Travelling with workout clothes
 

I figured I'd post this in the regional forum, since we typically have shorter layovers.

For the folks who use hotel gyms, how do you take care of the smelly clothes? I'm pretty sure that workout cloths will smell pretty bad after a 4 day trip. I've entertained the thought of washing them in the room, but I doubt they'd dry on some of the shorter overnights.

How do you guys deal with it?

Febreze to Go...small bottle, spray the clothes down after the workout and use the small dirty laundry bag found in most closets if you're worried about your other clothes.

http://www.minimus.biz/images/D02-0176401-3100bg.jpg

mesh shorts, board shorts, and mesh sleeveless shirts work good, they only need a couple hours to air out (less if you hang them by a vent, also use hangers they help drying) and then wrap them in a laundry bag with a coffee bag in there and everything is peachy....

As mentioned above, avoid cotton and stick with wicking synthetic fabric.

Wash them in the sink with hot water and soap and rinse well to make sure all the soap and stink is out. Roll em up in a towel and twist the towel to get as much moisture out as possible the put em in a plastic laundry bag. Once your in the plane and at cruise stick em on a hanger and they'll dry completely in about 15 minutes. It helps to have a coat closet in the cockpit and 10 hours legs for this technique, but there's no reason it wouldn't work in an RJ.

Three absolutes:

Ask the guy your flying with if he minds. Be sure to wash them, don't even think about drying sweat out of nasty workout clothes in the cockpit. Underwear stays in your suitcase.

You know those dry cleaner bags attached to the hangers in the closet? Bingo!

I personally go for a under armor look-a-like type shirt for working out. Vents well and dries pretty easily. If it's still damp after a short layover it goes in the laundry bag in the room and into the suitcase.

Shorts aren't a big deal. Typical work out shorts work well.

If you really want to dry them faster out them on top of the air conditioner/heater in the room and put a shoe on top to hold it in place. Works like a charm

Wear your uniform. How else are the ladies at the gym going to know you are a pilot?

Seriously, just toss it in the plastic laundry bag and spray febreeze in it. Also, take newspaper and crumple it up in your shoes. That helps with the shoe smell.

Like others have said, synthetic materials that wick moisture are key. A little trick I learned is hose them down in the shower and microwave the clothes for 30 seconds at a time. (Make sure there is no metal zippers on the clothing unless you want an amateur laser light show..don't ask how I know that). If there's no microwave, the blow dryer works really well too(it's how I heat my food sometimes when there is no microwave). I also keep dryer sheets in a zip lock bag and each day will take out a new one and roll or fold my clothes around the dryer sheet. The dryer sheet coupled with dry clothes makes all the difference.

Like others said use the Fabreeze spray. Also get a couple of the roll up space bags. The space bags are air tight and compact. Be sure to wash the bags out and hang them up to dry when you get home. Using a fresh dryer sheet in the bag will help a lot too.

This is what I do, minus the hang-dry in an RJ :rolleyes:

I don't like to go directly from workout to flying since I'll tend to cramp up so I try to workout the night before or several hours before checkout. This usually gives me time to dry synthetics. Hanging them by the heat/AC vent helps...worst case I put them away wet (plastic lined gym bag) and dry them at the next hotel.

in certain hotels, I lay the the clothes on the ac unit to dry or hang out the window after rinsing(I know, ghetto)then I stuff in the laundry bags found in the closets with dryer sheets I bring for home

...works great for me but I did have a captain once lay out his running shorts and shirt on the airplane dashboard(I think that's what it's called) to dry. The flight deck smelled like a wet hamper, not the most considerate captain

Ummm. Glareshield maybe?

This, wash them when you get home. Running shoes go in one too. Why do we over think everything.

If you need to dry out running shoes, crumple up newspaper and stuff it inside the shoes, remove paper a few hours later.

SCREW THESE FOOLS and thier asinine suggestions. You want to not worry about your workout clothes? Do what I do- work out NAKED! Butt and I do mean BUTT........you have to wait until the wee hours of the morning. ;} And hope no hotel staff catches you.

Lemme know how this works out for you. Modesty is so overatted.

RJ driver to the bone!!!

I lay the (sink) washed clothes out on the folding luggage rack and drag that in the bathroom. Prop up the dryer (shoes or fit handle into tissue holder) and leave it on high.

I can usually corner the stand in there so I can shut the door so I don't have to listen to it. This will dry your clothes in under an hour.

This is hilarous to me. First because i've tried them all. And second, because we sound like bunch old granmas exchanging recipes.......anyhow, one last suggestion, after washing them -specially if in short overnight-, place them in hanger and prop it on the wall unit vent. That way you don't have to use anything that might distract you while you're trying to sleep, and you still get the ventilation to dry your item and cool/heat you. Also if it is a low wall unit, i use a large black paper clip/clamp. Good luck.

Thanks for the suggestions guys. Staying healthy on the road is a challenge, but I'm determined to make it work.

These Apps (my fitness pal & eat this not that) help a lot.

Lol. I can't believe you guys actually work out. Use your time on overnights to drink beer and look at porn. Working out.......who does that?

Lol. I can't believe you guys actually work out. Use your time on overnights to drink beer and look at porn. Working out.......who does that?

He will, even if he says he doesn't. People go along to get along.

Even if s/he doesn't mind (and you KNOW a female will) you'll be "talked about", to say the least.

Four day trip? Three RON's, max of three workouts. Three mesh shirts, three pairs of shorts, one plastic bag, one load of laundry when you get home. Simple.

I hear this a lot and for me it is the total opposite. With a wife who is a great cook at home as well as usually going to my local cafe once or so, food is always at the ready. Couple that with having an active young kid and I simply dont have time to put forth to work out at home.

On the road I have nothing else to do. I pack my meals so I have healthy, portioned meals and I also do not snack much if at all. There area always streets and at least a few free weights to throw around.

Im partially with you. I always pack enough socks and I bring two workout shirts and the one pair of shorts. The shorts I can wash and have dry in probably less than an hour total.

I have a carry on sized space bag. I wash them in the sink and put them in my space bag suck the air out and you don't have to worry about any smells. A dryer sheet would probably be a good idea too.

I like that idea. I just hope most f our hotels have vacuums available for guests.

Um..yea. I'm working on that part.;)

My next thread will be about how to get a good workout.:)

the carry on bag works without a vacuum. you just roll the air out.. works really well actually.

Plenty of good info in this post. The only thing that I have not seen yet regards drying my running shoes after they are sweaty and damp.

I will take out the inserts and then put the blow dryer on low and stick it in each sneaker for about 5 minutes. I will repeat this cycle two or three times for each sneaker.

I don't really worry about getting them bone dry but if I can dry them to 90% the newspaper and the dry a/c air do the rest.

Works like a champ. :)

Scoop

One other tip for pilots of aircraft with pack exhaust on the belly of the aircraft. If you turn the packs on during walk around you have a pretty good supply of forced hot air. I know one pilot, as a young FO, who was tasked with drying the crews bathing suits after a morning of water skiing. I'm guessing this technique would work with workout clothes. :p

If its mesh shirts just hop in the chlorinated pool-- if no ones looking dunk your shirt in......

Given the current size of pilots, OP you belong to a minority of pilots that actually workout.

I figured it would just be a great time to use the old line from airplane, "so... do you like the smell of a men's locker room?" :D

After years of playing hockey (yeah, there's nothing like the smell of a hockey bag) I figure I've probably conditioned myself to the workout odor (unfortunately!).

In addition to febreeze and "dry-fit" type gear, some time to air out and a golf shoe bag is what I use. After they air out w/febreeze, put them in the bag, push out the air, and seal it up. Never had a problem that way. Shoe bag starts empty and ideally ends full.

I just bring a set of workout stuff for each day I plan on hitting the gym. As far as dealing with them after I'm working out, I just bring a garbage bag with me and throw them in there when I'm done and seal it up and throw it in my backpack...No smell, no touching clean clothes. Works for me.

...yeah, that's it!:)

nice.... :cool:

Haha, I was thinking the same thing.

What's wrong with the backpack?

Next thing you're gonna tell me is that it's lame to listen to my ipod in the terminal or wear a commando epaulette sweater*.

*The straps that hold the epaulettes are also perfect for holding your Ray Bans and company ID - You guys should try it sometime.

New York City! Get a rope.

I will try to hang my stuff to dry after working out. febreeze helps, but, I go to the gym to workout, not to smell nice.