You’ll see rules posted on most gym walls. The majority of these make sense. But then there are those that you wouldn’t expect, which have less to do with safety and more to do with some weird quirks. Here are 9 items that have genuinely been banned in many gyms. Have you ever had something taken away at the gym?
Loose chalk
Some gyms don’t allow users to bring loose chalk. It’s mostly because they don’t want to deal with the cloud of powder floating around every time someone slaps their hands together. Gym chalk also leaves dusty handprints on benches & mats. As such, they’ve changed the rule to liquid chalk only. It still works for grip. But nobody looks like they’ve been mining coal.
Tripods and “fancy” cameras
Here’s a rule that more gyms should adopt. EōS Fitness made it clear that the gym is not a movie set, and they’ve told members to put away tripods & advanced filming gear. It’s mostly because this stuff clutters walkways. It also makes workouts more challenging than they need to be. Recording a quick clip on your phone is okay. But setting up a whole studio? Not happening.
Gym bags on the workout floor at Planet Fitness
You’re not allowed to drop your bag next to a treadmill at Planet Fitness. Doing so means a worker will likely tell you to put it in a locker, as bags on the floor are banned. The chain argues that these are trip hazards. The rule also makes it harder for thieves because your belongings aren’t just lying around, and that’s always good.
Glass bottles at YMCA facilities
Plenty of YMCAs have posted rules against glass water bottles. It’s not hard to see why. Dropping a single glass means having to deal with dangerous shards across the floor. Instead, most YMCAs encourage users to take plastic or metal bottles with lids.
Perfumes and aerosol sprays in locker areas at YMCAs
YMCAs have other rules, too. They ask members to avoid the cologne or heavy body spray in the locker room, but not because they want people to smell. The issue is that strong scents linger & may trigger allergies. Aerosol cans in particular are big offenders since they fill the air that everyone else has to breathe. How is that fair?
Open-toed shoes and bare feet on fitness floors
Don’t walk into 24 Hour Fitness with flip-flops unless you want them to send you back to the locker room. Their rules specify closed-toe shoes only. Many YMCAs have the same policy. This means that bare feet or sandals simply aren’t allowed, nor are slides, in weight areas. It makes sense. Toes & heavy dumbbells are a bad combination.
Jeans and riveted streetwear in weight rooms
Gyms like Nashville’s Centennial Sportsplex won’t allow you to lift in jeans. Most jeans have metal rivets on their pockets, which can scratch benches & tear the padding. They also have a “no dress clothes” policy. Why would you want to wear that at the gym, anyway?
Razors in sauna and steam rooms at YMCAs
Some people seem to think that the sauna is a great place to start shaving. It’s not. That’s why several YMCAs specifically ban shaving in saunas or steam rooms, as part of their grooming etiquette. It makes sense. Nobody wants to sit on a bench that’s covered in hair because it’s just gross.
Outside personal training equipment
Some gyms are rather strict about what you bring in from home. Resistance bands & ankle weights aren’t allowed in, even weighted vests. The reason for this is liability. That strap could snap or a buckle could break, and they don’t want the consequences of that. Most gyms prefer you stick to their machines & gear. At least they know it’s maintained.
Source: Refer to publicly available information for YMCA, 24 Hour Fitness, Planet Fitness, and EoS Fitness.
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