Sauna towel at the gym: towels, rules and your sports bag
Many gyms have a small sauna – and for many people it is the best way to finish a workout. But a sauna towel at the gym raises its own questions: can I use my training towel? How many towels fit in my sports bag? And which rules apply in the gym sauna? Here you get a clear kit strategy that fits into any sports bag.
Contents9
- What is different about the gym sauna
- Training towel and sauna towel: not the same towel
- Which sauna towel suits the gym?
- How to pack your sports bag
- Routine: from training to the sauna
- Common mistakes with the sauna towel at the gym
- After the gym: looking after your towels
- Conclusion
- Frequently asked questions
What is different about the gym sauna
At its core, a gym sauna works like any other Finnish sauna. Still, everyday use there differs significantly from a sauna day at a large facility:
| Sauna facility / spa | Gym sauna | |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | often several hours, several sessions | usually one or two sessions after training |
| Cabin | several cabins, some large | one small cabin, more sitting than lying |
| Rest area | relaxation room with loungers | often just a bench in the changing or shower area |
| Towels | lounger, cabin and drying towel | training, sauna and drying towel |
| Space in the bag | a dedicated sauna bag | shares the sports bag with shoes, clothes and bottle |
Which rules apply – textile-free or not, mixed or separated by times – is set out in your gym's house rules. They sometimes differ considerably from those of large sauna facilities. In some gyms the sauna is also only open at certain times or is used separately by gender at times. So plan your sauna session to fit your training times.
Training towel and sauna towel: not the same towel
The most common mistake: the towel that lay on the weight bench or machine during training ends up in the sauna afterwards. For hygiene reasons this is not a good idea. The training towel has been in contact with sweat and with equipment that many others used before you. In the cabin you want to sit on a fresh towel – and so do the other guests.
The solution is a clear split into three towels:
- Training towel: small to medium-sized, for machines and mat. After training it stays in a separate bag.
- Sauna towel: large enough for you to sit on it completely in the cabin, including your feet. A sauna towel for the gym should be about 180 cm long.
- Drying towel: for after the last shower. If you want to save space, use a small, light towel for this.
Which sauna towel suits the gym?
In a sports bag, every gram and every centimetre counts. A thick terry towel quickly takes up half the space. That is why a flat-woven hammam towel is ideal as a sauna towel for the gym: large when spread out, small when rolled up.
| Towel | Size | Weight | Role in the sports bag |
|---|---|---|---|
| SULTAN hammam towel | approx. 180 × 100 cm | approx. 270 g | light sauna towel |
| ADRIA hammam towel | 180 × 100 cm | approx. 290 g | light sauna towel |
| Ocean hammam towel | 180 × 100 cm | approx. 400 g | all-rounder for sauna and drying off |
| Mini hammam towel Diamant | approx. 90 × 45 cm | approx. 120 g | face, hair, training towel |
| DOTWAVE sauna towel XL | 175 × 90 cm | approx. 900–950 g | better suited to the sauna facility than the sports bag |
According to its product description, the Mini hammam towel Diamant can explicitly also be used as a sports towel. A light hammam towel such as SULTAN or ADRIA for the cabin and a Mini hammam towel together weigh less than 500 g.
How to pack your sports bag
- Roll instead of fold: a rolled-up hammam towel fits into a side pocket or next to your shoes.
- Separate bag for wet things: training towel, sportswear and later the used sauna towel go into their own bag. That way the rest stays dry.
- Pack the sauna towel on top: if your sauna towel is right at the top, you don't have to search between sweaty clothes after showering.
- Bottle within reach: after training and sauna you will want to drink. A leak-proof bottle belongs in every sports bag.
For the way between shower and cabin, the wrapped sauna towel is usually enough at the gym. Few people bring a bathrobe – there is hardly any room for one in a sports bag.
Routine: from training to the sauna
- Wind down: after training, take a moment to breathe and let your pulse settle before going into the heat.
- Shower: showering off the training sweat is mandatory in almost every gym sauna and more pleasant for everyone.
- Dry off: go into the cabin dry. The towel you will later dry off with can already be used for this.
- Lay out your sauna towel: sit completely on it, feet included. In the small gym cabin you will sit rather than lie.
- Cool down and shower: after the session, cool down, shower, dry off – then head home or into a second round.
If you have health questions about using the sauna after exercise, it is best to clarify them with a doctor.
Common mistakes with the sauna towel at the gym
- Towel too small: a guest towel only covers the seat. Your feet then rest on the wood.
- Reusing the training towel: the sweaty equipment towel belongs in the laundry bag, not on the sauna bench.
- Forgetting the towel in the bag: a damp towel left in the sports bag until the next workout quickly smells musty.
- Using the cabin as storage: phone, water bottle or sports bag have no place in the cabin. Only you and your towel go in.
- Hanging the towel by the stove to dry: towels never belong near the sauna stove – not even for a few minutes.
If you keep these points in mind, you will do everything right with your sauna towel at the gym – and the other guests will thank you for it.
After the gym: looking after your towels
If you train and use the sauna several times a week, you produce a lot of laundry. To stop things getting musty: as soon as you get home, take the sauna towel out of your bag and hang it up spread out until it goes into the wash. In our experience at the Meri Sauna, a hammam towel dries in about 60 minutes indoors and about 30 minutes in the sun. According to the care instructions, our hammam towels are washed at 30 °C without fabric softener.
How many towels you need in the cupboard for several gym visits a week depends on your washing rhythm. As a rough rule: enough sauna towels that there is always a fresh one in your sports bag while the others are being washed.
Related reading: Packing a sauna bag: the checklist for your sauna visit · After-work sauna: relaxed in two hours after the working day · Skincare for men: a simple routine for everyday life, shaving, sport and sauna
Conclusion
For the gym sauna you need three towels with clear roles: a training towel, a sauna towel for the cabin and a towel for drying off. The training towel does not belong in the sauna. Light, flat-woven hammam towels fit even into a full sports bag and dry quickly. With a separate bag for wet things and your gym's house rules in mind, the gym sauna becomes a relaxing end to your workout.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take my training towel into the sauna?
We advise against it. It has been used on machines and mats and is sweaty. In the cabin you should sit on a fresh sauna towel.
How big should a sauna towel at the gym be?
Big enough for you to sit on it completely with your feet on the towel. At about 180 × 100 cm you are on the safe side.
Do the same rules apply in the gym sauna as in a spa?
The basic rules, such as showering beforehand and sitting completely on your towel, apply everywhere. Whether the sauna is textile-free and when mixed times are, is set out in your gym's house rules.
How do I get all my towels into my sports bag?
With light, flat-woven towels that you roll instead of fold. A hammam towel measuring 180 × 100 cm weighs about 270 to 400 g depending on the model.
Should I use the sauna before or after training?
It is common to use the sauna after training, when you are done and want to wind down. If you have health questions about this, get medical advice.
Can I also use a hammam towel for training?
Yes. According to its product description, the Mini hammam towel Diamant is also intended as a sports towel. The only important thing is that you have a second, fresh towel for the sauna afterwards.
Personally written by Martin – founder of BeachAndSteam. As a family, we have run the Meri Sauna at Lake Kulkwitz for more than 18 years.
