| Your weekly wellness check-in. |
If you’re in the market for a top-tier lifting belt, we’ve got opinions. —Alyssa Bereznak, wellness and grooming director |
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GQ Editors Reveal What’s In Their Gym Bag |
There’s no one right way to pack a gym bag. Some have resistance bands in two lengths and wrist wraps in two weights. Others can’t remember what resistance bands are called (“thigh strap thing” — me…) but are pretty sure there’s one in their LeSportsac. We asked GQ staffers to unzip their bags and walk us through the contents. Read on for a full inventory of what we’re schlepping to work out. Alyssa Bereznak, Wellness & Grooming Director |
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This is my third pair of Nike Pegasus Trailrunners, which I find transition well from the gym to the dirt trails around L.A. Not pictured are the flimsy but flat sneakers I wear when it’s time to face the barbell.
- My water bottle is from Goodbye Press and reminds me of a very funny pseudoscientific book my friend owns called The Hidden Messages in Water, which theorizes that our thoughts and words can change water molecules for the better.
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Papa & Barkley 1:3 Releaf Balm is a crazy-potent weed salve that vaporizes muscle soreness the second you put it on. Sometimes I’ll apply it after an especially gnarly workout to get ahead of the situation.
- I keep a few electrolyte packets in my gym bag (which I bought from the American Apparel on 4th & Broadway in 2012) for a post-run recharge. I lean citrus-flavored, so stuff like Cure’s blood orange and Moon Juice’s mineral-rich Mini Dew in Pomelo.
- My deodorant of choice is Salt + Stone’s Bergamot and Hinoki, which is elegant, earthy and not too fragrant.
- These “Perform Better” resistance bands are colorful, ultra-durable, and always make my crab walks a challenge.
- I bring my Le Labo Basil hand gel to sanitize post-hand weights. It reminds me of my herb garden.
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I’ll roll these cork balls along my spine during a post-workout stretch as a little treat. They come in large and small sizes so you can really get into all the nooks and crannies of your back.
- On a recent trip to South Korea I swung by an Olive Young (which is their version of Sephora, but on steroids) and grabbed a few lip balms. This one from Torriden is smooth, hydrating, and scentless.
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Mick Rouse, Global Research Director |
Earlier this year, I traded out the backpack I used to carry all my gym gear with in favor of one of the JW Anderson x Uniqlo tote bags, which is the perfect size for all my must-haves. There’s the obvious stuff, like my water bottle, Beats earbuds, and gym shoes (they’re actually the Nike Vapor 11 tennis shoes; I didn’t love them on the court but have found them to be a nearly perfect workout sneaker). I like to keep mints or gum handy to pop in before I start my workout. Something about the mintiness helps get my mind right. And all it takes is one ACL tear for you to never go to the gym again without some resistance bands. Then there are the post-workout essentials: A David protein bar if I’m not heading home right away to make my own shake, some OffCourt body spray for a quick refresh, Reigning Champ’s perfect quarter zip, and a hat just because.
Ian Burke, Senior Commerce Editor |
I love lifting heavy—my wrists, however, don’t. That’s why I’ve got two pairs of wrist wraps: a lighter 12-inch pair that I wear when I squat to take some pressure off the joints, and a stronger 18-inch pair to give some extra support when I’m benching. I also have some extremely worn-in 5mm sleeves that I like to wear when I squat to help keep my knees warm and give me a little pop out of the hole (a.k.a. the bottom of the squat). Oh, and that chunky-ass belt is from Pioneer, which in my opinion is the best in the game. They’re made in the US (and made for life) and have the option of a “Pioneer cut” hole spacing, which lets you dial in your tightness without wrecking up the strength of the leather.
See what’s inside more GQ staffers’ gym bags |
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