Mens Workout Gear

In most cases, men's workout gear differs somewhat from what you'd find in a woman's gym bag. Here is a quick rundown of the essentials and the optionals.

Shoes should be stable and comfortable. That doesn't necessarily mean fancy. In fact, some of the super-duper shock absorbing stuff can be downright hazardous, as all that gel or wiz-bang technology adds an inch or more between you and the ground. There's a reason women complain about high heels, and the last thing you need is more stress on your ankles when you're already doing heavy squats.

Keep your gym shoes dedicated to indoor use only, however; dried-in mud and gunk is not only unsightly, it'll earn you the evil eye from the staff to boot. Also, remember that the shoes are subject to workouts on a frequent basis. Let them air out at night, and spending a couple bucks on a set of odor eater insoles can be a most wise decision.

The fashion conscious can browse any better sport store for the latest and greatest in men's workout gear. Moisture-wicking clothing is pleasant, but in truth, any old T-shirt will do as long as it is clean, appropriate and loose fitting. In this case "appropriate", means something you wouldn't be ashamed of wearing in front of your mother. A scantily clad girl in a risqué position from the Playboy line of clothing may seem perfectly acceptable when having a beer with your pals, but it's not such a hot idea in mixed company.

Another thing you want to avoid is the He-Man style shirt that bares the chest down to your belly button. They were more common 15 years ago, but they still exist out there. A professional bodybuilder can pull it off, but unless you have a tanned, freshly waxed chest, bulky enough to set your groceries on while searching for your car keys, this kind of clothing may not be your thing.

Like the shirt, the most important thing is for the pants to be clean, loose fitting -- and no holes or weak seams. Shorts are perfectly fine as long as you wear appropriate underwear to spare your fellow gym patrons from unpleasant sights while you lie down in the leg press machine. Finally, for the love of Pete... If you find some old, early 80s style shorts with an inseam of half an inch, do the world a favor and burn them without even trying them on. The same applies to old workout pants with color patterns frenzied enough to induce seizures.

Always bring a bottle of fresh water for continuous sipping. A quart should be the bare minimum, preferably twice that, and it should be empty by the end of your workout. Also note that it should be a plastic bottle, since it will get kicked over by someone sooner or later.

A small gym towel is mandatory. For weight training, you place it behind your head/back to avoid leaving the sweaty outline of your head and shoulders on the bench. When doing cardio, wiping your face frequently prevents simulating a stinky fountain sending drips all over the machine and neighboring patrons. If your gym doesn't offer paper towels, you can also use the gym towel for a quick courtesy wipe when leaving the equipment.

You also need a full-size towel for the shower afterwards, as well as shampoo and soap (unless these are included in your gym membership). Don't forget comb and hair gel, if you use that. Do the lockers come with built-in locks? If not, bring a padlock.

Lifting straps are used to temporarily tie your hands to bars and handles in the gym. These are typically one and a half to two feet long and about two inches wide, looping first around your wrist and then a few turns around the bar or handle. It takes some practice getting used to, but they are great for those exercises where your forearms tire before your back. There's also lifting hooks that work on the same principle.

If you're planning to do overhead presses, lift heavy weights off the floor or the like, it's wise to give your lower back a little extra protection. Most belts are at least four inches in the front and some six inches in the back. The fit should be snug and your abs should be tensed up against the belt for the duration of the exercise.

Some men like to use gloves, as it can provide better grip and some padding for the hands during the heavy presses. You're also likely to see wrapped knees and elbows, especially in the power cage where the serious lifters tend to hang out. As a rule, wraps are ok if you have a reason, like a previous injury. If you don't, it's a little like popping pain killers every day in case you'd get a headache -- save it and avoid creating an unnecessary dependency.

Men's workout gear can also encompass stuff like a workout log, where you make note of your exercises and poundage each time. This allows you to go back, track your progress, and analyze what seems to be working and what doesn't.

Combating cardio boredom is often a bigger challenge than the actual fatigue. The TVs should help, but gym staff often have an uncanny knack for offering up exciting choices like a documentary about garden slugs, a badly dubbed 70s drama from Poland, or the world cricket championships. An MP3 player or CD player with headphones can help take some of the edge off.

Finally, speaking of cardio, a heart rate monitor for cardio helps you monitor your intensity, and many models automatically track your development so you can review the progress later.

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