Really interesting seeing an American perspective about this. I've never had to worry about collars or cable handles which apparentely is a thing in US gyms? Here in The Netherlands, and I suppose the majority of Europe (?) these things are the most basic things that are always present at commercial and private gyms. Foam rollers are not that common, but not an uncommen thing to find in gyms either.
Yeah, what BluePurplePink said. They'll be there, but there's no guarantee that they'll be in good condition. Or even available if someone else is using another cable
I live in Denmark and here in my local gym (which is part of a big national chain) there is everything you mentioned, in a decent condition. As far as I know it is not even allowed to bring your own equipment to the gym (apart from towel, water bottle, gloves and I would say other really personal things). I guess that the reason for this would be people considering something their own and taking it home with them :)) So the gym provides everything you need, and you don't need to bring anything. I would probably not even go to the gym if I had to bring half of the gym with me from home...
My gym bag contains: 1. Lifting belt 2. Lifting straps 3. Packets of protein powder 4. Water bottle 5. Tissue 6. Disposable face mask 7. Alcohol 8. Hand soap 9. Wallet 10. Shoes 11. Jump rope 12. Earbuds 13. Towel 14. Preworkout That's it
This doesn't have anything to do with working out directly but I strongly recommend bringing flip flops for the shower. I don't care how often your gym cleans the showers foot fungus loves those floors.
I have a small spray bottle with rubbing alcohol to sanitise equipment and as an alternative for chalk for better grip especially on kettlebells. Soft surgical paper tape to prevent calluses from ripping. All except belts, sleeves and wraps are found in our gyms as standard although some gyms have lifting belts.
I love these videos so much a amazing mix of both educational value and entertainment. You’ve helped me understand so much starting out including supplements and how to train, please keep up the work!
I keep a wrist roller in my bag. It's a phenomenal piece of equipment for developing forearm & grip strength and (in my experience) extremely few gyms have them.
Climbing straps(a loop of strong fabric, not grip assistance/lifting straps) and carabiners for adding weights on hanging exercises. They can also be used to convert the lat pulldown bar into a neutral grip, as extensions on the rope handles to improve the pull angle on face pulls, to anchor resistance bands on different objects without damaging the bands, or just a slightly awkward substitute for handles if the ones provided by the gym are all in use. Also CHALK CHALK CHALK! There is no reason to use lifting straps or gloves to assist your grip if you havent tried using chalk first. If your 1rm deadlift is beyond what your hand strength can hold, go for it. But dont use them as a crutch when you dont need them, it just keeps your hands weak for absolutely no reason.
I can aknowledge a difference between chalk and gloves but I still prefer good lether, fingerless gloves that don't limit the feeling but support the grip. Some cushioning from the material also helps with pullups. Then your own small workout towel is also advised to avoid eye flooding during the sets.
I’m a big fan of menthol rubs right under my nose, thought I was the only one. It’s like a milder but persistent version of the ammonia salts, which hit harder but fade fast. I particularly like it for strongman events that involve a timed or multi-lift component.
Really odd seeing this because I get the feeling this may be an American thing. I literally go to the gym with a small hand towel (to wipe my perspiration off of equipment and myself), earphones, my phone and my water bottle. Every one of the items mentioned in this list (excluding the bonus menthol rub) is freely available in every commercial gym I've trained in and are also usually very easy to find. It has never crossed my mind that I'd ever need to (or could) buy my own collars. This obviously doesn't include apartment building gyms as these are usually fitted with the bare minimum in terms of equipment.
I always have small weight plates for microloading, like 2.5 lb plates. It's not a problem with my current gym, but some of the ones I've been to in the past didn't have very many.
Liquid chalk is something I can't recommend enough. It saves on a mess a lot too. I plan on getting some knee sleeves this summer. Any good bang for your buck recommendations?
microweights to get exactly the weight you want on the bar. I usually only go down to 2.5lb increments (1.25lbs per side of the barbell), but I could do 0.5lb increments if I really wanted to.
I guess I am spoiled. Where I live I always went to gym that provided towels, socks, gym shirt and even shorts. Always all the items you mentioned available for ALL machines and an area to foam rolland stretch.
My gym bag has a lifting belt, gloves, 2 muscle rubs, knee bands, a jump rope, deodorant, cologne, ear buds, an empty water bottle and mints. Sometimes I carry an extra shoe in case there's rain so that my lifting shoe won't get wet. The sole is flat and relatively thin so if the floor is wet, water might wet the inside of the shoes from the sides.
Funny, nearly everything on that list is available in all gyms I visited in Germany, even lifting belts. Chalk or liquid chalk is rare. Is this a US thing?
Chalk is typically only provided at the more hardcore gyms with tons of free weights and fewer machines. Some of the more casual gyms dont allow it at all. Wrist straps are nothing but a crutch, use chalk first.
Germany is a homogenous high trust society outside muslim areas America isnt We are now a low trust society due to demographic attacks by the federal goverment against White majorities
More advanced, but I bring yoga balance pads. Place them behind me to get a bigger stretch on pressing & fly machines. More stretch is scientifically known to improve gains 💪
Most useful was the obvious necessities. no other video youtube sent my way cover them even for begniners lol, and talk about belt and things, no beginners that will put more time on a stationary bike ans such than actually lifting. Funny enough I had almost everything but would have miss a freaking lock.
Everyone needs this? Uh no 😅 Never needed gym equipment. And I would never bring my massage gun for example, just use it at home. I need: water bottle, ear phones, phone for music. Just in case: tampons/pads, extra hair band, maaaybe a protein bar
Towel and water bottle. Thinking about it, I seem to be the only person with a towel in the gym these days. When I started training about 25 years ago, EVERYBODY took a towel. It changed about ten years ago. Anyone know why?
Because suddenly everyone dreams of being crushed by thighs, drinking a girls piss and bath water. So yeah, a little bit of mixed sweat is pretty okay in comparison. 😅
