandBarbells
    MelodyandBarbells Posts: 7,724 Member
    Different gym. Mine has toiletries, some hair dryers laying around, towels, private shower stalls, and you can rent lockers
  • JessiBelleW
    JessiBelleW Posts: 831 Member
    Thanks for the replies everyone. I think it's the towel! In my current house we only have these heavy monogrammed fancy towels. I think that once I've had a shower the heavy towel that's now wet is super heavy! Time to invest in a microfiber one perhaps?
  • Sutnak
    Sutnak Posts: 227 Member
    grow stronger!
  • 365daystofitgirl
    365daystofitgirl Posts: 58 Member
    for my shower toiletries I use all travel sizes, refill the bottles to cut down expenses
  • girlinahat
    girlinahat Posts: 2,956 Member
    I have one of these types of microfibre towel:

    https://www.lifeventure.com/products/washgear/microfibre

    along with a couple of others. If you've never used one before, be warned that most feel a bit odd on the skin - they don't move smoothly and you find yourself 'dabbing' at the skin, almost like they are sticking. That's not to say they don't work fine, it's just different.

    The 'comfort' version I linked to has a bit more of a towel-feel to it, although certainly doesn't look all fluffy like you'd expect a towel to be.

    definitely try changing the towel to make the bag lighter.
  • snowflake954
    snowflake954 Posts: 8,399 Member
    edited January 2016
    JessiBelleW wrote: »
    Thanks for the replies everyone. I think it's the towel! In my current house we only have these heavy monogrammed fancy towels. I think that once I've had a shower the heavy towel that's now wet is super heavy! Time to invest in a microfiber one perhaps?

    This. I decided several years ago to lighten up my gym bag and studied everything to lighten it up. First of all, I got a light, big backpack. I walk from home to the pool and it changed my life. Micro fiber towel is a must. As you wash it, it gets softer, and you have to get used to it, but it's light, washes up fast, doesn't mildew, drys fast and folds up small. I also put shampoo, conditioner, and body lotion in smaller containers and just refill at home every 2 weeks. On days I do gym stuff I have super light tennis shoes. It's worth it to take the time to "lighten up".

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