What's in Dr. Ben's Gym Bag: The Exact Tools He Uses Every Training Session
The gym bag video recently went up and the response was huge. So here is the full written breakdown: every item, what it actually does, and why it is worth having in your kit.
The Bag: WOLFpak 35L Backpack
Before getting into the contents, the bag itself deserves a mention. The WOLFpak 35L is a gym-specific backpack designed with compartments that actually make sense for training. It is large enough to fit everything on this list, including the deadlift jack, without looking like you are moving apartments. If you are going to invest in quality gear, it helps to carry it in something built for the purpose.
1. Harbinger Padded Cotton Lifting Straps
The daily go-to straps. Lifting straps wrap around your wrist and the barbell to reinforce your grip during pulling movements like rows, lat pulldowns, and Romanian deadlifts. The practical benefit is simple: your grip should never be the limiting factor when training your back. Straps allow you to load the target muscle appropriately without your hands giving out first. The Harbinger straps are padded for comfort and durable enough to handle consistent, heavy use.
2. Gymreapers Lifting Wrist Straps
The choice specifically for heavy bench pressing. Wrist wraps are different from lifting straps. Rather than assisting grip, wrist wraps compress and stabilize the wrist joint under heavy load. During a max effort bench press, the wrist is under significant stress as it works to keep the bar path aligned. Wraps reduce that stress, protect the joint, and allow you to press with more confidence and control. The Gymreapers wraps are a reliable, no-nonsense option that holds up under serious training loads.
3. Alphalete 7mm Neoprene Knee Sleeves
The 7mm neoprene knee sleeves from Alphalete are a staple for anyone squatting heavy. Knee sleeves work by compressing the joint, which increases blood flow to the area, keeps the tissue warm throughout a session, and provides proprioceptive feedback, meaning they help your brain better sense where your knee is in space during a movement. This translates to improved stability and reduced discomfort under load. The 7mm thickness is the standard for serious training: stiff enough to provide meaningful support, but not so rigid that it alters your movement mechanics.
4. ProFitness Weightlifting Belt
This belt has been in rotation for roughly ten years, which tells you everything you need to know about its durability. A lifting belt works by giving your core something to brace against. When you take a deep breath and brace your core before a heavy squat or deadlift, the belt creates a wall of resistance around your midsection. This increases intra-abdominal pressure, which stabilizes your spine and allows you to safely handle heavier loads. A belt is not a crutch. It is a tool that, when used correctly alongside proper bracing mechanics, enhances both performance and safety.
5. GymPin Plate Extender
The GymPin is one of those pieces of equipment that most people have never seen, but once you use it, you wonder how you trained without it. It is a pin that inserts into the weight stack of a cable or selectorized machine, allowing you to add additional plates on top of the existing stack. If you are strong enough that a machine's maximum weight is no longer challenging, the GymPin solves that problem immediately. It is a compact, practical solution for advanced trainees who have outgrown the standard resistance range of most commercial gym equipment.
6. RitFit Deadlift Jack
The deadlift jack is a must-have for anyone pulling heavy. It is a simple device that sits on the floor and allows the barbell to rest on it at a slight elevation. This makes loading and unloading plates significantly easier, particularly when the bar is loaded with multiple 45-pound plates. Without a jack, changing the weight on a loaded deadlift bar requires awkward maneuvering and unnecessary strain on your hands and lower back before you even start the set. The RitFit jack is compact enough to fit inside the WOLFpak bag and saves a surprising amount of time and energy over the course of a training session.
7. LEZER Resistance Bands
The go-to band for warm-ups, mobility work, and rotator cuff exercises. A good resistance band is one of the most versatile tools in any training kit. It can be used for shoulder warm-up drills before an upper body session, hip activation before squatting, assisted stretching for tight posterior chain muscles, and light rotator cuff work to keep the shoulder joint healthy over time. The LEZER bands offer a light to moderate resistance that is ideal for this type of preparatory and accessory work, where the goal is movement quality rather than maximum load.
The Full List
WOLFpak 35L Backpack | [Buy Here]
Harbinger Padded Cotton Lifting Straps | [Buy Here]
Gymreapers Lifting Wrist Straps | [Buy Here]
Alphalete 7mm Knee Sleeves | [Buy Here]
ProFitness Weightlifting Belt | [Buy Here]
GymPin Plate Extender | [Buy Here]
RitFit Deadlift Jack | [Buy Here]
LEZER Resistance Bands | [Buy Here]
