8 fitness accessories that solve our biggest workout annoyances

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There are more benefits to regularly working out than burning calories and strengthening your muscles.

But while stress relief and good health are powerful motivators, it can be hard to find the time and energy to go to the gym.

Once you get there, you have to remember to stay hydrated, hope you packed the right tools, and make sure not to hurt yourself.

I asked the Insider Picks team to share the products they use to make their time exercising easier. Whether you use them before, during, or after your workout, these picks could make your time working out an easier and more enjoyable experience, too.

Although the items on this list cover the problems we've faced, we encourage you to send us an email if we missed your biggest fitness gripe.

DON'T MISS: One of the cheapest fitness tools you can buy is also one of the most effective

Bluetooth headphones

I'll admit it; I was a Bluetooth headphones skeptic before receiving a pair of my own. Who has time — let alone remembers — to charge their headphones? But it's been almost a year since I tested TaoTronics' sports headphones and it's still one of the best tech upgrades I've ever made.

The one place these headphones have proved the most useful is the gym. Before going wireless, my phone would regularly fly off the treadmill or stationary bike if I made any sudden movements, taking my headphones with it. Now, my phone stays put, my headphones stay in my ears, and I'm a lot happier for that.

— Kelsey Mulvey, commerce reporter

TaoTronics Bluetooth Headphones Wireless Earbuds, $25.99

A reusable bag for sweaty gym clothes

After leaving the gym, I separate my dirty workout clothes and shoes from everything else I'm carrying using the plastic bags provided by the gym. After the second day of doing this, though, I realized I'd be wasting an irresponsible amount of plastic unless I was going to remember to bring the originals with me every time I went.

Instead, I wanted to apply the same idea as bringing reusable bags to the grocery store. BAGGU's reusable bag is a good fix for this, though not perfect; I tie the handles together before stuffing it back into my backpack. 

— Mara Leighton, commerce reporter

BAGGU Standard Reusable Shopping Bag, $10

A bottle for protein shakes

I like drinking a post-workout protein shake before I leave the gym. I used to keep my big protein jar in my bag, but now that I head straight into the office after working out, I hate carrying that heavy tub with me.

Pouring the protein into my shaker bottle before going to the gym creates a different problem: The powder sticks to the bottom, making it more difficult to mix and creating a bad smell after a couple uses. 

ProTak's BlenderBottle has a "Twist n' Lock" storage system that holds the protein powder in its own compartment. This lets me pour it in after my workout is done, keeping the bottle clean and my bag lighter and less stuffed.

I even use my bottle to drink water during the workout and use it for protein afterwards.            

— Spencer Lambert, UK commerce intern

BlenderBottle ProStak System with 22-Ounce Bottle and Twist n' Lock Storage, from $9.31