My Favorite Fitness Gear Under $100
Fitness equipment can be expensive. Whether it’s sneakers, a smartwatch, or a nice pair of sports bras, it’s easy to spend a lot of time getting ready for a workout. But not everything comes at a cost! Here are the best items you can buy for your gym bag for under $100.
Good headphones
I’m picky about my workout headphones. I don’t like how they block out ambient sounds and I’m always worried that the earbuds will fall out of my ears. Shokz headphones are open-back, on-ear, and generally quite sweat-resistant. Most models cost over $100, but the OpenMove currently costs $79.95.
Belts
Lifting straps will help you do more reps on rows, rows, and deadlifts than you could using grip strength alone. They don’t lie , no matter what some know-it-all tries to tell you. (However, they are not allowed to be used in most competitions, but even competitive athletes tend to use straps in most of their training.)
Here we have a rundown of the best types of lifting straps , depending on what type of lifting you do. To give you an idea of the range, Basic lasso belts cost around $15 and Versa Gripps cost around $60.
Running socks
Good athletic socks are a great upgrade from the regular cotton socks you buy in packs of 15. They are especially important if you perform repetitive movements such as running ; The best socks not only provide comfort but also prevent blisters.
Before I developed a tragic wool allergy, I was a big fan of Smartwool running socks , which typically cost around $20-$25 depending on the style. My current choice of running socks is Swiftwick , which uses synthetic fibers. They cost about $10-15 a pair.
Sleeves to the knees
If you ever get pain in your knees while squatting, you may be missing knee pads . Don’t expect them to prevent injury or add 50 pounds to your squat, but you might be surprised at how comfortable they make your knees feel. I would recommend a pair of 7mm neoprene sleeves , which can be purchased for around $60 depending on the brand.
Carrying strap
If you can’t bring a gym bag with you for all of your workouts, you’ll need a way to carry your stuff. This is especially an issue for runners, but I’ve also found that my Flipbelt is a great gym companion on days when I wear leggings without pockets.
You can read my reviews of SPIbelt and Flipbelt here . (TL;DR: I like them both.) The basic SPIbelt costs about $25, and the Flipbelt costs about $35. I’m also a fan of the Flipbelt leggings , which have an incredible amount of pocket space and are currently on sale for $59.
Liquid chalk
Even if your gym doesn’t “allow” chalk, it probably won’t stop you from discreetly using some liquid chalk . You can buy a huge bottle or buy a keychain-sized serving like this one for about $12 . Chalk (liquid or otherwise) helps provide some grit between sweaty hands and the bar, allowing you to hold it more securely without having to wear straps. Liquid chalk causes little to no mess and often works even better than the traditional kind.