IS IT REALLY SAFE TO BORROW EQUIPMENT AT THE GYM?

Most gyms hook you up with the gear you need to work out—your fees ought to cover something! While borrowing equipment is obviously more convenient than schlepping around your own stuff, if you stop and think about how many strangers have sweat on, say, the yoga mat you just turned into a Slip 'N Slide, sharing starts to seem pretty gross. Instead of wondering whether you should have BYO, read what the experts say about the seven pieces of equipment you're most likely to borrow:

1) Indoor Cycling Shoes: Many boutique cycling studios provide cleated shoes that clip into bike pedals either for free or for a few bucks. Clip-in shoes help secure your foot to the pedal, promote perfect form, and engage all the muscles in your legs, says Michael Macneal, co-founder of Monster Cycle in New York City. Some studios—like Flywheel and Soul Cycle —say they provide clean shoes. Depending on the studio, they occasionally wash or dry clean them, and spray the insides with disinfectant solution between wears. "You don't know what sanitizing agent they use or how often they sanitize," says Dr. Phillip Tierno Jr., professor of microbiology and pathology at New York University. While germs that can cause athlete's foot or get you sick aren't found on every surface, you risk transferring such germs into your nose, mouth, eyes, or broken skin, and contaminating yourself every time you share equipment, Dr. Tierno says. Another problem with rentals: They're not fitted to your personal alignment, says Marion Roaman, instructor and co-founder of Peloton, a indoor cycle manufacturer with a studio in New York City. If your toes or heels tend to splay out when you stand in a neutral position, you might be more comfortable pedaling in shoes with cleats adjusted for your needs. And just like running shoes and soccer cleats, when you wear them regularly, the shoes begin to mold to your feet for a more comfortable experience, says Flywheel master instructor Kate Hickl.

The Verdict: If you cycle three or more times per week (especially at a studio that charges you for rentals), or if you're uncomfortable cycling in rental shoes for whatever reason, BYO. (You can usually find a basic pair, like these from Shimano, the brand favored by Soul Cycle, for about $90 plus the cost of cleats, which go for about $23.) But if you cycle infrequently or at a studio that doesn't charge rental fees, just BYO Lysol and spritz the inside of your shoes yourself before your ride. Always wear thick socks, and bleach them after your ride.

2) Yoga Mat: Most people put their bare hands, feet, foreheads, heads, and (covered) butts on their yoga mats. (And they get all up in there.) While some studios have maintenance crews to thoroughly clean these mats, others leave the task up to disinfectant-wipe-bearing gym patrons whose idea of "clean" might literally make you sick. Disinfectant wipes aren't always effective because they have limited moisture and might not stay damp enough to completely wet the mat and kill the germs, Tierno says. Because feet commonly carry bacteria such as staph, which can cause skin infections on contact or food poisoning if you ingest it, you do not want to use a dirty mat. That said, gyms try to provide the best, most durable equipment, says Serena Tom, a New York City-based yogi who teaches at Equinox, Pure Yoga, CrossFit Solace, and Brick CrossFit. And while buying a yoga mat shows investment in your practice and is inherently more hygienic, your practice could suffer if you cheap out on a mat made of a material like latex or PVC, which tend to be most affordable, Tom says.

The Verdict: If you practice yoga more than three times a week, consider investing in a high-quality mat and a non-slip, skidless towel for hot yoga, and BYO. (Tom trusts brands like Lululemon, Jade, and Manduka.) Of course, if you're new to yoga or only practice occasionally, Tom and Dr. Tierno agree that your studio's mats will do. Just bring a sanitizing spray like Lysol and use three or four of the wipes provided to scour the surface of the mat—especially if there's a short turnaround time between classes at your studio, because there's less time to clean. Then place a towel over the mat as an extra barrier, Tom says. After class, wash your hands or use hand sanitizer, and shower ASAP to wash germs off your feet with soap and water.

3) Swim Cap: Some pools require swim caps and might lend communal ones to swimmers who arrive without the proper gear. But you wouldn't share a hat with a stranger, and swim caps aren't all that different. "Chlorine should kill organisms, but the more people in water, the more chlorine is dissipated, and the hotter water, the more chlorine is dissipated. You don't know if people are checking it," Dr. Tierno says. If there's visible hair in the cap, it could be carrying ringworm or lice. And if there's any sort of film, organisms like staph or others antibiotic-resistant bacteria could be lurking.

The Verdict: As long as the chlorine in the pool is up to snuff (just ask a lifeguard if chlorine levels are checked regularly, and use common sense to assess whether the water looks clean), you can borrow a swim cap—chances are very low that you will pick up something significant, Dr. Tierno says. (If the chlorine levels are too low though, forget the cap and avoid the pool altogether—you could face serious risks, like swallowing fecal matter that could make you super sick.) Before you put it on, check for hair or film, then give it a 20-second dip in the pool to disinfect it. And if you swim often? You might as well BYO swim cap. They don't take up much space in your gym bag, and even pretty ones rarely cost more than $10.

4) Pilates Socks: Many Pilates and barre studios insist that you go shoeless and sometimes require special grippy socks. According to Tanya Becker, co-founder and chief creative officer atPhysique 57, these can prevent you from slipping around, which set you up for injury. Buying the special socks to wear once in a blue moon might seem wasteful, but if the alternative is bare feet, and you have any breaks in the skin, you could risk athlete's foot or worse—especially if your feet get particularly sweaty, Dr. Tierno says.

The Verdict: Regular socks beat no socks, but grippy socks really are ideal. If you do Pilates or barre regularly, get a pair from a brand like Shashi, $15. They come in white so you can bleach them when you get home—a good way to keep pathogens out of your home, Dr. Tierno says. If you must go barefoot? Make sure the skin on your feet is intact, and wash your feet with soap and water afterward.

5) Water Bottle: Reusable water bottles take up room in your gym bag, and disposable ones can cost two or three times as much as they should when you buy them at the gym—kind of a waste in a place where water fountains can quench your thirst for free. "I generally don't drink from water fountains because people put their lips around the spout," Dr. Tierno says. It's like making out with strangers.

The Verdict: Bring your own reusable water bottle, and make sure you can open it with your mouth so you don't contaminate the mouthpiece with germs on your hands. If you must default to the fountain, run the water for 20 seconds or so to clear the spout before you sip, Dr. Tierno says.

6) Towels: Most gyms provide these, but Dr. Tierno says towels can absorb a lot more than clothes, including residual organisms from other people. But towels are bulky and annoying to carry from home when they're dry, let alone when they're wet.

The Verdict: If your gym's towels look clean, smell fresh, and feel dry, they should be safe for use. If they look or smell musky, BYO. And obviously, ditch the towel you use on machines throughout your workout, and use a fresh one when you shower.


 7) Boxing Gloves: If you borrow boxing gloves for a kickboxing class every once in a while, you might not have considered buying a pair. (You can find gloves for less than $40, FYI.) Still, you've probably noticed the foul scent that emanates from borrowed gloves. "It's not sweat—it's the breakdown of sweat, and whenever you smell something, it means bacteria are present and growing," Dr. Tierno says. "Those gloves are riddled with organisms, but if you have no breaks in the skin, they're impervious."

The Verdict: Unless you're a serious boxer, you don't need boxing gloves taking up space in your gym bag. Borrow them and lather up extra well after you de-glove: Use soap and water to get under your fingernails and between your fingers and sing "Happy Birthday" twice before you leave the sink. If you do have as much as a broken cuticle, step away from the communal gloves—unless you plan to wear plastic gloves inside them. (Infections are no joke!)

VIA