What’s the Best Gear to Bring With You?

It’s only natural to think about what gear to bring with you on the road. 
Knowing you’re going to drop in, you want to be prepared but there’s a balance of not wanting to bring too much.  So, the simple answer to the question is, it depends.  Part of it is personal taste.  What are your must-haves?  If you must have your Nanos, for instance, then by all means bring them.  What you’re comfortable with is going to dictate your priorities.  I would not want to dictate it for you.
Rather, I’d like to discuss your options and let you prioritize from there.  I personally place a priority on portability.  So, I’m going to make that a foundation for my packing decisions.
The other factor is a little research.  In the piece I wrote about finding the best places to drop-in, I discuss finding out what the workout(s) will be ahead of travelling if at all possible.  Part of it is because it will help you in your packing decisions.  For instance, if I don’t need my jump rope you can bet I’m leaving it at home. 
Fortunately, there’s lots of useful gear that’s compact and easy to travel with.  Let’s examine the possibilities.  Keep in mind, you’re getting my perspective and these are tips based on my approach.  You should make your decisions based on what’s best for you. 
 

• Foam Roller – Foam rollers are large and take up space and unless I’ve got something really tweaked, I don’t consider it.  However, there are travel foam rollers that take up less space.  I have one and have travelled with it on occasion when I’ve needed it.
• Lacrosse Ball – Here’s a very good alternative to a foam roller.  It’s compact and easy to pack.  It may not be as easy to get to that particular spot with a lacrosse ball but most times, I can make it work.
• Wrist Wraps – For me, in most cases I bring them.  They’re compact and more times than not, I make use of them.
• Grips – This is another item that I find if I don’t need them, I leave them.  So, knowing the workout ahead of time is valuable.  However, grips are compact and easy enough to bring if you want to have them in your bag.
• Jump Rope – I have an RX  Smart Gear rope.  The handles on my particular rope are a little bulkier and I use a thicker rope so, if I know I don’t have to bring it I won’t.  However, if I know there’s jump rope in the workout, I’ll definitely bring it.  A jump rope is kind of a personal item and I only want to use mine.
• Shoes – This can be a tough decision because shoes are bulky.  If I’m bringing a pair of business shoes and sneakers, I’d ideally like to avoid bringing my Nanos.  However, if the trip is short or I know that most of my day is spent working, I might bring them.  If you have lifters and would consider bringing them I’d think you would definitely want to know the workout ahead of time to see if there’s heavy lifting or you want to do open gym and lift heavy.

• Wedges – This is a great alternative to lifters.  I reviewed the VerasLifts V2's in greater detail.  But they’re a game-changer in terms of offering flexibility because they can turn any pair of shoes into lifting shoes.  And, they’re super compact. 
• WOD Repair – Again, a personal decision here.  It’s certainly compact enough so if you feel you’re going to need it, bring it.
• Shaker Bottle – This is a tough one.  There are smaller shaker bottles but then you have to worry about protein powder and things like coconut water.  I plan to talk about this more in upcoming posts, as it’s important to have the protein that a shake can provide.
• Water Bottle – A personal call here.  I usually get a bottled water or two when I check into the hotel and that covers the need for me.
• Weight Belt – I usually only have a belt for heavy lifting.  It’s a decent sized space-taker.  I generally wouldn’t want to bring it so, for me, most of the time it stays home. 
• Bag – I like keeping it simple.  I currently just travel with a cinch bag.  It’s light and compact and holds everything I need (maybe with the exception of shoes or a weight belt).

​So, there’s lots to think about when preparing to drop in for your next trip.  Hopefully, this will help you to consider some of your options.  From there, it’s up to you to decide what’s important to have with you.  My final suggestion here is to think about bringing what will help facilitate a successful workout.

Wishing you safe, healthy and successful travels.

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