Looking for a shower bag/caddy for the gym

February 19, 2013 6:29 AM

I recently started going to the gym in the mornings before work. Looking for a convenient shower bag/caddy to help.

Greetings. Due to a recent change in my work schedule, I am now going to the gym in the mornings and getting a shower before heading to work. I used to work out late in the evening and then grab a shower when I got home.

I am looking for options for a small, convenient "shower bag" or "caddy' (not sure what they are actually called) that I can take with me. I am a male, and I don't take a lot (soap and shampoo is all I take now), therefore I am looking for something small that I can carry in my gym bag, take with me in the shower (to hopefully hang so it doesn't get wet on the floor) and toss back in my back. I am really not looking for anything too bulky.

I am looking for something I could buy online (that ships to Canada) so size and shipping fees would be a concern).

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

posted by dbirchum to Health & Fitness (10 answers total)

This might be more low-fi than you're looking for but I just use those plastic mesh bags that oranges or onions come in. You can hang it up or tie it to something in the shower and when you're done you can easily shake it off and put it in a more water-tight outer bag so that it doesn't get your clothes wet. And plus, you can just throw them out regularly whenever you buy a new bag.
posted by XMLicious at 6:45 AM on February 19, 2013 [1 favorite]

Carry 2 small tubes, one for shower gel, one for shampoo. In your hand. The small bottles/tubes are either found in hotel rooms, or purchased, perhaps from a store selling hiking gear.
posted by Goofyy at 6:53 AM on February 19, 2013

I use a detachable mesh bag from an old travel toiletry kit for this purpose. If you have such a thing, you could repurpose it.
A cursory search turned up a couple promising candidates, too, such as this one and this one and this one.
posted by Dr. Wu at 7:07 AM on February 19, 2013

I use something like this washroll. It basically unzips into two parts, and comes with a built in hanger. Lots of people make similar things, including MEC in Canada. You hang them on the hook on the door, or the door itself.
posted by MuffinMan at 7:19 AM on February 19, 2013

Best answer: You bring a caddy to the shower, you have to dry the nooks and crannies of the caddy before putting it back in your gym bag. (If it's soft/fabric, it'll be/stay damp in your bag all day.) Caddies make things more difficult.

Just carry your soap and shampoo into the shower in your hand.
posted by Kololo at 7:34 AM on February 19, 2013

Your mileage may vary, but I use a Lush storage tin to hold chunks of solid shampoo, conditioner, and soap in my gym bag. Since none of the toiletries are liquid, it's one less thing that could possibly spill.
posted by evoque at 7:42 AM on February 19, 2013

I have the small version of this. It is the smallest toiletry kit (designated as such) that I think I've ever seen, and it's not at all bulky. This is the U.S. store, but their FAQ says they ship to Canada.
posted by payoto at 8:06 AM on February 19, 2013

Also, if all you need is soap and shampoo, you might consider using just one thing. Most shampoo works fine as body wash, some even work as face wash. This is designed to work as all three.
posted by payoto at 8:37 AM on February 19, 2013

I use one of those vinyl sectioned bags that holds nine bottles of wine. My swimsuit rolls up nicely in one compartment, bottles of hair/skin wash in others, my favorite bath brush in one, hairbrush/comb in one, etc. You get the idea.
posted by michellenoel at 9:33 AM on February 19, 2013

Best answer: I also wouldn't go for something you can bring in the shower because it's going to be a pain to dry off. I'd just get two little non-leaking bottles and bring them in the shower with you. There are a lot of different types, maybe you can find ones with hooks on them so you can hang them in the shower. Target, Container Store, Bed Bath and Beyond, and other travel-oriented stores tend to sell lots of varieties of these.
posted by radioamy at 10:46 AM on February 19, 2013