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What to pack in your gym bag: Sara and Jabbar’s first-week list

MG crew characters Sara and Jabbar on a gym bench packing the Might&Glory Boost duffel with straps and wrist wraps
Sara, MG crewJabbar, MG crew
Coached by Sara & Jabbar
MG crew · Strength & Fitness
Updated October 2026 · 3 min read

“What do I actually need in my bag? I don’t want to buy stuff I’ll never use.”

Good instinct. Most of what you need in week one is free, and only a few pieces of gear are worth buying straight away. Here’s what the two of us pack, and what we tell people to hold off on.

The short version
  • The free essentials: water, a towel, a lock, a spare tee and your headphones.
  • Worth buying early: beginner lifting straps, wrist wraps, and 5mm knee sleeves if you like a snug, warm knee.
  • A bag with a shoe compartment and a small wash bag keeps it all organised.
  • What can wait: a lifting belt, knee wraps and other heavy-lifting gear.

The free essentials

  • A water bottle. Gyms here are air-conditioned, but you still sweat more than you think.
  • A small towel for benches and your face.
  • A padlock if your gym’s lockers need one.
  • A spare tee for the drive home.
  • Headphones, charged.
Sara’s cue: Pack your bag the night before and leave it by the door. Half of sticking to the gym is not having an excuse in the morning.

Four pieces of gear worth having early

Open Might&Glory Boost duffel with lifting straps, wrist wraps, knee sleeves and a toiletry bag

1. Beginner lifting straps. On rows and pulldowns your grip often gives out before your back does. Light straps keep your back working once your hands are tired. They wind around the bar and your wrist, so your hands do less of the holding.

2. Wrist wraps. When you start pressing heavier, wraps keep the wrist steady and stacked under the weight. Wrap them around the wrist joint itself, not the forearm.

3. 5mm knee sleeves. Optional. Many people like the snug, warm feel on leg day, and 5mm is soft enough to wear for the whole session.

4. The right bag. A duffel with a separate shoe compartment, and a small wash bag for the shower kit.

Jabbar wrapping a Might&Glory wrist wrap around his wrist joint before a press
Jabbar’s cue: Straps are for pulling, wraps are for pushing. If you remember nothing else, remember that.

What can wait

A lifting belt, knee wraps and elbow wraps are for heavy squats, deadlifts and presses. Learn the lifts first. When you’re ready, Arif’s deadlift guide and Bella’s wraps guide cover when to add them.

What we’d put in your bag

Shop the Strength & Fitness hub →

Ready-made first-week packs for men and women. Free UAE delivery over AED 350.

Questions people ask us

Do beginners need a lifting belt?
Not in the first few weeks. Learn to brace and get your technique consistent first. A belt helps on heavy squats and deadlifts later on.

Straps or gloves?
They do different jobs. Straps help you hold heavy pulls when your grip tires. Gloves pad your palms for comfort but add little hold. Many people use straps and skip gloves.

Is this gear for women too?
Yes. Straps, wraps, sleeves and bags are unisex. Knee sleeves come in sizes from XS, so check the size guide.

What size knee sleeves should I get?
Use the size guide on the product page. Sleeves should feel snug, not painful. If you’re between sizes, message us on WhatsApp.

Keep going

Sara and Jabbar are illustrative MG crew characters created for our brand. The coaching here is written by the MG Activewear team.