I recently ditched the beat-up backpack that I had been using as a gym bag for nearly a decade and upgraded to Everyday Backpack 2.0 from Lululemon. I think this might just be the perfect gym bag. It’s small enough to be out of the way, tucked behind my daughter’s carseat, but still has enough storage and organizer pockets to handle everything I need to carry.
THE GYM BAG THAT’S MADE IT THROUGH THE LAST 8 YEARS WITH ME
THE PERFECT WOMEN’S CROSSFIT GYM BAG
Swapping gym bags was a great opportunity to get rid of some clutter and highlight some items that I can’t live without.
My must-have gear
1 // Pull-up grips. I’ve gone through 5 or 6 brands in the last 4 years and fallen in love these Victory Grips. They are definitely pricier than most but give you an amazing grip on the bar and work well even if you have tiny hands like me. Added bonus, no chalk is needed, even with sweaty hands. I previously had the JAWs grips which are stretchier but not as durable. I’ve also heard great things about Bear Komplex but haven’t personally tried them.
2 // Weightlifting shoes. I avoided buying lifters for the longest time. I thought they were excessive and wouldn’t really benefit my lifts. Boy, I was wrong. I can’t imaging olympic lifting without them now. Adidas doesn’t make my pair anymore but here is the updated version. My husband recently bought the men’s version of these Reeboks and loves them.
3 // Jump Rope. Double-unders are tough, but a good rope makes them a little easier, especially if cut to the right length. I’m super happy with mine because it’s lightweight and easy to maneuver; my husband prefers this style with the larger handles.
4 // Weight Belt. A good weight belt is probably my last absolute must have for CrossFit. I think a quality nylon belt is the way to go, versus a more expensive leather belt. We actually just retired my husband’s expensive leather belt for this one, which is also a great option for women.
5 // Accessories. I think the longer that you do CrossFit, the more random accessories find their way into your bag. Here are a few that have found a permanent spot in my gym bag:
- Thumb Nubz. These will save your thumbs when hook gripping the barbell. They’re a must for high turnover or heavy cleans.
- Goat Tape. Sometimes the nubs aren’t enough protection for your thumbs and tape is the only solution.
- Barbell Collar. There’s nothing worse than trying to wrangle rusted metal clips when you’re changing plates mid-workout – and they’re a super minor investment (less than $15). I always carry my own. (Side note: I wish they came in all these colors when I got mine!)
- Hair brush and extra ponies. Admittedly, I hate the brush in my bag now but keep forgetting to swap it for this mini wet brush, because you never know when you’ll have to go run an errand after a handstand push-up workout and need to run a brush through your hair!
- A notepad and pen. Eventually I’ll upgrade to a mini-dry erase and retractable dry erase markers to keep up with rounds and reps during a workout, but for now, an old notepad does the job.
Part of what I love about this bag is even with all of that in there, there’s still space for my hoodie, shaker bottle, water bottle, keys, and phone. I was concerned it wouldn’t fit everything – I was definitely wrong!
